Guides
IRON NEST Shell Guide
Choose ammunition by target effect, then confirm charge and firing data before loading.
Evidence map reviewed: Aug 9, 2026
Shell labels documented in older guides are treated as version-sensitive; the no-unload rule is confirmed separately by a developer.
Choose by intended effect
The shell is part of the mission solution, not just the final loading choice. The official FAQ describes destructive, utility and battlefield-control ammunition inspired by First World War and interwar heavy artillery.
Common shell roles
- AP: armor-piercing ammunition for hardened or underground targets. The community basics guide also treats it as a precise option when friendly units are too close for a wide blast.
- HE: standard high explosive for a single surface target or a tight group.
- HCHE: a higher-capacity explosive option with a wider effect area in the community guide.
- SMK: smoke used to screen or force friendly movement when the mission calls for it.
- STAR: illumination ammunition that reveals an area around its impact and supports night or information-gathering tasks.
The official FAQ additionally names fragmentation, chemical rounds such as phosgene and tear gas, propaganda-leaflet shells and unrevealed experimental ammunition. Availability can depend on progression, mission and version, so this page does not present every mentioned type as immediately unlocked.
Loading checklist
- Confirm the target type and objective.
- Select the shell using the current in-game label.
- Measure the range and choose a powder-charge amount the calculator accepts.
- Generate the elevation card before committing the load.
- Recheck shell and charge at the final checklist before firing.
Loading is a commitment
A developer answer confirms that a loaded gun cannot simply be unloaded. If the powder amount is wrong, recalculate elevation for the actual charge. Other recovery options are using the second gun, changing to a suitable target, or firing safely before reloading. This is why target, shell and charge should be settled before the loading bridge and ramming sequence begins.
Version-sensitive labels
The AP, HE, HCHE, SMK and STAR abbreviations come from a community guide that spans pre-release and release-era updates. The broad roles are useful, but the live requisition console remains authoritative for the names, unlock state and mission availability in your build.