The Lava Hound, a legendary air troop in Clash Royale, targets enemy buildings. Boasting a formidable 3581 HP at tournament levels, its damage output is minimal. However, its death unleashes six Lava Pups, attacking anything within range. This substantial health pool makes the Lava Hound a top-tier win condition.
Lava Hound deck compositions have significantly evolved with new card introductions, remaining a powerful win condition. The right card synergy can propel you to the top of the ladder. Here are some of the most effective current Lava Hound decks:
- LavaLoon Valkyrie
- Lava Hound Double Dragon
- Lava Lightning Prince
How Lava Hound Decks Function:
Lava Hound decks employ a Beatdown strategy, substituting the Giant or Golem with the Lava Hound as the primary win condition. Support typically includes various air troops, supplemented by one or two ground units for defense or distraction.
These decks prioritize overwhelming pushes, deploying the Lava Hound behind the King Tower, even at the cost of a tower. Their methodical, slow-paced approach often involves sacrificing tower health for advantageous trades. The Lava Hound's consistent win rate and usage across skill levels mirror that of Log Bait decks. Its popularity surged with the introduction of the Royal Chef, whose ability to upgrade troops synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound. If unlocked, the Royal Chef should be your Tower Troop in a Lava Hound deck.
Top Lava Hound Decks in Clash Royale:
LavaLoon Valkyrie
A popular choice, the LavaLoon Valkyrie deck utilizes two flying win conditions. Its 4.0 average elixir cost is higher than some alternatives, but it boasts faster cycling.
Card Name | Elixir Cost |
---|---|
Evo Zap | 2 |
Evo Valkyrie | 4 |
Guards | 3 |
Fireball | 4 |
Skeleton Dragons | 4 |
Inferno Dragon | 4 |
Balloon | 5 |
Lava Hound | 7 |
The Evo Valkyrie serves as a mini-tank against swarm troops (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang), and also counters X-Bow decks. Guards provide ground DPS against units like Pekka or Hog Rider. The Lava Hound and Balloon are deployed together; the Hound tanks for the Balloon, aiming for tower hits. Inferno Dragon counters high-HP units (Golem, Giant). Evo Zap resets towers/troops, and Fireball eliminates counters (Musketeer) or directly damages towers. Skeleton Dragons push the Balloon forward or out of range.
Lava Hound Double Dragon
The introduction of Evolution cards significantly impacted the meta, but most Lava Hound decks adapted minimally. The Lava Hound Double Dragon deck is an exception.
Card Name | Elixir Cost |
---|---|
Evo Bomber | 2 |
Evo Goblin Cage | 4 |
Arrows | 3 |
Guards | 3 |
Skeleton Dragons | 4 |
Inferno Dragon | 4 |
Lightning | 6 |
Lava Hound | 7 |
The Evo Bomber inflicts significant tower damage, while the Evo Goblin Cage counters almost any win condition (except those countered by Lightning or Rocket). Guards provide DPS and tower defense. The absence of a Balloon necessitates different strategies for Lava Hound pushes. Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons provide air support. Lightning eliminates defensive troops/buildings and damages towers; Arrows handle swarms. Arrows' higher damage than Log or Snowball allows for later-game spell cycling.
Lava Lightning Prince
While not the strongest, this deck is a good starting point, utilizing powerful meta cards.
Card Name | Elixir Cost |
---|---|
Evo Skeletons | 1 |
Evo Valkyrie | 4 |
Arrows | 3 |
Skeleton Dragons | 4 |
Inferno Dragon | 4 |
Prince | 5 |
Lightning | 6 |
Lava Hound | 7 |
Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect pulls in air and ground troops. Evo Skeletons provide DPS. The Prince offers secondary tower pressure. Skeleton Dragons and Inferno Dragon provide air support. The push begins with the Lava Hound, ideally timed to benefit from the Royal Chef's level-up buff. Mini-Pekka can replace the Prince for a lower elixir cost.
Lava Hound decks require adaptation, especially for cycle deck players. Their slower, methodical approach focuses on overwhelming pushes from the back, rather than incremental tower damage. These decks provide a solid foundation; experiment with card combinations to find your optimal playstyle.