Need Help on making/understanding strategies?

For starters, you'll need to define all of the troops in their strengths. These are the strengths of troops for high level Clan War attacks (as barbarians aren't really a good choice for main attack). Some of them are alike, but this is the role they do:

1. Tank- Able to take damage so no one else will
2. Destroyer- Unable to take damage but will deal tons of damage
3. Dependable Troop- A troop with all-around stats, but taking up not too little space
4. Suicidal Troop- A troop to lure/take out CC troops
5. Minion-like the destroyer, but doesn't deal main damage, just clears up debree
6. Helpers- well that says it all

And here are the troops and some of their obvious strengths, and most troops can be effective Suicidal troops if used properly (even healer, place healer on one side and another troop on the other and the healer will wander towards it, not stopping):

• Barbarian- Minion
• Archer- Minion
• Giant- Tank/ Dependable Troop
• Goblin- Minion
• Wall Breaker- helper
• Balloon- Dependable troop/destroyer
• Wizard- Destroyer/ Minion
• Healer- Helper
• Dragon- Dependable troop
• Pekka- Dependable troop
• Minion- Minion/Destroyer
• Hog Rider- Dependable troop
• Valkyrie- Dependable troop
• Golem- tank
• Witch- Dependable troop/ Destroyer
• Lava Hound- Tank/ Destroyer

​The italics basically mean that you could refer to them in that way, just it doesn't do its job as well as some others. Whether each troop has which strengths is entirely up to you, let your imagination go wild.

So with those statistics, you can put them into a strategy. Here are good main attack layouts:

• Tank+Destroyer
• Dependable troop

Though, the problem with "tank+Destroyer" sometimes, is that the tank may wander off and leave the Destroyer exposed. And once the destroyer is exposed, it will be lost almost immediately and you will have nearly no main firepower (for example: Golem+Wizard). That is why you'll want to add a dependable troop that'll help out if the attack is a gonner (if its not, then at least you'll have an extra tank). For example, Golem+Wizard+Pekka, GoWiPe.
Having an all Dependable troop raid (such as max dragons or valkyries) should work perfectly, because there's no risk of anything too disastrous to happen. Using more than one different type of Dependable troop (or even a Destroyer to go along with them) is up to you. But you need to take note of the weaknesses of the troop (e.g. inability to attack air, slowness, inability to attack CC troops, etc.) and then add more troops to try fix your problem. Adding a tank to one of these strategies could do, but it isn't necessary if the Dependable troops have enough HP. But try not to have too many that your Dependable troop can't successfully beat the base (e.g. Balloon, weakness: slowness. So add Minion, and/or Lava Hound for Help.)
And at any time, you can add an amount of helpers, but don't add too many unless they are a key aspect in the raid (e.g. 6 Wall breakers and 1 healer)

If ever there's something I need to add or change, please comment

Giants can sometimes serve as a dependable troop, destroying defenses on their own (specially in large numbers). They are not as fast as, say, a Hog Rider but given the right circumstances (ie. rage/heal spell, healer support) they can also get the job done.

Another example would be using pekkas/valks as tank troop by using healer support. On that case tanks might not be as necessary.

Hog riders and balloons are often used as suicidal troops, due to their targetting and ignoring of walls. They can often destroy some defenses at the same time, which is good as well. Even golems/lava hounds are sometimes used for the trickier lures.

I've been using a couple of dragons as minions with some success. Might seem like a waste, but the alternative is to use tank+destroyer combo (GoWi... strats). And also using level 6 balloons as a tank for healer (TH8 so can't use lava hound).

It's great to understand the different roles troops can take, but it is up to the player to assign roles to the troops.

Interesting thread. Still lacking a lot of information but the idea is solid.

Good luck.