CoC Lava Hound: The Lava Hound, a formidable high-hitpoint aerial tank, is a force to be reckoned with in the Clash of Clans universe. Unlockable at Dark Barracks level 6, this fiery canine beast is encased in hardened rock plates, allowing lava to flow through its every seam.

Visual Evolution

Witness the visual evolution of the CoC Lava Hound as it advances through levels, undergoing significant changes in appearance. From a rock-covered canine at level 1 to a majestic, dark-red spiked aerial menace at level 6.

Abilities and Behavior

The Lava Hound brings a unique set of abilities and behaviors to the battlefield. When defeated, it explodes, causing damage in the vicinity and giving birth to Lava Pups that relentlessly attack nearby targets. This flying behemoth prioritizes Air Defenses above all else, bypassing other structures and troops until all air defenses are eliminated.

Targeting Mechanics

Learn the intricate targeting mechanics of Lava Hounds. Discover how they prioritize defenses, ignore Clan Castles, and adapt their strategy once all defenses are cleared.

Strategies of Lava Hound

Offensive Tactics

Unlock the full offensive potential of Lava Hounds with these strategies:

Role on the Battlefield

• Lava Hounds serve as high-health aerial tanks, akin to Golems for ground units.
• Prioritize Air Defenses to pave the way for other troops.

Support Troop Dynamics

• Use them to protect Dragons, Minions, Healers, and Balloons.
• Exercise caution with Baby Dragons due to their inability to activate rage ability near other aerial allies.

Inferno Tower Considerations

• Avoid single-targeting Inferno Towers.
• Deploy Freeze Spells strategically against such towers for maximum effectiveness.

Quantity Caution

• Don’t overwhelm with too many Lava Hounds; support is crucial for their success.
• Consider a Clone Spell to enhance their effectiveness.

Defensive Maneuvers

Fortify your defenses against Lava Hound attacks:

Air Defense Placement

• Strategically spread out Air Defenses to force attackers into dangerous zones.

Single-Target Inferno Tower

• Employ at least one single-targeting Inferno Tower for efficient Lava Hound elimination.

Clan Castle Defender

• Deploy Lava Hounds as Clan Castle troops for their high hitpoints and pup-spawning capabilities.

Upgrade Progression

Witness the transformation of the Lava Hound as it levels up, with visual changes becoming increasingly menacing.

Statistics of Lava Hound

Preferred Target	Attack Type	Housing Space	Movement Speed	Attack Speed	Dark Barracks Level Required	Range
Air Defense	Melee (Ground Only)	30	20	2s	6	1 tile

Level	Damage per Second	Damage per Hit	Damage Upon Death	Lava Pups Spawned (After Death)	Hitpoints	Research Cost	Research Time	Laboratory Level Required
1	10	20	100	8	6,100	N/A	N/A	N/A
2	12	24	150	10	6,500	35,000	2d 12h	7
3	14	28	200	12	6,800	50,000	4d 6h	8
4	16	32	250	14	7,200	85,000	6d 6h	9
5	18	36	300	16	7,600	120,000	9d	10
6	20	40	350	18	8,000	160,000	9d 12h	11

Super Troop Boost

Super Troop	Boost Cost	Lava Hound Level Required
Ice Hound	25,000	5

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History

Patch	Type	Description
September 11, 2014	Sneak Peek	Announced the Lava Hound in the sneak peek, with 3 levels.
September 16, 2014	Update	Added the Lava Hound.
September 9, 2015	Update	Lava Hounds no longer attack flying troops, even as a defending Clan Castle troop.
December 19, 2015	Optional Update	Fixed a crash when fighting Lava Hounds near the edge of the map.
May 4, 2016	Balance Changes	Reduced Lava Hound’s training time from 45 minutes to 15 minutes.
May 18, 2016	Sneak Peek	Announced the level 4 Lava Hound.
May 24, 2016	Update	Added the level 4 Lava Hound.
December 19, 2016	Update	Changed Lava Hound’s icon and info image.
December 18, 2017	Update	Increased hitpoints at levels 1-3.Level 1: 5,700 -> 6,100 Level 2: 6,200 -> 6,500 Level 3: 6,700 -> 6,800
June 8, 2018	Sneak Peek	Announced the level 5 Lava Hound.
June 11, 2018	Update	Added the level 5 Lava Hound.
June 26, 2018	Balance Changes	Reduced Lava Hound’s upgrade times at level 2-4.Level 2: 10d -> 6d 12h Level 3: 12d -> 8d Level 4: 14d -> 11d 12h
October 23, 2018	Update	Reduced Gem donation cost of Lava Hound from 30 to 20 Gems.
December 9, 2019	Update	Decreased the explosion upon death radius from 5 tiles to 3.5 tiles.
March 30, 2020	Update	Fixed flawed graphics offset for Lava Hound.
June 18, 2020	Sneak Peek	Announced the level 6 Lava Hound.
June 22, 2020	Update	Added the level 6 Lava Hound.
October 12, 2020	Update	Reduced upgrade costs at level 2 and 4.Level 2: 60,000 -> 50,000 Level 4: 150,000 -> 125,000 Reduced upgrade times at level 2-4.Level 2: 6d 12h -> 5d Level 3: 8d -> 6d 12h Level 4: 11d 12h -> 9d
April 12, 2021	Update	Lava Hounds no longer permanently forget about targeting Air Defenses if all the remaining Air Defenses are invisible when they’re targeting.

Lava Hound Gallery

Lava Hound Trivia

1. Sneak Peek Secrets
   • The sneak peek image of the CoC Lava Hound’s head reveals the words “I smell fireworks,” hinting at the explosive nature of Air Defenses’ warheads.
2. Max Army Camp Capacity
   • A complete set of fully upgraded Army Camps can house up to 10 Lava Hounds. Adding a level 5 or higher Clan Castle allows for an additional Lava Hound, bringing the maximum to 11. With Clone Spells, you can theoretically deploy 15 Lava Hounds, but practicality due to their low DPS is questionable.
3. Resemblance to Korath
   • At levels 5 and 6, the CoC Lava Hound bears a striking resemblance to Korath from Backyard Monsters.
4. Lava Hound’s Family Ties
   • In “The Last Lava Pup,” it’s confirmed that the Lava Hound is male and the father of Lava Pups.
5. Comparison to Golem
   • Often compared to the Golem, the Lava Hound shares similarities in stats and concept, such as high health, low damage, and the ability to spawn subtroops upon defeat.
6. Screen-Shy Lava Hound
   • Clicking on an Army Camp causes the Lava Hound to turn away from the screen, adding a touch of character.
7. Fireball Shooting, No Area Damage
   • Despite shooting fireballs, the Lava Hound does not inflict area damage.
8. Lava Pups’ Upgrade Mechanism
   • Contrary to Clash Royale, upgrading the CoC Lava Hound does not enhance the stats of Lava Pups; their quantity increases instead.
9. Size Matters
   • The level 5 Lava Hound, enlarged in 2018, holds the title of the largest troop in the game, tying with Heroes.

Lava Hound Comparisons

Stats and Rankings

1. Hit Points and DPS
   • At level 6, the Lava Hound boasts the second-highest hit points among regular troops, surpassed only by the level 11 Golem. However, its DPS per housing space is the lowest among regular troops.
2. Preferred Target Stages
   • The Lava Hound shares the unique trait of having three preferred target stages with the Headhunter (if heroes and Clan Castle troops are present) and the Ice Hound.
3. Specific Preferred Target
   • Alongside the Ice Hound, the Lava Hound prioritizes Air Defense as its specific preferred target.
4. Ground-Exclusive Targeting
   • In the Home Village, the Lava Hound, Ice Hound, Healer, Balloon, and Rocket Balloon are the exclusive air troops that can only target ground units.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Master the art of deploying and countering the Lava Hound for unparalleled success on the Clash of Clans battlefield. Whether you’re soaring through the skies or fortifying your defenses, the Lava-Hound is a key player in your strategy.