Howitzer is a high-skill ceiling, long-range artillery mage in Predecessor who excels at zone control, wave clear, and massive burst damage. To maximize his effectiveness, the current optimal build focuses on Magic Power, Magical Penetration, and Ability Haste. The most effective core item path for Howitzer in the mid lane starts with Combustion, followed by Megacosm, and Caustica. This combination ensures high initial burst for poke and sustained burn damage against tankier targets during the mid-game.

Success with Howitzer depends heavily on positioning and the creative use of his Land Mine. As a hero that relies on skill shots, understanding the nuances of his itemization and power spikes is essential for climbing the ranks.

Core Item Build Path for Maximum Damage

Selecting the right items in the correct order dictates how well Howitzer can pressure the mid lane and influence team fights.

First Item: Combustion

Combustion is the definitive first-buy for Howitzer. It provides a significant boost to Magic Power and Mana, which are vital for his early-game wave clear. The passive effect of Combustion deals bonus magical damage on your next ability hit, which synergizes perfectly with the R2000 Missile.

In our testing, the poke damage increase provided by Combustion allows Howitzer to force the enemy mid-laner back to base much earlier than with other items. When landing a missile, the additional burst from Combustion often catches opponents off guard, especially if they are sitting around 60% health.

Second Item: Megacosm

Megacosm is essential for transitioning into the mid-game. This item provides Magic Power and Ability Haste, but its real value lies in the "Doomsday" passive. This effect causes your abilities to deal a percentage of the target's maximum health as magical damage over time.

Because Howitzer's ultimate, "Make it Rain," hits multiple times over a wide area, Megacosm applies this burn to every enemy caught in the blast. This is particularly effective against bruisers and tanks who are starting to build health items by the 15-minute mark. The synergy between Howitzer’s Slow Grenades and Megacosm ensures that even if an enemy escapes the immediate burst, the ticking damage often secures the kill.

Third Item: Caustica

By the time you reach your third item, the enemy team will likely have built some Magical Armor. Caustica is the solution to this. It provides a significant percentage of Magical Penetration, ensuring your missiles and ultimate continue to hit hard against high-resistance targets.

Additionally, Caustica provides a mana regeneration passive when you are low on mana, which is crucial for Howitzer. Since Howitzer players tend to spam abilities for zone control, this passive ensures you have enough resources to cast your Land Mine for an emergency escape or to fire off one last missile to end a fight.

Fourth Item: Oblivion Crown

Oblivion Crown is the ultimate "power spike" item for mages. It offers the highest raw Magic Power in the game and a passive that increases your total Magic Power by a percentage.

We recommend building this fourth to amplify the damage from your previous three items. Once Oblivion Crown is online, a single R2000 Missile can deal nearly 30% to 40% of a squishy target's health. In late-game siege scenarios, this makes Howitzer an absolute nightmare to defend against.

Fifth Item: Tainted Scepter or Azure Core

The final item slot is often situational. If the enemy team has high healing (such as a Phase, Narbash, or Rampage), Tainted Scepter is mandatory to apply "Blight," reducing their healing effectiveness.

However, if you feel you need more survivability and a larger mana pool for sustained sieges, Azure Core is a strong alternative. It provides scaling Magic Power based on your maximum mana, turning Howitzer into a late-game powerhouse with almost infinite resources.

Understanding Howitzer Ability Mechanics and Leveling Order

The order in which you level your abilities changes Howitzer's threat level throughout the match.

Leveling Order

  1. R2000 Missile (Primary): Maximize this first. It is your main tool for poke and wave clear.
  2. Slow Grenades: Maximize this second. The slow duration and damage increase significantly with each level, making it easier to land your ultimate.
  3. Land Mine: Level this last. While its utility is massive, the displacement effect is sufficient at level one, and you gain more value from the damage of your other skills.
  4. Make it Rain (Ultimate): Take a point in your ultimate at levels 6, 11, and 16.

Advanced Ability Usage

The R2000 Missile Flick

The R2000 Missile has a slight travel time. To hit mobile targets like Kallari or Twinblast, practiced players often use a "flick" motion. Instead of aiming where the enemy is, aim where they must go to avoid your Slow Grenades. The hitbox of the missile is slightly larger than the visual effect, allowing you to clip enemies around corners or behind thin walls.

Land Mine Mastery

The Land Mine is Howitzer's most versatile tool. It is not just for pushing enemies away; it is your primary mobility tool. By placing the mine behind yourself and detonating it immediately, you can launch Howitzer into the air and forward.

This "rocket jump" can be used to leap over environmental walls in the jungle, escaping a gank that would kill any other mage. Furthermore, you can use the Land Mine while in the air during your ultimate, "Make it Rain," to change your trajectory and avoid incoming projectiles from heroes like Murdock or Sparrow.

Slow Grenade Traps

Don't just throw Slow Grenades directly at an enemy. Use them to "gate" a pathway. In the narrow corridors of the jungle, a well-placed line of grenades can completely stop a pursuing team, forcing them to either take massive damage and a slow or take a much longer route.

Strategies for Different Phases of the Game

Howitzer's role shifts as the game progresses from the laning phase to the final push.

Early Game: The Laning Phase (0-10 Minutes)

In the early game, your goal is to farm efficiently while poking the enemy mid-laner. Howitzer has a natural range advantage over most casters. Use your R2000 Missile to last-hit minions while simultaneously clipping the enemy hero with the splash damage.

Be careful with your mana. Until you get your first component of Combustion, spamming abilities will leave you vulnerable. Save your Land Mine for defense. If the enemy jungler (like Crunch or Khaimera) jumps on you, use the Land Mine to knock them back and yourself toward your tower.

Mid Game: Rotations and Objectives (10-25 Minutes)

Once you have Combustion and Megacosm, Howitzer becomes a major threat in team fights. During the mid-game, you should look to rotate to the Duo or Offlane to assist with ganks.

Howitzer is exceptional at securing the Fangtooth objective. Use your Slow Grenades to block the entrance to the Fangtooth pit, and keep your R2000 Missile ready to burst down the objective if the enemy jungler attempts a steal. Your ultimate is a perfect tool for zoning; if the enemy team tries to enter the pit, drop "Make it Rain" at the entrance to deter them.

Late Game: Sieging and Team Fights (25+ Minutes)

In the late game, Howitzer should stay in the backline. Your job is to poke the enemy team before a fight even starts. With Oblivion Crown and Caustica, your missiles will force enemies to back off from their towers.

During a full 5v5 team fight, wait for the engagement to happen. Once the enemy team is grouped or CC'd by your frontline (like Steel or Riktor), unleash your full combo: Slow Grenades -> R2000 Missile -> Make it Rain. If an assassin tries to dive you, use your Land Mine to reposition and continue firing from the air.

Matchup Analysis: Howitzer’s Rivals in the Mid Lane

Who Howitzer Counters

  • Gideon: Howitzer can use his Land Mine to knock Gideon out of his ultimate, "Black Hole," provided he is within range. Howitzer also out-pokes Gideon in the early laning phase.
  • Belica: While Belica is dangerous, Howitzer’s range allows him to stay outside the radius of her Seismic Assault. As long as you manage your mana to avoid her Void Drone damage, you can win the war of attrition.
  • Iggy & Scorch: Howitzer can easily destroy Iggy's turrets from a safe distance using his R2000 Missile, effectively neutralizing Iggy's lane pressure.

Who Counters Howitzer

  • Countess: A skilled Countess can blink through your missiles and burst you down before you can react with a Land Mine. Against Countess, building an early Vanguardian or Stasis (via a Crest) is recommended.
  • Morigesh: Her Mark and Hive abilities are point-and-click, meaning she doesn't have to aim as much as you do. Her ultimate can also execute you even if you launch into the air with "Make it Rain."
  • Wraith: Wraith out-ranges Howitzer and can use "Back It Up" to pull you back after you try to escape with your Land Mine. This is a very difficult matchup that requires high awareness.

Maximizing the "Make it Rain" Ultimate

The ultimate is Howitzer’s most iconic and impactful ability, but it is often misused.

Many players use the ultimate as a panic button to escape. While it does provide airtime, its primary purpose is area denial and burst damage. To get the most out of "Make it Rain," try to time it with ally crowd control. If your support lands a stun, that is the moment to fly.

The final explosion of the ultimate deals the most damage. Try to predict where the enemy will be at the end of the duration. You can move slowly while in the air, so use that movement to stay directly above the highest-priority target (usually the enemy ADC or Mid).

Pro Tip: You can cast your R2000 Missile while hovering in the air during your ultimate. This allows you to stack even more damage onto a target trapped within the bombardment zone.

Essential Crest Choice: Obelisk or Soulbinder

Your choice of Crest will define your late-game scaling.

  • Obelisk: This is the preferred choice for players who are confident in their ability to secure kills. Obelisk grants permanent Magic Power stacks whenever you kill an enemy hero or assist in a kill with the soul-stacking passive. Over a 30-minute game, this can grant you an extra 50-100 Magic Power, making your missiles hit like a truck.
  • Soulbinder: If you find yourself being focused by assassins, Soulbinder provides a more utility-focused approach. It applies a stack of "Soul Bind" to enemies you hit, which increases the damage they take from you. It also offers a bit more safety in its stat profile.

In most high-level matches, Obelisk is the "gold standard" because Howitzer is designed to be a carry. The more Magic Power you can accumulate, the more you can dictate the pace of the game.

Summary of the Best Howitzer Build

To dominate as Howitzer, follow this streamlined itemization and strategy path:

  1. Starter: Mage's Crest (aiming for Obelisk).
  2. Core 1: Combustion for early burst and mana.
  3. Core 2: Megacosm for health-percent burn and ability haste.
  4. Core 3: Caustica for magic penetration and mana sustain.
  5. Core 4: Oblivion Crown for massive Magic Power amplification.
  6. Core 5: Tainted Scepter (anti-heal) or Azure Core (scaling/mana).

Focus on landing your R2000 Missile consistently and using your Land Mine for both offensive displacement and defensive mobility. Positioning is everything; if you stay safe and keep your mana high, you can carry your team to victory through pure artillery pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best role for Howitzer in Predecessor?

Howitzer is primarily a Mid Lane caster. While some players experiment with him in the Offlane, his lack of natural tankiness makes him vulnerable there. In the Mid Lane, his wave clear and ability to rotate to either side of the map make him most effective.

How do I escape ganks as Howitzer?

The key is your Land Mine (E). Place it between you and the enemy jungler. If they are close, detonate it to blow them back while launching yourself toward your tower. You can also use your Slow Grenades (RMB) to create a path of slow-moving air that hinders their movement.

Does Howitzer scale well into the late game?

Yes, Howitzer is one of the best scaling mages in Predecessor. With a full build including Oblivion Crown and Caustica, his ability to poke from a distance can win games during the siege phase. He does not fall off as long as he maintains good positioning.

Can Howitzer be played as a Support?

It is not recommended. Howitzer requires a significant amount of gold and experience (levels) to be effective. As a support, he would lack the damage needed to be a threat and would take farm away from the ADC. Heroes like Dekker or Narbash are much better suited for the support role.

How do I hit more R2000 Missiles?

Practice leading your shots. Most players will instinctively strafe left or right when they see Howitzer aiming. Observe their movement pattern early in the game and aim where they are likely to dodge. Using your Slow Grenades first to tether them makes landing the missile significantly easier.