TH8 - How to Dragloon (Dragons & Balloons) 3 Star Clan War Attack Strategy

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October 2nd, 2015
ClashingwithAndre

TH8 - How to Dragloon (Dragons & Balloons) 3 Star Clan War Attack Strategy
Town Hall 8 – DragLoon (Dragon & Balloon) High End 3 Star Attack Strategy Clan War Guide (TH8)

Questions:
1.) What is DragLoons and how do you perform it?
2.) Why use DragLoons in Clan Wars over other compositions?
3.) What spells to use?
4.) What Clan Castle Troops & why?
5.) Why is DragLoon so overpowered at Town Hall 8?
6.) Common mistakes people make when using this composition:
7.) Importance of funneling:
8.) What base designs can I use DragLoons on?
9.) Instructional video and more information:

Answers:
1.) What is DragLoons and how do you perform it?
Drag-Loons is composed of Dragons and Balloons (Level 3 Dragons and Level 4-5 Balloons for best results). For your army composition you’ll want to queue up 9 Dragons, and 4 Balloons for your Clan War Attack; unlike the “Mass Dragon” attack. This is a more specific attack, with better results due to the Balloons being focused on defensive buildings, and a rage spell in your arsenal due to not using 3 lightning spells.

How to perform: The first thing you’ll need to do, is look at the base and strategize where to attack from. You’ll want to start your funnel from the opposite way the Air Sweeper is pointing and where it's closest to the two remaining Air Defenses. The most important step to any Dragon attack is FUNNELING. You’ll want to use a Dragon (or Dragon and Barb King) on either side of the base that you want to funnel into the core. I use my Barbarian King to help funnel due to the fact he doesn't really help in all air raids.

2.) Why use DragLoons in Clan Wars over other compositions?
DragLoons is a 100% full-proof way of getting a 3 star. The Dragloon Attack Strategy right now is one of the most overpowered army compositions sweeping the “high end 3 star strategies” for Town Hall 8.

3.) What spells to use?
The spells you’ll need to have are 2x (Level 5) Lightning Spells (450 damage each), 1x (Level 1+) EarthQuake Spell (14%), and 1x (Any Level) Rage Spell. (I would suggest a rage over heal so you can help your Balloons take out the Air Defense ASAP)

4.) What Clan Castle Troops & Why?
I would ALWAYS suggest using 5 (Level 6) Balloons for your Clan Castle troops. This is for a couple of reasons.
1. Balloons unlike Dragons, go specifically for Defensive Buildings (Example: Air Defense).
2. I would rather have a Seeking Air Mine hit one of my, or my Clan Castle Balloons than a Dragon. A Dragon is always great, but won’t help your raid as much, due to them not being focused on defensive buildings.
5.) Why is DragLoon so overpowered at Town Hall 8?
DragLoon is overpowered at Town Hall 8 because of the new update. You’re able to take out a Level 6 Air Defense with two level 5 Lightning spells, and one level 1 EarthQuake Spell. This frees up a space for ANOTHER spell. Which I would recommend using rage spell for the Balloons to speed through the two air defenses left standing.

6.) Common mistakes people make when using this composition?
Common mistakes people use when using this composition are:
1. Not funneling properly (see dragon funneling video here: https://youtu.be/0rWN9FLMGT4 on how to funnel using Dragons or Dragons/Barb King)
2. Not using Balloons correctly. Their main objective is to take out the remaining two Air Defense as soon as possible. Once you know the direction you’ll be funneling into the core of the base from. Path a plot for your Balloons to take out the Air Defense almost back to back.
3. Not using Rage for Clan Castle Troops & Air Defense. Since you won’t be “luring” out the clan castle (and it will probably have a dragon in it) you’ll want to take out the Clan Castle troops as soon as possible so they can continue to work through the base without being attacked by the Air Defense. Placing the rage spell where the Clan Castle troops will be and make it available for your Balloons to take out the Air Defense will make your raid go that much smoother.
7.) Importance of funneling:
One of the many reasons I like adding in Balloons to this “Mass Dragon” raid is that Dragons are dumb; let’s face it. They’re slow and attack anything. This is why it is CRUCIAL to have your dragons funneled into the middle of the base. I have seen countless raids where people spam all their dragons down and they end up circling the base, and slowly dying for Archer Towers and Air Defense. For any raid to be successful, you have to properly funnel. For an instructional video on how to funnel Dragons, check out: https://youtu.be/0rWN9FLMGT4

8.) What base designs can I use DragLoons on?
The great thing about DragLoons is that you can attack any Town Hall 8 base design with this! Even the “Anti 3-star” bases. Because you can take out one Air Defense (with your two Lightning and one EarthQuake Spell) before the raid even begins, with the added bonus of a Rage Spell. This gives you a HUGE advantage on taking on bases even with maxed out Air Defense.

9.) Instructional video and more tips/information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTIGOugSjJ8
October 2nd, 2015
ClashingwithAndre

Any comments, suggestions, or likes on this, or my video would be appreciated! :thumbsup:
October 2nd, 2015
Lunaticfringe
Love the effort, well done!

A few quick thoughts:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

5.) Why is DragLoon so overpowered at Town Hall 8?

Ehh, I'm not so sure that it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

I use my Barbarian King to help funnel due to the fact he doesn't really help in all air raids.

Whoa, I'd be very careful here. B King and his DPS are often very, very much needed during cleanup. Only if you feel that using your B King is critical to helping funnel and that you can get all ADs down quickly would I recommend using B King in this regard. Otherwise, you are often far better off saving him for (1) cleanup on outside buildings, which not only helps in general, but also with keeping dragons inside and (2) he can sometimes distract defenses, thereby reducing DPS on your dragons, both of which are/can be very important.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

DragLoons is a 100% full-proof way of getting a 3 star.

Huh? I must be misunderstanding you. This is 100% inaccurate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

The Dragloon Attack Strategy right now is one of the most overpowered army compositions sweeping the “high end 3 star strategies” for Town Hall 8.

Huh? Overpowered, especially at high end? Yes, I agree that EQ and Light certainly helps things, but mass drags, in the form of just dragons or dragloon, is about the last attack I check to against a high-end/max TH8. It takes a specific base to check to a dragon snipe or EQ-Light.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

4.) What Clan Castle Troops & Why?
I would ALWAYS suggest using 5 (Level 6) Balloons for your Clan Castle troops. This is for a couple of reasons.

Balloons unlike Dragons, go specifically for Defensive Buildings (Example: Air Defense).
I would rather have a Seeking Air Mine hit one of my, or my Clan Castle Balloons than a Dragon. A Dragon is always great, but won’t help your raid as much, due to them not being focused on defensive buildings.
Hogs and a heal can also be a very, very solid option in these types of runs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

8.) What base designs can I use DragLoons on?
The great thing about DragLoons is that you can attack any Town Hall 8 base design with this! Even the “Anti 3-star” bases. Because you can take out one Air Defense (with your two Lightning and one EarthQuake Spell) before the raid even begins, with the added bonus of a Rage Spell. This gives you a HUGE advantage on taking on bases even with maxed out Air Defense.

I disagree here. It depends on the base setup

On the video:

In the first attack, that base is really awful. Even without the upgrade, you can go 105-light and blowtorch that base. His ADs, which are AD5, are hanging on the outside and don't have high HP structures in front of them. Yikes.

Also, L4 loons are so awful at TH8, I really don't see the need to ever bring them. You'd likely be better served to simply add another dragon, even an L2 drag is > L4 loon here....

Your CC loon deployment wasn't ideal. On that base, you clearly should have waited for the AD at ~3:00 to lock on a dragon, then deploy your CC loons at the cannon at 3:00 and rage them up. Your drags, with or without 4 L5 loons, would have torched the AD at 5:30 without rage. I would agree, however, that you could have raged your dragons in, as the CC engagement was there, then just deploy CC loons over cannon and that would have likely worked very nicely as well. No way, however, should you have deployed all loons in the manner you did. A tesla pop by the B King and your loons go bye-bye and you miss on the entire run.

I'd be very interested in seeing this attack being performed on a variety of max defense TH8s and it working. I do believe that it has teeth, but it sure as heck isn't the sure-fire, can't miss proposition that you are claiming

Overall though, good effort, definitely don't want to come across as overly critical. I just don't agree on many points
October 2nd, 2015
ClashingwithAndre

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

Ehh, I'm not so sure that it is.

I believe having another spell available for a "mass dragon" attack is definitely more overpowered than before when you had to use 3 lightning spells to kill an AD with no additional rage spell. But everyone's entitled to their opinions :D People said Hogs/Witches weren't overpowered back when you could 3 star any base before the update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

Whoa, I'd be very careful here. B King and his DPS are often very, very much needed during cleanup. Only if you feel that using your B King is critical to helping funnel and that you can get all ADs down quickly would I recommend using B King in this regard. Otherwise, you are often far better off saving him for (1) cleanup on outside buildings, which not only helps in general, but also with keeping dragons inside and (2) he can sometimes distract defenses, thereby reducing DPS on your dragons, both of which are/can be very important.

When using my Barbarian King to help funnel, he does help clean up the buildings surrounding the base a little in the process. But I have never actually used him solely for clean up. I've personally never ran out of time when using Mass Dragons or DragLoon. If you usually have that problem, then yes; I would recommend using him for clean up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

Huh? I must be misunderstanding you. This is 100% inaccurate.

What was meant is that if done correctly, there is no Town Hall 8 Base that cannot be 3 starred using this composition. Out of the 20+ attacks I have done, and seen using this strategy I have never seen someone get a two star when performing the basic fundamentals of this attack correctly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

Huh? Overpowered, especially at high end? Yes, I agree that EQ and Light certainly helps things, but mass drags, in the form of just dragons or dragloon, is about the last attack I check to against a high-end/max TH8. It takes a specific base to check to a dragon snipe or EQ-Light.

I've seen countless videos of OneHive and Powerbang videos using this exact composition for perfect 3 star wars during their TH8 series. I added the "high end" part to make it sound more official, but it's an attack like Mass Dragons for TH7's that always can replicate a 3 star in war making it a very valuable tool to win Clan Wars. It's a lot more consistent that a GoWiPe or someone who is not skilled with Hogs to do a GoHo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

I disagree here. It depends on the base setup

On the video:

In the first attack, that base is really awful. Even without the upgrade, you can go 105-light and blowtorch that base. His ADs, which are AD5, are hanging on the outside and don't have high HP structures in front of them. Yikes.

Yes, the base in the video was not the best representation of it. But it was my first attack using the composition. I have a lot more clips of me using this composition on many Anti Dragon and Anti 3 star bases that are almost fully maxed. Also, this is why you need Balloons for your attack. High hit point buildings don't matter with this attack. You're Dragons are mostly tanks for your Balloons which take out the Air Defense and leave a base defenseless vs the remaining air troops you have.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

Also, L4 loons are so awful at TH8, I really don't see the need to ever bring them. You'd likely be better served to simply add another dragon, even an L2 drag is > L4 loon here....

Balloons are one of the best "scaled" troops in the game. Unfortunately I don't have level 5 Balloons yet on my TH8 since I am semi new, but having the Balloons in your arsenal makes it so you don't have to worry about resource style bases with high hit point buildings "blocking" Air Defense. That is why you bring the Balloons and this is not a "Mass Dragon" attack. You're implementing the Balloons solely on their ability to target Air Defense and other defensive buildings while a Level 3 dragon would just get stuck behind a high hp building or stray off outside the base.

Level 4 Balloons: (for one Balloon) 288 DPS and 280 HP (5 housing so x4) = 1,152 DPS and 1,120 HP.
Level 2 Dragon: (one Dragon) 240 DPS and 2,100 HP.

I would MUCH rather have the four Balloons (that specifically target defensive buildings) and do an extra 912 DPS, over a single Dragon.

My apologies if my responses sound defensive, but the it seems you're missing the reason why it's called DragLoon and not Mass Dragons. The Balloons add a specific benefit to your raid which Mass Dragons don't have, an extra spell since the update makes this composition more powerful than it was, and I've seen countless Mass Dragon attempts fail on my non maxed TH8 with level 5 AD's.
October 2nd, 2015
Lunaticfringe

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

I believe having another spell available for a "mass dragon" attack is definitely more overpowered than before when you had to use 3 lightning spells to kill an AD with no additional rage spell. But everyone's entitled to their opinions :D People said Hogs/Witches weren't overpowered back when you could 3 star any base before the update.

There's a difference between before and after the update, clearly, but the idea that a dragon attack, EQ-light or otherwise, is overpowered, especially against high-end TH8s, is highly dubious, if not flat out nonsense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

When using my Barbarian King to help funnel, he does help clean up the buildings surrounding the base a little in the process. But I have never actually used him solely for clean up. I've personally never ran out of time when using Mass Dragons or DragLoon. If you usually have that problem, then yes; I would recommend using him for clean up.

LOL, umm, wait until you get to be a higher TH8 and your tune will likely change.

And I'm not sure if the, "you" used above is an, "in general" "you" or directed to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

What was meant is that if done correctly, there is no Town Hall 8 Base that cannot be 3 starred using this composition. Out of the 20+ attacks I have done, and seen using this strategy I have never seen someone get a two star when performing the basic fundamentals of this attack correctly.

I very much want to see a bunch of these 20 attacks, especially if they are against AD666 and against max/near-max TH8 war bases. Anything less than that and it's 4-play, as it can likely be 3* with just about any dragon attack.

I also seek to understand why you can make this bold claim, "there is no Town Hall 8 Base that cannot be 3 starred using this composition." Because you are doing well now and expect that to continue? Yeah, I thought the same thing when I was a new/semi-new TH8, the first time through. As for the 2nd and ~3rd time completely through TH8, however...

The critical decision of any war base evaluation is what attack gives you the highest probability for a 3*. At higher TH8 levels, this seldom is dragons, either mass drags or drag loon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

I've seen countless videos of OneHive and Powerbang videos using this exact composition for perfect 3 star wars during their TH8 series. I added the "high end" part to make it sound more official, but it's an attack like Mass Dragons for TH7's that always can replicate a 3 star in war making it a very valuable tool to win Clan Wars. It's a lot more consistent that a GoWiPe or someone who is not skilled with Hogs to do a GoHo.

No, this is patently false. Mass drags/dragloon at TH7 is vastly different and will result in a much higher percentage of 3*s than against a TH8 (it's extremely difficult to miss on TH7). I believe you don't understand this yet because you aren't near-max TH8 yet.

You need to pause and think about what you are saying...

If it was so good/OP, why aren't all/substantially all of the TH8 attackers using this attack almost exclusively?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

Yes, the base in the video was not the best representation of it. But it was my first attack using the composition. I have a lot more clips of me using this composition on many Anti Dragon and Anti 3 star bases that are almost fully maxed. Also, this is why you need Balloons for your attack. High hit point buildings don't matter with this attack. You're Dragons are mostly tanks for your Balloons which take out the Air Defense and leave a base defenseless vs the remaining air troops you have.

You're representing that you have, "lots more clips" of you attacking almost fully maxed TH8 bases using this army composition. I presume this means you are including L4 loons, yes? I find it interesting that you didn't say you 3* these bases, although it most certainly is implied. If you are claiming that you are using 99 with L4 loons and haven't ever missed with a dragon attack against max/near max TH8 bases, yes, I would very much be interested in seeing "lots more clips" of 3* attacks using 99-EQ Light and L4 loons

The bolded comment is utterly stunning and inaccurate. I fear I'd likely cringe if I looked at your war base.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

Unfortunately I don't have level 5 Balloons yet on my TH8 since I am semi new

This is quite obvious

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

Level 4 Balloons: (for one Balloon) 288 DPS and 280 HP (5 housing so x4) = 1,152 DPS and 1,120 HP.
Level 2 Dragon: (one Dragon) 240 DPS and 2,100 HP.

I would MUCH rather have the four Balloons (that specifically target defensive buildings) and do an extra 912 DPS, over a single Dragon.

A flawed analysis, as it's wholly incomplete. You will learn soon enough

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClashingwithAndre

My apologies if my responses sound defensive, but the it seems you're missing the reason why it's called DragLoon and not Mass Dragons. The Balloons add a specific benefit to your raid which Mass Dragons don't have, an extra spell since the update makes this composition more powerful than it was, and I've seen countless Mass Dragon attempts fail on my non maxed TH8 with level 5 AD's.

LOL, I'm not missing the point in the slightest. In my mind, anything 7+ drags is, "mass drags." Everything else is support troops for said, "mass" drags. You're attempting to make a big deal about semantics, which is pretty much meaningless right here, as it doesn't change the point in the slightest. There isn't a single thing you are saying that I don't understand.

Picking between a "mass dragon" attack vs. dragloon is often base specific.

Against three AD5s, however, most solid to good attackers could likely pick either and roll the base if they had L3 drags and the CC filled with loons or another drag. And, once again, I wouldn't discount hogs in the CC in the slightest. Against certain bases, hogs will do far, far more work than loons.
May 24th, 2016
Westernspirit

Is this guide still up to date ?
May 24th, 2016
Pcgun

Is it just me or dragloon lost their hitpoint and attack power?
Since supercell new updates...
In th 8 , dragloon (lvl 3 dragon and max lvl balloon) is not compared event air defense lvl 5. Yess you just have gain 2 stars. But not 3 stars. Dont waste your time attacking with dragloon. Exspensive but useless
May 24th, 2016
Lunaticfringe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westernspirit

Is this guide still up to date ?

No, it's not

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcgun

Is it just me or dragloon lost their hitpoint and attack power?
Since supercell new updates...
In th 8 , dragloon (lvl 3 dragon and max lvl balloon) is not compared event air defense lvl 5. Yess you just have gain 2 stars. But not 3 stars. Dont waste your time attacking with dragloon. Exspensive but useless

I wouldn't go that far. While I hate drag/drag-loon at TH8 (as hogs are far, far more consistent & powerful), you can 3* max TH8s with zapquake.
May 24th, 2016
castnblast

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunaticfringe

No, it's not

I wouldn't go that far. While I hate drag/drag-loon at TH8 (as hogs are far, far more consistent & powerful), you can 3* max TH8s with zapquake.

I agree. I like hogs better at th9. I also had a Zap/Quake quick thread I did for drags if you need it.

http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...ttack-Strategy

Here is the video from it. It was a few updates back though. I don't run TH8 strategy much anymore, but would be happy to do some updated videos if you guys need them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlMOjvKMZlg
May 26th, 2016
xCasey

I use Dragoonion :) basically balloonion but I put 2 drags behind the balloons
May 27th, 2016
h1youngster

3 star Strategy Depends on The Base Design

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcgun

Is it just me or dragloon lost their hitpoint and attack power?
Since supercell new updates...
In th 8 , dragloon (lvl 3 dragon and max lvl balloon) is not compared event air defense lvl 5. Yess you just have gain 2 stars. But not 3 stars. Dont waste your time attacking with dragloon. Exspensive but useless

Drag attacks used to get definite 3 stars before the sweeper came into existence. A really well placed and high lvl sweeper can ruin almost all drag attacks(the AD and storage placement should also be good).
But yeah anti drag bases can be gowiped easily or hogs r the 3rd option.
The strategy depends on the base design.
Also valks r a new strategy that really does well at th8 nw.
(I m a max th9 and hv good th8 experience and th8s in my clan whom I guide on hw to attack).
May 27th, 2016
Pcgun

Quote:

Originally Posted by h1youngster

Drag attacks used to get definite 3 stars before the sweeper came into existence. A really well placed and high lvl sweeper can ruin almost all drag attacks(the AD and storage placement should also be good).
But yeah anti drag bases can be gowiped easily or hogs r the 3rd option.
The strategy depends on the base design.
Also valks r a new strategy that really does well at th8 nw.
(I m a max th9 and hv good th8 experience and th8s in my clan whom I guide on hw to attack).

My second account is th 7 . today in war i was gain 3 star when attaking th 8 with lvl 5 ad. This is surprized me...amazing , here is my troop:
10 dragon lvl 1
3 lightning spell
Barbarian king lvl 2

Premature dragoon th 7 gained 3 star from th 8 with average ad is some thing i cant do before supercell new update.
I think your said right :

"Drag attacks used to get definite 3 stars before the sweeper came into existence. A really well placed and high lvl sweeper can ruin almost all drag attacks(the AD and storage placement should also be good)."
May 31st, 2016
h1youngster

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pcgun

My second account is th 7 . today in war i was gain 3 star when attaking th 8 with lvl 5 ad. This is surprized me...amazing , here is my troop:
10 dragon lvl 1
3 lightning spell
Barbarian king lvl 2

Premature dragoon th 7 gained 3 star from th 8 with average ad is some thing i cant do before supercell new update.
I think your said right :

"Drag attacks used to get definite 3 stars before the sweeper came into existence. A really well placed and high lvl sweeper can ruin almost all drag attacks(the AD and storage placement should also be good)."

Taking out a th8 base with all 3 ADs lvl5 with lvl1 drags needs luck or a bad base(where sweeper and ADs r nt placed well).
July 25th, 2017
jennietodd141

Love the effort, well done!