Lava Hound is a 7-elixir flying tank that targets buildings; when it dies it bursts into several Lava Pups. LavaLoon decks send Balloon or Minions behind it, so you need an air-targeting tank killer and a way to clear the pups.

Quick answer: the most efficient counters to Lava Hound are Inferno Tower, Inferno Dragon, Minion Horde, Musketeer.

Best counters to Lava Hound

These cards deal with it safely and for little elixir. Tap a card’s name to open its own guide.

• 
  Inferno Tower 5 elixir +2 elixir trade
  Inferno Tower melts the Hound and pulls it to the middle, so the pups appear far from your tower.
• 
  Inferno Dragon 4 elixir +3 elixir trade
  Inferno Dragon’s beam takes the Hound down quickly, and the Hound can’t attack it back.
• 
  Minion Horde 5 elixir +2 elixir trade
  Minion Horde shreds the Hound fast; it works best once the opponent has used their Arrows or Fireball.
• 
  Musketeer 4 elixir +3 elixir trade
  Musketeer shoots from behind your tower and keeps hitting the Hound and then the pups one by one.

How to defend

• Place a building or Inferno Tower in the middle so the Hound and its pups don’t reach your tower.
• Keep an area-damage answer for the Lava Pups: Arrows, Wizard, Baby Dragon or Executioner.
• Use small spells on the support (Minions, Skeleton Dragons), not on the Hound.
• When the Hound is played at the back, attack the other lane to force the opponent to spend elixir on defense.

Common mistakes

• Letting the Hound die right next to your tower: the pups then attack the tower directly.
• Spending your Arrows early on Minions and having nothing left for the pups.
• Relying on a single air defender: Lightning or Fireball can take it out together with your tower.

After defending: the counterattack

Lava decks are weak on the ground. Hit the opposite lane when the Hound is played at the back, and counterpush with your surviving air defenders after a good defense.

Which spells kill it on their own?

At equal levels, whether a single spell takes this troop out without help from towers or other cards:

• Lava Hound (HP 3581): no single spell kills it
• Lava Pup (HP 215): Arrows, Royal Delivery, Vines, Fireball, Poison*, Lightning, Rocket

* Poison and Earthquake only kill it if the troop stays in the area for the whole duration. Values assume equal levels; level differences change the outcome.

Best decks against Lava Hound

Decks ElixirDeck’s deck builder makes against Lava Hound: each one is scored on both deck balance and its matchup against this card (all cards at the same level, evolutions and heroes unlocked). Every deck uses a different win condition; if your cards differ, you can adapt any deck to your collection.

Classic decks with a good matchup against Lava Hound

Each guide explains step by step how the deck is played.

• Rune Giant Lumberjack · Great matchup
• Log Bait · Great matchup
• Goblin Giant Sparky · Good matchup
• Skeleton King Graveyard · Good matchup

Which decks use Lava Hound?

Guides to the classic decks that run this card; each one also explains what to play against that deck.

Build a counter deck from your own cards

Enter your player tag and ElixirDeck finds the best decks against Lava Hound with your cards and levels.

Matchups are estimated from card roles and well-known counters; player skill and card levels change the result a lot.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best counter to Lava Hound?

The most efficient counters to Lava Hound are Inferno Tower, Inferno Dragon, Minion Horde, Musketeer. Inferno Tower melts the Hound and pulls it to the middle, so the pups appear far from your tower.

What deck is good against Lava Hound?

Among the classic decks, Rune Giant Lumberjack, Log Bait, Goblin Giant Sparky match up well against it. The best counter deck ElixirDeck builds is a Goblin Barrel deck: Goblin Barrel, Knight, Princess, Heal Spirit, The Log, Inferno Tower, Minion Horde, Rocket.

How do you get a positive elixir trade against Lava Hound?

Stop Lava Hound (7 elixir) cleanly with Inferno Dragon (4 elixir) and you are 3 elixir ahead, enough to attack the other lane.

Lava Hound card guide: stats, decks and balance history →

How to counter other cards