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

Lava Hound decks function as Beatdown decks, utilizing the Lava Hound as the primary win condition, unlike Giant or Golem-based strategies. These decks typically incorporate various air support troops, with minimal ground units for defense or distraction. The core strategy involves a methodical push, deploying the Lava Hound at the back, even at the cost of tower health. This deliberate approach often necessitates sacrificing tower health for advantageous trades.

The Lava Hound's consistent performance across skill levels was further enhanced by the introduction of the Royal Chef. This champion building's troop-leveling ability synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound, making it a highly desirable Tower Troop in Lava Hound decks.

Top-Tier Lava Hound Decks

Here are three currently strong Lava Hound deck options:

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

Detailed breakdowns follow.

LavaLoon Valkyrie

This popular deck combines two powerful flying win conditions. Its 4.0 elixir cost is relatively high, but its faster cycle compared to other Lava Hound decks is a significant advantage.

The Valkyrie serves as a mini-tank against swarms (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang), and also counters X-Bow decks. Guards provide sustained ground DPS against units like Pekka or Hog Rider. The Lava Hound and Balloon are deployed together—the Hound tanks for the Balloon, maximizing its tower damage. Inferno Dragon handles high-HP air units, while Evo Zap and Fireball offer versatile spell support. Skeleton Dragons provide additional air support and can reposition the Balloon.

Lava Hound Double Dragon

This deck leverages the Evo Bomber for significant tower damage and the Evo Goblin Cage for strong defense against various win conditions (including Royal Giant).

Guards provide defensive support, while Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons offer air defense. Lightning clears enemy defenses and inflicts direct tower damage. Arrows handle swarms and provide spell cycling.

Lava Lightning Prince

This deck, while not the strongest, is a good starting point, featuring strong meta cards.

Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect pulls in both air and ground troops. Evo Skeletons provide additional DPS. The Prince offers a secondary win condition with his charge damage. Skeleton Dragons and Inferno Dragon provide air support. The push begins with the Lava Hound, ideally timed to benefit from the Royal Chef's buff. Mini-Pekka can replace the Prince for a lower elixir cost.

Conclusion

Lava Hound decks require a different approach than cycle decks, focusing on a slow, powerful push. Experimentation with different card combinations is crucial to finding the best strategy for your play style. These decks provide a solid foundation for mastering this powerful archetype.