For the similar shot type in Fall of the Samurai, see Solid Shot.
Round Shot is a shot type in Empire: Total War and Napoleon: Total War. Round shot is a simple, metal ball that is available to nearly all artillery and ships.
Empire: Total war[]
Land[]
On land, round shot is available to cannons, mortars and howitzers by default. Though it deals only nominal damage to infantry, it can be effective against cavalry and is also the best choice for bringing down fortifications and buildings. Finally, it has the greatest range of all the shot types for cannon.
For anti-infantry and cavalry roles, Round Shot is made partially obsolete by Canister Shot and Shrapnel Shot for cannons and Carcass Shot, Quicklime Shells, Explosive Shells and Percussion Shells for howitzers and mortars, respectively. In some scenarios, round shot remains more effective and consistent for cannons than shrapnel at long range against cavalry.
On land, round shot has a longer range than what its statistics imply. A cannon firing at a unit that has moved out of range can still cause casualties, albeit minimal ones.
Sea[]
At sea, Round Shot is available from the beginning with Chain Shot and Grape Shot. It is the best suited for damaging hulls. For ships that do not have open decks (such as heavier frigates and ships of the line), round shot can help grape shot be more effective by punching holes in hulls, exposing the crew within.
Round Shot is most effective at very close range, where few of the shots are likely to miss. Heavier ships carry more powerful cannons, which fire round shot that deals heavier damage.
Napoleon: Total War[]
Land[]
Among artillery, round shot is now available exclusively to cannon artillery. It functions similarly to previous iterations, and is the best shot type for destroying buildings. It retains its effectiveness against cavalry. As Shrapnel Shot is not available in Napoleon: Total War, round shot is the only long-range shot type available to cannon artillery.
Round shot in Napoleon: Total War has a bigger area of effect, but reduced damage at the edge of the cannonball's effectiveness. This is represented in the game by having infantry directly impacted by the cannonballs die, while surrounding infantry are knocked down, only to stand back up and continue marching. While knocked down, however, they are unable to shoot, fight or move, so cannons are much better at disrupting infantry than they were in Empire: Total War. In the case of cavalry, even if they are grazed by cannon fire, they always die. In favorable terrain, even a single cannon battery can inflict heavy casualties on a cavalry target in short order.
As with Empire: Total War, round shot has a greater range than the game suggests. If a unit is targeted by round shot but moves out of nominal range, it may still sustain casualties, albeit minimal ones.
Unlike Empire: Total War, where artillery must target a building or troops in order to fire, artillery in Napoleon: Total War may target an area of ground. Without exception, artillery targeting the ground are more accurate than those ordered to attack an enemy target. Attacking the ground just in front of or behind a stationary enemy can increase damage dealt, though this tactic is less effective against a moving enemy due to the need to constantly readjust aim.
Sea[]
Round shot functions identically to how it did in Empire: Total War: whereas grape shot is anti-personnel and chain shot damages sails, round shot is designed to destroy hulls. While it has the longest range out of all the shot types, round shot is the most effective at very close range.