TH9 Attack Overview
Town Hall 9 is where attack strategy starts to matter seriously. You have access to the Archer Queen, the X-Bow, and a full spell inventory. The three dominant attack strategies at TH9 in 2026 are LaLoon, GoWiPe, and Queen Walk hybrids. This guide breaks down each one.
Strategy 1: LaLoon (Lava Hound + Balloon)
LaLoon is the most reliable 3-star strategy at TH9. A well-executed LaLoon is almost automatic against any base that lacks air-specific counter design.
Army Composition
| Troop / Spell | Count |
|---|---|
| Lava Hound | 3 |
| Balloon | 22 |
| Minion | 8 |
| Haste Spell | 4 |
| Rage Spell | 1 |
| Heal Spell | 1 |
| Clan Castle | Lava Hound or Balloon |
Attack Walkthrough
Step 1 — Scout the base. Identify Air Defense locations. At TH9 there are four. Find the two closest together — that’s your primary entry side.
Step 2 — Queen Walk opener. Deploy your Archer Queen with 4 Healers on a corner to start a walk. Her job is to snipe one or two Air Defenses before the main army goes in.
Step 3 — Deploy Lava Hounds. Once the Queen Walk is established, send all three Lava Hounds directly at the remaining Air Defenses. They absorb all air-targeting fire.
Step 4 — Release Balloons. With Lava Hounds in position, deploy all Balloons behind them in a line. They path toward defenses while the Lava Hounds tank.
Step 5 — Haste Spells. Drop Haste Spells on the Balloon cluster as they approach each Air Defense. Speed is critical — Balloons sitting still are easy targets.
Step 6 — Cleanup. Use Minions to destroy leftover corner buildings. Drop the Rage Spell on the Balloon group entering the core.
What Destroys LaLoon
- Air Defenses too spread out (takes too long, Balloons die)
- Seeking Air Mines near Air Defenses (wipes early Balloons)
- No Queen Walk to pre-clear one Air Defense
Strategy 2: GoWiPe (Golem + Wizard + P.E.K.K.A)
GoWiPe is the premier ground strategy at TH9. It requires less precise execution than LaLoon but demands good funnel setup.
Army Composition
| Troop / Spell | Count |
|---|---|
| Golem | 2 |
| P.E.K.K.A | 3 |
| Wizard | 8 |
| Wall Breaker | 6 |
| Jump Spell | 2 |
| Rage Spell | 2 |
| Heal Spell | 1 |
| Clan Castle | Witch or Valkyrie |
Attack Walkthrough
Step 1 — Build the funnel. Deploy a few Giants or Barbarians on the left and right edges of your intended entry side to pull troops inward and prevent them wandering off the sides.
Step 2 — Deploy Golems. Place both Golems just behind the funnel builders. They walk forward and take all cannon and archer tower fire.
Step 3 — Wall Breakers. Once Golems are in, release Wall Breakers to open the first wall layer. Timing matters — don’t send them before defenses are distracted by Golems.
Step 4 — Wizards. Deploy Wizards behind the Golems in a spread-out line. They deal massive splash damage to buildings inside the first compartment.
Step 5 — P.E.K.K.As. After Wizards have cleared outer buildings, release P.E.K.K.As into the base. They shred anything with high HP — Inferno Towers, Clan Castle troops, defensive heroes.
Step 6 — Spells. Jump Spell on the thickest wall section. Rage Spell when the main cluster enters the core. Heal Spell on Golems if they drop below 40% HP.
Step 7 — Heroes. Send Barbarian King and Archer Queen into the base once the outer defenses are cleared. Hero abilities activate when HP drops — time them for maximum core impact.
Strategy 3: Queen Walk + Witches
This is the most powerful but hardest-to-execute strategy at TH9. Queen Walk creates a funnel while Witches pour through it.
Army Composition
| Troop / Spell | Count |
|---|---|
| Witch | 8 |
| Healer | 4 (for Queen Walk) |
| Golem | 1 |
| Wizard | 4 |
| Jump Spell | 2 |
| Earthquake Spell | 4 |
| Rage Spell | 1 |
How It Works
Start a Queen Walk from one corner, letting the Queen chip away at outer defenses with Healer support. Once she’s cleared a quarter of the base perimeter, deploy the Witches through the cleared path. Earthquake × 4 opens a large wall section without using Jump Spells. Witches’ skeleton armies clear compartments while you save spells for the core push.
Universal TH9 Attack Tips
- Always scout first. Check Clan Castle troop count, hero levels, and X-Bow mode.
- Lure the Clan Castle. Before your main attack, pull defensive CC troops out with a Balloon or Giant and kill them outside the base.
- Don’t split your army. Concentrated attacks beat split attacks at TH9 — mass one side, overwhelm it, then push inward.
- Use heroes last. Save King and Queen for the core push, not to clear outer buildings.
