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 its low 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.

Lava Hound Deck Strategies:

Lava Hound decks generally operate as Beatdown decks, utilizing the Lava Hound as the primary win condition instead of units like the Giant or Golem. They typically incorporate several air support troops and one or two ground units for defense and distraction. The strategy often involves a slow, methodical push, deploying the Lava Hound at the back, even at the cost of some tower health. This approach prioritizes a powerful, overwhelming attack. The Royal Chef's ability to upgrade troops synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound, significantly boosting its effectiveness.

Top-Tier Lava Hound Decks:

Three prominent Lava Hound decks currently dominating Clash Royale are:

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

Deck Breakdown:

LavaLoon Valkyrie

This popular deck utilizes both air win conditions. Its average elixir cost of 4.0 allows for a faster cycle compared to other Lava Hound decks.

The Valkyrie serves as a mini-tank against swarm troops, while Guards provide ground DPS against stronger units. The Lava Hound and Balloon are deployed together for a powerful push, with the Hound acting as a tank for the Balloon. Inferno Dragon handles high-HP air units, Evo Zap resets towers/troops, and Fireball provides burst damage. Skeleton Dragons support the Balloon's advance.

Lava Hound Double Dragon

This deck leverages the Evo Bomber for significant tower damage and the Evo Goblin Cage as a potent counter to various win conditions.

Guards provide defensive support, while the Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons handle air threats. Lightning clears enemy defenses, and Arrows address swarms. The lack of a Balloon necessitates a different approach to breaking through enemy defenses with the Lava Hound.

Lava Lightning Prince

A more accessible deck, featuring strong meta cards.

Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect controls both air and ground troops. Evo Skeletons provide DPS. The Prince offers an additional offensive push, while Skeleton Dragons and Inferno Dragon handle air threats. The push strategy remains similar to the other decks, aiming to utilize the Royal Chef's buff. Mini-Pekka can replace the Prince for a lower elixir cost.

Lava Hound decks require a different approach than cycle decks, prioritizing sustained pushes from the back. Experimentation with card combinations is crucial to find the optimal strategy for individual playstyles.