Top TH8 War Attacks

1. MASS HOGS

Strategies involving level 4 hogs (either mass hogs or goho) are the most effective and consistent way to 3 STAR enemy bases at TH8. Even level 3 hogs are a solid option for 3 STARRING mid to high TH8 opponents.

Basic Army Composition

~30 hogs + 5 in Clan Castle (CC)
6-10 Wizards
10-25 Archers (and sometimes some barbarians
3 Heal
1 Skeleton Spell in CC

Base Selection

Bases that are highly compartmentalized with an easy to lure CC and Barb King off to one side are ideal. Avoid bases with lots of space inside the walls to hide double giant bombs (DGBs - two giant bombs right next to each other.

Attack Strategy Overview

1. You must lure the enemy CC and kill it before the start of the attack. Use 1-2 hogs to lure, making sure all troops come out. Lure to a corner using archers or barbs, and kill with archers, 2-3 wizards, and possibly a poison spell.

2. If enemy Barb King is easy to engage, take him out next. 2 giants will lure him out, followed by 2-4 wizards and usually your Barb King.

3. Place hogs in 2-4 groups of 6 or more, targeting cannons, archer towers, and teslas first, then wizard towers.  Start on opposite side from Barb King if still alive.

4. Follow hogs and heal whenever a giant bomb appears, or if too many hogs are dying, especially when being targeted by a wizard tower.

5. Use poison and skeleton on enemy skeletons and/or Barb King.

6. Save at least 3 wizards and a few archers for cleanup. Spread as needed on side where hogs started and elsewhere.


2. GOHO

GOHO stands for Golem/Hog, and is used when the enemy bases has one or more areas inside it that could be hiding DGBs, when the enemy CC is hard to lure, and/or when the Barb King is in the core of the base.

Basic Army Composition 

2 Golem
17 Hogs
9-10 Wizards
2 Wallbreakers
2 Heal
3 Earthquake + 1 in CC
2 Witches in CC, or sometimes 5 Hogs.

Base Selection

Good for bases with a large central area with a couple obvious DGB spots and smaller compartments around the outside.

Attack Strategy Overview

1. Select an a place to go in that will trigger the CC and engage the Barb King as quickly as possible. Pick an area to drop your quakes that will allow for the deepest penetration by your golems possible, and cause golems or Barb King to trigger possible giant bomb spots. If chosen point of entry is far from CC, you may want to lure CC first.

2. Drop all 4 quakes in the same spot. You do not have to break the outermost wall, but you want to break the 2nd layer. If you break the outermost wall you do not need to bring any wallbreakers.

3. Drop your golems about 10 spaces apart with a row of 5-6 wizards behind. Wizards should take out at least 3-4 outer buildings.

4. Drop wallbreakers in the center of the attaack, avoiding mortar fire.

5. Drop witches, Barb King, and all but 1-2 remaining wizards behind wallbreakers so they go in to the base.

6. Wait until enemy Barb King and CC is engaged. Drop hogs in 2-3 groups on one side of where your other troops went in, relieving some of the fire they are taking.

7. Heal hogs and other troops together with first heal if possible. Use second heal when needed.

8. Place last 1-2 wizards for cleanup or to help take out final defense that is being distracted by golem or hogs.


3. DRAGONS

Mass Dragons are the first 3 STAR war army you should work on upgrading at TH8 since they can be maxed more quickly than most other war armies. Your CC and Dragons should be upgraded first, followed by lightning spell, earthquake unlock, and rage.

Basic Army Composition

10 Dragons
2 Lightning + 1 Earthquake
1 Rage
5 Balloons + Haste in CC

Base Selection

Bases with air defenses closer to the outside are better for dragons. Those with air defenses closer to the core, especially if they have empty space between core air defenses and outer buildings designed to force dragons around the perimeter, are considered anti-dragon and should be avoided.

Attack Strategy Overview

1. Consider the location and level of air defenses and location and direction of the sweeper when deciding where to go in. Choose an area where you can take out 2 ADs with your troops as quickly as possible.

2. Use 2 lightning + 1 quake to take out the AD you will not be targeting with dragons, or 3 lightning if using level 4 lightning against level 6 AD (against level 5 AD 2 lightning 1 quake works, but it must be a level 4+ quake in your CC.

3. Place 1-2 dragons on each side of where you intended to deploy your main force, about 5 buildings apart. Place them so they turn inward after destroying their first building. This creates a funnel that will make your dragons go toward the center of the base instead of around the outside.

4. Deploy the rest of your dragons between the out dragons.

5. Rage the largest group of dragons once they start getting shot at by an AD in order to take out the AD and enemy CC as quickly as possible.

6. Use loons and haste to target AD that you are not targeting the bulk of your dragons and rage.

7. Use your Barb King to take out outer buildings on one side when your dragons start to stray so they head back toward the center of the base.


4. GoWiPe, GoWiWi, GoVaWi

These Golem/Wizard attacks feature either PEKKAs, Valks, or Witches, and are solid strategies once you learn them, but are somewhat less consistent 3 STAR strategies than well executed hog or dragon attacks.

Basic Army Compositions: 

GoWiPe
2 Golem + 2 Pekka (or in some cases 1+3)
14-18 Wizards
4-8 Wallbreakers
CC Pekka, Witches, Bowlers or possibly Hogs
Usually 2 Rage 1 Heal, sometimes 1 Rage 1 Heal 4 Quake

GoVaWi
2 Golem
10-11 Valks
9-10 Wizards
2 Wallbreakers
2 Heal
4 Quake
CC Witches, Valks, or Hogs, or Bowlers

GoWiWi
3 Golem
18-22 Wizards
4-6 Wallbreakers
2 Heal 4 Quake
CC Witches

Base Selection

Bases with lots of defenses on the outer perimeter are particularly good for GoVaWi, using witches in the CC. GoWiPe is good for bases that you can rage through a tightly packed core and reach most of the defenses from the core.

Attack Strategy Overview

1. All these strategies work fairly similar to GoHo, with golems first to distract, wizards to create a funnel, wallbreakers to make an entrance or two, and then your main attack force.

2. With Valks in particular, wait until the enemy CC has been killed to deploy, especially if the enemy CC contains dragons, minions, or balloons.

3. Save 2-3 wizards and possibly a few barbs or archers for later in the attack when reinforcements are needed to finish the last couple defenses or clean up remaining buildings.