Should You Upgrade Heroes or Troops First? Pros and Cons Explained

Introduction

You’ve just finished a major upgrade in Clash of Clans, and now you’re staring at a pile of resources, a ticking Laboratory, and a hero altar begging for attention. The age-old question arises: Should you upgrade your heroes or your troops first? This isn’t just a debate for perfectionists—your choice can dramatically impact your attack strength, war performance, and overall progression. So, what’s the smartest path forward? Let’s break down the pros, cons, and hidden nuances to help you make the best decision for your village.

The Role of Heroes and Troops in Clash of Clans

Before diving into priorities, it’s crucial to understand the distinct roles heroes and troops play:

• Heroes (Barbarian King, Archer Queen, Grand Warden, Royal Champion) are permanent units with unique abilities, acting as the backbone of both attack and defense.
• Troops (Barbarians, Balloons, Miners, etc.) are your main army, upgraded in the Laboratory to increase their damage, health, or special abilities.

Each upgrade path shapes your gameplay differently. Let’s explore how.

Why Upgrade Heroes First? Pros, Cons, and Scenarios

Pros

1. Consistent Power Boost: Every hero level brings a tangible, permanent increase in strength, ability duration, or effect. For example, a level 30 Archer Queen is dramatically more effective than level 20—capable of soloing enemy defenses and clutching attacks.

2. Crucial for War and High-Level Attacks: Heroes are often the difference-makers in Clan Wars and Legend League. Higher-level heroes can survive longer, deal more damage, and execute advanced strategies like Queen Walks or King Funnel.

3. Defensive Value: Upgraded heroes defend your base even when you’re offline, making your village tougher in both multiplayer and war scenarios.

4. Versatility: Unlike specific troops, heroes are used in nearly every attack strategy, from mass miners to hybrid attacks, maximizing your investment.

Cons

1. Downtime During Upgrades: When upgrading, a hero is unavailable for attacks. This can cripple your war performance or farming efficiency, especially if both King and Queen are down.

2. Resource Intensive: Hero upgrades require large amounts of Dark Elixir or Elixir. Saving up can slow down other upgrades or force you to farm inefficiently.

3. Slow Progression: Hero upgrades, especially at higher levels, take days or even a week per level. You may feel stuck if you focus solely on heroes.

When to Prioritize Heroes

• If you’re a war-focused player, maxing heroes early is key for consistent three-star potential.
• If you’re entering a new Town Hall level, prioritizing a few key hero levels can unlock advanced strategies (e.g., Queen Walk at TH9+).
• If you’re struggling defensively, higher-level heroes can deter attackers.

Example:

A TH10 player with a level 35 Queen can reliably use Queen Walk strategies, while a level 20 Queen often falls short. The difference in war attacks is night and day.

Why Upgrade Troops First? Pros, Cons, and Scenarios

Pros

1. Immediate Attack Power: Upgrading a core troop (like Balloons, Miners, or Witches) instantly boosts the effectiveness of your entire army, not just one unit.

2. Flexible Army Compositions: Stronger troops allow you to experiment with new strategies. For example, upgrading Bowlers unlocks Bowler-Witch attacks at TH10+.

3. No Downtime: Troop upgrades happen in the background. You can use upgraded troops as soon as the Laboratory finishes—no waiting for a hero to wake up.

4. Resource Efficiency: Troop upgrades often use Elixir, freeing up Dark Elixir for heroes or vice versa, enabling parallel progression.

Cons

1. Niche Impact: Upgrading a troop only benefits strategies that use that troop. If you upgrade Valkyries but never use them, the benefit is wasted.

2. Laboratory Bottleneck: Only one troop can be upgraded at a time, potentially stalling overall progress if you choose less impactful upgrades.

3. Limited Defensive Value: Unlike heroes, upgraded troops don’t directly strengthen your base’s defense.

When to Prioritize Troops

• If you’re a farmer, upgrading key farming troops (e.g., Barch, Goblins) maximizes loot gains.
• If you’re pushing trophies, upgrading your main attack army gives you the best shot at higher leagues.
• If your heroes are already strong, focusing on troop upgrades can round out your offensive toolkit.

Example:

A TH11 player upgrading Electro Dragons will see immediate improvement in both farming and war attacks, especially if their Queen is still low-level.

Comparing the Impact: Heroes vs. Troops

Attack Power

• Heroes: Provide a massive boost, especially in late-game strategies (Queen Walk, Warden Walk, Hero Dive).
• Troops: Widen your strategic options and improve overall army strength, but may not compensate for weak heroes in high-level attacks.

War Performance

• Heroes: High-level heroes are often mandatory for three-star attacks in Clan Wars.
• Troops: Essential for executing modern attack strategies, but even maxed troops can’t fully replace strong heroes.

Farming & Resource Gathering

• Heroes: Can speed up attacks (e.g., Queen Walk for funneling), but their downtime can slow progress.
• Troops: Upgraded farming troops (Goblins, Barch) maximize loot and minimize training costs.

Defensive Strength

• Heroes: Directly improve base defense, especially in war.
• Troops: No direct impact on defense.

Balancing Both: The Smart Upgrade Path

The real secret? Balance is key. Here’s how to optimize your progression:

1. Stagger Upgrades: Upgrade one hero at a time, keeping at least one available for attacks. While a hero is upgrading, focus on Laboratory upgrades.

2. Parallel Resource Usage: Use Dark Elixir for heroes, Elixir for troops, and Gold for defenses. This ensures no resource sits idle.

3. Prioritize by Playstyle:

   • War-focused? Lean towards heroes.
   • Farming or trophy pushing? Lean towards troops.

4. Don’t Neglect Key Troops: Upgrade your main farming and war troops early at each Town Hall level, even if heroes are a priority.

5. Leverage Magic Items: Use Books of Heroes and Potions to minimize hero downtime, especially before wars or CWL.

Example Upgrade Cycle

• Start a hero upgrade.
• Immediately begin a troop upgrade in the Laboratory.
• Farm with your available heroes and upgraded troops.
• When a hero finishes, swap to the next one.

Special Cases and Advanced Tips

Early Town Halls (TH7-TH8)

At lower levels, troop upgrades often have more impact than heroes, as strategies rely less on hero abilities. Focus on maxing core troops first.

Mid to High Town Halls (TH9+)

Heroes become much more important. Prioritize Queen and Warden upgrades, but don’t let your Laboratory sit idle.

Late Game (TH12+)

Balance is critical. Both maxed heroes and troops are essential for competitive play. Use Clan Games and Season Pass rewards to accelerate both paths.

Resource Management

If you’re frequently capped on Dark Elixir, prioritize hero upgrades. If Elixir is overflowing, focus on Laboratory upgrades.

Conclusion: The Best Upgrade Path is Yours

There’s no universal answer—the best upgrade path depends on your goals, playstyle, and current progression. Heroes are the backbone of high-level gameplay, but troops are the engine that drives your attacks. The most successful players balance both, maximizing resource use and minimizing downtime.

Key takeaways:

• Upgrade heroes for war dominance and defensive strength.
• Upgrade troops for farming efficiency and attack variety.
• Balance upgrades for steady, all-around progress.

So next time you’re eyeing that pile of loot, ask yourself: What will help me most right now? Then upgrade with confidence—your village will thank you.