Well, I don't know, I once took out 25 Champions with a level 5 Catapult. True, they were Warlocks. 5 of them. That was enough! The Champions didn't even have time to attack. They got stuck in the sand and that was it! And the mage was decent...
The area-of-effect attack deals damage without penalty and without retaliation from other archers.
The debate about whether having a dwelling catapult means you've lost half the game.

Барон "Vampires"
Отдай свои прошлые сны,
В сомненьях себя обрети,
В бешеном танце душа кружится!
Не думай, что будет потом,
Здесь и сейчас мы живем,
Стань хоть на миг сам собой, слышишь!