Clash Royale: Best Lava Hound Decks

The Lava Hound, a legendary air troop in Clash Royale, targets enemy buildings. Its high health (3581 HP at tournament levels) makes it a formidable win condition, despite minimal damage output. Upon death, it spawns six Lava Pups, adding further offensive pressure. The Lava Hound's effectiveness has led to the development of numerous deck variations over time.

The Evolution of Lava Hound Decks

While the Lava Hound remains a powerful win condition, deck compositions have evolved with new card releases. Strategic card combinations can propel players to the top of the leaderboards. This guide explores some of the most effective current Lava Hound decks.

Understanding Lava Hound Deck Strategies

Lava Hound decks generally employ a Beatdown strategy, utilizing the Lava Hound as the primary win condition instead of units like the Giant or Golem. They typically feature multiple air support troops and one or two ground units for defense and distraction.

These decks often prioritize a massive push, deploying the Lava Hound at the back, even at the cost of temporary tower damage. This methodical approach requires strategic sacrifices to secure victory. The Lava Hound's consistent win rate and usage across skill levels mirrors that of Log Bait decks. However, the introduction of the Royal Chef significantly boosted its popularity, as the Chef's ability to upgrade troops synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound. If unlocked, the Royal Chef should be your preferred Tower Troop when using a Lava Hound deck.

Top-Tier Lava Hound Decks

Three prominent Lava Hound decks currently dominate Clash Royale:

• LavaLoon Valkyrie
• Lava Hound Double Dragon
• Lava Lightning Prince

Detailed breakdowns of these decks follow.

LavaLoon Valkyrie

This popular deck combines two powerful flying win conditions. While its 4.0 elixir average cost isn't the lowest, it offers a faster cycle than other Lava Hound decks.

The Valkyrie and Guards serve as ground troops. The Valkyrie acts as a mini-tank against swarm units (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang), and also counters X-Bow decks. Guards provide sustained DPS against units like the Pekka or Hog Rider.

This deck utilizes a combined Lava Hound and Balloon push. Deploy the Lava Hound at the back, followed by the Balloon on the bridge once the Hound is in range. The Hound's tanking allows the Balloon to reach the tower, often proving decisive. The Inferno Dragon provides air DPS, countering high-HP units like Golem or Giant. Evo Zap resets towers/troops, and Fireball eliminates counters (Musketeer) or deals direct tower damage. Skeleton Dragons support the Balloon push.

Lava Hound Double Dragon

The introduction of Evolution cards significantly altered the meta, but many Lava Hound decks remained largely unchanged. However, the Lava Hound Double Dragon deck is a notable exception.

The Evo Bomber delivers substantial tower damage when used strategically. The Evo Goblin Cage counters almost any win condition (except those countered by Lightning or Rocket). Guards provide DPS and tower defense. The Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons provide air support. Lightning eliminates enemy troops/buildings, and Arrows counter swarms. Arrows' higher damage compared to Log or Snowball makes them valuable for later-game cycling.

Lava Lightning Prince

While not the strongest, the Lava Lightning Prince deck serves as an accessible entry point to this archetype. It utilizes powerful meta cards.

The Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect pulls in both air and ground troops. Evo Skeletons provide DPS. The Prince offers a secondary push option, dealing significant damage. Skeleton Dragons and Inferno Dragon provide air support. The push strategy is similar to the LavaLoon deck, aiming for a timed push to leverage the Royal Chef buff. The Prince can be replaced by a Mini-Pekka for a lower elixir cost.

Conclusion

Lava Hound decks require a different approach than cycle decks, emphasizing a slow, methodical push from the back. The decks presented here offer a strong starting point, but experimentation with card combinations is crucial to finding the best fit for individual playstyles.