Top Lava Hound Decks in Clash Royale

The Lava Hound, a Legendary air troop in Clash Royale, is renowned for its massive health pool of 3581 HP at tournament levels, making it a formidable win condition. While it deals minimal damage, its true strength lies in its ability to spawn six Lava Pups upon destruction, which can target anything within range. Over time, as new cards have been introduced, Lava Hound decks have evolved, yet they remain a solid choice for climbing the competitive ladder. Here, we explore how Lava Hound decks function and highlight some of the best decks to try in the current meta.

How Does a Lava Hound Deck Work?

Lava Hound decks operate similarly to Beatdown Decks, but instead of using a Giant or Golem, they leverage the Lava Hound as the primary win condition. These decks often include a mix of air troops for support, with minimal ground units to defend or distract the opponent's cards. The strategy typically involves placing the Lava Hound at the back of the King Tower to build a powerful push, sometimes at the cost of sacrificing a tower. These decks are slow and methodical, requiring players to be patient and strategic in their approach.

Historically, Lava Hound decks have maintained a strong win and usage rate across all skill levels, akin to Log Bait decks. Their popularity surged with the introduction of the Royal Chef, a champion building that can level up troops, synergizing exceptionally well with the Lava Hound. If you have the Royal Chef unlocked, it's highly recommended to use it as your Tower Troop when running a Lava Hound deck.

Best Lava Hound Decks in Clash Royale

Here are three top Lava Hound decks to consider in the current Clash Royale meta:

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

Let's delve into each of these decks:

LavaLoon Valkyrie

The LavaLoon Valkyrie deck is a popular choice, combining two powerful flying win conditions. With an average elixir cost of 4.0, it's not the cheapest, but it offers a quicker cycle compared to other Lava Hound decks. Here are the cards you'll need:

The Evo Valkyrie serves as a mini-tank, effectively dealing with swarm troops like the Skeleton Army or Goblin Gang, while also tanking hits from X-Bow decks. Guards provide ground DPS against units like Pekka or Hog Rider, offering excellent value due to their durability. The strategy involves deploying the Lava Hound at the back and the Balloon at the bridge once the Lava Hound reaches it, aiming to ensure the Balloon reaches its target. The Inferno Dragon handles high-HP units like Golem or Giant, while Evo Zap and Fireball manage enemy towers or troops. Skeleton Dragons can push the Balloon forward or out of range of enemy buildings.

Lava Hound Double Dragon

The introduction of evolution cards shifted the meta, but most Lava Hound decks remained largely unchanged. However, the Lava Hound Double Dragon deck stands out. Here are the cards you'll need:

The Evo Bomber adds significant damage to the tower when used strategically, while the Evo Goblin Cage can stop most win conditions, including the Royal Giant. Guards provide ground DPS support, and the absence of a Balloon means you must break through with the Lava Hound alone. The Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons offer air support, and Lightning and Arrows help manage defensive troops and swarms, respectively. Arrows are particularly useful for spell cycling later in the game.

Lava Lightning Prince

The Lava Lightning Prince deck may not be the strongest, but it's a good starting point for those new to the archetype. Despite its higher elixir cost, it's easy to play due to its strong meta cards. Here are the cards you'll need:

The Evo Valkyrie, with its tornado effect, is ideal for Lava Hound decks, pulling in both air and ground troops. Evo Skeletons provide versatile DPS, and the Prince adds a secondary pressure point with its charge damage. Skeleton Dragons handle swarms, while the Inferno Dragon manages tanks. Start your push with the Lava Hound behind the King Tower, timing it to benefit from the Royal Chef's level-up buff. You can replace the Prince with a Mini-Pekka for a lower elixir cost.

Lava Hound decks require patience and a strategic approach, focusing on building overwhelming pushes rather than quick cycles. The decks mentioned provide a solid foundation, but experimenting with different card combinations can help you find what best suits your playstyle.