Missile Silo Guide for OpenFront.io
Main Takeaway: The Missile Silo is a late-game military building that unlocks strategic nuclear strikes. Proper placement, timing, and coordination with defenses (SAM Launchers and Defense Posts) are essential to maximize its impact.
1. Overview
The Missile Silo is a military building priced at 1,000,000 gold. It serves exclusively to launch three types of strategic missiles:
- Atom Bomb: Small blast radius
- Hydrogen Bomb: Large blast radius
- MIRV: Multiple mini-warheads across a nation
[Fact Source: OpenFront Miraheze Wiki]
2. Construction Requirements
- Terrain: Land only
- Build menu: Right-click map → yellow wrench icon → Missile Silo
- Cost: 1,000,000 gold
3. Missile Types & Effects
Missile Type | Cost per Launch | Area of Effect | Cooldown |
---|---|---|---|
Atom Bomb | 750,000 gold | Destroys small clusters of Cities, Ports, Defense Posts, or Missile Silos | 10 s |
Hydrogen Bomb | 5,000,000 gold | Destroys large clusters of key structures | 10 s |
MIRV | 25,000,000 gold | Scatters multiple Atom-sized blasts across target nation | No cooldown |
Launch costs and cooldowns are defined in the Buildings page of the OpenFront Miraheze Wiki.
4. Usage & Mechanics
-
Targeting:
- Right-click on enemy territory pixel → building menu → select missile type.
- The nearest available Missile Silo will launch the strike.
-
Reload Indicator:
- After firing, the silo flashes red for 8 seconds, indicating it is reloading and cannot fire again until this period ends.
-
Defensive Countermeasures:
- SAM Launchers (Surface-to-Air Missile) have a 75% chance to intercept Atom or Hydrogen Bombs within a 75-pixel radius; they cannot destroy MIRVs.
- Best practice: Surround high-value silos and cities with a network of SAMs and Defense Posts.
“When a Missile Silo just launched a missile, it becomes red for 8 seconds…cannot be used.” (Missile Silo – OpenFront Miraheze Wiki)
5. Strategic Considerations
- Timing: Use nuclear strikes to soften hardened defenses or disrupt enemy gold production by targeting Ports and Cities.
- Psychological Impact: A well-timed Hydrogen Bomb can break alliances or force opponents into reactive play.
- Synergy: Complement nuclear strikes with ground invasions; use Defense Posts to hold newly vacated pixels.
- Resource Management: Nuclear missiles are expensive; balance investment in silos versus conventional buildings like Cities (more population) and Ports (steady gold income).
6. Example Build Order (Mid-Late Game)
- Establish 3–4 Cities for population buffer.
- Build 2–3 Ports to sustain gold flow (125k → 250k → 500k).
- Deploy 2–3 SAM Launchers around forward borders.
- Construct 1–2 Missile Silos in safe, inland pixels.
- Add Defense Posts along borders to deter incursions.
- Begin nuclear strikes once you have 1–2M+ gold reserves.
7. Advanced Tips
- Feint Attacks: Launch Atom Bomb on minor targets to bait enemy SAM usage before a major Hydrogen Bomb strike.
- MIRV Barrage: Use a MIRV to saturate SAM coverage—a single MIRV can overwhelm multiple SAMs.
- Silhouette Management: Keep silos grouped but not adjacent; prevents a single enemy strike from disabling all launchers.
- Cooldown Cycling: Stagger silo reloads by launching at slightly different times, ensuring continuous nuclear availability.
With precise execution, Missile Silos transform the battlefield in OpenFront.io—use them wisely to dominate mid-to-late game engagements.