Introduction to Clash of Clans Builder Base Double Cannon Guide

In Clash of Clans, the Double Cannon is a powerful defensive structure in the Builder Base, designed to counter ground troops with rapid bursts of fire. It becomes available at Builder Hall level 2 and delivers high damage through its unique firing mechanism. Instead of a single shot, it fires in volleys of four, allowing it to take down enemy units quickly within its range. However, it cannot target air troops, making it vulnerable to aerial attacks.

One of the special features of the Double Cannon is its connection to the Home Village through the Master Builder. With the “Gear Up” option, a standard Cannon in the Home Village can be modified to fire in the same multi-shot style as the Double Cannon. To do this, players must have a level 7 Cannon in the Home Village, which becomes available at Town Hall 6, and a level 4 Double Cannon in the Builder Base, which is unlocked at Builder Hall 4.

This gearing-up process enhances the Cannon’s effectiveness against ground units, but it also comes with trade-offs. The geared-up Cannon has a faster rate of fire but loses some range, making placement important for maximizing its defensive impact. Understanding how to balance these changes can make a significant difference in defending against enemy attacks.

LevelDamage per SecondDamage per ShotHitpointsBuild CostBuild TimeExperience GainedBuilder Hall Level Required1845060020,00010m2422925569050,0001h60331036180080,0003h1033411367910300,00012h20745125741,050900,0001d29356136811,2501,400,0002d41567150891,4502,200,0004d58778165981,7003,200,0006d720891821081,9504,200,0008d8319102021202,2005,200,00010d92910

Range: 7 tiles

Time Between Bursts: 1.6s

Shots Per Burts: 4 shots

Damage type: Single Target

Targets: Ground

Key Features

The Double Cannon is highly effective at dealing significant damage per second (DPS) to ground-based units, which makes it an essential part of many defensive strategies. Its rapid fire allows it to quickly eliminate swarms of enemy troops or high-hitpoint units, providing solid protection for key areas of your base. This makes it particularly useful against common attack strategies that rely on ground troops, such as Hog Riders, Giants, and Barbarians.


However, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. The Double Cannon has a shorter range than some other defensive structures, which limits its ability to cover a large area of the base. Its smaller range means it can be easily bypassed if the attacking units are positioned correctly. Additionally, the Double Cannon is unable to target air troops, leaving your base open to aerial attacks from units like Balloons, Dragons, or Lava Hounds.


To make the most of the Double Cannon, it is crucial to place it strategically within your base. Pairing it with other defenses that target air units, such as Air Defenses, seeking Air Mines, or seeking Air Traps, can help ensure comprehensive protection against both ground and air attacks. Proper placement and synergy with other defenses are key to maximizing its potential.

Defensive Strategies

The Double Cannon is particularly effective against ground tanks such as the Boxer Giant or the Battle Machine due to its high DPS. It can also quickly eliminate low-health troops like Bombers, Cannon Carts, Night Witches, and Electrofire Wizards with a few volleys. However, the Double Cannon’s single-target burst makes it vulnerable to large swarms of troops, as it can only engage one unit at a time. To mitigate this weakness, it is advisable to protect Double Cannons with splash-damage defenses like the Multi Mortar or the Roaster.

Since the Double Cannon cannot attack air troops, it is essential to protect it with air-targeting defenses such as Archer Towers. Its short range can be exploited by Sneaky Archers if a Wall separates the Double Cannon from other buildings. Consider leaving a building in front of the Double Cannon to delay Sneaky Archers and prevent them from easily destroying it while under their cloak.

One notable challenge arises from the Double Cannon’s interaction with Cannon Carts. Cannon Carts can outrange the Double Cannon when in Mortar mode. To avoid this, defenders should not group short-range defenses together, which prevents Cannon Carts from taking them all out at once. Alternatively, you can bait attackers by deliberately grouping short-range defenses and rigging likely deployment locations with Push Traps to push them within range. However, skilled attackers may use small units like a single Sneaky Archer to test for these traps beforehand.

Offensive Strategies

When attacking, air troops such as the Baby Dragon face little threat from Double Cannons, as these defenses cannot target them. However, the Double Cannon can still distract air units, diverting their attention from more important buildings.

The Double Cannon’s weakness against large swarms can be exploited by overwhelming it with troops like Raged Barbarians or Skeletons from the Drop Ship. Additionally, the Cannon Cart can outrange the Double Cannon while in Mortar mode, allowing it to attack from a safe distance. However, if the Cannon Cart is not properly watched by the attacker, it may wander into the Double Cannon’s range while in Cannon mode and be quickly destroyed.

Positioning and Base Layout Tips

The placement of the Double Cannon is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness in defense. Since it has high DPS but a relatively short range, it is best positioned where it can target incoming ground troops early while being difficult to destroy.

Central Placement:

Placing the Double Cannon near the center of your base is a strategic move that forces enemies to battle through multiple layers of defenses before they can reach it. This tactic works especially well against ground-based attackers who use tanky units like Boxer Giants and Battle Machines. These units tend to absorb a lot of damage, and placing the Double Cannon centrally ensures it can deal heavy damage over time while enemies are distracted by other defenses. By keeping the Double Cannon further from the edge, it becomes a more difficult target for attackers to reach.

Near the Crusher:

The Crusher is one of the most effective defenses against ground troops, though its slow attack speed can sometimes leave it vulnerable to fast-moving enemies. By positioning the Double Cannon near the Crusher, you can ensure that attackers take consistent damage while moving toward the Crusher. As the Crusher delivers slow, heavy hits, the Double Cannon can fire rapidly in between each of the Crusher’s attacks, creating a deadly combination that deals significant damage to any ground-based attackers attempting to overwhelm your defenses.

Anti-Sneaky Archer Positioning:

The Double Cannon’s range is shorter than that of Sneaky Archers, which can make it vulnerable to these stealthy attackers. To prevent Sneaky Archers from sniping the Double Cannon while they’re invisible, position a building in front of it. A low-hitpoint building like an Army Camp works well, as it can delay the archers’ attack long enough for the Double Cannon to retaliate. This tactic is especially useful if you expect to face attackers using Sneaky Archers as part of their strategy. The building serves as a buffer, forcing the archers to deal with it before they can target the Double Cannon.

Multi-Layer Defense:

The Double Cannon should never be placed alone or in an easily accessible location. To maximize its effectiveness, place it behind Walls or surround it with other defensive structures like Multi Mortars and Guard Posts. This setup prevents the Double Cannon from being quickly neutralized by Cannon Carts or swarms of ground troops. By creating layers of defense around the Double Cannon, you make it harder for attackers to get to it, forcing them to engage with multiple defenses at once. This multi-layered approach ensures that the Double Cannon can survive longer in battle, allowing it to deal damage over time.

When designing a base, test how attackers might approach your Double Cannon and adjust its positioning to create the biggest challenge for them.

Comparison with Other Defenses

While the Double Cannon is a powerful ground-targeting defense, it has key differences when compared to other defensive structures.

Vs. Standard Cannon:

The standard Cannon in the Builder Base operates with a slower, single-shot mechanism but has a longer range compared to the Double Cannon. This longer range allows the Cannon to target enemy units from a distance, making it effective against approaching troops before they get too close. However, the Double Cannon has an advantage when it comes to dealing with high-hitpoint units.

It fires rapid bursts of four shots, allowing it to quickly deal sustained damage to tanky units like Boxer Giants or Battle Machines. While the standard Cannon might be more effective against large groups of smaller troops due to its longer range, the Double Cannon is better equipped to take down high-health units in a shorter amount of time.

Vs. Multi Mortar:

The Multi Mortar is designed to target multiple ground units at once, dealing splash damage to clusters of troops. It works well against swarms of smaller units, such as Barbarians or Raged Barbarians, as it can hit multiple targets with each attack. However, its slow attack speed means it struggles when facing high-hitpoint units like the Battle Machine or other tanky troops. The Double Cannon, with its rapid-fire shots, excels at dealing continuous damage to these high-health units, making it a better choice for dealing with tankier enemies. While the Multi Mortar is great for clearing swarms, the Double Cannon is more effective in situations where sustained, concentrated damage is required.

Vs. Crusher:

The Crusher is a close-range defense that deals heavy area damage to ground troops, making it highly effective against units that group together, such as Barbarians or Giants. However, it has a long cooldown between attacks, meaning it can’t consistently target enemies as they approach. The Double Cannon, with its rapid fire, fills this gap by providing a steady stream of damage, especially against high-hitpoint units. Its higher attack speed allows it to deal damage to approaching troops before they can reach important buildings or the Crusher itself. While the Crusher is formidable in close-quarters combat, the Double Cannon can deliver faster and more sustained damage to prevent troops from reaching crucial areas of the base.

While the Double Cannon is a strong defense, it needs to be supported by other structures like the Roaster and Archer Towers to cover its weaknesses, particularly against air troops.

Gear-Up Feature and Home Village Integration

One unique feature of the Double Cannon is that it allows a Cannon in the Home Village to be “geared up” to fire in a similar rapid burst style. This upgrade is available once you have:

A level 7 Cannon in the Home Village (unlocked at Town Hall 6).

A level 4 Double Cannon in the Builder Base (unlocked at Builder Hall 4).

The Master Builder available in the Builder Base to perform the upgrade.

Once upgraded, the geared-up Cannon fires in bursts of four shots, similar to the Double Cannon. However, it comes with some drawbacks:

Reduced Range: The geared-up Cannon has a shorter attack range than a regular Cannon, meaning it must be placed carefully to avoid being outranged by enemy troops.

Single Target Limitation: Like the Double Cannon, it can only target one unit at a time, making it vulnerable to swarms of enemies such as Bats from Bat Spells or massed Sneaky Goblins.

Base Design Considerations: Some players prefer to keep their Home Village Cannons un-geared since the shorter range can sometimes make them less effective.

While gearing up a Cannon can add variety to your Home Village defenses, it may not always be the best choice depending on your base layout and defensive strategy.

Advanced Offensive Strategies

When attacking a base with Double Cannons, it’s important to recognize their strengths and weaknesses to effectively neutralize them.

Air Attacks:

One of the easiest ways to counter the Double Cannon is to ignore it entirely by using air-based troops such as Baby Dragons or Minion Hordes. Since the Double Cannon is unable to target air units, it becomes ineffective against these strategies. Air attacks allow troops to fly over the Double Cannon without being harmed, making it an ideal tactic for neutralizing this defense. However, this strategy requires careful planning to avoid other air defenses, such as Air Defenses or seeking Air Mines, which can be positioned to counter your air units.

Outranging with Cannon Carts:

The Cannon Cart, in Mortar Mode, has a longer range than the Double Cannon, allowing it to destroy the Double Cannon from a safe distance without taking any damage. This tactic is effective but requires precise placement. If the Cannon Cart is placed too close to the Double Cannon, it will switch to its Cannon Mode, which has a shorter range and can be destroyed easily by the Double Cannon. To maximize the effectiveness of this strategy, position the Cannon Cart far enough away to remain in Mortar Mode while targeting the Double Cannon, but be mindful of other potential threats in the area.

Swarming with Raged Barbarians:

Another effective way to take down a Double Cannon is by overwhelming it with large numbers of Raged Barbarians. Since the Double Cannon can only target one unit at a time, swarming it with Raged Barbarians can quickly neutralize the defense. This strategy works especially well when the Double Cannon is not protected by splash-damage defenses such as Multi Mortars or Roasters, which could quickly decimate the Barbarians. Raged Barbarians, with their increased speed and damage, can rush the Double Cannon and deal significant damage before it has a chance to eliminate them.

Dropping Skeletons from Drop Ships:

The Drop Ship is a versatile unit that can be used to distract the Double Cannon by dropping Skeletons upon destruction. These Skeletons act as a distraction, allowing other troops to advance toward the Double Cannon or other defenses without being targeted. The Drop Ship can be strategically placed over the Double Cannon, and once it is destroyed, the spawned Skeletons will occupy the Double Cannon long enough to allow other units to engage without interference. This tactic can be especially useful when paired with higher-damage units that are more vulnerable to the Double Cannon’s attacks.

The key to beating bases with well-placed Double Cannons is to either bypass them with air troops or overwhelm them with a high volume of ground troops.

Trivia and Fun Facts

The Double Cannon has a few interesting details that players might not know:

One of the First “Gear Up” Defenses:

The Double Cannon was one of the first defenses in the Builder Base to receive a “Gear Up” option for the Home Village. This was a significant milestone in the game, as it allowed players to enhance the standard Cannon in the Home Village to function similarly to the Double Cannon, complete with rapid fire bursts. Along with the Multi Mortar and Archer Tower, the Double Cannon was part of the initial set of defenses that could be upgraded with this mechanic. This early implementation of the Gear Up feature added a new layer of strategy for players who sought to strengthen their Home Village defenses with some of the Builder Base’s unique features.

Inspired by Classic Artillery:

The Double Cannon’s rapid-burst fire pattern is inspired by historical artillery tactics, specifically the use of grape shot or rapid-reload cannons that were common in older forms of warfare. Grape shot was a type of ammunition used in cannons to fire multiple smaller projectiles at once, creating a wide spread that could damage multiple enemies at once. Similarly, the Double Cannon’s four-shot burst mimics this idea, allowing it to deal significant damage to ground-based enemies, particularly high-hitpoint units, in a short amount of time. This design choice reflects the developers’ intention to evoke the power and efficiency of classic artillery, while also fitting it into the fast-paced, strategic gameplay of Clash of Clans.

A Favorite for Early Defenses:

For many Builder Hall players, the Double Cannon becomes a favorite early upgrade choice due to its effectiveness against early-game ground troops like Boxer Giants. These units, which are commonly used in the initial stages of the game, can be quickly neutralized by the Double Cannon’s rapid shots, making it an essential defense for players in the early stages of progression. Since it can deal with these early threats efficiently, many players prioritize upgrading the Double Cannon to ensure their base is well-defended against ground-based attackers. Its ability to eliminate tanky units quickly and with precision makes it a valuable asset during the early phases of gameplay.

Changed Over Time:

Over the years, the Double Cannon has undergone several adjustments through balance updates to keep it aligned with the evolving dynamics of the game. Its damage and attack speed have been tweaked periodically to maintain balance and ensure it remains a competitive defense option. These changes reflect the developers’ ongoing efforts to refine game mechanics and keep the gameplay experience fresh. As a result, the Double Cannon is a defense that has continuously evolved, adapting to new strategies and countering a variety of attack tactics, making it a defense that players need to keep up with as they progress through the game.

These small but interesting details add depth to the Double Cannon’s role in Clash of Clans and its place in the game’s overall strategy.