Introduction to Clash of Clans Drop Ship Detailed Guide

The Drop Ship is a unique flying troop in Clash of Clans that resembles a balloon. It drops Skeletons onto its target, providing a mixture of air and ground-based damage. Its high mobility and ability to deploy Skeletons make it a versatile troop for various offensive strategies in the Builder Base.

The Drop Ship becomes available once the Builder Barracks reaches level 9, which requires the Builder Hall to be upgraded to level 7. This unlock makes the Drop Ship one of the most advanced troops available in the Builder Base, offering significant tactical advantages when deployed correctly.

LevelHitpointsDamage When DestroyedSkeleton Bomb DamageSkeleton Bomb Spawned SkeletonsResearch CostResearch TimeStar Laboratory Level Required113,4003006005n/an/an/a123,40030070062,400,000
2d 12h
7133,74030070062,600,0003d 12h
7143,74040070062,800,0004d 12h
7154,11440070063,600,0005d 12h
8164,11440080073,800,0005d 12h
8174,52540080074,300,0006d9184,52550080074,500,0006d9194,97850080075,500,0006d 12h
10204,97850090085,700,0006d 12h
10

Special Ability – Skeleton Bomb:

The Drop Ship’s special ability, the Skeleton Bomb, can be activated once per battle. When triggered, the Drop Ship drops a large explosive barrel, dealing area damage upon impact. The explosion not only damages surrounding structures but also spawns several Skeletons. This ability is especially effective against Walls, as it instantly destroys them, allowing other troops to pass through.

Target Preference:

The Drop Ship has a unique targeting priority: it focuses on defensive structures first, bypassing all other types of buildings and troops as long as defenses remain active. This includes avoiding Guard Post troops or Zappies, even if they are directly attacking the Drop Ship. As a result, the Drop Ship stays focused on its intended targets—defensive buildings—until they are cleared.

Behavior After Defenses are Destroyed:

Once the Drop Ship has cleared all enemy defenses, it transitions to a more typical troop behavior. With no defenses left to target, it will automatically engage the nearest building. If any enemy units are within its range, the Drop Ship will shift its focus and begin attacking those units. This change in behavior makes the Drop Ship a versatile troop that can switch between dealing with defenses and pursuing other targets as needed.

    Offensive Strategies

    Support Troops:

    When using the Drop Ship, it’s crucial to bring support troops like Baby Dragons or Beta Minions. The Drop Ship and its summoned Skeletons, while useful for tanking and distracting defenses, do not deal much damage on their own. Without additional damage-dealing troops, the Drop Ship will be easily overwhelmed by enemy defenses. Support troops can help clear out the base, taking down structures while the Drop Ship and its Skeletons focus on tanking and distracting.

    Role as a Tank:

    The Drop Ship functions similarly to a Lava Hound in the Builder Base, serving as a tank for other troops. While it may not deal substantial damage itself, it absorbs hits from defensive structures and protects other, more fragile units. The Skeletons it drops, although not powerful in terms of damage output, serve as distractions for enemy defenses. Additionally, the Drop Ship’s bomb, similar to the Lava Hound’s death damage, can deal with area damage and help clear defenses upon destruction.

    Triggering Traps:

    The Drop Ship’s slow movement allows it to trigger Mines and Mega Mines without taking significant damage. This characteristic makes it an effective tool for protecting other troops from these traps. Since the Drop Ship has a decent amount of health for a flying troop, it can absorb damage from traps, clearing the path for your other troops and minimizing their risk.

    Weaknesses:

    The Drop Ship has a few vulnerabilities that should be taken into account. It is weak to splash damage, particularly from Firecrackers, which can quickly wear it down. The Mega Tesla is also highly effective, especially against multiple Drop Ships, as it can deal significant damage to both. As a flying unit, the Drop Ship is also vulnerable to air-targeting defenses, so strategic placement and timing are key to minimizing damage.

    Deployment Considerations:

    When deploying Drop Ships, it’s advisable to eliminate any distracting buildings first. The Drop Ship’s slow movement means it can be easily distracted by buildings like storages or collectors, which may cause it to wander off course. Clearing these buildings beforehand allows the Drop Ship to stay focused on its intended targets, like defensive structures, improving the efficiency of your attack.

    Crushers:

    Crushers pose a significant threat to the Drop Ship. Although the Skeletons dropped by the Drop Ship may cause some distraction, they will be crushed in one hit by Crushers. This can render the Drop Ship’s attack ineffective. To avoid this, consider using the Drop Ship’s special ability, the Skeleton Bomb, to destroy the Crusher before the Skeletons are crushed. If not eliminated, the Drop Ship will continue to deploy Skeletons that will be useless against the Crusher.

    Preventing Clustering:

    To prevent Drop Ships from being wiped out by splash damage from defenses like Roasters, Multi Mortars, or Mega Teslas, it’s a good idea to spread out your Drop Ships when deploying them. Clustering Drop Ships together makes them an easy target for these splash-damaging defenses. Consider delaying the deployment of some Drop Ships to ensure they are spread out across the base, increasing their chances of survival and making them harder to target by splash damage attacks.

    Defensive Strategies

    Firecracker and Air Bomb Placement:

    For effective defense against Drop Ships, space out your Firecrackers and Air Bombs. Place high-hitpoint buildings, such as storages or collectors, between them to shield these key defenses. By ensuring these defenses are still within each other’s range, they can protect one another. This arrangement will make it harder for Drop Ships to target and destroy either the Firecrackers or Air Bombs individually, improving their effectiveness in countering flying troops.

    Roaster:

    The Roaster is a powerful tool for countering the Drop Ship. It can target both the Drop Ship and the Skeletons it drops, especially if they are grouped close together. Since the Roaster deals high damage over time, it can quickly eliminate both the Drop Ship and the Skeletons, significantly reducing their effectiveness. Be cautious when placing the Drop Ship near the Roaster, as it can disrupt the Drop Ship’s ability to tank and deploy Skeletons effectively.

    Multi Mortar and Giant Cannon:

    Both the Multi Mortar and Giant Cannon are highly effective at wiping out the Skeletons dropped by the Drop Ship. These splash-damaging defenses can quickly clear large groups of Skeletons, preventing them from overwhelming your defenses. When attacking with the Drop Ship, it is crucial to consider the positioning of these defenses. If left intact, the Multi Mortar and Giant Cannon can drastically reduce the Drop Ship’s potential to deal damage by destroying the Skeletons before they can cause disruption.

    Guard Post:

    The Guard Post poses a particular challenge for the Drop Ship. Since the Drop Ship’s Skeletons deal minimal damage, they may struggle to take down the defending troops inside the Guard Post. This can result in the Drop Ship’s support troops being easily wiped out, especially if the defending troops are strong. Additionally, the Drop Ship’s limited offensive capabilities mean that its value is significantly reduced when facing Guard Post troops, as they can overwhelm the Skeletons quickly.

    Mega Tesla and Firecrackers:

    A well-placed Mega Tesla near the Guard Post, combined with Firecrackers, forms a potent defense against Drop Ships. The Mega Tesla can deal significant damage to multiple flying units, and when paired with Firecrackers, it can take down a large group of Skeletons. The combination of splash damage and high-damage abilities from these defenses ensures that the Drop Ship and its Skeletons are neutralized before they can do much damage to your base. This synergy can be highly effective in stopping Drop Ship-based attacks.

    Grouping:

    Defensive troops, such as those in the Guard Post, can cause multiple Drop Ships to group together. This clustering increases the effectiveness of splash damage attacks, such as those from Air Bombs or Multi Mortars. Grouping also makes it easier for other air-targeting units, like Beta Minions, to target and destroy the Drop Ships. To counter this, ensure your Drop Ships are spread out and deployed strategically to minimize the impact of splash damage and reduce their vulnerability to concentrated attacks.

    Synergies

    Beta Minions and Drop Ship Synergy in Clash of Clans Builder Base:

    How It Works:

    Drop Ship’s Tanking Role: The Drop Ship is primarily a tank for air defenses. When deployed, it flies over the battlefield and draws the attention of key air-targeting defenses, such as Firecrackers, Roasters, and Air Bombs. These defenses will focus their fire on the Drop Ship, which has a decent amount of health and can absorb hits while it’s in the air.

    Beta Minion Safety: Beta Minions, being highly effective at dealing damage to structures, are vulnerable to air-targeting defenses. However, by positioning them behind the Drop Ship, they remain out of the range of these defenses, as the Drop Ship draws all the attention. This allows Beta Minions to stay safe while they focus on attacking high-value targets like defenses, resource storages, and key structures.

    Drop Ship’s Skeleton Bomb: In addition to drawing fire, the Drop Ship’s Skeleton Bomb ability further enhances the synergy. When activated, the Drop Ship releases an explosive barrel that deals damage to surrounding structures and spawns several Skeletons. These Skeletons act as a secondary distraction, further pulling the attention of defenses away from the Beta Minions.

    The Skeletons also help create more chaos on the battlefield, slowing down or even taking out weaker defenses, allowing the Beta Minions to focus on attacking higher-priority targets.

      The benefit of the Synergy:

      Damage Dealing While Protected: The primary benefit of using Beta Minions with Drop Ships is that Beta Minions can consistently deal damage to enemy buildings without being at risk from enemy air-targeting defenses. Since these air defenses will be occupied with the Drop Ship or its spawned Skeletons, Beta Minions are free to attack with minimal interference.

      Effective Targeting: Beta Minions are good at targeting structures that might be more difficult to reach with ground units or other troops. By pairing them with the Drop Ship, you ensure that the most vulnerable or important structures (like defenses or storages) are quickly taken down.

      Sustained Pressure: Drop Ships, with their constant spawn of Skeletons, maintain pressure on the enemy defenses while Beta Minions clear the way. This makes for a well-rounded approach where the enemy defenses are constantly distracted, and the Beta Minions can wreak havoc on their core structures.

      Tanking and Damage Mitigation: The Drop Ship’s ability to trigger traps, such as Mines and Mega Mines, is an added advantage. These traps often pose a significant threat to other troops, especially Beta Minions. By having the Drop Ship go first, it triggers these traps without taking much damage, protecting the Beta Minions as they follow behind.

      Deployment Tips:

      Timing and Positioning: Deploy the Drop Ship first to draw the attention of air defenses. Follow up with the Beta Minions shortly afterward, ensuring they stay behind the Drop Ship to maintain their safety.

      Use the Skeleton Bomb Ability Wisely: Activate the Drop Ship’s Skeleton Bomb ability when the Drop Ship is near key defenses or clustered buildings. This will cause the Skeletons to spawn and distract more defenses, allowing the Beta Minions to continue their attack uninterrupted.

      Focus on Funnel Creation: To ensure that Beta Minions follow the correct path, use Bombers or Raged Barbarians to remove peripheral buildings. This prevents Beta Minions from wandering off course and ensures they stay focused on the core of the enemy base.

      Challenges:

      Splash Damage Defenses: Be cautious of splash-damaging defenses like Multi Mortars, which can easily wipe out Beta Minions if not properly managed. Spread out your Drop Ships and Beta Minions to avoid them being hit by splash damage.

      Air Defenses’ Concentrated Fire: Although Drop Ships help distract air defenses, if the enemy has multiple Firecrackers or Roasters nearby, Beta Minions may still be at risk. Use a combination of support troops to distract these defenses if needed.

      By using Drop Ships and Beta Minions together, you can create a well-balanced and highly effective attack strategy that maximizes the strengths of both units. Drop Ships provide the necessary tanking and distraction, while Beta Minions deliver the firepower to take down critical enemy structures.

      Night Witch and Drop Ship Synergy in Clash of Clans Builder Base:

      How It Works:

      Drop Ship as a Tank: The Drop Ship plays a vital role in protecting the Night Witch by drawing fire from air-targeting defenses. Air defenses like Firecrackers, Roasters, and Air Bombs often pose a significant threat to the Night Witch due to her relatively low health and vulnerability to these defenses. By deploying the Drop Ship first, it takes the brunt of the attacks, allowing the Night Witch to stay safe behind it.

      Night Witch’s Role: The Night Witch, once protected by the Drop Ship, can focus on what she does best—spawning Bats. These Bats deal significant damage and can quickly overwhelm enemy defenses. However, without proper protection from air defenses, the Night Witch’s effectiveness can be diminished, as she may get eliminated before she can spawn enough Bats. The Drop Ship provides that much-needed protection.

      Drop Ship’s Skeleton Bomb: The Drop Ship’s Skeleton Bomb ability adds an extra layer of distraction. Upon activation, it drops a barrel that damages surrounding defenses and spawns additional Skeletons. These Skeletons can further distract any remaining enemy defenses while the Night Witch focuses on her core role of spawning Bats. This creates chaos on the battlefield, making it difficult for enemy defenses to focus on any one target.

        The benefit of the Synergy:

        Effective Damage Dealing While Protected: By pairing the Night Witch with the Drop Ship, you allow the Night Witch to focus on what she does best—spawning Bats that deal substantial damage—without the constant threat of air defenses eliminating her early in the attack. The Drop Ship’s tanking ability ensures she stays alive long enough to do damage.

        Distraction and Chaos: The Drop Ship’s Skeleton Bomb ability is particularly useful in creating distractions, keeping enemy defenses occupied while the Night Witch’s Bats whittle down key structures. This adds a layer of unpredictability to the attack, as defenses may not know where to focus their fire.

        Air Support and Ground Disruption: The combination of the Night Witch’s Bats and the Drop Ship’s Skeletons creates a powerful mix of air and ground-based attacks. The Bats deal damage to buildings, while the Skeletons from the Drop Ship can disrupt enemy defenses and cause confusion, all while the Drop Ship tanks damage.

        Surviving Splash Damage: Splash damage defenses like Multi Mortars or Roasters can be a significant threat to the Night Witch and her Bats. The Drop Ship helps mitigate this by drawing fire and distracting splash damage defenses, allowing the Night Witch to stay safer and continue to spawn more Bats.

        Deployment Tips:

        Deploy the Drop Ship First: Start the attack by deploying the Drop Ship to absorb the incoming fire from air defenses. Once it has engaged enemy air-targeting structures, deploy the Night Witch behind it.

        Timing the Skeleton Bomb Ability: Wait until the Drop Ship is over a group of enemy defenses to activate the Skeleton Bomb ability. This will maximize the number of defenses it can distract and deal damage to, allowing the Night Witch to spawn Bats without interference.

        Positioning the Night Witch: Ensure that the Night Witch is placed far enough behind the Drop Ship so that she remains protected. At the same time, try to position her close enough to key defenses that the Bats she spawns can immediately target high-priority structures, like defenses and storages.

        Challenges:

        Splash Damage Defenses: Splash-damaging defenses like the Multi Mortar, Roaster, and even the Lava Launcher can still pose a risk if the Night Witch and Drop Ship are clustered too closely together. Be mindful of their positioning to avoid being wiped out by these defenses.

        Air Defenses with Wide Coverage: Multiple air-targeting defenses clustered together, such as Firecrackers or Roasters, can still be a threat even with the Drop Ship tanking. Consider using support troops like Beta Minions or Bombers to take out these threats before deploying the Night Witch.

        By pairing the Night Witch with a Drop Ship, you create a synergy where the Night Witch can focus on her primary role—spawning Bats to deal damage—while the Drop Ship absorbs hits from air defenses and creates additional distractions. This combination of tanking and damage-dealing makes for a powerful attack strategy in Builder Base.