Clash Royale Lava Hound Decks: A Comprehensive Guide

The Lava Hound, a legendary air troop in Clash Royale, is a formidable win condition due to its massive health pool (3581 HP at tournament levels). While its damage output is minimal, its death triggers the spawning of six damaging Lava Pups. The introduction of new cards has significantly evolved Lava Hound deck strategies over time. This guide explores the effectiveness of Lava Hound decks and presents three top-tier options for the current Clash Royale meta.

How Lava Hound Decks Function

Lava Hound decks operate as Beatdown decks, but instead of relying on Giants or Golems, they utilize the Lava Hound as their primary win condition. Support typically consists of various air troops, complemented by one or two ground units for defense and distraction.

The strategy centers on overwhelming pushes, deploying the Lava Hound at the back to target the King Tower, even at the cost of temporary tower damage. This methodical approach requires calculated sacrifices to secure favorable trades. The Lava Hound's consistent win rate across skill levels has been further enhanced by the addition of the Royal Chef, whose ability to upgrade troops synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound. Unlocking the Royal Chef makes it an ideal Tower Troop for any Lava Hound deck.

Top Lava Hound Decks

Here are three leading Lava Hound deck compositions currently thriving in Clash Royale:

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

Detailed breakdowns of each deck follow.

LavaLoon Valkyrie

This popular deck combines two powerful flying win conditions. While its average elixir cost of 4.0 isn't the lowest, its faster cycle compared to other Lava Hound decks makes it highly effective.

Card Composition:

The Valkyrie and Guards serve crucial ground defense roles. The Valkyrie counters swarm troops (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 for a powerful push, with the Hound providing tank support for the Balloon to reach the tower. The Inferno Dragon handles high-HP units, while Evo Zap and Fireball offer tactical control and tower damage. Skeleton Dragons provide additional support and can reposition the Balloon.

Lava Hound Double Dragon

This deck leverages evolution cards to maximize damage and defensive capabilities.

Card Composition:

The Evo Bomber delivers significant tower damage, while the Evo Goblin Cage effectively counters most win conditions. Guards continue their ground support role. The absence of a Balloon necessitates strategic Lava Hound pushes. The Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons provide air support, and Lightning and Arrows offer versatile spell options. Arrows' higher damage compared to Log or Snowball allows for effective spell cycling.

Lava Lightning Prince

This deck, while not the most powerful, is a good starting point for players new to this archetype. It uses several meta-defining cards.

Card Composition:

The Evo Valkyrie's tornado effect and Evo Skeletons offer strong support. The Prince provides additional offensive pressure, and the Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons continue their air support roles. The push strategy remains similar to the LavaLoon deck. The Prince can be substituted with a Mini-Pekka for a lower elixir cost.

Conclusion

Mastering Lava Hound decks requires patience and strategic thinking. Their slower, methodical approach contrasts with cycle decks, focusing on overwhelming pushes. Experimentation with different card combinations is key to finding the perfect fit for your playstyle. The decks outlined above offer a strong foundation for success in Clash Royale.