Introduction to Clash of Clans Headhunter Detailed Guide

The Headhunter is a fast-moving Dark Elixir troop in Clash of Clans. Unlocked at Town Hall 12, specializing in targeting enemy Heroes. It can jump over Walls, allowing it to bypass defensive structures and directly engage Heroes, even those placed behind defenses. While it has low hitpoints and damage, its speed and focus on eliminating Heroes make it highly effective in specific strategies.

Due to its low health and damage, the Headhunter is often used alongside tanking troops like Golems or Giants to protect it from enemy defenses. This allows the Headhunter to target and eliminate key Heroes, such as the Archer Queen or Barbarian King, disrupting the enemy’s defense.

Despite its strengths, the Headhunter is vulnerable to splash damage and traps, such as Inferno Towers, Scattershots, and Spring Traps. Proper deployment and timing are essential for maximizing its potential, especially when combined with support troops or spells like Rage or Freeze to ensure it reaches its target and survives long enough to deal damage.

Strengths

Effective Against Heroes

Headhunters deal 4x damage to enemy heroes, making them one of the best counters to Archer Queen, Barbarian King, Royal Champion, and Grand Warden. This is especially valuable in war attacks and high-level raids.

Slows Down Defenders

They apply a poison effect that reduces both attack speed and movement speed of enemy heroes and troops, providing crowd control and support for the main army.

Can Jump Walls

Headhunters can leap over walls just like Hog Riders and Miners, allowing them to target enemy heroes directly without getting stuck or slowed by base layout obstacles.

Weaknesses

Low Hitpoints

Headhunters are quite fragile and can be quickly eliminated by splash defenses like Wizard Towers, Bomb Towers, and even Mortars if not protected properly.

Prioritizes Heroes Only

They ignore all buildings and regular troops until enemy heroes are defeated, which makes them ineffective if there are no heroes on defense or if they’re deployed too early.

Vulnerable to Traps

Due to their small size and low HP, Headhunters are easily destroyed by traps like Giant Bombs and Spring Traps, especially when funneled through narrow paths.

Troops Synergies

Lava Hound + Balloons (LavaLoon)

Synergy: Headhunters pair exceptionally well with LavaLoon-style air attacks. While the Lava Hound tanks defenses and Balloons target defenses, Headhunters are dropped behind to target and eliminate defending heroes, which would otherwise be a major threat to Balloons. This is a common tactic in war attacks.

Ice Golem

Synergy: The Ice Golem’s freezing ability gives Headhunters crucial protection while approaching enemy heroes. Since Headhunters are fragile, the Ice Golem’s tankiness and freeze-on-death effect buy enough time for the Headhunters to reach and damage enemy heroes safely.

Warden Walk or Queen Walk (Healers + Hero)

Synergy: When using a Queen Walk or Warden Walk, Headhunters can be deployed to eliminate defending heroes that pose a threat to your Queen or Warden. They complement the walk by dealing fast burst damage to enemy heroes, preventing long duels that could wear your hero down.

Witch + Bowlers (Bowitch)

Synergy: In Bowitch or hybrid ground strategies, Headhunters can target enemy heroes behind the enemy lines while Witches and Bowlers flood the base with splash damage and distraction. The skeletons spawned by Witches can also tank for Headhunters, keeping them alive long enough to finish off enemy heroes.

Offensive Strategy

Target Prioritization:

Headhunters are highly specialized troops in Clash of Clans, with a focus on targeting enemy Heroes. Their behavior is programmed to prioritize these Heroes above all other targets, meaning that they will completely ignore defenses, resource storages, and other troops as long as enemy Heroes are present on the battlefield. This makes them particularly effective for taking down enemy Heroes, especially when they are positioned near key defensive areas.

Once all enemy Heroes have been defeated, Headhunters will shift their focus and start attacking the nearest building, usually following the same path that they had taken towards the Heroes. If they come into contact with enemy units, such as defending Clan Castle troops or Skeleton Traps, they will automatically target them, provided no Heroes remain. This makes the Headhunter versatile in clearing up remaining threats even after completing its primary objective.

However, while effective against Heroes, Headhunters are vulnerable to splash damage and other forms of area-of-effect attacks. Their low health means they can be easily eliminated by defenses like Wizard Towers, Bomb Towers, and multi-target Inferno Towers. As a result, it’s essential to deploy them strategically, often alongside tanking units like Golems or Ice Golems, to ensure they can safely reach their targets.

Strategic Deployment and Tactics:

Headhunters have the unique ability to jump over Walls, which allows them to bypass the need for Jump or Earthquake Spells to reach their primary targets—enemy Heroes. This makes them particularly useful in situations where Heroes are positioned behind walls or in compartments that would otherwise be difficult for other troops to access.

Unlike other ground-based troops that require the use of spells to create openings in walls, Headhunters can simply leap over them and directly engage the Heroes. This makes them highly efficient in targeting and eliminating Heroes, as they can focus solely on their primary objective without needing additional support to break through defensive structures. However, it’s important to deploy them in a way that maximizes their potential, ensuring that they are not distracted by other targets or eliminated before they can reach the enemy Heroes.

Headhunters are most effective when deployed alongside a main army, as they can swiftly take out enemy Heroes, which clears the way for other troops to advance. Since Heroes are often crucial to the defense of a base, removing them early can significantly weaken the opponent’s defenses and make the rest of the attack much smoother. By eliminating Heroes before other troops are fully engaged, Headhunters help reduce the risk of Heroes using their abilities to disrupt or damage the main force.

Deploying Headhunters with other high-damage units like Bowlers, Witches, or Dragons ensures that once the Heroes are out of the way, the rest of the defense crumbles quickly. Additionally, Headhunters can continue to target other units like Clan Castle troops once the Heroes are defeated, adding further utility to the attack.

Headhunters can be used effectively to lure out Clan Castle troops, especially when there are enemy Heroes nearby. However, due to their low hitpoints, Headhunters are highly vulnerable to damage from defenses and enemy troops, making it essential to provide them with protection. Deploying a “meat shield” troop, like a Giant or Ice Golem, in front of the Headhunters can help absorb damage, allowing the Headhunters to target and eliminate Clan Castle troops safely. This strategy works particularly well when combined with other troops that can clear out the Clan Castle after the Headhunters have distracted them.

By using a meat shield to protect Headhunters, you ensure that these specialized troops can focus on their primary role—luring and eliminating high-priority threats like Clan Castle troops and enemy Heroes—without getting taken out prematurely.

During a Queen Walk or Queen Charge, deploying one or two Headhunters can be a highly effective tactic, especially when dealing with enemy Heroes like the Barbarian King. Headhunters are particularly well-suited for this purpose because they prioritize and quickly eliminate enemy Heroes. When the Archer Queen encounters the Barbarian King, deploying Headhunters can save you from using spells like Poison or Freeze, which are often reserved for larger clusters of enemy troops or high-damage defenses.

By deploying Headhunters to neutralize the Barbarian King, the Archer Queen can continue her path without interruption, making it easier to maintain control over the attack. Additionally, since Headhunters can jump over Walls, they can reach and eliminate enemy Heroes even if they’re behind defensive structures, further facilitating the Queen’s progress. This strategy allows you to maximize the Archer Queen’s longevity and effectiveness, saving valuable spells for other parts of the attack.

In a Sui Hero Dive, deploying a Headhunter can be an excellent way to target and eliminate a defending Hero without putting the attacking Hero at risk. Headhunters are specifically designed to prioritize enemy Heroes, allowing them to quickly neutralize threats like the defending Barbarian King or Archer Queen. This helps preserve the health and ability of the attacking hero, especially during crucial parts of the attack.

By using a Headhunter, you can ensure that your hero can continue their task, whether it’s clearing defenses, creating funnels, or supporting other troops, without being distracted or weakened by enemy Heroes. This strategy is particularly effective when you want to maintain the full strength of your hero for later stages of the attack, ensuring they can help in the cleanup phase or engage with other key defenses.

Combining Headhunters with the Grand Warden’s Eternal Tome ability can be a powerful strategy, especially when trying to eliminate enemy Heroes without interference. When the Grand Warden’s ability is activated, Headhunters become temporarily immune to damage, making them highly effective at taking out enemy Heroes, such as the Barbarian King or Archer Queen, even if there are strong defensive structures nearby.

This synergy allows Headhunters to target and deal significant damage to enemy Heroes without being interrupted by splash damage from defenses like Wizard Towers or Mortars. The Grand Warden’s protection ensures that Headhunters can do their job efficiently, especially during critical moments of the attack when eliminating Heroes is crucial for the success of the raid. By using this combination, you not only safeguard your Headhunters but also make sure your other troops can proceed with less resistance.

Trap Awareness:

While Headhunters’ ability to jump over Walls makes them highly effective for targeting Heroes and bypassing defensive structures, they are still vulnerable to Spring Traps. If a Headhunter lands on a Spring Trap, it will be launched off the battlefield, which can significantly impact the success of an attack. This makes it important to be cautious when deploying Headhunters, especially in areas where traps may be placed in front of key targets like Heroes.

Additionally, Headhunters are not well-suited for scouting or clearing traps. Since Spring Traps only activate when the Headhunter enters their trigger range, it can be difficult to predict where they may be launched, potentially leading to wasted troop deployment or unsuccessful strategies. To mitigate this risk, it’s often better to use tankier units or ground troops to scout and trigger traps before sending in Headhunters. This ensures that they can effectively target and eliminate Heroes without being prematurely taken out by traps.

Defensive Strategy

Clan Castle Troops:

Headhunters can be an excellent defensive unit in Clan Castles, particularly against enemy Heroes. Their primary strength lies in their ability to prioritize and target enemy Heroes, making them particularly effective against high-value targets like the Archer Queen, Barbarian King, and Grand Warden, regardless of whether those Heroes are in Ground or Air mode.

When deployed in a Clan Castle, Headhunters will focus solely on the enemy Heroes, bypassing other troops or buildings. This focused targeting can quickly neutralize enemy Heroes, allowing your defenses to gain the upper hand. The Grand Warden, in particular, is highly vulnerable to Headhunters, as they will relentlessly target him, even while he’s in Air mode, where he might otherwise be more difficult to deal with.

To maximize the effectiveness of Headhunters in defense, consider pairing them with other Clan Castle troops that can absorb damage and distract attackers, such as Lava Hounds, Golems, or Valkyries. This synergy can keep the Headhunters alive longer, ensuring they have enough time to eliminate enemy Heroes before being taken out.

Poison Effect:

The Headhunter’s attack not only targets enemy Heroes but also inflicts a Poison Spell-like effect, which significantly slows down both troops and Heroes. This unique ability makes Headhunters a powerful support troop in both offensive and defensive situations. While the poison effect doesn’t deal direct damage to buildings, it can be highly disruptive to an attacker’s strategy, especially when attacking high-value targets like Heroes or key offensive units.

When used in defense, the slowing effect can hinder enemy troops from reaching critical structures, while simultaneously reducing the effectiveness of attacking Heroes, who might rely on their speed or abilities to dominate the battlefield. For example, an Archer Queen or Barbarian King slowed by Headhunters’ poison will be less effective at dealing damage or triggering abilities, which can provide a significant advantage in defense.

On offense, pairing Headhunters with other high-damage troops can make them even more effective, as the slowed enemy units become easier to eliminate, especially when the Headhunters target the opposing Heroes. The poison effect helps neutralize those Heroes, making them less of a threat to your main attack force.

Queen Charge Defense:

Headhunters are especially effective at disrupting Queen Charges due to their ability to target and slow down the Archer Queen. When deployed against a Queen Charge, Headhunters can force the Archer Queen to use her ability prematurely to stay alive, which often leads to wasted resources and reduced effectiveness. If the attacker doesn’t react quickly with spells like Freeze or Poison, the Headhunters can deal significant damage, potentially eliminating the Archer Queen entirely before she can inflict enough damage on your attacking forces.

Their speed and ability to jump over Walls make them a constant threat to any Hero-based strategy, making Headhunters an excellent tool for countering Queen Charges, especially when placed strategically to intercept the Queen’s path. The poison effect further weakens the Archer Queen and other Heroes, making it more challenging for the attacker to execute their strategy smoothly.

Siege Machine Counter:

Headhunters can be quite effective against Siege Machines, especially those that rely on quick movement and high damage output, such as the Log Launcher, Wall Wrecker, and Battle Blimp. Their poison effect significantly slows down the Siege Machines’ movement and attack speed, making it more difficult for them to reach their targets or deal damage to your defenses or troops. This can be particularly useful in disrupting the flow of an attack, as it gives your defenses more time to target and damage the Siege Machines before they reach the core of the base.

However, the Siege Barracks is not as affected by Headhunters due to its ground-only troop production, which is not influenced by the poison effect. Thus, it’s important to prioritize Headhunters against the more dangerous Siege Machines while leaving the Siege Barracks for other forms of counteraction.

Base Design Considerations:

Positioning enemy Heroes closer to the core of the base can indeed force Headhunters to bypass tanks, such as Golems or Ice Golems, and directly engage with the Heroes. This can make them more susceptible to high-damage defenses like Wizard Towers, Multi-target Inferno Towers, or Archer Towers.

By placing the Heroes deeper within the base, you can limit the Headhunters’ ability to stay protected behind tanks. This also forces them to target the Heroes from a distance, making them more vulnerable to splash damage or single-target defenses as they move toward their intended targets.

If you’re planning to use Headhunters in an attack, be aware that such defensive positioning can disrupt their optimal pathing and may require additional spells or support to help them survive longer and effectively eliminate the enemy Heroes.

Countering Headhunters:

Indeed, Headhunters’ low hitpoints make them vulnerable to several high-damage defenses. Multi-target Inferno Towers, Scattershots, and Ricochet Cannons can quickly eliminate Headhunters, especially when they are clustered together or if multiple Headhunters are targeting a specific Hero or defensive structure. These defenses can hit multiple Headhunters at once, ensuring that they do not survive long enough to eliminate key targets.

Tornado Traps can be especially effective in stalling Headhunters, pulling them into the range of splash damage defenses like Wizard Towers or Inferno Towers. Poison Spell Towers are also useful for slowing down and damaging Headhunters over time, preventing them from dealing damage to Heroes and other key targets. If the Headhunters are protected by the Grand Warden’s Eternal Tome ability, these traps or effects will still affect the Headhunters after the spell’s duration ends, making them vulnerable.

Finally, Spring Traps are particularly dangerous for Headhunters. Due to their small size and high speed, Headhunters can easily trigger Spring Traps, causing them to be launched off the map. This makes them susceptible to traps placed near Hero locations or other high-priority targets, ensuring they are neutralized before they can fulfill their role in the attack. Proper trap placement, therefore, is critical to countering Headhunters effectively.

Movement Synergy:

The Headhunter shares the same movement speed as several other fast-moving troops in Clash of Clans, including Goblins, Sneaky Goblins, Minions, and Miners. This makes them very quick to reach their targets, especially enemy Heroes. Their speed allows them to quickly bypass defensive structures and engage enemy Heroes, which is key to their effectiveness in many strategies.

However, their speed also means they can be easily targeted by splash damage defenses if not properly protected or deployed. It’s essential to plan their deployment timing and positioning, ensuring they can reach their target without being eliminated too quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓What does the Headhunter target in Clash of Clans?

The Headhunter specifically targets enemy heroes first, dealing 4x damage to them. Once all enemy heroes are eliminated, it switches to attacking other enemy troops and buildings. It does not prioritize defenses like some other troops.

❓Can Headhunters jump over walls?

Yes, Headhunters can jump over walls, similar to Hog Riders and Miners. This allows them to bypass base layouts and go directly for enemy heroes, making them highly effective in hero-focused takedowns.

❓How much damage do Headhunters do to enemy heroes?

Headhunters deal quadruple (4x) damage to enemy heroes. This bonus allows even a few Headhunters to quickly eliminate high-level heroes, especially when supported or protected by tanks or spells.

❓Are Headhunters good for war attacks?

Yes, Headhunters are excellent in war attacks, especially at higher Town Hall levels. They are often used in air or hybrid strategies (like LavaLoon or Queen Charge Hybrid) to neutralize defending heroes that can otherwise ruin an attack.

❓How can I protect Headhunters during a raid?

Because of their low health, Headhunters should be protected by tanks like Ice Golems or Lava Hounds, and supported with spells such as Freeze or Invisibility. Deploy them after distractions are in place to avoid traps and splash damage.