Clash of Clans is one of the most successful and addictive strategy games in the history of mobile devices. With over half a billion downloads and an active and ever-growing community, this Supercell game has established itself as a must-have for both new and veteran players. Its success lies not only in the dynamism of its gameplay and progression system, but also in the complexity of its strategies and the importance of properly managing your resources to build the most powerful village and clan possible. Each year, Clash of Clans generates over a billion euros in revenue for its developers, positioning itself as one of the most profitable titles on mobile devices.
If you haven't tried this combat and strategy title yet, or if you feel that your progress is not enough, you probably just need to know the best strategies and cheats for Clash of ClansThroughout this comprehensive guide, you'll discover advanced tips, detailed explanations on resource gathering, troop management, village design, and the keys to progressing quickly without investing real money. You'll also learn how to take advantage of the community, clans, and different game modes to maximize your experience.
Clash of Clans is available free of charge both on the App Store and the Play Store, and includes an optional in-app purchase system. However, with the right strategy and patience, it's entirely possible to reach the highest levels and compete with the best without spending a single euro.
What is Clash of Clans?
The main objective in Clash of Clans is build and develop your own village, protect it from attacks from other players and raid enemy villages to obtain resources and rewards. The game combines resource management, building construction, troop upgrades, and strategic planning, both defensive and offensive.
As you progress, the game progressively increases in complexity. Attacks require more planning, new units and defenses appear, and you'll have to make wise decisions about how to invest your time and resources.
You can participate in clan wars By allying with other players to take on rival clans, this adds a crucial social and competitive layer to rapid advancement. You also have a wide variety of defenses, such as cannons, towers, traps, walls, and a wide variety of troops and heroes that unlock and upgrade as you level up.
Progressing in Clash of Clans can take time, especially if you choose not to purchase gems or other resources with real money. However, with good organization and taking advantage of all the available tips and tricks, you can reach the top at no cost. Patience is, without a doubt, one of the key virtues for success.
Resources in Clash of Clans: gold, elixir, dark elixir, and gems
One of the fundamental pillars of the game is the correct resource managementIn Clash of Clans there are four main types of resources:
- Gold: Mainly used to build and upgrade defenses, traps, walls, warehouses and some key buildings such as the Town Hall.
- Elixir: Essential for training basic troops, upgrading troops, building and leveling up army-related buildings.
- Dark Elixir: Rarer and more valuable, used to create and level up special troops, heroes, and the Dark Quarters. Requires specific storages and collectors.
- Gems: The game's premium currency. It's used to speed up processes, purchase resources, obtain additional builders, and activate temporary shields. It's difficult to obtain for free, so it's recommended to save up and use it wisely.
Below we detail how to obtain each resource and the best tips to maximize your collection:
Gold
Gold is obtained mainly through gold mines and by looting other enemy villages in multiplayer mode. Make sure to constantly upgrade your mines and storages so you don't lose resources when you reach the limit. Upgrading your gold storage is essential to accumulate gold and prevent it from being wasted. Use gold responsibly, prioritizing defenses and infrastructure before investing in aesthetics or non-urgent upgrades.
Elixir and dark elixir
The elixir is collected in extractors and in attacks. Invest gold in upgrading collectors and storages. Dark Elixir, on the other hand, is much rarer. In addition to obtaining it from attacks, you can build specific collectors and storages once you progress far enough. Stealing Dark Elixir from other players is one of the fastest ways to acquire it, so having troops capable of breaching walls and reaching enemy storages is essential.
Gems
Gems can be earned through purchases, but also by completing achievements, removing environmental obstacles (such as rocks and trees), and occasionally completing certain quests and challenges. Never spend gems lightly. They're extremely valuable, and you should save them for purchasing additional builders, which will exponentially speed up your progress.
Another option to get free gems is to take advantage of apps like Google Rewards (on Android), which allows you to exchange your survey balance for credit that you can use in the game.
How to Advance Fast: Experience, Builders, and Resources
The experience (XP) is essential for unlocking new buildings, troops, and gameplay options. It's primarily achieved by completing quests, upgrading and constructing buildings, destroying enemy Town Halls, removing obstacles, and donating troops to your clan.
- Build and upgrade buildings: Each building upgrade gives you XP, so never stop upgrading your structures when you have enough resources.
- Destroy enemy Town Halls: Attack other villages' Town Halls and destroy them to gain XP and loot.
- Remove obstacles: Clearing trees, rocks, and other terrain objects provides gems and experience. The longer it takes to clear an obstacle, the more XP you'll earn.
- Completing achievements: Achievements are an important source of experience and, in some cases, gems and other rewards. Check the in-game achievement list and gradually progress through as many as you can.
- Donate troops to the clan: Each donation grants experience. This system has a limit, but it's very useful if you belong to an active clan.
The builders' trick
One of the best kept secrets of advanced Clash of Clans players is to invest the first gems in getting additional buildersThe more builders you have, the more improvements and buildings you can manage simultaneously, allowing you to progress much faster. Never waste gems on unnecessary construction rushes, as the only thing that's truly profitable and necessary at the beginning are the extra builders.
Optimizing progress: achievements and obstacles
In addition to direct experience, completing achievements and clearing obstacles can earn you a significant amount of gems and XP. Some achievements include clearing a certain number of obstacles, upgrading buildings, or reaching certain milestones in battles. Each achievement has several levels, and each one gives a higher reward than the one before it:
- Level 1: 10 XP
- Level 2: 100 XP
- Level 3: 1.000 XP
Removing obstacles can provide up to 7 XP depending on the time it takes to remove each element. Take advantage of this opportunity to clear your land whenever you can, especially if you're looking for gems and progress without spending money.
Essential tricks and strategies to improve in Clash of Clans
1. Save gems for builders and shields
Many players quickly spend the first gems they receive, especially during the tutorial, but experts recommend saving them for buy extra builders and to activate temporary shields at critical moments. Using them to speed up processes or for minor purchases is less efficient in the long run.
2. Invest in improving collectors and warehouses
Level up the gold, elixir, and dark elixir collectors This is one of the steps that has the greatest impact on your progress in the medium and long term. A low-level Elixir Pump produces only 250 units per hour, but if you fully upgrade it, it can reach over 3.500 units. Similarly, storages should be expanded as soon as possible to store large amounts of resources. Remember that if your storages are full, any additional resources are lost, so always upgrade your storage capacity in line with your harvesting.
3. Design a smart and protected village
The layout of your village is key to both defense and resource optimization. Place your warehouses and Town Hall in the center, surrounded by walls and strong defenses (cannons, archer towers, mortars, traps). Place less important buildings and troop houses on the outer edges, as this will force enemies to pass through several lines of defense before reaching your most valuable resources.
There are two basic philosophies of village design:
- Centralized core: All key structures are concentrated in the center and compact, allowing for a strong and organized defense.
- Dispersed structure: Separate key buildings so that the attacker has to divide his troops and cannot wipe out your village in one attack.
Look at popular designs online for inspiration, but always adapt the layout to your own level and resource or trophy needs.
4. Plan your defenses and don't neglect any
Well-balanced defenses are the foundation of an invulnerable village. Build and upgrade walls, cannons, archery towers y mortars as a priority. Include traps, air bombs, and mage towers as you progress. Invest in upgrading the cheapest and fastest defenses first before moving on to more advanced ones. A solid defense will keep your resources safe for longer and prevent you from being an easy target for attacks.
5. Constantly improve your troops
Troops are your main weapon for gaining additional resources, especially dark elixir and gold from other villages. Prioritize upgrading units you use frequently and balance your investment between offense and defense. Remember that as your troops become stronger, their training will cost more elixir. Invest first in versatile and cost-effective troops, such as barbarians and archers, before moving on to more expensive and complex units.
6. Use your village's shield wisely
The shield protects your village for a set period of time after being attacked. However, if you attack while the shield is active, it will disappear, leaving your village vulnerable. Use the shield's time to gather resources, upgrade your defenses, and prepare for future battles. Only attack when it's truly convenient and you can reap the loot.
7. Join an active clan
Clans are groups of up to fifty players who collaborate with each other and can communicate via chat, donate or receive troops and participate in clan warsJoining an active clan is one of the best ways to progress, as you'll be able to receive troops from your teammates (very useful for defense and offense), participate in joint battles, and access additional rewards. If you're already experienced, you can create your own clan and establish your own rules and strategies.
Donating troops to your clanmates also gives you experience and helps you build team spirit. Always choose an active clan where players share troops and collaborate with each other.
8. Use efficient and profitable attacks
In the early stages of the game, focus your efforts on cheap attacks, using primarily basic troops like barbarians and archers. This way, you'll be able to attack more often, collect loot without spending as much elixir, and quickly reinvest in upgrades. As you progress, learn to combine units, use spells, and deploy troops strategically, taking advantage of enemy weaknesses.
9. Stay patient and plan for the long term
Clash of Clans is a game where the patience and planning are essential. It's possible to complete the game without spending money, but it requires discipline and perseverance. Plan your upgrades ahead of time, save resources, and take advantage of events, promotions, and daily bonuses to progress efficiently.
Advanced Guide: Strategies by Level of Progress
Progress in Clash of Clans is divided into three main phases based on Town Hall level and player experience. For each phase, there are specific tips and approaches to maximize your potential:
Beginner (Low Level Town Hall)
- Take advantage of the initial shield that grants you temporary invulnerability.
- Spend your first few days upgrading your storage, harvesters, and basic defenses.
- Don't spend gems; save them to buy additional builders.
- Attack abandoned villages to easily obtain resources without excessive risk.
- Concentrate your defenses around the center of the village.
Intermission (City Hall and troops in progress)
- Join an active clan, donate and receive troops regularly.
- Move from simple attacks to more elaborate strategies by combining different types of troops.
- Upgrade walls and intelligently place traps around your resources.
- Invest in specialized troops and learn how to use spells in specific situations.
- Focus on balancing your army upgrades and defenses.
Advanced (High Town Hall, Competitive Clans)
- Actively participate in clan wars and special events.
- Design your village to delay and weaken advanced troops (giants, golems, PEKKA, hog riders, etc.).
- Use advanced troop combinations, including air units and heroes, along with healing and freezing spells.
- Strengthen your internal defenses and learn to identify the most common attack routes to strengthen them specifically.
- Use shields tactically and take advantage of temporary offers to maximize your resources.
Get to know the Clash of Clans troops: characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses
Success in attacks depends on knowing in depth each type of troopEach unit has strengths, weaknesses, and a specific role on the battlefield. Below is an advanced guide to the game's main troops:
- Barbarian: Basic infantry unit. Ideal for distracting enemy defenses and forming the numerical basis for any attack.
- Goalkeeper: Basic ranged attack unit. Perfect for eliminating defenses and open troops, although vulnerable to rapid attacks.
- Giant: A high-HP infantry unit. Used to absorb damage from powerful defenses and clear a path for your other troops.
- Wall breakers: Specialists in destroying enemy walls to allow other troops to pass through. Very vulnerable to mortars and splash defenses.
- Wizard: Ranged attack unit with great offensive power, ideal as support behind tough infantry.
- Healer: It doesn't attack, but it heals allied troops in combat. Ideal for accompanying resilient units like giants or golems.
- Dragon: Flying unit, very effective if you previously destroy enemy anti-aircraft defenses.
- PEKKA Unit with a lot of life and damage, perfect as a decoy and main shield.
- Golem: Very tough infantry unit, perfect for absorbing damage, especially when combined with healers.
- Ride pigs: They leap over walls and go straight for enemy defenses; ideal for quickly disabling cannons and towers.
- Henchman: Flying unit, useful when anti-aircraft defenses have been destroyed.
Each unit has strengths and weaknesses. Learn to combine them and make the most of their abilities depending on the type of village and defense you're attacking.
Key tactics and tips for attacking and defending in Clash of Clans
Successful attacks: divide and conquer
A fundamental strategy is divide your troops to distract the strongest defenses and allow your main group to penetrate the center. Let one group distract cannons and towers while the other attacks the warehouses and town hall. Pay special attention to timing: the wall breakers should clear a path for the giants before they take too much damage, the mages should be protected behind high-health troops, and the hog riders should go straight for priority defenses.
Defend your village by reinforcing critical points
Reinforce the most vulnerable areas with double walls, traps, and area defenses. Don't overinvest in outer walls; make sure your main assets are well protected by multiple layers of defenses and that your tower layout prevents the enemy from finding obvious weak spots.
Ideal sequence in improvements and construction
Don't rush into leveling your Town Hall; if you do it too early, you'll be matched with stronger opponents. Upgrade harvesters and storage first, then defenses, and finally your Town Hall. Only upgrade to the next level when your village is well developed for that rank.
Learn from your mistakes and review your attacks
Use the Defense record to analyze how you were attacked and what weaknesses your opponents exploited. Improve and reinforce the points where you've been attacked repeatedly. Similarly, watch replays of your attacks to refine troop deployment and optimize resources.
Balance attack and defense according to your objectives
There's no one-size-fits-all strategy; it's important to adapt your playstyle. If you want to gain more resources, focus your priorities on harvesters and storages. If you're looking for trophies and competing in Clan Wars, invest in strengthening your army and advanced defenses.
Common mistakes to avoid in Clash of Clans
- Do not spend gold or elixir when the warehouses are full, losing produced resources.
- Neglecting to upgrade warehouses and harvesters in relation to the pace of the game.
- Place key structures, such as City Hall, exposed at the edge of the map.
- Spending gems on speeding up trivial processes instead of storing them for strategic builders or shields.
- Ignoring the importance of donations and team play within the clan.
- Leveling up the Town Hall without bringing the rest of the village up to the same level.
- Put all the defenses together, making it easier for attackers to neutralize them with a single troop type.
Strategies to maximize your achievements and progression
- Always prioritize achievements that provide gems or significant experience.
- Take advantage of temporary events and daily promotions that offer resource bonuses, troop training, or construction speedups.
- Participate in practice mode if you're a beginner to familiarize yourself with the mechanics and earn quick rewards.
- Use multiplayer mode to compete against villages of your level, learn new techniques, and earn additional resources.
- Plan the sequence of building construction and upgrades so that two long processes never overlap, allowing for optimal use of builders.
Clash of Clans FAQs and Myths Debunked
- Are there any hacks or resource generators? There are no legal tricks or resource generators. Using hacks carries the immediate risk of permanent account bans.
- How long can you progress without spending money? It's perfectly possible to reach high levels with patience and strategy, although the pace will be slower than that of those who invest real money.
- What differentiates top players? Organization, smart upgrade selection, active clan collaboration, and proper resource and troop management are the key elements.
- Are free gems safe? Only those you get in the game itself (by clearing obstacles, completing achievements, or receiving official offers) are safe and legal.
To dominate Clash of Clans It involves much more than winning battles: it's about organizing your village wisely, investing resources efficiently, learning from each attack and defense, and making the most of the community and the opportunities the game offers. Play patiently, participate in active clans, analyze and optimize every detail, and enjoy the process. Only then will you build the most powerful village and become a legend in the Clash of Clans universe.