Overview
The Balloon is the sixth Elixir troop unlocked in the Barracks at Town Hall 4, and the first flying unit available in Clash of Clans. These airborne bombers float above enemy defenses, targeting defensive buildings exclusively while dropping powerful bombs that deal splash damage in a 1.5-tile radius. With 1,400 HP at max level and 162 DPS, Balloons are slow (movement speed 10) but devastating against clustered defenses.
Upon death, Balloons drop one final bomb that deals significant area damage to ground troops and buildings below, making them dangerous even after elimination. This “death bomb” mechanic creates strategic value—a destroyed Balloon can still wipe out Clan Castle troops, Wizards, or weakened defenses. Balloons prioritize defenses like Air Defenses, Archer Towers, and Wizard Towers, ignoring non-defensive buildings until all defenses are destroyed. They’re central to LaLoon (Lava Hound + Balloon), one of the most popular 3-star strategies across TH9-TH14, and work exceptionally well with Dragons and Haste Spells.
📊 Stats & Upgrade Path
| Town Hall |
Max Level |
HP |
DPS |
Death Bomb |
| TH4 |
1 |
150 |
25 |
17 |
| TH5 |
2 |
180 |
32 |
22 |
| TH6 |
3 |
205 |
48 |
33 |
| TH7 |
4 |
290 |
72 |
50 |
| TH8 |
5 |
470 |
96 |
67 |
| TH9 |
6 |
650 |
120 |
84 |
| TH10 |
7 |
820 |
144 |
100 |
| TH11 |
8 |
1,020 |
162 |
113 |
| TH15 |
12 |
1,400 |
162 |
113 |
Key Attributes: Balloons have a movement speed of 10 (very slow), attack speed of 3 seconds, preferred target of defenses, and deal splash damage in a 1.5-tile radius. They occupy 5 housing space and drop a death bomb upon elimination that deals 113 damage at max level.
⚔️ Attack Strategies
LaLoon (Lava Hound + Balloon)
Deploy Lava Hounds first to tank Air Defenses while Balloons attack from behind. Use Haste Spells to accelerate Balloon movement and Rage Spells for damage boosts. This is the most consistent 3-star strategy for TH9-12.
Balloon + Rage Chain
Drop Balloons in tight formations then chain Rage Spells across their path. Raged Balloons move faster and destroy defenses in 2-3 hits. Combine with Freeze Spells on Air Defenses/multi-target Infernos for maximum effectiveness.
Sui Hero Lalo
Send Archer Queen + King to eliminate 1-2 Air Defenses with Rage/Heal support, then deploy full Balloon army once Air Defenses are neutralized. This “suicide hero” strategy dominates TH9-11 with 90%+ success rates.
Balloon + Clone
Deploy Clone Spell on Balloons entering heavily defended compartments. Cloned Balloons instantly double your firepower and death bombs, overwhelming defenses with splash damage and cleanup potential.
Skeleton Balloon Combo
Use Skeleton Spells beneath Balloons to distract Wizard Towers and splash defenses. Skeletons soak damage while Balloons bomb defenses from above. Perfect for protecting Balloons through high-DPS zones.
Strategic Death Bombs
Deploy Balloons over Clan Castle, Wizard Towers, or hero altars. Even if shot down, death bombs will damage or kill defending troops/heroes below, clearing obstacles for your next wave.
🛡️ Defense Tips
Air Defense Triangulation
Position Air Defenses in triangular formations covering all angles. This prevents attackers from eliminating multiple Air Defenses with a single hero suicide squad, forcing them to engage all defenses.
Seeking Air Mines
Place Seeking Air Mines near Air Defenses or in common Balloon paths. A maxed Seeking Air Mine deals 1,500 damage, one-shotting Balloons or severely weakening them for Air Defense cleanup.
Multi-Target Infernos
Set Inferno Towers to Multi-Target mode against air attacks. They’ll shred through Balloon swarms faster than single-target mode, eliminating 5+ Balloons in seconds with overlapping Wizard Tower support.
Spread Out Defenses
Avoid clustering defenses in single compartments. Balloon splash damage and death bombs can eliminate 2-3 defenses simultaneously if positioned too close together. Spread defenses across 3+ tiles minimum.
🎯 Advanced Tips
Haste vs Rage Decision
Haste Spells (1 space) increase movement speed only; Rage (2 spaces) boosts speed + damage. Use Haste for pathing through defenses quickly, Rage for destroying heavily fortified areas. LaLoon armies typically carry 3 Haste + 1 Rage.
Super Balloon Viability
Super Balloons (Level 8+, 25k DE boost) drop multiple bombs per attack and have more HP. Excellent for mass Balloon strategies but occupy 8 housing space. Reserve for trophy pushing, not farming.
Balloon Pathing Prediction
Balloons target nearest defense regardless of trap/hero placement. Deploy them strategically to avoid pathing over Seeking Air Mines or Wizard Towers. Study base layouts for 10-15 seconds before deploying.
Invisible Tesla Trap
Hidden Teslas remain invisible until triggered. Balloons may path over them without initial engagement, then get ambushed mid-attack. Always deploy a test Balloon or scout with a Lava Hound to reveal Teslas first.
Training Cost vs Value
Balloons cost 5,000 Elixir at max level (5 housing space). A full LaLoon army costs ~250k Elixir. This is expensive for farming but excellent for wars where loot return justifies the investment.
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