Although Elixir is not considered a premium resource, it has a significant impact on everything we do in Clash of Clans. For example, it allows us to upgrade spells, army camps, troops, and other activities.
And, while Dark Elixir troops bring a certain exotic flair, the true backbone of any legendary force in Clash of Clans is pure, classic Elixir.
Because of this, and the game’s updating meta, you must stay informed about the best-performing troops.
Specifically, you must learn which Elixir troops will give you a decisive advantage over your opponents. To help with this, we’ll go through some of the best options in the game and how they move the needle for your Elixir strategy.
Game-Changing Elixir Troops
The latest additions to the barracks have entirely changed the meta. Besides being overpowered in their own right, some of these troops allow the introduction of game-breaking strategies.
1. Root Rider
The Root Rider has a significant impact on the current meta.
As the newest and most powerful Elixir troop, she’s a siege engine on two legs. Why? The answer is simple: Her ability to burrow through walls renders entire higher Town Hall levels base designs obsolete, making her the centerpiece of the most dominant ground attacks.
Strategy: The Root Rider is a high-HP tank that paves the way for the rest of your army. All you have to do is deploy her and watch the path to the core open up. She works beautifully with high-damage troops like Wizards, Yetis, or the Archer Queen, who can follow in the clear path she creates. However, pairing Root Riders with a Rage Spell really makes her shine.
2. Electro Titan
Imagine a troop so powerful that it damages everything around it. That’s the Electro Titan. This strong warrior has a persistent electrical aura that melts away skeletons, zaps defensive troops, and softens up entire compartments before she even swings her weapon.
Strategy: The E-Titan is the ultimate answer to swarms. Deploy her to eliminate defending Clan Castle troops and skeleton traps without breaking a sweat. Her ability to target both ground and air units also makes her incredibly versatile, allowing her to fit into ground-based pushes as both a tank and a powerful support unit. Lastly, she can clear the way for troops like Hog Riders or Miners, ensuring pesky skeletons don’t bog them down.
3. Yeti
The Yeti is a bruiser with a surprise. This furry titan packs a serious punch, but his real value comes from the company he keeps. With every hit, he releases a pack of tiny Yetimites that leap over walls to attack defenses. When the Yeti finally falls, he unleashes a final, larger swarm, creating chaos and splash damage deep within the enemy base.
Strategy: A cornerstone of the Yeti Smash attack strategy, Yetis are often paired with Healers and a Jump Spell or Log Launcher. This combination allows them to carve a path through the base while the Yetimites provide constant, distributed damage. They are superb for taking down single-target infernos and for clearing out core defenses.
Timeless Elixir Troops
These troops have been in the game for ages, but like a fine wine, they’ve gotten better. Continuous balancing and their sheer effectiveness keep them at the top of the leaderboards.
4. Electro Dragon
There are few entrances as dramatic as Electro Dragon’s. With a slow, menacing flap of its wings, it unleashes a devastating chain lightning attack that can arc between up to five buildings. A well-placed E-Dragon can gut an entire section of a base, making it a favorite for funneling and raw power.
Strategy: The E-Dragon is the heart of many air-based attacks. Use one on each side of your main push to create a perfect funnel, ensuring your main army heads straight for the Town Hall. A mass Electro Dragon attack, supported by Balloons and Rage Spells, is a simple yet terrifyingly effective strategy, primarily against compact base designs where the chain lightning can achieve maximum value.
5. Balloon
Individually, a Balloon is a slow, fragile unit. But in a swarm, they are a silent, floating carpet of death. Targeting defenses exclusively, they are the single most efficient way to dismantle a base’s offensive capabilities.
Strategy: The legendary LavaLoon (Lava Hounds tanking for Balloons) remains one of the most skillful and powerful attack strategies in the game. They are also the perfect support for Dragon or Electro Dragon attacks, soaking up air mines and helping to overwhelm air defenses. A few strategically deployed Balloons can also surgically remove key defenses to aid a Queen Charge Hybrid attack.
6. Dragon
The Dragon is pure, classic firepower. It’s often the first powerful air troop a player unlocks, and its utility never truly fades. With high health and a powerful splash damage breath attack, a flight of Dragons can overwhelm bases that have weak or poorly placed air defenses.
Strategy: Mass Dragon is a rite of passage for every Clash of Clans player at Town Hall 7 and 8, and it remains a viable strategy even at higher levels. Paired with Lightning Spells to take out air defenses and a Rage Spell to cut through the core, Dragons are a reliable way to secure two and often three stars.
Elixir Troops At-a-Glance Comparison
Here’s a quick breakdown of how some of the top-tier Elixir troops stack up, giving you a clear view of their role on the battlefield.
Troop | Housing Space | Primary Target | Key Strength | Best Paired With |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Root Rider | 20 | Defenses | Wall Breaking | Wizards, Yetis, Rage Spell |
Electro Dragon | 30 | Any | Chain Lightning | Balloons, Rage Spell |
Yeti | 18 | Any | Yetimite Swarms | Healers, Jump Spell |
Balloon | 5 | Defenses | High DPS (vs. Defenses) | Lava Hounds, Haste Spell |
Miner | 6 | Any | Bypasses Walls | Queen Charge, Heal Spells |
P.E.K.K.A | 25 | Any | High Single-Target DPS | Wizards, Bowlers |
Elite Ground Troops
These troops excel at specific jobs, and when used correctly, they can dissect a base with surgical precision.
7. Miner
Why go through walls when you can go under them? Miners are the ultimate solution to complex, mazelike bases. They travel underground, immune to most defenses and traps, popping up to swing their shovels at the nearest building before disappearing again.
Strategy: Miners are vital for Hybrid attack tactics. An Archer Queen, supported by Healers, creates one side of the funnel, and the Miners (often with Hog Riders) sweep through the rest of the base under the protection of Heal Spells. They are exceptional for Queen Walk Miner and farming Dark Elixir, as they can bypass outer defenses and head straight for the core storages.
8. P.E.K.K.A
The P.E.K.K.A is the tailored suit of destruction. With the highest single-target damage of any standard Elixir troop, she is a walking wrecking ball. Clad in impenetrable armor, she strides onto the map, obliterating anything she swings her sword at, from high-HP buildings to enemy heroes.
Strategy: P.E.K.K.A is commonly used in ground-and-pound strategies like GoWiPe (Golems, Wizards, P.E.K.K.A), with the job of getting to the core of the base and taking down the Town Hall and other key structures. Proper funneling is essential, as she can be distracted by outer buildings. Because of this, you’ll want to use Wizards or Bowlers behind her to clear a path, allowing her to focus on what she does best: demolition.
9. Wizard
What the Wizard lacks in health, he more than makes up for in pure damage. Flinging powerful fireballs, his splash damage can wipe out entire clusters of Clan Castle troops or defensive buildings in seconds.
Strategy: Never send a Wizard in alone. Position him safely behind a Golem, P.E.K.K.A, or Giant. They are essential for creating a funnel, as their fast, high-damage attacks can quickly clear outer buildings.
10. Baby Dragon
The Baby Dragon’s power comes from its temper. When no other friendly air units are nearby, it enters a rage, boosting its attack speed and damage. This unique mechanic makes it the perfect solo artist for funneling and cleanup.
Strategy: A single Baby Dragon on each side of the map is one of the most effective ways to set the funnel for a central air or ground attack. They are cost-effective, take up minimal housing space, and can clear a considerable amount of trash from buildings on their own, ensuring your main force is deployed precisely..
Forge Your Legacy with the Perfect Army
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