Clash Royale: Best Lava Hound Decks

The Lava Hound, a legendary air troop in Clash Royale, targets enemy buildings. Boasting a substantial 3581 HP at tournament levels, its damage output is minimal. However, its demise unleashes six Lava Pups, attacking any nearby targets. This massive health pool makes the Lava Hound a top-tier win condition.

Lava Hound deck compositions have evolved with new card releases, remaining a viable win condition. The right card synergy can propel you to the top of the leaderboards. Here are some of the best 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, but instead of Giants or Golems, the Lava Hound is the primary win condition. Support typically includes air troops, with one or two ground units for defense or distraction. The strategy often involves a massive push from the back, potentially sacrificing tower health for a trade advantage. This methodical approach requires patience and calculated risks.

The Lava Hound's consistent win rate across skill levels mirrors 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 any Lava Hound deck.

Top Lava Hound Decks:

LavaLoon Valkyrie

A popular choice, this deck utilizes both aerial win conditions. Its 4.0 elixir cost is higher than average, but its faster cycle compensates.

Valkyrie and Guards serve as ground troops. Valkyrie handles swarms (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang) and tanks for X-Bow decks. Guards provide sustained DPS against units like Pekka or Hog Rider. The Lava Hound and Balloon are deployed together; the Hound tanks for the Balloon's attack on the tower. Inferno Dragon counters high-HP units like Golem or Giant. Evo Zap resets towers/troops, and Fireball targets counters like Musketeer or directly damages the tower. Skeleton Dragons support the Balloon push.

Lava Hound Double Dragon

Evolution cards significantly impacted the meta, but the Lava Hound Double Dragon deck stands out.

The Evo Bomber inflicts significant tower damage, while the Evo Goblin Cage counters almost any win condition (except Lightning or Rocket). Guards provide DPS and tower defense. Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons provide air support. Lightning eliminates defensive troops/buildings, and Arrows handle swarms. Arrows' higher damage than Log or Snowball allows for later-game spell cycling.

Lava Lightning Prince

A potentially strong starter deck, featuring meta-defining cards.

Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect pulls in both 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 upgrade. Prince can be replaced with Mini-Pekka for a lower elixir cost.

Lava Hound decks require adaptation, especially for cycle deck players. Their slower, methodical approach prioritizes overwhelming pushes from the back. These decks provide a solid foundation, but experimentation with card combinations is key to finding your optimal playstyle.