Hog Riders are toxic for the game TH9 and below

[TheRandomDy]

I'm sure we get a lot of whining about hogs here, but I'm focusing on the impact that hogs have on Clash rather than debate whether they are overpowered or not.

I am not asking for direct nerfs to hogs in this thread.

The response to hog riders is typically = "Make an anti-hog base"

Well here's the problem

1. Anti hog bases don't work

Yes, this is very subjective. IMO, is basically impossible to completely protect against hogs as TH9 or below. No defense, not even Ringus, can prevent a 100%. If you look at Ringus' thread, there are is a replay where he gets 100%'d by 32 hogs without any special strategy other than holding down his finger to release a bunch of hogs, and keeping them healed - this is considering Ringus has a pretty damn strong TH9. There are plenty more where he gets hit 70+ by massed hogs. Hog rings are easily counterable (send 30-40% of hogs to destroy one side of defense, release rest and they go straight for center defenses.

I'd go as far as to say that the counter to an anti-hog base, is hogs

http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...eansing-Design

2. It kills variety

Which brings me to my second point - Why should TH9's have to design their bases around countering literally one unit? This is the dealbreaker for me - this single unit has completely crushed any creative design for TH9 = you are forced to make a hog ring + centralised CC and bows just to counter one unit.

Now obviously, it's easy to point out the problem but harder to point out a solution, so here's mine

Giant Bomb Level 4

A common defense against hogs are double giant bombs.

As of now, the max level of GB's is level 3 at TH9. This amounts to 450 damage if two bombs explode at the same time (which isn't even guaranteed to happen) The kicker? Hogs have 475 hp, and a good Hog raider will always heal before they hit the double bombs (it's typically obvious where they are). This makes it very hard to deal with constantly healed hog riders (especially since we don't have infernos)

If we had Level 4 GB's at TH9 we would have 500 damage and a much easier time with less experienced hog raiders.

--

Some people also suggest an inferno tower at TH9, but this would affect other attacking strategies badly so I'm not a fan of that. A giant bomb upgrade would only really affect mass hog riders - it does not affect other attacking strategies like an inferno tower would.


TL;DR: Anti Hog bases don't work, give us Giant Bomb Level 4 at TH9

Just go to th10.... Duh

[Jake88]

I didn't have any problems on my push to masters league with hogs in defence.
All other raids require putting/ holding your finger on the screen

[Ben1234]

As long as lv 4-5 hogs are that expensive to make then everything is fine. They drain Dark elixir faster than one thinks. Mass drags are deadly as well, however keep in mind someone is sending 400k+ elixir on that army. For the amount they spend then its okay if they take some of my loot. I will just make it back anyways

[Janniboy0312]

Hogs are expensive, yeah.

However, they're still a great army to three-star TH9s (and in some cases like Clayton and PR, even TH10s).

But, I don't agree with nerfing them again - being nerfed twice already is enough already for one troop. I don't want them to be nerfed again, really.

Also, about being able to upgrade GBs to level four (max) at TH9 already will help a lot in Anti-Hog bases...
They would deal an insta-kill to any level hogs, and even though one can see or suspect where those double GBs are, Healing spells won't work in that case, since there wouldn't be anything left to heal.

I'm in for GBs level four at TH9 - they'll definitely help Anti-Hog bases a lot!

[acealive]

Hogs are not that strong actually.
it's the heal spells that are strong.
try doing a hog raid without heal spells...

[Lloopy14]

Before I start - I love hogs and I profoundly disagree with the OP. Hogs are one of our very useful max troops we have at TH9. I use them to compliment my army occasionally. Whilst TH10's can use them to 3* a TH9 base - we can use them to 3* other TH9's too. They are also very useful at tackling TH10 and I have seen previous clan mates bring down bases with Inferno Towers. Hogs, in my opinion make, the difference between TH9 and 10 fair. We can fight back.

The game is designed that those at lower levels are always at a disadvantage - that is why we upgrade.

I also don't agree with the belief that Hogs are the enemy. My base is nothing special. I have placed my traps so that they get most giants and hogs. I have never been 3* by hogs... yet. Yes - 1 or 2 stars. But then, in reality ,I believe that if someone trains a 'proper' (ie not barch etc) army to attack they should get two stars.

The army that has done the most damage to me recently involved 24 level 6 wizards. Not a hog in sight.

I love wizards too - so please don't ask for them to be nerfed as well!

[coffeecup]

Before I start - I love hogs and I profoundly disagree with the OP. Hogs are one of our very useful max troops we have at TH9. I use them to compliment my army occasionally. Whilst TH10's can use them to 3* a TH9 base - we can use them to 3* other TH9's too. They are also very useful at tackling TH10 and I have seen previous clan mates bring down bases with Inferno Towers. Hogs, in my opinion make, the difference between TH9 and 10 fair. We can fight back.

The game is designed that those at lower levels are always at a disadvantage - that is why we upgrade.

I also don't agree with the belief that Hogs are the enemy. My base is nothing special. I have placed my traps so that they get most giants and hogs. I have never been 3* by hogs... yet. Yes - 1 or 2 stars. But then, in reality ,I believe that if someone trains a 'proper' (ie not barch etc) army to attack they should get two stars.

The army that has done the most damage to me recently involved 24 level 6 wizards. Not a hog in sight.

I love wizards too - so please don't ask for them to be nerfed as well!

You literally just completely strawmanned what I said - I even said I am not asking for nerfs at the start of the post.

I never said "Hogs are the enemy" either, read the original post before immediately jumping to defend hogs, I said that the addition of hogs are inherently damaging to the game due to the variety they destroy in base design, and especially in clan wars AKA Hog Wars

Also, you mention Hogs as a way to fight back against TH10s - but Hogs need heals to stay alive, and TH10s will usually have disco towers which own them.. along with Level 4 Giant Bombs. I think you're raiding pretty awful or underdeveloped TH10s if you're beating them with hogs.

[Benny101]

Hogs are not toxic, simply because hog attacks cost a ton of DE and elixir. It's also and all-or-nothing army. If the attack goes sour, you'll likely end up losing trophies.

[WinterSoldier]

here is the solution

1. make giant bombs do 2x damage to hogs.
2. make the little bombs also do 2x damage to hogs
3. make it so hogs can only jump over single walls and not double walls( allows you to path them with double walls into a bomb or something.

make all projectiles that have fire or flames on them like those high level mortars do more damage to hogs.

[COCmonster12]

I'll tell you what's toxic: ANOTHER POST ABOUT OP HOGS!


Deal with them. There are ways to defend against them. If they got nerfed so that they were underpowered...you'd be complaining that they are terrible now.

Hogs have already gone through MANY nerfs. If you are sick of getting hogged, make a good base. Or better yet, go to th10 and get infernos.

Go ask TH10's, Hogs are underpowered against them!