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What is a trebuchet?! In two words: a catapult. In four words: an incredibly sick catapult. Unlike a catapult, a trebuchet uses the mechanical advantage principle of leverage to... blah blah blah... whatever -- it launches stuff good and far!

Luckily, internet principle #173 -- whenever people gather to smash something, at least one person has the good sense to film it and post it on YouTube -- applies equally to trebuchets. The internet is a wealth of fun, funny and fantastic videos of trebuchet-related destruction.


But before we get to the fun part -- the throwing and the smashing -- how do people build trebuchets? Check out this time-lapse video from a father and son team:


Of course, there are other options. Not every trebuchet is constructed out of such... traditional materials:


Pretty impressive distance for a machine made out of Lego, no? Is there anything those little blocks can't do?! But, fine, that's not what you want. You want fireballs:


Wow. Something tells me I would not want be in a castle besieged by Mongo: "You have to get back some, people, because this will sling kerosene off of it." But as impressive as Mongo is, these machines get bigger and badder. Did you ask for flaming pianos and a car?


Thank god for crazy rich people willing to invest in giant catapults. At this point, you may think that you've reached the apex of trebuchet awesomeness. Have you? You have! (No, you have not):


Yeesh, don't everyone rush out and try this. Didn't these people hear the Mongo guy talking about how the g-force from his trebuchet causes pumpkins to disintegrate mid-air? Still, as with anything trebuchet related, awesome.