Dragons

The Basics

Mass dragons have long been considered one of the top war strategies for TH7s and TH8s. Due to the increased number of air defenses (ADs) and air mines, they become less useful at TH9 and up, but can still be used successfully against bases with weak or poorly positioned air defense, for 3 starring lower THs, or for 1-2 star strategies against higher THs.

Funneling 

There's nothing worse than watching your dragons wander around the edge of a base you could have 3 starred burning down mines and barracks while getting shredded by archer towers and air defenses. It is the single biggest downfall of dragon attacks--but it's also not that hard to prevent. The trick, as with many attacks, is to make sure you create a good funnel. 

A funnel is created by first placing 1-2 dragons on each side of where you plan to launch your main attack, generally about 5-6 buildings apart. You want to let these dragons take out at least one building before spreading out the rest of your dragons between them. If placed well, the dragons used for funneling should turn inward after destroying their first building, joining the rest of your force. The funnel will then cause the dragons to head toward the core of the base rather than going around the outside.

It is also possible to use your hero(es) to create one or both sides of the funnel, but in most cases your heroes will be more effective if used later in the attack to keep dragons from straying or possibly even take out an air defense, so it is usually best to save them.

Plan for EVERY Air Defense 

If you're trying to 3 star with dragons, you can't just set them down and pray they'll make it through the base--that is typically a recipe for 2 stars at best. In order to 3 star, you need to have a plan to take out ALL the air defense as quickly as possible once your dragons get in range of them. 

There are a number of different strategies for dealing with ADs, much of which depends on where they are located.

• 3 lightning spells or 2 lightning + 1 earthquake depending on the level of your spells and the level of defense
• Balloons (preferably with a haste spell)
• Hogs 
• Heroes  
• Lava Hound (TH9 and up) 
• Rage/sending your dragons right at the defense

      ***More details on these strategies below***

Don't Forget the Sweepers

Your first consideration should be the ADs, but the location and direction of the air sweepers should play a part in determining where to launch your attack from. If you can manage to come at them from behind so they don't push your dragons around, it will definitely help your attack go more smoothly.

Lightning & Earthquake

• 3 lightning of any level take out a single AD. 
• 2 level 4 lightning + 1 level 4 quake will work on a level 5 AD
• 2 level 5 lightning + 1 quake of any level will work on a level 6 AD
• 2 level 5 lightning + 1 level 3+ quake will work on a level 7 AD
• 2 level 5 lightning + 1 level 4+ quake will work on a level 8 AD
• 2 level 6 lightning + 1 quake of any level works on level 8 AD
• If multiple ADs or other targets are right next to each other, a single lightning/earthquake combo can take out multiple targets
• If multiple ADs or other targets are within an 8 tile radius, a single earthquake can be used (this applies to TH9+ strategies that involve 4 lightning and 1 or more quake to take out 2 ADs

Balloons

The idea with balloons is typically to wait until a target AD has locked on a dragon (or possibly a hound for TH9+) and send in 3-6 balloons as close to the AD as possible, also taking sweepers and defenses that the balloons might target first into consideration. Ideally, the balloons should be aided by a haste spell, or possibly a rage spell if you can get your dragons in it as well. If the AD is in the core, you want to drop the loons earlier behind the center of your force. If it is on the side or back, wait and go in closer to the target.

For TH8s, the most common strategy is take max loons in your clan castle. For TH9+, it may be more beneficial to replace a dragon or two in your army, and take a max dragon or max hound in your clan castle.

Hogs

Hog support is only used for very select bases. For the strategy to work, the hogs generally need to target the air defense either first or second, and live long enough to get the job done.

It is important for your dragons to trigger the enemy clan castle before you send in any hogs. You may also want to use your heroes to distract defenses and the enemy heroes if necessary. And you don't want to use this strategy if there's a chance your hogs will get blown up by a giant bomb before taking out their primary target. Similar to loons, you want at least 4 per AD. Unlike loons, hogs are only used with the AD is closer to the edge of the base.

Heroes

Unless there's an AD you can get to without breaking through any walls, your Barb King alone won't be much help--meaning this is mostly a strategy for TH9+.  Drop the King first to soak up enemy fire and help take out outer buildings, with the Queen immediately behind. The AD needs to be within the Queen's range from outside the walls for this to work, otherwise you'll have to start adding jump spells or wallbreakers and other troops, and are probably better off with hogs or loons.

Lava Hound 

TH9s and up have the option of using lava hounds, which are good for triggering air mines and distracting ADs--but aren't very effective at taking out an AD on their own. The typical strategy here would be to take a max hound in your CC and time it so the first AD targeted by the hound is quickly destroyed by loons with haste or raging dragons. When executed well, the hound may survive long enough to briefly distract a 2nd AD, creating a small window to target it with loons as well.

Rage / Sending Your Dragons Right at the Defense

Most 3 star dragon strategies involve taking out 1 AD defense with a lightning/quake combo, and having a small squad of loons to take out another. At TH9+ you'll need to rely on your heroes for a 3rd if you can, and it's good to have 1 hound to distract, but whatever your level, this typically means that there's at least 1 AD you'll need to target with your dragons by sending them right at it, ideally aided by a rage spell to help them destroy it faster.

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Town Hall 8

At TH8, dragons are the first war army you should concentrate on maxing. This consists of getting level 3 dragons, then level 5 lightning, then unlocking earthquake, then getting level 5 rage. Level 5 balloons and level 3+ hogs can make useful support troops, but are not critical to the army. 

Standard Dragon Army (Max Troops)

10 Dragons 
2 Lightning
1 Rage
1 Earthquake
Clan Castle: Max Loons and Haste 


Town Hall 9

At TH9, mass dragon attacks give way to more consistent 3 star strategies involving hogs, valks, and hound/loon combos, so they're usually one of the last troops to be upgraded.

TH9s with level 3 dragons can easily run over TH8s with their extra spell slot, taking out 2 ADs before the attack begins with 4 lightning and 2 quake. They can also use a similar army to 1 star most TH10s when called upon to do so, but should basically never attack another TH9 with them. They are usually a 2 star attack at best even against the weakest TH9s, and are less consistent as a 2 star strategy than armies such as GoWiPe or GoWiWi. 

Standard Dragon Army (Max Troops)

10 Dragons 
4 Loons 
2 Lightning
2 Rage
1 Haste
Clan Castle: Max Hound and Quake

Alternative: 4 lightning, 2 quake (for taking out 2 ADs with this method). Replace CC hound with 6 loons, or 4 loons + baby dragon. 4 loons in army may be replaced with extra dragon. Use this against TH8s, and TH9s with AD that is harder to reach with heroes or other methods.


Town Hall 10

At TH10, there is a significant shift from 3 star attacks to 2 star attacks. 3 star attacks are still possible against other TH10s, but they are much rarer than 3 star attacks against TH9s and below. Dragons, therefore, become somewhat more useful as a 2 star strategy, or even the occasional 3 star strategy against the right base.

You will, however, need to consider the inferno towers before deciding to use dragons.

Infernos Set On Single

While infernos set on multi are something of an inconvenience, and can speed up your dragons' demise when packed near the TH in combination with teslas and xbows set to air, your dragons can usually power through them with the help of a freeze/rage combo.

Infernos set on single are much more dangerous though. And while you can take them out with 3 lightning and a quake, and still have enough spells to use a lightning/quake combo on 1 of the ADs, that uses up all your spells.

As a general rule TH10s with 2 infernos set on single should not be attacked with dragons. Those with 1 on single and 1 on multi can be 2 starred if you take the single inferno out with lightning and execute the rest of your strategy well. Those with both infernos on multi and ADs near the perimeter are your real targets.

Standard Dragon Army (Max Troops)

11 Dragons 
4 Loons 
2 Lightning
2 Rage
1 Freeze
1 Haste
Clan Castle: Max Hound + Loon + Quake

When using against TH9s: 4 lightning, 2 quake, 1 rage

Kill Squad

The main idea here is to use your heroes along with some support troops to take out 1 or more air defenses, and hopefully the enemy Queen, particularly if she is higher level. Typically, this involves a golem, at least a few wizards, and enough wallbreakers to get into 1 or 2 compartments, and possibly a jump or a rage spell (a golem in your cc plus 4 wizards and 2 wallbreakers leaves room for 10 dragons). Depending on what you hope to accomplish, however, you might be able to get away with as little as 1-2 giants, 1-2 wizards and a couple wallbreakers (meaning you could even bring 11 dragons), particularly if the air defense is easily accessible and you have high heroes.  On the other end of the spectrum, you can go with 2 golems with about 6 wizards (leaving you with 8 dragons. In this scenario you really need to take out 2 air defenses, so there's a decent chance you'll want to use 4 earthquake to open up one side of the base. This could leave you 2 lightning 1 quake for the 3rd air d, or 2 rage and a poison. You're probably best off poisoning the Queen, and you may want to use one of the rage spells on your kill squad to make sure they get both air d's.

The one advantage you have over other armies that use kill squads is that you can lead with your dragons if you want. This will divert some damage away from your kill squad, which should be considered if using a smaller kill squad.

A final option you have that doesn't work with other kill squads is using a lava hound as a meat shield instead of a golem. the hound won't likely last as long, and it won't protect from cannons, mortars, or xbows set on ground, so it helps if you have a relatively high level Barb King, but it will keep the air defense off your dragons if you time it right.