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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 massive 3581 HP (at tournament levels) makes it incredibly resilient, though its damage output is relatively low. The real power lies in its six Lava Pups, spawned upon its demise, which relentlessly attack any nearby targets. This combination of tankiness and devastating post-death effect solidifies the Lava Hound's position as a top-tier win condition.
Lava Hound deck strategies have evolved considerably with the introduction of new cards. However, its effectiveness remains undisputed. With the right supporting cast, a well-constructed Lava Hound deck can easily propel you to the top of the leaderboards. This guide explores some of the most effective Lava Hound decks currently dominating the Clash Royale meta.
Understanding Lava Hound Decks
Lava Hound decks operate primarily as Beatdown decks. Unlike Giant or Golem-centric strategies, they leverage the Lava Hound as their primary win condition. Support typically consists of air troops, with only one or two ground units for defense or distraction.
The core strategy involves a methodical, overwhelming push. A Lava Hound is deployed at the back, targeting the King Tower, even at the cost of temporary tower damage. These decks prioritize controlled aggression, often sacrificing tower health for advantageous trades.
The Lava Hound's consistent win rate across all skill levels mirrors that of Log Bait decks. However, its popularity surged with the arrival of the Royal Chef. The Chef's ability to upgrade troops synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound, making it a crucial inclusion in any Lava Hound deck featuring the unlocked champion.
Top-Tier Lava Hound Decks
Here are three leading Lava Hound decks currently thriving in Clash Royale:
- LavaLoon Valkyrie
- Lava Hound Double Dragon
- Lava Lightning Prince
Detailed breakdowns follow.
LavaLoon Valkyrie
This popular deck combines two powerful aerial win conditions. While its 4.0 average elixir cost isn't the lowest, its faster cycle distinguishes it from other Lava Hound decks.
Card Lineup:
The Valkyrie and Guards provide crucial ground support. The Valkyrie acts as a mini-tank, countering swarm troops (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang), and effectively tanking for X-Bow decks. Guards offer sustained DPS against units like Pekka or Hog Rider.
The Lava Hound and Balloon are deployed together for maximum impact. The Hound tanks while the Balloon pushes towards the tower. Even a single Balloon hit can significantly impact the outcome.
Inferno Dragon excels against high-HP units (Golem, Giant). Evo Zap resets towers/troops, and Fireball eliminates counters (Musketeer) or directly damages the tower. Skeleton Dragons provide additional support, pushing the Balloon forward or out of range.
Lava Hound Double Dragon
The evolution cards revolutionized Clash Royale, but many Lava Hound decks saw minimal changes. The Lava Hound Double Dragon deck is an exception.
Card Lineup:
The Evo Bomber delivers substantial tower damage when strategically deployed. The Evo Goblin Cage counters almost any win condition (including Royal Giant), proving extremely difficult to overcome unless countered by Lightning or Rocket. Guards provide DPS and tower defense.
The absence of a Balloon necessitates a different approach to breaking through with the Lava Hound. The Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons provide air support. Lightning eliminates defensive troops/buildings and inflicts significant tower damage, while Arrows handle swarms and defensive units. Arrows' higher damage compared to Log or Snowball makes them valuable for later-game cycling.
Lava Lightning Prince
This deck, while not the strongest, serves as an excellent starting point. It utilizes powerful meta cards and is relatively easy to play.
Card Lineup:
The Evo Valkyrie is a top choice for Lava Hound decks. Its evolved form creates a small tornado, pulling in both air and ground troops. Evo Skeletons offer DPS. The Prince provides secondary tower pressure, capable of eliminating units and inflicting significant tower damage. Skeleton Dragons and Inferno Dragon handle air threats. The push begins with the Lava Hound, ideally timed to benefit from the Royal Chef's upgrade. The Prince can be substituted with a Mini-Pekka for a lower elixir cost.
Conclusion
Mastering Lava Hound decks requires practice, particularly for players accustomed to cycle decks. The slower, methodical approach, focusing on a powerful back-line push, differs significantly from rapid-fire strategies. The decks presented here offer a solid foundation, but experimentation with different card combinations is crucial to find the perfect fit for your playstyle.
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