Headhunter: Clash of Clans Ground Troop – History, Statistics

The Headhunter, a formidable troop, enters the battlefield once the Dark Barracks reaches level 9, a milestone achievable at Town Hall level 12. This troop possesses a unique set of abilities and strategies that make it a key asset in both offensive and defensive scenarios.

The primary role of the Headhunter is to eliminate enemy heroes. In addition to her combat duties, she is employed at the village apothecary. Possessing the agility to leap over walls, her venomous weapons induce a decelerating effect on her targets, hindering their movement and attacks.

Unlocking the Power

To deploy Headhunters, ensure your Dark Barracks is upgraded to level 9, requiring a Town Hall level of 12.

Abilities and Priorities

Headhunters distinguish themselves by prioritizing enemy Heroes above all else. They will navigate the battlefield with precision, bypassing other structures until all enemy Heroes are neutralized. Notably, the defending Grand Warden is considered a defense, exempt from the Headhunter’s Hero-seeking focus.

Poisonous Precision

Equipped with an attack that mirrors the effects of a Poison Spell, the Headhunter inflicts a temporary slowdown on targeted troops and Heroes. It’s crucial to note that this poison has no impact on buildings and does not cause direct damage.

Tactical Movement

Wielding the ability to bypass Walls, Headhunters effortlessly reach targets positioned behind these barriers. Their movement speed aligns with Goblins, Sneaky Goblins, Minions, and Miners.

Strategies of Headhunter

Offensive Brilliance

1. Wall-Jumping Advantage: Capitalize on the Headhunter’s ability to traverse Walls, eliminating the need for support spells like Jump or Earthquake. Deploy them strategically within your hybrid army to target enemy Heroes.
2. Clan Castle Luring: Exploit the Wall-jumping capability to lure out enemy Clan Castle troops, especially if an enemy Hero is in close proximity. Employ multiple Headhunters or use a meat shield like a Giant for enhanced effectiveness.
3. Hero Elimination Efficiency: Once enemy Heroes are incapacitated, Headhunters redirect their focus to Clan Castle troops. This tactic proves valuable on bases where Heroes are absent or incapacitated.
4. Queen Walk/Charge Support: Infiltrate Headhunters during a Queen Walk/Charge for substantial value, saving Poison or Freeze Spells. This is particularly effective when the Archer Queen encounters the enemy Barbarian King.
5. Suicide Hero Strategy: Sneak in a Headhunter during a Suicide Hero mission to save the hero’s health, especially when objectives involve or are near an enemy Hero.

Defensive Vigilance of Headhunter

1. Hero Counter: Deploy Headhunters as defending Clan Castle troops to counter attackers’ Heroes, including the Grand Warden. Their poison effect and high damage make them formidable defenders even in the absence of enemy Heroes.
2. Anti-Queen Charge: Headhunters excel at defending against Queen Charges. Their potent damage and slowing poison force the Archer Queen’s ability, creating a defensive advantage.
3. Siege Machine Deterrence: Headhunters disrupt the functionality of Siege Machines (excluding the Siege Barracks) with their poison effect, slowing down their movement and attacks.
4. Strategic Placement: Position your Heroes closer to the core of your base to divert Headhunters away from potential tanks, forcing them to target the Heroes directly.
5. Countermeasures: Implement multi-target Inferno Towers and Scattershots to counter Headhunters attempting to sneak under cover from other troops.

Upgrade Insights

1. Visual Evolution: The Headhunter undergoes visual transformations at levels 1 and 3, with changes in robe color and the addition of symbolic elements.
2. Level-specific Details: Level 2 introduces a silver trim and a poison symbol on the robe, while level 3 elevates the trim and symbols to gold.

Statistics of Headhunter

Preferred Target	Attack Type	Housing Space	Movement Speed	Attack Speed	Dark Barracks Level Required	Range
Heroes (x4 Damage)	Single Target	6	32	0.6s	9	3 tiles

Level	Damage per Second	Damage per Hit	DPS on Heroes	Speed Decrease	Attack Rate Decrease	Hitpoints	Research Cost	Research Time	Laboratory Level Required
1	105	63	420	40%	55%	360	N/A	N/A	N/A
2	115	69	460	42%	60%	400	115,000	9d	10
3	125	75	500	44%	65%	440	145,000	10d	11

History of Headhunter

January 29, 2013		greenTerrtleTran suggested adding a troop with a poison attack.
February 5, 2013		clashofclans2013 suggested adding an assassin.
February 27, 2013		Rogrider suggested adding a Dark Troop that targets heroes.
June 21, 2020		Announced the Headhunter, with 3 levels.
Patch	Type	Description
June 22, 2020	Update	Added the Headhunter.
October 12, 2020	Update	Fixed an issue of shrinking characters when targeted by the Headhunter.
April 12, 2021	Update	Fixed minor inaccuracy from Headhunter poison timer.
April 29, 2021	Balance Changes	Reduced Headhunter’s DPS at all levels.Level 1: 108 -> 105 Level 2: 120 -> 115 Level 3: 132 -> 125
June 15, 2021	Update	Added Season Challenges and Clan Games task associated with the Headhunter, “Heads Will Roll”.
June 27, 2022	Update	The Headhunter no longer require Dark Elixir to train, same goes with every troops in Home Village.

Clash of Clans Headhunter Gallery

FAQs

Conclusion

Mastering the deployment and strategies of the Headhunter adds a powerful dimension to your Clash of Clans gameplay. Whether you’re orchestrating an offensive onslaught or fortifying your defenses, understanding the intricacies of this unique troop is key to victory.