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 inflicts minimal damage, its true power lies in its death spawn of six Lava Pups, which target anything within range. Over the years, as new cards have been introduced, Lava Hound decks have evolved, yet they remain a solid win condition capable of propelling players to the top of the ladder. Here, we explore some of the best Lava Hound decks tailored for the current Clash Royale meta.

How Does a Lava Hound Deck Work?

Lava Hound decks operate similarly to Beatdown Decks, with the Lava Hound serving as the primary win condition instead of the Giant or Golem. These decks often incorporate a mix of air troops for support, complemented by one or two ground units to defend or distract the opponent's cards. The strategy involves launching a powerful push by deploying the Lava Hound at the back of the King Tower, sometimes at the cost of sacrificing a tower. These decks are methodical and slow-paced, requiring strategic trades of tower health to secure victory.

Lava Hound decks have consistently 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, whose ability to level up troops synergizes exceptionally well with the Lava Hound. If you have this champion unlocked, utilizing it as your Tower Troop is highly recommended when running a Lava Hound deck.

Best Lava Hound Decks in Clash Royale

Below are three of the best Lava Hound decks currently dominating the Clash Royale meta:

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

LavaLoon Valkyrie

The LavaLoon Valkyrie deck stands out as one of the most popular Lava Hound decks, combining two formidable 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.

This deck employs Valkyrie and Guards as its ground troops, each fulfilling specific roles. The Evo Valkyrie serves as a mini-tank and is effective against swarm units 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 sustained value due to their durability.

To maximize this deck's potential, combine the Lava Hound and Balloon in a single push. Start with the Lava Hound at the back, then place the Balloon on the bridge when the Lava Hound reaches it. The Lava Hound acts as a tank, ensuring the Balloon can reach its target. A single Balloon hit can often be the deciding factor in a match.

The Inferno Dragon is a key air DPS unit, capable of dealing with high-HP units like Golem or Giant. For spells, Evo Zap resets enemy towers or troops, while Fireball eliminates counters like Musketeer or directly damages the enemy tower. 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 Clash Royale meta, but most Lava Hound decks remained largely unchanged in gameplay. However, the Lava Hound Double Dragon deck stands out with its unique approach.

While the Lava Hound remains the primary win condition, the Evo Bomber can deal significant damage to towers if used strategically. The Evo Goblin Cage can halt nearly any win condition, including the Royal Giant, making it difficult for opponents to break through without cards like Lightning or Rocket.

Guards provide ground DPS support and protect the tower from ground troops. Without a Balloon, breaking through with the Lava Hound becomes crucial for winning matchups. Air support is maintained with the familiar combination of Inferno Dragon and Skeleton Dragons.

For spells, Lightning targets defensive troops or buildings, dealing substantial damage to towers, while Arrows clear swarms or units defending your push. Arrows can also be used for spell cycling later in the game due to their higher damage compared to Log or Snowball.

Lava Lightning Prince

The Lava Lightning Prince deck may not be the strongest, but it serves as a solid starter deck for those new to the Lava Hound archetype. Despite its heavier elixir cost, it's user-friendly, featuring some of the meta's strongest cards.

The Evo Valkyrie is considered the best evolution card for Lava Hound decks, creating a small tornado that pulls in both air and ground troops with each swing. Evo Skeletons provide versatile DPS, capable of handling most opponent units if not quickly removed.

The Prince adds a secondary pressure point, with its charge damage capable of taking out nearly anything on the field. A successful hit on the tower can be game-winning. Skeleton Dragons handle swarms, while the Inferno Dragon manages tanks or mini-tanks. Begin your push with the Lava Hound behind the King Tower, timing it to benefit from Royal Chef's level-up buff.

For a lower elixir cost, you can replace the Prince with Mini-Pekka.

Mastering Lava Hound decks can be challenging, especially for cycle deck players, as they require a slower, methodical approach focused on building an overwhelming push from the back. The decks outlined here provide a strong starting point, but experimenting with different card combinations to suit your playstyle is essential for success.