X-Bow is a 6-elixir siege building that shoots your tower from the opponent’s side of the arena. X-Bow decks protect it with Tesla, Archers and spells and try to lock it onto your tower. You win by tanking its shots, hitting it with building damage, or making the opponent defend instead of placing it.

Quick answer: the most efficient counters to X-Bow are Knight, Earthquake, Royal Giant, Giant.

Best counters to X-Bow

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

• 
  Knight 3 elixir +3 elixir trade
  Knight walks in front of the X-Bow, takes its shots and hits it down for only 3 elixir.
• 
  Earthquake 3 elixir +3 elixir trade
  Earthquake deals heavy damage to buildings, hitting the X-Bow and the Tesla next to it at the same time.
• 
  Royal Giant 6 elixir
  Royal Giant attacks the X-Bow from range and also threatens their tower, so the opponent can’t ignore it.
• 
  Giant 5 elixir +1 elixir trade
  Giant walks straight to the X-Bow and takes its shots while the troops behind him destroy it.

How to defend

• Answer the X-Bow as soon as it’s placed, before it locks onto your tower: put a tank right in front of it.
• Pressure the opposite lane: the X-Bow costs 6 elixir and the opponent can’t defend both lanes at once.
• Count their spells. X-Bow decks often have The Log and Fireball; play your swarms after these are used.
• When they place the X-Bow defensively in front of their own tower, don’t attack into it; it outranges most troops.

Common mistakes

• Letting it lock onto your tower: once it fires at the tower, it’s hard to stop without losing a lot of health.
• Attacking with a single troop into their Tesla and Archers; combine a tank with damage behind it.
• Spending Earthquake on their troops and having none left when the X-Bow comes.

After defending: the counterattack

X-Bow decks are cheap and cycle fast, so they struggle against big pushes. When they place the X-Bow, a tank in the opposite lane forces them to split their defense.

Best decks against X-Bow

Decks ElixirDeck’s deck builder makes against X-Bow: 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 X-Bow

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

• Elixir Golem Healer · Good matchup
• E-Giant Tornado · Great matchup
• Golem Beatdown · Good matchup
• Giant Double Prince · Great matchup

Which decks use X-Bow?

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 X-Bow 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 X-Bow?

The most efficient counters to X-Bow are Knight, Earthquake, Royal Giant, Giant. Knight walks in front of the X-Bow, takes its shots and hits it down for only 3 elixir.

What deck is good against X-Bow?

Among the classic decks, Elixir Golem Healer, E-Giant Tornado, Golem Beatdown match up well against it. The best counter deck ElixirDeck builds is a Goblin Barrel deck: Goblin Barrel, Knight, Princess, The Log, Earthquake, Goblin Gang, Inferno Tower, Giant Skeleton.

How do you get a positive elixir trade against X-Bow?

Stop X-Bow (6 elixir) cleanly with Knight (3 elixir) and you are 3 elixir ahead, enough to attack the other lane.

X-Bow card guide: stats, decks and balance history →

How to counter other cards