Clash Royale's Lava Hound: Mastering the Ultimate Beatdown Strategy
The Lava Hound, a legendary air troop in Clash Royale, reigns supreme as a formidable building-targeting win condition. Its impressive 3581 HP (at tournament levels) makes it incredibly resilient, though its damage output is minimal. The real power lies in its six Lava Pups, spawned upon its demise, which relentlessly target any nearby units. This high health pool and devastating pup swarm solidify the Lava Hound's position as a top-tier win condition.
The Evolution of Lava Hound Decks
With the introduction of new cards, Lava Hound decks have undergone significant evolution. Remaining a powerful win condition, the right card combinations can propel players to the top of the ladder. This guide explores some of the most effective current meta Lava Hound decks.
Understanding Lava Hound Deck Mechanics
Lava Hound decks operate as Beatdown decks, but instead of relying on Giants or Golems, the Lava Hound takes center stage. Support typically includes various air troops, with only one or two ground units for defense or distraction.
The strategy centers on overwhelming pushes, deploying the Lava Hound at the back, even at the cost of a tower. This methodical approach requires patience and strategic tower health sacrifices for favorable trades. The Lava Hound's consistent win rate across skill levels mirrors that of Log Bait decks. However, the Royal Chef's introduction significantly boosted its popularity, as the champion building's troop level-up mechanic synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound. If unlocked, the Royal Chef should be your Tower Troop of choice in any Lava Hound deck.
Top-Tier Lava Hound Decks
Here are three top-performing Lava Hound decks:
- LavaLoon Valkyrie
- Lava Hound Double Dragon
- Lava Lightning Prince
Detailed breakdowns follow.
LavaLoon Valkyrie
A highly popular choice, the LavaLoon Valkyrie deck utilizes two powerful flying win conditions. While its 4.0 average elixir cost isn't the lowest, its faster cycle compared to other Lava Hound decks is a significant advantage.
Card Composition:
The Valkyrie acts as a mini-tank against swarms (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang), and also counters X-Bow decks. Guards provide crucial ground DPS against units like Pekka or Hog Rider. The Lava Hound and Balloon are deployed together – the Hound tanks while the Balloon aims for the tower. Inferno Dragon handles high-HP air units, while Evo Zap resets towers/troops and Fireball eliminates counters or deals direct tower damage. Skeleton Dragons push the Balloon further or out of range.
Lava Hound Double Dragon
The introduction of Evolution cards significantly altered the meta, but most Lava Hound decks saw only minor changes. The Lava Hound Double Dragon deck, however, is a notable exception.
Card Composition:
The Evo Bomber delivers substantial tower damage, and the Evo Goblin Cage counters almost any win condition (except for Lightning or Rocket). Guards provide defensive support, and the Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons handle air threats. Lightning eliminates defensive units/buildings and Arrows clear swarms.
Lava Lightning Prince
While not the strongest, this deck serves as an accessible entry point for new Lava Hound players. It utilizes some of the meta's most powerful cards.
Card Composition:
Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect pulls in both air and ground units. Evo Skeletons provide DPS, the Prince offers additional tower pressure, and Skeleton Dragons/Inferno Dragon handle air threats. The push starts with the Lava Hound, ideally timed to benefit from the Royal Chef's level-up buff. The Prince can be substituted with a Mini-Pekka for a lower elixir cost.
Conclusion
Mastering Lava Hound decks requires practice and adaptation. Their slower, methodical approach contrasts with cycle decks. The decks presented here provide a solid starting point, but experimenting with card combinations is crucial to find the perfect fit for your playstyle.
