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Introduction to Clash of Clans Hog Rider Detailed Guide
The Hog Rider is the second Dark Elixir troop in Clash of Clans, unlocked when the Dark Barracks are upgraded to level 2. This allows players to train Hog Riders relatively early in the game as they progress through their village development.
Strengths
Prioritize Defensive Structures
Hog Riders go straight for defensive buildings, ignoring resource and other non-combat structures. This makes them highly effective for quickly breaking down a base’s core defense and enabling follow-up troops to survive longer.
High Speed and Jump Ability
Hog Riders move very fast and can jump over walls, allowing them to bypass base compartments entirely. This gives them an edge over ground troops that get stalled by walls and speeds up their pathing through the base.
Strong Synergy with Healing Spells
Hog Riders have moderate hitpoints, and when combined with Healing Spells, they become much more durable. This synergy makes them the backbone of strategies like Mass Hogs, GoHo (Golem + Hogs), and Queen Charge Hog Rider attacks.
Weaknesses
Vulnerable to Traps and Splash Damage
Hog Riders are especially weak against Giant Bombs, Spring Traps, and Wizard Towers. When bunched up, a single Giant Bomb or splash hit can eliminate a group instantly if not protected by Healing Spells.
Ignore Non-Defensive Buildings
Since Hog Riders only target defenses, they can leave behind important buildings like Town Halls or Clan Castles if defenses remain elsewhere. This can cause time issues or prevent achieving a full clear if cleanup troops aren’t used properly.
Require Precise Spell Timing and Pathing
Effective Hog attacks demand precise spell placement and base knowledge. Poor timing with Healing Spells or sending them into high-damage zones without support can cause the entire army to collapse quickly.
Synergies: Teamwork on the Battlefield
Hog Rider and Miner (Hybrid Strategy):
At Town Hall 10 and above, Hog Riders can be paired with Miners in a strategy known as the Hybrid attack. This combination leverages the strengths of both troops, allowing for a well-balanced attack that targets defenses while maintaining momentum throughout the base. The Hybrid strategy is effective in dismantling bases with strong defensive layouts, as both units complement each other in unique ways.
Complementary Targeting:
Miners do not have a preferred target, making them an excellent complement to Hog Riders. While Hog Riders focus exclusively on defenses, Miners can eliminate enemy Heroes, Clan Castle troops on the ground, and Skeleton Traps, preventing them from interfering with the attack. Their ability to burrow underground also allows them to avoid damage while moving between targets, making them a reliable force alongside Hog Riders.
Weakness:
A major weakness of the Hybrid strategy is its vulnerability to flying Clan Castle troops. Since neither Hog Riders nor Miners can attack air units, enemy Dragons, Balloons, or Baby Dragons can devastate an attack if not properly handled. It is crucial to lure and eliminate aerial Clan Castle troops before deploying the main force. Poison Spells, along with supporting Wizards, Archers, or a Baby Dragon, can be used to counter this threat.
Hog Riders and Healing Spells:
Hog Riders benefit greatly from the use of Healing Spells, as they often move in groups and take damage from splash defenses and traps. To maximize the effectiveness of Healing Spells, they should be placed on clusters of at least three or more defenses before the Hog Riders arrive. Positioning the spell slightly ahead of their path ensures they remain within the healing zone while engaging defenses, allowing them to sustain damage without losing too much health. Proper spell placement is essential for keeping Hog Riders alive and maintaining their effectiveness throughout the attack.
Hog Riders as Distraction:
At lower levels, Hog Riders can serve as effective distraction troops, similar to Giants. They have nearly the same health as Giants of a similar level but move at twice the speed and deal significantly more damage. This allows them to quickly engage defenses, drawing fire away from other troops while still contributing to the attack. Their ability to jump over walls makes them especially useful for targeting defenses deep within a base without needing to break through walls.
Supporting Troops:
Clan Castle Support:
Offensive Strategies: A Detailed Approach
Target Prioritization:
Hog Riders’ focus on defensive structures is a critical aspect of their behavior. They will completely ignore all other buildings and enemy troops until every defense on the battlefield is destroyed. This makes them highly effective for targeting key defensive structures, but also means they can be vulnerable if not properly supported. The Town Hall weapon, when activated, is treated as a defensive structure, meaning Hog Riders will prioritize it before moving on to other buildings. Once all defenses are eliminated, they will attack the nearest remaining structure.
Wall Jumping in Practice:
Despite their ability to jump over walls, Hog Riders do not create openings for other ground troops. This means that if additional support from other units is required, Wall Breakers, Jump Spells, or Earthquake Spells will still be necessary to provide access through walls for ground troops that cannot bypass them. This limitation should be considered when planning an attack that involves multiple unit types.
Hog Rider Rush:
The Hog Rider Rush strategy involves deploying a large number of Hog Riders to overwhelm defenses quickly. While this can be effective, particularly against bases with weaker defensive layouts, it has notable weaknesses at higher levels. Defending Clan Castle troops, Heroes, Giant Bombs, and Skeleton Traps can significantly impact the success of the attack. Proper planning, including spell support such as Healing Spells to counter Giant Bombs and Poison Spells to eliminate defending troops, is essential to maximize the effectiveness of this strategy.
Effective Healing Spell Deployment:
Proper deployment of Healing Spells is essential for keeping Hog Riders alive throughout an attack. To maximize their effectiveness, Healing Spells should be placed on clusters of at least three or more defensive buildings just before the Hog Riders arrive. This ensures they remain within the healing radius as they destroy defenses. Placing Healing Spells ahead of their path rather than directly on them allows Hog Riders to move into the healing zone as they progress through the base.
Giant Bomb Awareness:
Giant Bombs pose a major threat to Hog Riders, especially when placed in double sets. A single Giant Bomb can severely damage them, but they can survive with proper healing. However, two Giant Bombs placed together can instantly wipe out an entire group of Hog Riders, even with healing support. Identifying potential Giant Bomb locations and preemptively deploying Healing Spells in those areas can help mitigate losses. Observing base layouts for common Giant Bomb placements, such as between defensive structures or near high-value targets, can improve attack planning.
Luring Clan Castle Troops:
Luring Clan Castle troops is an important step when using Hog Riders. Deploying a few Hog Riders near defensive structures can trigger enemy Clan Castle reinforcements. Once lured, they should be drawn to a corner of the base where they can be eliminated using Archers or Wizards before deploying the main force of Hog Riders. Ignoring enemy Clan Castle troops can lead to Hog Riders being overwhelmed mid-attack, reducing the chances of success.
Poison Spell Tactics:
Poison Spells are highly effective against Clan Castle troops and should be used to weaken or eliminate them before they become a threat. Deploying the spell while using distraction troops can keep enemies within the poison radius longer. Poison Spells are also useful against Skeleton Traps, as the summoned Skeletons can continuously chip away at Hog Riders and slow their attack progress. Deploying Poison Spells at the right moment ensures a smoother attack and helps maintain momentum.
Dealing with Air Threats:
Hog Riders are unable to target air units, making them vulnerable to airborne threats from the Clan Castle, such as Dragons, Baby Dragons, and Balloons. If left unchecked, these air troops can eliminate Hog Riders while they remain focused on defenses. To prevent this, it is crucial to eliminate any potential air threats before deploying Hog Riders. Using Archers, Wizards, or a Poison Spell can help deal with these troops. Bringing backup air-targeting troops, such as Minions or a Baby Dragon, can also be useful in certain situations.
Time Management:
Time management is another key factor when executing a Hog Rider attack. The 3-minute attack limit means each step, from luring and eliminating Clan Castle troops to deploying Hog Riders and supporting spells, must be executed efficiently. Delays in handling Clan Castle reinforcements or improperly timed deployments can lead to running out of time before all buildings are destroyed. Keeping an eye on the attack timer and ensuring troops are deployed smoothly and quickly will help maximize the chances of a successful attack.
Defensive Strategies Against Hog Riders
Forced Pathing:
Hog Riders can be vulnerable to a strategy known as “forced pathing.” This technique involves manipulating the Hog Rider AI to make them take a path toward at least two defensive structures in a way that can’t easily be avoided through surgical deployment or side clearing. By controlling the Hog Riders’ movement, defenders can guide them into dangerous areas where they are forced to target specific defenses.
One of the most effective ways to capitalize on forced pathing is by placing Giant Bombs between these targeted defenses. When the Hog Riders follow the path, they will trigger the Giant Bombs, causing significant damage or even wiping out the group entirely. Since the Hog Riders are moving quickly and focused on attacking defenses, it becomes difficult for the attacker to heal them in time, leaving them vulnerable to further damage. This strategy is especially potent against large groups of Hog Riders, as they tend to move in clusters and are more susceptible to splash damage from traps. Properly timed and placed Giant Bombs can severely hinder the progress of a Hog Rider attack.
Base Arrangement:
To defend against Hog Riders, one effective base design strategy is to create a layout where the Hog Riders are forced to complete a loop around the outer perimeter before they can reach your interior defenses. By doing this, the Hog Riders will initially target and destroy outer defenses, such as Cannons, Archer Towers, and other low-level structures, giving the central defenses, like Inferno Towers and X-Bows, time to deal with the Hog Riders.
Ideally, by the time they reach the core, many of the Hog Riders should have already been eliminated by these interior defenses. This strategy relies on manipulating the Hog Riders’ AI to ensure they follow a predetermined path around the base before attacking the more crucial defensive structures.
Another way to disrupt Hog Rider attacks is to exploit their tendency to target the closest defensive building. By arranging your base with high-powered defenses, like Inferno Towers and X-Bows, in the center, and lower-powered defenses on the outer layer, you can force the Hog Riders to attack weaker structures first. Additionally, placing a layer of resource buildings between the outer defenses and the high-powered core can make it even harder for the Hog Riders to immediately reach your key defenses. This setup forces them to move through several outer layers of defenses, allowing time for the central defenses to eliminate them before they can inflict significant damage.
Trap Placement:
To effectively eliminate Hog Riders, placing Spring Traps and Giant Bombs between defensive buildings is a highly effective tactic. Spring Traps can instantly knock out individual Hog Riders by launching them off the battlefield, while Giant Bombs deal significant splash damage to groups of Hog Riders, especially when placed strategically. By positioning these traps in areas where the Hog Riders are likely to path, you can cause major disruption to their progress, eliminating them before they can reach your core defenses.
Using forced pathing adds another layer of defense against Hog Riders. By manipulating the AI behavior of the Hog Riders, you can ensure they are funneled toward at least two defenses that they cannot avoid through surgical deployment or side clearing. This forces them into dangerous zones, where they will encounter Spring Traps and Giant Bombs. With no easy way to avoid these traps, the Hog Riders will take heavy damage or be wiped out, significantly weakening the attack and increasing your chances of defending successfully.
Clan Castle Troops:
To effectively defend against Hog Rider raids, centralizing your Clan Castle troops, Heroes, and Skeleton Traps set to Ground Mode can significantly disrupt the attack. By placing these key defensive elements in the center of your base, you ensure that they are well-positioned to defend against Hog Riders as they move through the base. The Clan Castle troops, whether Archers, Wizards, or other units, will engage the Hog Riders early, while your Heroes—especially the Archer Queen and Barbarian King—can provide additional damage.
Setting your Skeleton Traps to Ground Mode will further hinder the progress of Hog Riders. As the Hog Riders move through the base, they will trigger these traps, which will distract and damage them, causing delays and adding to the overall defensive pressure. This setup forces the Hog Riders to deal with these distractions before they can reach your core defenses, making it harder for them to achieve a successful raid.
Dragons are particularly effective Clan Castle troops against Hog Riders, especially at Town Halls 8 and 9. Since Hog Riders cannot target air units, Dragons can freely attack them from above, dealing significant damage while remaining out of reach. Their splash damage is particularly valuable when dealing with multiple Hog Riders clustered together. Centralizing Dragons in the Clan Castle will allow them to assist in defending against Hog Riders as they approach the center of your base, where your high-powered defenses can further weaken or eliminate them.
Inferno Towers:
Multi-target Inferno Towers are highly effective against Hog Rider attacks because they can target and deal continuous damage to large groups of Hog Riders. Unlike single-target Inferno Towers, which focus on one unit at a time, multi-target Inferno Towers can lock onto multiple Hog Riders simultaneously. This allows them to quickly melt through groups of Hog Riders, especially when they are deployed together in clusters. The sustained damage from the Inferno Tower can overpower the Hog Riders’ health, making it difficult for them to survive long enough to reach the core defenses.
To counter this, attackers must either use a distraction strategy, such as deploying other troops to draw the fire of the Inferno Tower, or rely on spells like Heal Spells to keep the Hog Riders alive. However, when placed strategically within the base, multi-target Inferno Towers can significantly disrupt Hog Rider raids and prevent attackers from completing their attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
❓What do Hog Riders target in Clash of Clans?
Hog Riders have a preferred target of defensive buildings only. They completely ignore non-defensive structures like resource storages, barracks, or the Town Hall (unless it’s weaponized). Once all defenses are destroyed, they will then target any remaining buildings. Their ability to jump over walls allows them to reach defenses quickly without being slowed down by compartments.
❓What’s the best attack strategy using Hog Riders?
One of the most popular Hog Rider strategies is Mass Hogs with Healing Spells, often called “Mass Hogs” or “Hybrid” when used with Miners. Another strong approach is GoHo (Golem + Hog Rider), where a Golem and Kill Squad clear out enemy Clan Castle troops and Heroes before deploying Hog Riders to sweep through the defenses. Proper funneling, pathing, and spell timing are essential for success.
❓When are Hog Riders unlocked, and at what level can they be upgraded?
Hog Riders are unlocked at Town Hall 7 when the Dark Barracks is upgraded to level 2. Their maximum level increases with each Town Hall level, reaching level 13 at Town Hall 16. Each upgrade improves their damage, hitpoints, and performance in competitive war attacks.
❓How much do Hog Riders cost to train?
The training cost of Hog Riders depends on their level, and they require Dark Elixir. At max level, they cost around 190 Dark Elixir per unit. They’re relatively affordable compared to heavier troops like P.E.K.K.As or Bowlers, making them a cost-effective option for war or farming Dark Elixir if used correctly.
❓What are the best spells to use with Hog Riders?
The best spell pairing for Hog Riders is the Healing Spell, which helps counter splash damage from Wizard Towers, Bomb Towers, and Giant Bombs. Other useful spells include Freeze Spells to stop high-damage defenses like Multi-Target Infernos or Scattershots, and Poison Spells to neutralize Clan Castle troops. Spell timing and placement are critical for keeping Hog Riders alive during their rush through the base.
