The Cannon can double-pin pieces, and when it gets on the back rank, it can sometimes threaten multiple compound pieces and trade itself for one of them. However, I had Zillions-of-Games play twelve games. For each amount of thinking time, I had it play two games, one in which White had no Cannons and Red had no Nightriders, and vice versa. Here are the results:
For one second, the side with Cannons won both games.
For two seconds, White won with Nightriders, and it was a draw when White had Cannons.
For three seconds, the side with Nightriders won both games.
For five seconds, the side with Nightriders won both games.
For ten seconds, it was a draw when White had Cannons, and Red won with Cannons.
For fifteen seconds, the side with Nightriders won both games.
Overall, Nightriders won 7 games, Cannons won 3 games, and 2 were draws. This provisionally suggests that Nightriders are more powerful, but it's not conclusive. Since Zillions-of-Games has its own biases that may have influenced the results, games with other engines would help give a more thorough analysis.
The Cannon can double-pin pieces, and when it gets on the back rank, it can sometimes threaten multiple compound pieces and trade itself for one of them. However, I had Zillions-of-Games play twelve games. For each amount of thinking time, I had it play two games, one in which White had no Cannons and Red had no Nightriders, and vice versa. Here are the results:
Overall, Nightriders won 7 games, Cannons won 3 games, and 2 were draws. This provisionally suggests that Nightriders are more powerful, but it's not conclusive. Since Zillions-of-Games has its own biases that may have influenced the results, games with other engines would help give a more thorough analysis.