Siege weapons can destroy buildings, but are weak against other units, especially cavalry.

When taking an enemy town quickly was important, one simple, expedient solution was to cut down a strong tree, trim the trunk, attach some handholds, and use the tree to batter down a gate or wall section. Although very dangerous work for the men holding the ram, it could be put into action with hours of arriving outside the city walls. The Portable Ram was particularly effective in surprise attacks and against fortifications of weak design. Such a ram was popular with raiding armies and those who could not linger outside a city for a protracted siege.