Town Hall 9 Upgrade Order: What to Prioritize for Fastest Growth

Introduction

Picture this: you’ve just upgraded to Town Hall 9, unlocking a wave of new buildings, troops, and defenses. But excitement quickly turns to anxiety—what should you upgrade first? Should you rush for the Archer Queen, max out your Laboratory, or focus on defenses to avoid being an easy target? Making the right choices now can set you up for rapid growth, dominant attacks, and a stronger base for both farming and Clan Wars. Let’s break down the optimal upgrade order for TH9, ensuring you grow smarter—not just faster.

Why Upgrade Order Matters at Town Hall 9

Town Hall 9 is a pivotal stage in Clash of Clans. Unlike earlier Town Halls, TH9 introduces the Archer Queen, X-Bows, and a host of new strategies. The decisions you make here will shape your future progression, war performance, and farming efficiency. Prioritizing upgrades isn’t just about power—it’s about balance. Upgrade the wrong thing at the wrong time, and you might find yourself stuck in a frustrating cycle of slow loot, weak attacks, and frequent losses.

Key reasons upgrade order is crucial at TH9:

• Resource Management: TH9 upgrades are expensive; smart sequencing prevents wasted loot and builder downtime.
• War Readiness: Timely upgrades can make the difference between victory and defeat in Clan Wars.
• Farming Efficiency: The right troops and spells boost your loot gain, speeding up all other upgrades.

1. The First Step: Laboratory and Spell Factory

Laboratory: Unleash Your Troops’ Potential

Why first? The Laboratory is the engine of your offensive power. Upgrading it early lets you start research on stronger troops and spells immediately, which pays off for every attack you make—be it farming or war.

Pro Tip: Start upgrading a key farming troop (like Barch or Giants) or your primary war composition as soon as the Lab is up. For many, this means prioritizing Balloons, Hogs, or Lava Hounds, depending on your attack style.

Spell Factory: Unlock the Jump Spell

TH9 unlocks the Jump Spell, a game-changer for both farming and war attacks. Upgrading the Spell Factory early lets you experiment with advanced strategies like GoWiPe or Queen Walks sooner.

Example: Early access to higher-level Heal or Rage spells can significantly improve your loot raids, making the rest of your progression smoother.

2. Heroes: The Archer Queen and Barbarian King

Archer Queen: Your New MVP

Why upgrade her fast? The Archer Queen is arguably the most influential unit you unlock at TH9. She transforms attack strategies, enables Queen Walks, and is essential for war attacks.

• Unlock her immediately: Use your saved Dark Elixir to build her as soon as possible.
• Upgrade priority: Many experienced players recommend keeping her upgrading as often as possible, even at the cost of temporarily weaker attacks. An underleveled Queen is a missed opportunity.

Barbarian King: Don’t Neglect Him

While the Queen is the star, your King shouldn’t be ignored. Alternating upgrades between the two ensures you always have at least one hero available for attacks.

Player Insight: Top war clans often require minimum hero levels for TH9 war bases. Upgrading both heroes steadily keeps you competitive and ready for higher-level wars.

3. Clan Castle: More Troops, More Power

Why is this so important? Upgrading the Clan Castle at TH9 increases its troop capacity to 30, allowing for more versatile and powerful donated troops—especially valuable for war attacks and defensive support.

• Early upgrade: Prioritize this after your Lab and heroes are started. The extra space enables strategies like LavaLoon, GoHo, or even Golem-based attacks with more flexibility.

Example: Being able to request a Golem or extra Balloons can be a game-changer in close war battles.

4. Army Camps and Barracks: Maximize Your Offensive Potential

Army Camps: Bigger Armies, Bigger Wins

Each Army Camp upgrade gives you more troops per attack. This directly impacts your farming efficiency and war performance.

• Upgrade all camps early: Aim to max them out as soon as possible after the Clan Castle.

Dark Barracks and Barracks: Unlock Key Troops

• Dark Barracks: Unlock and upgrade to access Hogs, Valkyries, and Lava Hounds—staples for TH9 war attacks.
• Regular Barracks: Unlock the Baby Dragon, which is useful for funneling and farming.

Tip: Stagger Barracks upgrades so you always have at least three available for training troops.

5. Spell Factory and Dark Spell Factory

• Spell Factory: Upgrading further unlocks more spell slots, which is crucial for complex strategies.
• Dark Spell Factory: Unlocks the Haste Spell at TH9, a must-have for Balloon-based attacks.

Example: Having extra spell slots allows for more flexibility—like bringing an extra Freeze or Poison for tough war bases.

6. Key Defenses: X-Bows, Air Defenses, and Traps

X-Bows: Deterrent and Damage Dealer

Building and upgrading X-Bows early can discourage attacks from weaker opponents and provide a solid backbone for your base defense.

• Set to ground or air/ground: Adjust based on your current threats and war needs.

Air Defenses: Counter Air Attacks

With LavaLoon and Dragon attacks popular at TH9, maxing Air Defenses early protects your loot and war stars.

Traps: Small Upgrades, Big Impact

Upgrading Giant Bombs, Seeking Air Mines, and Skeleton Traps can be the difference between a failed and successful defense, especially in wars.

7. Walls and Other Defenses: Balance is Key

Walls: Don’t Leave Them Behind

• Upgrade gradually: Use excess Gold (and Elixir, once storages are full) to upgrade walls as you go. Don’t let them lag behind—maxed walls deter attacks and slow down enemy troops.

Other Defenses: Cannons, Archer Towers, and Mortars

• Upgrade evenly: Avoid maxing one type before the others. Balanced defenses prevent attackers from exploiting weak spots.

Data Point: Bases with lopsided defenses are easier targets for experienced attackers who can exploit your weakest point.

8. Resource Buildings and Traps: The Final Touches

Storages: Only When Needed

Upgrade storages only when you need more capacity for a specific upgrade—this prevents you from becoming a tempting loot target.

Traps and Bombs: Underestimated But Deadly

Maxing out traps and bombs can surprise and devastate careless attackers, especially in war.

9. Laboratory Upgrades: What Troops to Prioritize

Farming Troops

• Barch (Barbarians and Archers): For fast, cheap farming.
• Giants: For tanky, reliable farming.

War Troops

• Hogs, Balloons, Lava Hounds: Popular for war attacks—upgrade based on your clan’s preferred strategies.

Spells

• Heal, Rage, Poison: Essential for both farming and war; prioritize these early.

Conclusion: The Path to a Powerful TH9

Upgrading at Town Hall 9 isn’t just about following a checklist—it’s about making smart, strategic decisions that fit your playstyle and goals. By prioritizing the Laboratory, heroes, Clan Castle, and offensive upgrades first, you’ll set yourself up for rapid growth, successful attacks, and a base that commands respect in both farming and war.

Remember: balance is key. Don’t let any aspect of your base fall behind, and always keep your builders busy. With the right upgrade order, TH9 can be one of the most rewarding—and enjoyable—stages in your Clash of Clans journey. Ready to dominate? Start upgrading smarter today!