Best TH9 Base Layouts 2026

How to Execute

1. 1

   Scout the base and identify which Air Defense is most accessible along a base edge — the Queen Walk targets this side, so it must have clear pathing without X-Bow coverage near the perimeter

2. 2

   Deploy 4 Healers first along the chosen base edge, then immediately drop the Archer Queen directly behind them

3. 3

   Let the Queen Walk for 60–90 seconds: she destroys the Air Defense and any nearby Archer Towers, Cannons, and X-Bows on that base side

4. 4

   Trigger the Queen's Royal Cloak ability when her HP drops below one-third — the ability restores a portion of her HP and summons Archers

5. 5

   While the Queen walks, lure Clan Castle troops using a Balloon on the opposite side — kill them with Poison Spell away from the Lava Hound deployment zone

6. 6

   Once Queen Walk ends, release Lava Hound 1 from the cleaned base edge toward the nearest remaining Air Defense

7. 7

   Deploy Lava Hound 2 from the opposite edge toward the second remaining Air Defense simultaneously

8. 8

   Wait until both Hounds are clearly tanking, then release the full Balloon formation behind them spread across the base width

9. 9

   Drop Rage Spell on the Balloon cluster when they converge near the final untanked Air Defense or the Town Hall area

10. 10

    Drop Haste Spells on Balloon groups stalling between defenses or on wall segments

How to Counter It

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  Single-target Inferno Tower on the Queen Walk side burns through Healer regeneration faster than the Queen can sustain — she must use her ability early, limiting how far the walk extends

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  Seeking Air Mines placed beside Air Defense buildings on the base perimeter damage Healers directly, forcing them out of healing range and ending the Queen Walk prematurely

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  Spread all four Air Defenses into separate base quadrants — Queen Walk can only remove one or two, and remaining Air Defenses in separate positions means Lava Hounds face active anti-air from multiple angles

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  Clan Castle Dragon diverts the Lava Hound from its intended Air Defense path, breaking the simultaneous parking timing the LavaLoon follow-up relies on

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  Wizard Towers along the base edge that the Queen walks cover Air Defense approach corridors and deal consistent damage to Healers over time

How to Execute

1. 1

   Lure Clan Castle troops using a single Hog Rider on the base edge — kill them with Poison Spell and the Barbarian King ability before the main army deploys

2. 2

   Create the funnel: deploy 3 Wizards on the far left corner buildings and 3 Wizards on the far right corner buildings of your planned attack side — clear both corners completely before placing the Golem

3. 3

   Deploy the Golem in the center of the cleared funnel opening — it absorbs all Mortar and X-Bow fire immediately

4. 4

   Use 2 Wall Breakers to open the first wall ring behind the Golem

5. 5

   Deploy all Hog Riders in a line directly behind the Golem simultaneously — they jump over the opened wall and spread to surrounding defenses automatically

6. 6

   Jump Spell over the second wall ring to keep Hogs and the Golem advancing together rather than splitting

7. 7

   Drop Healing Spell 1 on the Hog pack when they cluster under concentrated X-Bow and Inferno fire near the base center

8. 8

   Healing Spell 2 saved for the Hog cluster at the Town Hall compartment where final defenses concentrate

9. 9

   Rage Spell on the Golem and remaining Hog cluster when they enter the TH area for the 3-star push

How to Counter It

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  Double Giant Bomb pairs in the direct corridor between two consecutive defenses detonate the entire Hog group in one explosion — the single most efficient GoHog counter at TH9

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  X-Bow set to ground mode positioned to cover the main Golem approach corridor fires at both Golems and Hogs simultaneously as they advance

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  Irregular base compartments with no obvious straight Hog pathing corridors force Hogs to travel around corners instead of in straight lines, slowing their sweep and extending exposure to X-Bow fire

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  Clan Castle Witch inside the base creates skeleton distractions that redirect Hog Rider targeting away from defenses mid-sweep

How to Execute

1. 1

   Lure CC troops using a Barbarian — kill them with Poison Spell and Barbarian King ability before the main army

2. 2

   Build the funnel: deploy 2 Wizards on the far left corner and 2 Wizards on the far right corner of your chosen attack angle — let them burn both corners completely

3. 3

   Deploy Golem 1 slightly left of center and Golem 2 slightly right of center in the funnel — dual Golems split defensive attention across both base halves

4. 4

   Use 3 Wall Breakers to open the main wall ring between the two Golems

5. 5

   Send all Bowlers through the opened wall in a horizontal line directly behind the Golems — their boulders bounce ahead of the army through the base

6. 6

   Deploy all Witches behind the Bowlers — skeletons spawn continuously ahead of the army and distract single-target buildings throughout the sweep

7. 7

   First Jump Spell over the second wall ring to keep the full army advancing without stalling on walls

8. 8

   Rage Spell on the Bowler and Witch cluster at the base center for maximum damage throughput

9. 9

   Second Jump Spell over the TH compartment ring — essential for keeping the army together for the 3-star push

10. 10

    Barbarian King ability at the TH area if he reaches critical HP before the Town Hall falls

How to Counter It

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  Skeleton Trap near the Town Hall releases skeletons that Bowler boulders target instead of defenses — wasting bounces on targets that die instantly and preventing damage to key buildings

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  X-Bow and Inferno Tower combination positioned to cover the main Golem approach shreds Golems faster than any healing can compensate at TH9

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  Irregular base shapes — L-shaped compartments, asymmetric wall rings — confuse Golem pathing and prevent the clean straight-line push that Bowler boulders are optimized for

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  Inferno Tower (if carried in CC as a high-level defensive troop or available in base) burns through Golem HP steadily — Golems are the army's tank, and losing them early collapses the entire formation

How to Execute

1. 1

   Scout the base meticulously for Spring Trap indicators — this is non-negotiable for Hog attacks; a single unseen Double Giant Bomb removes 8 Hogs instantly

2. 2

   Deploy one Hog Rider on the base edge to lure CC troops — kill them with Poison Spell and 2 Archers well away from the main Hog deployment point

3. 3

   Deploy the entire Hog pack in a single continuous line along the base edge with the most defenses concentrated in one area

4. 4

   Hogs spread automatically to individual defenses — the pack distributes itself and begins the sweep circuit

5. 5

   Drop Healing Spell 1 immediately when the pack encounters the first X-Bow or Inferno Tower — both deal concentrated fire

6. 6

   Watch for mass Hog disappearances between defenses — if 5+ vanish at once, a trap detonated; redirect remaining Hogs away from that corridor

7. 7

   Healing Spell 2 at the base center where defensive fire from multiple buildings overlaps

8. 8

   Rage Spell on the Hog cluster when they reach the final 3–4 defenses surrounding the Town Hall

9. 9

   Healing Spell 3 at the TH compartment if Hogs arrive with less than 50% HP

10. 10

    Deploy Archers to clean up non-defensive buildings after Hogs finish all defenses

How to Counter It

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  Double Giant Bomb pairs placed in the corridor between consecutive defenses are the most powerful Hog counter — two pairs in different locations force the attacker to either scout both or lose large numbers to one

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  Spring Traps between defenses on the outer ring launch Hogs before they can begin generating value from the Healing Spell

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  Two X-Bows set to ground-and-air mode cover the Hog sweep circuit from multiple angles simultaneously

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  Inferno Tower set to Multi-target is a hard counter to grouped Hog Riders — it deals area damage that bypasses the spacing Hogs naturally maintain between defenses