Clash Of Clans Hog Glider Detailed Guide - Theria Games
Introduction to Clash of Clans Hog Glider Detailed Guide
Hog Gliders become available once the Builder Barracks reaches level 11, which requires Builder Hall level 9 in Clash of Clans. They are the eleventh troop unlocked in the Builder Base, making them one of the final units a player gains access to. Due to their unique mechanics, they introduce new strategic options for targeting defenses effectively.
Hog Gliders are aerial troops that exclusively target defensive structures. They move swiftly across the battlefield, ignoring all other buildings and enemy troops. When a Hog Glider reaches its target, it crashes into the defense, dealing damage. This impact does not instantly destroy most high-hitpoint defenses, but it does contribute additional damage before the Hog Rider drops down to continue the attack on the ground.
LevelDamageHitpointsStun DurationResearch CostResearch TimeStar Laboratory Level Required151806005.0sn/an/an/a162206505.0s4,000,0005d 12h9172206505.0s4,200,0006d9182206506.0s4,400,0006d9192206506.0s5,400,0006d 12h10202607006.0s5,800,0006d 12h10 LevelDamage per SecondDamage per AttackHitpoints151121121,267161121121,267171251251,393181251251,393191391391,533201391391,533Stunning Glide Ability
At level 15, Hog Gliders unlock the Stunning Glide ability, which temporarily stuns the targeted defense upon impact. This stun effect prevents the defense from attacking for a short period, allowing other attacking units more time to deal damage without retaliation. However, if the Hog Glider is destroyed before reaching its target, the stun effect will not trigger. Because of this, proper deployment is essential to ensure that the Hog Glider reaches its target intact.
Hog Rider Deployment
After crashing, the Hog Glider spawns a Hog Rider that continues attacking defensive buildings. Unlike the glider, the Hog Rider is a ground unit but retains its ability to jump over Walls, similar to its Home Village counterpart. The Hog Rider does not prioritize non-defensive buildings, ensuring that it remains focused on weakening the opponent’s defensive structures even after the glider phase ends.
Targeting and Priorities
Defense Prioritization
Hog Gliders and the Hog Riders that emerge from them have a strict targeting priority, focusing solely on defensive structures. As long as any defenses remain on the battlefield, they will ignore all other buildings and enemy troops. This makes them highly effective at quickly dismantling an opponent’s defensive setup when used correctly.
Exceptions
Despite being classified as a defensive building, the Guard Post is an exception to this targeting behavior. Neither Hog Gliders nor Hog Riders will attack the Guard Post directly. Instead, they will continue to target other defenses, potentially allowing Guard Post troops to distract them mid-attack.
Post-Defense Behavior
Once all defensive structures have been eliminated, Hog Gliders (if still in the air) and Hog Riders will switch to standard troop behavior. They will attack the nearest building, regardless of type, and will also engage nearby enemy units if they become aware of them. This makes them more versatile in cleanup situations, helping to clear remaining structures after defenses are destroyed.
Offensive Strategies
Surgical Deployment
Hog Gliders are most effective when deployed strategically rather than all at once. If multiple Hog Gliders target the same defense too quickly, the stun effect is wasted, as only the first impact will stun while the others simply deal damage. Instead, space out deployments to maximize the disruption to enemy defenses.
Attacking High-Hitpoint Defenses
Certain defenses, like the Crusher, have high hitpoints and require more damage to take down before the stun effect wears off. Deploying two or three Hog Gliders in sequence ensures that the initial stun holds the defense in place long enough for the spawned Hog Riders to destroy it before it can retaliate.
Stunning Key Defenses
The ability to temporarily disable defenses makes Hog Gliders a valuable support troop in many attack strategies. Stunning a Crusher is particularly useful for Raged Barbarians, as it prevents them from being instantly crushed. Well-timed stuns can also neutralize Double Cannons and Roasters, allowing ground troops to survive longer.
Wall Bypass
Hog Riders, which emerge after the Hog Glider crashes, can jump over Walls, preventing them from being funneled by traditional base layouts. However, defense placements can still influence their movement, so careful attack planning is necessary to guide them toward priority targets.
Hidden Tesla Awareness
One potential downside to Hog Gliders is their sensitivity to Hidden Teslas. Since Builder Hidden Teslas appear unexpectedly, Hog Gliders may change targets mid-flight if a Tesla pops up nearby. This can disrupt your attack if the Hog Glider unexpectedly stuns a different defense than intended. Always consider potential Tesla locations when planning an attack.
Defensive Strategies
Protecting Valuable Defenses
Since Hog Gliders prioritize defenses and stun their target, placing key defenses like Crushers or Mega Teslas in deeper sections of the base can prevent them from being immediately disabled. This forces attackers to use more Hog Gliders or find alternative ways to take down these defenses.
Using Unimportant Defenses as Bait
Placing lower-value defenses like Cannons near the outer edges of the base can serve as bait. The goal is to sacrifice these structures to absorb the stun and damage, preventing more critical defenses from being disabled. However, these buildings should still be adequately protected, as the spawned Hog Rider may still destroy them and move deeper into the base.
Air Defense Against Hog Gliders
Firecrackers and Air Bombs are effective countermeasures against Hog Gliders. Well-upgraded Air Bombs deal splash damage, potentially taking out multiple Hog Gliders before they reach their target. However, Hog Gliders’ high speed makes it challenging for static air defenses to react in time. Positioning Air Bombs centrally can increase their effectiveness.
Mega Tesla’s Effectiveness
A sufficiently upgraded Mega Tesla can eliminate a single Hog Glider in one hit while also heavily damaging the Hog Rider that drops. Additionally, since the Mega Tesla’s attack can hit two units at once, it is effective at neutralizing multiple incoming Hog Gliders, preventing them from stunning key defenses.
Strategic Hidden Tesla Placement
Hidden Teslas can disrupt an attacking strategy by suddenly drawing Hog Gliders away from their intended target. Placing Hidden Teslas along expected attack paths forces the Hog Glider to crash early, potentially stunning an unintended defense. This can reduce the effectiveness of a Hog Glider-based attack and keep high-value defenses protected.
Weaknesses
Lack of Healing
Unlike their Home Village counterparts, Builder Base Hog Riders do not have access to healing spells or abilities, making them more difficult to use in large groups. Without healing, continuous splash damage from defenses like Roasters and Lava Launchers can quickly wear them down, limiting their effectiveness in prolonged battles.
Crusher Vulnerability
The Crusher is one of the biggest threats to Hog Riders. If a group of Hog Riders jumps directly onto a Crusher, it can wipe them out instantly. This makes stunning Crushers with Hog Gliders crucial before sending in other troops. Careful deployment and distraction tactics are necessary to prevent Crushers from eliminating Hog Riders too quickly.
Splash Damage Threats
Several defenses pose a significant threat due to their splash damage capabilities:
Roasters deal continuous splash damage, quickly chipping away at groups of Hog Riders.
Lava Launchers inflict area damage over time, causing persistent damage to Hog Riders as they move through the impact zones.
Mega Mines can wipe out multiple Hog Riders at once if they are clustered together. Their placement can make or break an attack.
To counter these threats, spreading out Hog Riders and using Hog Gliders strategically to disable key defenses is essential for maximizing their effectiveness.
Synergies
Power P.E.K.K.A + Hog Glider Synergy
The combination of Power P.E.K.K.A and Hog Gliders creates a devastating attack strategy that focuses on stunning key defenses while allowing the Power P.E.K.K.A to deal uninterrupted damage.
How It Works:
Hog Gliders have a unique function in that they prioritize targeting defenses over any other building or troop on the battlefield. Once deployed, they fly toward enemy defensive structures and crash into them, causing a stun effect that disables the defense for a short period. This stun prevents the defense from being able to target any troops, including the Power P.E.K.K.A. This mechanic is highly beneficial, as it allows the Power P.E.K.K.A to continue its rampage without being interrupted by the high-damage defenses that might normally stop it, such as Crushers or Roasters.
During the stun, the Power P.E.K.K.A can focus its attacks on those defenses, destroying them without taking damage in return. This ability to temporarily neutralize threats is crucial for maintaining the momentum of the Power P.E.K.K.A, allowing it to progress through the enemy base with little resistance. The stun effect lasts long enough to clear out defenses, making it easier for the Power P.E.K.K.A to finish its task.
Once the Hog Glider crashes, a Hog Rider is deployed from the wreckage. The Hog Rider, like its counterparts in the Home Village, continues to attack any remaining defenses in the vicinity. The Hog Rider’s ability to jump over walls allows it to bypass defensive structures behind barriers, ensuring that even those hidden away behind walls don’t escape the damage. This added support from the Hog Rider ensures that the defenses are dealt with more effectively, while the Power P.E.K.K.A can focus on destroying other key buildings and advancing through the base.
Best Use Cases:
Crushers and Roasters are major threats to the Power P.E.K.K.A. Stunning these defenses prevents them from dealing damage while the Power P.E.K.K.A takes them down.
The Power P.E.K.K.A’s Overcharge ability can finish off weakened defenses, ensuring a strong push.
Deployment Strategy:
Send in Hog Gliders first to disable Crushers, Roasters, or other high-threat defenses.
Deploy the Power P.E.K.K.A once key defenses are stunned, allowing it to advance with minimal resistance.
Support with additional troops like Raged Barbarians or Cannon Carts if needed to assist with cleanup.
This synergy is especially useful against bases with centralized Crushers, as it allows the Power P.E.K.K.A to reach the core without being instantly eliminated.
Cannon Cart + Hog Glider Synergy
The Hog Glider and Cannon Cart combination is an effective strategy that maximizes the Cannon Cart’s high damage output while ensuring its safety by disabling key defenses.
How It Works:
Hog Gliders are highly effective at targeting defenses as their primary function, charging toward them and stunning them upon impact. This stun effect temporarily disables the targeted defense, rendering it incapable of retaliating for a short period. This provides an excellent opportunity for other troops, like Cannon Carts, to capitalize on the moment and attack without the threat of defense interference.
Cannon Carts, with their long attack range, are ideal for exploiting this stun. Once a Hog Glider crashes and stuns a defense, the Cannon Cart can target and destroy the stunned defense before it has a chance to recover or retaliate. This synergy allows the Cannon Cart to stay out of range of most defenses and still effectively clear the way, without the threat of being shot down by powerful defenses like Double Cannons or Roasters. The long-range nature of the Cannon Cart ensures that it can destroy these targets from a safe distance, while the Hog Glider does the heavy lifting by disabling key threats.
After the Hog Glider crashes, a Hog Rider is deployed, and this Hog Rider continues attacking any remaining defenses in the area. The Hog Rider can also bypass walls, making it useful for engaging defense structures that may be behind barriers. This additional support from the Hog Rider ensures that no defensive structure is left standing to halt the attack.
This combination of Hog Gliders and Cannon Carts creates a deadly duo where the Hog Gliders stun and disable defenses, while the Cannon Carts take advantage of the stunned defenses to eliminate them without facing retaliation. As the Hog Riders continue to take down any remaining defenses, the overall offensive is well-supported, providing significant damage output and a smoother path for troops to advance through the enemy base. This synergy is particularly effective when dealing with clusters of high-damage defenses or strategically placed defenses that would normally require more careful handling.
Best Use Cases:
Double Cannons and Multi Mortars are major threats to Cannon Carts due to their fast and splash attacks. Using Hog Gliders to stun these defenses allows Cannon Carts to safely take them out from a distance.
The Cannon Cart’s Last Stand ability ensures continued damage even if it is destroyed.
Deployment Strategy:
Send in Hog Gliders first to stun key defenses, ensuring Cannon Carts can attack without being targeted.
Deploy Cannon Carts behind other troops to keep them at range while they destroy stunned defenses.
Support with tanky units like the Battle Machine to further distract defenses, keeping Cannon Carts alive longer.
This synergy works best when Hog Gliders are deployed surgically, stunning high-threat defenses to allow Cannon Carts to dominate the battlefield with sustained firepower.
Baby Dragon + Hog Glider Synergy
The Hog Glider and Baby Dragon combination leverages the stun effect of Hog Gliders to neutralize air defenses, allowing Baby Dragons to deal high, uninterrupted damage with their Tantrum ability.
How It Works:
Hog Gliders are particularly effective when paired with Baby Dragons due to their ability to stun air-targeting defenses, such as Firecrackers and Air Bombs. Upon impact, Hog Gliders disable these defenses for a short period, rendering them unable to target any air units, including Baby Dragons. This allows the Baby Dragons to safely navigate the battlefield without the threat of being shot down by these critical air defenses.
Baby Dragons possess the Tantrum ability, which increases their damage output when they are the only air unit targeting a structure. This makes them incredibly dangerous to stunned defenses. With the stun effect from the Hog Gliders, the Baby Dragons can deal substantial damage to key air-targeting defenses like Firecrackers or Air Bombs, as they are unable to retaliate during the stun. This synergy is especially useful when trying to clear out these high-threat defenses that would normally pose a significant danger to air troops.
Once the Hog Gliders crash, they deploy Hog Riders, who continue attacking nearby defenses, further reducing threats to the Baby Dragons. The Hog Riders are especially effective against ground defenses and can help clear the way for the Baby Dragons, allowing them to focus on destroying the stunned air defenses. This combination of air and ground support ensures that the Baby Dragons can survive longer and maximize their damage potential by focusing on high-priority targets.
In summary, using Hog Gliders with Baby Dragons creates a potent synergy where the Hog Gliders stun key air-targeting defenses, the Baby Dragons exploit this by dealing increased damage through their Tantrum ability, and the Hog Riders provide additional support by continuing to attack and clearing out ground-based threats. This collaboration enables a smoother, safer path for Baby Dragons to dominate the enemy base.
Best Use Cases:
Dealing with heavy air defense bases where Firecrackers and Air Bombs would normally take down Baby Dragons too quickly.
Funneling Baby Dragons into key targets by clearing defensive threats with Hog Gliders.
Deployment Strategy:
Deploy Hog Gliders directly onto air-targeting defenses to stun them before they can damage Baby Dragons.
Send in Baby Dragons separately to ensure their Tantrum ability remains active.
Use Hog Riders to finish off defenses while Baby Dragons clean up the base.
This synergy works best when Hog Gliders are deployed strategically to eliminate air-targeting defenses, allowing Baby Dragons to dominate the battlefield with high burst damage and longevity.
Boxer Giant + Hog Glider Synergy
The Boxer Giant and Hog Glider combination uses the high durability of Boxer Giants to tank defensive fire while Hog Gliders neutralize key threats with their stun ability.
How It Works:
The synergy between Boxer Giants and Hog Gliders is incredibly effective in protecting the Boxer Giants while they deal damage to the base. Boxer Giants serve as a frontline tank, absorbing the damage from enemy defenses such as Double Cannons, Roasters, and Crushers. This allows the Hog Gliders to safely reach their targets and stun them without having to worry about being taken out by defensive structures on the way.
Hog Gliders, upon impact, stun key defenses for a short duration, which significantly reduces the incoming damage to the Boxer Giants. For example, stunning a Roaster or Crusher allows the Boxer Giants to continue their path of destruction without being overwhelmed by these high-damage defenses. This synergy ensures the Boxer Giants can stay alive longer, giving them more time to tank for other troops and cause greater damage to the enemy base.
Once the Hog Gliders crash into their targets, they deploy Hog Riders, who continue to target and deal damage to nearby defenses. These Hog Riders help to clear additional defenses and ensure the Boxer Giants can continue their push without significant interruptions. This combination of Hog Gliders stunning key defenses and Boxer Giants absorbing damage creates a highly effective and durable offensive strategy that can break through even the toughest defenses.
In summary, the Boxer Giants provide a sturdy tanking role, absorbing incoming damage while the Hog Gliders stun key defenses, reducing damage taken by the Boxer Giants. The additional Hog Riders that spawn from the Hog Gliders further assist in eliminating defenses, ensuring the attack continues smoothly and effectively.
Best Use Cases:
Against bases with Crushers and Roasters, which are major threats to Boxer Giants.
Tanking for Hog Gliders to ensure they reach and disable priority defenses.
Deployment Strategy:
Deploy Boxer Giants first to draw fire from defensive structures.
Send Hog Gliders toward Crushers and Roasters to disable them before they can take out the Boxer Giants.
Let Hog Riders continue targeting defenses, while Boxer Giants absorb damage and push deeper into the base.
This synergy is highly effective for breaking through defensive-heavy bases, ensuring that both troops can maximize their impact while neutralizing key threats.
Night Witch + Hog Glider Synergy
The Night Witch and Hog Glider combination leverages the Bats spawned by the Night Witch and the stun effect of the Hog Gliders to overwhelm defenses.
How It Works:
The synergy between Hog Gliders and Night Witch is powerful due to the Hog Gliders’ ability to stun key defenses, such as Firecrackers and Air Bombs, which are the primary threats to Night Witch and her Bats. Hog Gliders prioritize these air-targeting defenses, stunning them for a brief period upon impact. This allows Night Witch to spawn Bats without worrying about being immediately targeted by these defenses.
Bats are highly effective at quickly chipping away at enemy defenses, and when key air defenses are stunned, the Bats can deal significant damage before they have a chance to retaliate. The Hog Gliders’ stunning ability creates a safe window for the Bats to do their job, significantly increasing the Night Witch’s effectiveness and making it harder for the enemy defenses to eliminate her swarms.
Additionally, Night Witch benefits from having more time to spawn Bats without interference. The Hog Gliders take out or disable key defenses, providing a safer environment for the Night Witch to continue producing Bats and overwhelming enemy structures. This synergy ensures that Night Witch can continue her support role without being interrupted, as the Hog Gliders handle the major threats.
In summary, Hog Gliders stun key air defenses, allowing Night Witch to spawn Bats and deal damage to the base without being targeted. With the defenses stunned, the Bats can quickly tear down the enemy’s defenses while the Night Witch remains protected and continues to generate more Bats. This combination results in a strong offensive strategy that maximizes damage output while keeping the Night Witch safe.
Best Use Cases:
Against bases with strong air-targeting defenses like Firecrackers, Air Bombs, and Roasters.
When you need a steady stream of damage, as Bats overwhelm defenses over time.
To reduce threat levels from splash damage defenses that would otherwise wipe out Bats before they can cause enough damage.
Deployment Strategy:
Deploy Hog Gliders first to stun enemy air defenses such as Firecrackers or Air Bombs.
Follow up with Night Witch once key defenses are disabled, ensuring she can spawn Bats safely.
Let Bats swarm and deal damage to stunned defenses while the Hog Gliders continue targeting and disabling any remaining defenses.
This synergy works best when you need to neutralize high-threat defenses and keep the Night Witch safe while she generates continuous damage with her Bats.
