Clash of Clans Hog Rider: Everything You Need to Know

Few troops in Clash of Clans have as much history or as many fans as the Hog Rider. That familiar war cry has echoed through millions of raids since he first dropped into the game, and for good reason: he's fast, he jumps walls, he ignores everything except defenses, and he scales well across nearly every Town Hall level.

As great as he seems, he is also the type of troop that punishes sloppy play, which can lead some players to consider buying a CoC account to speed up the journey towards the bigger and better Hog alternatives. This guide covers everything you need to know: the base Hog Rider, how to use him effectively, and all three Hog variants, known as the Super Hog Rider, the Builder Base's Hog Glider, and the Clan Capital's Hog Raiders.

Also Read: Clash of Clans P.E.K.K.A: Everything You Need to Know

Summary: Clash of Clans Hog Rider Guide

• Hog Riders target defenses and jump over walls

• They are weak to traps, splash damage, and don’t engage with enemy troops

• Heal Spell timing is critical

• Spread deployment prevents total wipeouts

• The GoHo (Golem + Hogs) strategy helps deal with Heroes and Clan Castle troops

• Super Hog Riders split into two units on death

• Hog Gliders add stun utility from the air

• Hog Raiders combine the damage of the Hog Rider with the stun of Hog Glider in one unit

Hog Rider Overview

The Hog Rider is a Dark Elixir troop you can get at Dark Barracks level 2. He's a fast ground unit with medium health and damage, and his signature trait is the ability to jump over enemy Walls, making your opponent's carefully constructed compartments mean nothing to him.

The Hod Rider’s defense-first targeting is a double-edged sword. On attack, it means your Hog Riders will carve through an enemy base in a clean, predictable path. However, if Clan Castle troops or the enemy Archer Queen start attacking your hogs, they won't retaliate. They'll keep marching toward defenses until they die. That's why army composition and spell timing matter so much with this troop.

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How to Use Hog Riders

Hog Riders shine when you respect their pathing and their health pool. Getting both of them right is the key to tearing through enemy bases.

When it comes to pathing, you have to keep in mind the greatest threats that can wipe out your hogs. To start, Double Giant Bombs are the Hog Rider's natural enemy. Two Giant Bombs placed together deal enough damage to wipe a pack of hogs in seconds. Before any attack, scout for 4×2 open spaces in the base, especially near clusters of defenses. If you see a suspicious gap between two defenses, that's your red flag.

Clan Castle troops, Heroes, and Skeleton Trap skeletons are also dangerous as they don't get attacked back by hogs, so they'll shred your group from the inside out if you don't deal with them first. Always lure the Clan Castle troops before deploying your main force. Drag them out with a couple of bait troops, then kill them with a Poison Spell or designated kill squad. Also, watch out for The Archer Queen, who can single-handedly destroy a hog army if she's left alive.

Hog Rider Strategies

Don't dump all your hogs in one spot. Spread them across two entry points aimed at two separate defenses. This keeps them moving in parallel lines rather than funneling into one kill zone. If you drop them all in the same area, they'll clump up, and a single set of Giant Bombs takes the whole army out.

Once your hogs start taking damage, drop Heal Spells directly in their path, not where they are, but slightly ahead of where they're heading. A well-placed Heal Spell at the right moment can bring a group of hogs back from near-dead to full health mid-raid.

There are two popular strategies that we recommend you try out, Mass Hog Riders and GoHo (Golem + Hogs).

• Mass Hog Riders

  • Start with luring and killing Clan Castle troops

  • Deploy 30 hog riders in two lines, targeting separate defenses

  • Drop heals when Hog Riders start dropping

  • Once the Hog Riders destroy the defences, clean up the remaining buildings with Wizards and Archers

• GoHO (Golem + Hogs)

  • Used for taking down the Archer Queen at TH9

  • Send in a Golem that acts as a tank and protects the troops behind it

  • Use Wizards to handle Clan Castle troops and clear a path for the Heroes

  • Once the Heroes take down the Queen, deploy the Hog Riders and repeat the Mass Hog Riders strategy

Also Read: All Clash of Clans Troops

Super Hog Rider: The Superb Dangerous Duo

The Super Hog Rider is a Super Troop based on the Hog Rider, unlocked at Town Hall 13 by boosting a Hog Rider that's at least level 10. The boost costs 25,000 Dark Elixir or a Super Potion, and lasts for 3 days. The level you get directly matches your current Hog Rider level, so upgrading your base troop before boosting is worth doing.

Like his base form, the Super Hog Rider targets defenses, jumps over Walls, and ignores everything else on the field. Stat-wise, he has better health and damage than a regular Hog Rider, but the real story is what happens when he dies.

What Sets the Super Hog Rider Apart from the Hog Rider

The Super Hog Riders’ special ability creates a troop that essentially gives you two fighters for the price of one death. The split mechanic means even after a Super Hog Rider goes down, the fight isn't over as the Super Hog keeps attacking defenses while the Super Rider goes wild.

Super Hog Rider Strategies

The strategies that work for the Hog Rider also work for the Super Hog Rider, with a couple of extra things to keep in mind. To start, try to keep them alive until they are in the target base. Because the Rider gets flung 5 spaces back when the Super Hog Rider dies, try to keep them alive until the center of the base, otherwise the split will leave the Rider stranded near the edge, where the Super Rider can't do much.

Super Hog Riders are more durable than regular Hog Riders, making them much more useful in strategies involving Queen Charges. They are also less prone to splash damage from Bomb Towers and Scattershots. That doesn’t mean they should be used defensively, as Super Hog Riders make poor defensive troops. When destroyed defensively, they die without splitting, meaning the split mechanic only works on offense.

Of course, you should watch out for splash damage. An Archer Queen supported by Healers and a Poison Spell can wipe out Super Hog Riders quickly. Splash defenses like Bomb Towers and Scattershots are also serious threats. Finally, pair them with Heal Spells. The same logic from regular Hog Riders applies here, with the addition of keeping them alive longer, so that the split becomes a bonus rather than a last resort.

Also Read: How to Get Master Builder in Clash of Clans

Hog Glider: Rider of the Sky

Hog Gliders are unlocked in Builder Barracks level 11, which requires Builder Hall level 9. They're flying troops that target defenses, similar to Balloons. Upon reaching a defense, they crash into it, dealing damage and stunning it for a short period if the Stunning Glide ability is unlocked at level 15. Whether the crash succeeds or not, the Hog Rider dismounts and continues attacking as ground troops. This means you get two phases from a single Hog Glider. You start the flying approach, followed by the Hog Rider ground phase after dismounting.

Hog Gliders and Hog Riders prioritize defensive structures above all other targets, bypassing everything else while any defenses remain on the battlefield, even if they're being attacked, meaning they function like the base Hog Rider.

What Sets the Hog Glider Apart From Hog Rider

The big selling points of the Hog Glider are its aerial approach, which allows it to bypass ground-level pathing issues entirely, and the stun ability, which assures precious seconds of downtime. That said, if the Hog Glider is destroyed before it reaches the target, the stun never triggers, regardless of what it hits. Air defenses and Firecrackers are your greatest enemies here.

Hog Glider Strategies

To start with, Hog Gliders are best used surgically rather than in large groups. If multiple Hog Gliders target the same defense in quick succession, the stuns from earlier Gliders get overridden by the latest one, thus wasting most of the effect. Try to spread out the Hog Gliders and have them hit the target right as the stun is about to end. Now, this depends on who you are attacking. When attacking high-hitpoint defenses like the Crusher, it can be better to deploy two or three Hog Gliders so the Hog Riders can finish off the defense before the stun runs out. It is all about what your priorities are and what you are attacking.

When attacking with a Hog Glider, make sure to protect them from air threats. Well-upgraded Firecrackers and Air Bombs can bring down a Hog Glider before it reaches the target. A strong Mega Tesla can zap two Gliders out of the sky, completely negating their stun. Try to clear air defenses before sending them in if possible.

Finally, Hog Gliders pair well with Raged Barbarians. Stunning defenses, like a Crusher, with a Hog Glider can be invaluable for a Raged Barbarian-based attack if the troops can destroy the Crusher during the stun window. Timing matters here, and it is important to deploy your ground troops right as the Glider hits.

Hog Raiders: The Hog Party

Hog Raiders are a squad available in the Clan Capital, unlocked when the Hog Raider Barracks is built, which requires the Dragon Cliffs district to be unlocked when the Capital Hall is upgraded to level 6. Each Hog Raiders squad consists of two Hog Riders and one Hog Glider. The Hog Riders deal serious offensive damage and target defenses, while the Hog Glider serves a unique tactical role.

The Hog Glider in the squad attempts to crash onto the nearest defense, stunning it for 5 seconds if successful. After the crash, the Hog Rider dismounts and joins the rest of the Hog Raiders on the ground. A full squad occupies 15 housing spaces, which is relatively efficient given the combination of two Hog Riders and one Hog Glider in a single deployment.

What Sets Them Apart

The Hog Raiders are a pre-packaged combo that blends the ground pressure of Hog Riders with the stun utility of the Hog Glider. You don't have to mix troops yourself as the squad handles it, making each deployment automatically carry both offensive punch and tactical disruption. You can have a maximum of 16 groups of Hog Raiders at once in a complete set of fully upgraded Army Camps. That's up to 48 individual units across 16 squads, a serious amount of firepower.

Hog Raiders Strategies

The Hog Raiders share many of the same strategies and weaknesses as their base version. Just like regular Hog Riders in the Home Village, Hog Raider squads work well in mass against large clusters of weaker defenses. Each squad effectively puts three hog units on the field for 15 housing space, and the Hog Glider stun is a bonus on top. Capital Healing Spells synergize well with Hog Raiders due to their moderate hitpoints. These spells can even be pre-placed in an earlier attack before the Hog Raiders go in. Pre-planning your heal placement around the Hog Raiders' expected path is a small edge that pays off, much in the same way it does with the Hog Rider.

Traps are a serious danger to Hog Raiders, as the high damage output of Clan Capital defenses and the number of traps can make mass Hog Raider attacks less effective. Using tank troops beforehand to trigger traps before committing the Hog Raiders is a smart play. Splash damage defenses like the Rocket Artillery are also a great danger as they can quickly devastate groups of Hog Riders. Without a Healing Spell, these can significantly weaken or destroy the entire squad. Either plan your Healing Spell around these defenses or take them out with your previous wave.

Also Read: Elixir Spells in Clash of Clans: Everything You Need to Know

FAQs About the Hog Rider Guide

Q: What makes Hog Riders unique?

A: Clash of Clans Hog Riders target only defenses and can jump over walls, making base compartments irrelevant.

Q: When should I use Heal Spells?

A: Place the Clash of Clans Hog Riders slightly ahead of your Hog Riders’ path, not directly on top of them.

Q: What is the best Hog Rider strategy?

A: Mass Hog Riders for simpler attacks, and GoHo (Golem + Hogs) for dealing with Heroes and Clan Castle troops.

Q: Are Super Hog Riders worth it?

A: Yes. The Clash of Clans Super Hog Riders are stronger than the base Hog Rider and split into two units on death, extending their value in battle.

Q: How are Hog Gliders different?

A: The Clash of Clans Hog Gliders fly to defenses, crash, and stun them before turning into ground attackers.

Q: What are Hog Raiders?

A: Clash of Clans Hog Raiders are a Clan Capital squad combining two Hog Riders and a Hog Glider for both damage and stun utility.

Final Words

Not every iconic troop earns that status through raw power alone. The Hog Rider's staying power comes from something more practical: wall-jumping speed, a clean defense-targeting priority, and attack strategies that hold up from TH7 all the way through the Clan Capital. This practicality ensured the Hog Rider’s longevity and place in the fandom.

The difference between a hog attack that three-stars and one that falls apart in the first ten seconds usually comes down to the setup, such as luring the Clan Castle troops, reading the Giant Bomb placement, and spreading deployment across two lanes. Get those details right, and the Hog Rider, in any of his forms, will do the rest.

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