What to Upgrade in the Lab Before Pushing to Higher Leagues

Introduction

Ever wondered why some players seem unstoppable when climbing the leagues, while others stall out despite having similar Town Hall levels? The secret often lies not in their base design, but in the hidden power of their Laboratory upgrades. Before you make that leap into higher leagues, are you sure your Lab is working on the right troops and spells? Upgrading blindly can leave you struggling in battles that should be easy wins. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what to upgrade in the Lab to set yourself up for success when pushing to higher leagues—whether you’re aiming for Crystal, Master, or even Legends.

Why Lab Upgrades Matter More Than You Think

The Laboratory is the backbone of your offensive power. While upgrading defenses and heroes is crucial, your attack potential is fundamentally limited by the level of your troops and spells. Higher-level troops not only deal more damage but often gain additional abilities or survivability, turning close attacks into three-star victories. In higher leagues, where every star and percentage point matters, having maxed or near-maxed key units is the difference between climbing and stagnating.

Example: The Impact of a Single Upgrade

• Level 6 Balloons at TH9 can one-shot many defensive structures that lower-level Balloons cannot, making LavaLoon attacks dramatically more effective.
• Level 5 Lightning Spells at TH8 allow you to take out higher-level Air Defenses, opening up air strategies that were previously risky.

Setting Your Upgrade Priorities: The Golden Rules

Before diving into specific troops and spells, let’s establish a framework for setting priorities:

1. Upgrade What You Use Most: Focus on your main attack army. If you’re a Hog Rider attacker, max them before shifting to other troops.
2. Support Your War and Farming Needs: If you do frequent Clan Wars, invest in versatile troops and spells used in meta war attacks.
3. Balance with Hero Levels: Don’t push leagues with under-leveled heroes and max troops—or vice versa. Sync your Lab and hero upgrades for best results.
4. Don’t Neglect Spells: Spells can make or break attacks, especially Rage, Heal, Freeze, and Poison.

Top Troop Upgrades for League Pushing

1. Core Farming and Pushing Troops

• Barbarians, Archers, Giants, Goblins: These are crucial for farming, but not always for league pushing. Upgrade them if you rely on BARCH or GiBarch for pushing lower leagues.
• Balloons: Essential for LavaLoon and Balloonion. High-level Balloons are a must for air strategies.
• Hog Riders: A favorite for surgical strikes and hybrid attacks. Max them for reliable 3-star potential.
• Miners: At higher Town Halls, Miners excel in hybrid attacks with Queen Walks. Upgrade them early if you use this strategy.
• Dragons: Still a staple for mid-tier league pushes, especially for TH7-TH10. Max them for powerful mass Dragon attacks.

Example Upgrade Path (TH10):

1. Bowlers (for Bowler-heavy attacks)
2. Miners (for Hybrid)
3. Balloons (for LavaLoon)
4. Hog Riders (for Hog attacks)

2. Spell Upgrades: The Unsung Heroes

• Rage Spell: Increases offensive power for almost every attack. Prioritize early.
• Heal Spell: Vital for Hogs, Miners, and mass ground attacks.
• Freeze Spell: Crucial for countering Infernos, Scattershots, and Eagle Artillery at higher TH levels.
• Poison Spell: Essential for dealing with defending Clan Castle troops.
• Lightning Spell: Important for zap-based strategies, especially at lower TH levels.

Example: Why Freeze Spell Matters

A maxed Freeze can shut down a Multi-Inferno long enough for your troops to survive—often the difference between a failed and a successful attack in Masters or above.

3. Support Troops: The Key to Versatility

• Wall Breakers: Upgrading them ensures your ground armies don’t get stalled at the first wall.
• Wizards: Useful for funneling and as part of many attack strategies.
• Healers: Absolutely crucial for Queen Walks/Queen Charges. Under-leveled Healers mean a dead Queen and a failed attack.

4. Siege Machines (TH12+)

If you’re at TH12 or higher, prioritize upgrading your most-used Siege Machine. Stone Slammer for air attacks, Wall Wrecker for ground, and Log Launcher for hybrid attacks.

Troop Upgrade Priorities by League

Crystal League

• Focus on core troops for mass attacks (Dragons, Balloons, Hogs).
• Upgrade Heal and Rage spells.
• Healers and Wall Breakers for Queen Walk/Charge strategies.

Master League

• Upgrade support troops (Wizards, Miners, Bowlers).
• Freeze and Poison spells become more important.
• Begin prioritizing Siege Machines if available.

Champion and Legends League

• Max out all primary attack troops and spells.
• Focus on versatility: hybrid armies, advanced spells, and Siege Machines.
• Ensure your Queen, Warden, and King are at competitive levels.

Common Upgrade Mistakes to Avoid

1. Neglecting Spells: Many players focus solely on troops. Spells often have a greater impact per upgrade.
2. Upgrading Niche Troops Too Early: Don’t waste Lab time on troops you rarely use (e.g., Golems if you never GoWiPe).
3. Ignoring Farming Troops: If you’ll need to farm for upgrades after pushing, keep your BARCH or Goblins up to date.
4. Not Planning Ahead: Always have a Lab upgrade ready to go. Idle Labs slow your progress more than any other building.

Pro Tips for Efficient Lab Progression

• Sync Lab with Resource Availability: Plan upgrades around when you’ll have enough Elixir/Dark Elixir.
• Clan Games and Magic Items: Use Book of Fighting/Spells to finish long upgrades before a push.
• Upgrade During Events: Leverage troop/spell events for discounts.
• Consult Attack Replays: Watch top players in your league to see which troops and spells are consistently effective.

Conclusion

Pushing to higher leagues is as much about preparation as it is about skill. The Laboratory is your arsenal—choose your upgrades wisely, and you’ll find your attacks hitting harder, your stars stacking up, and your league trophies climbing higher than ever before. Before you make that next push, take a hard look at your Lab queue. Are you investing in the troops and spells that will carry you to victory? Prioritize smartly, and the climb will be smoother, faster, and a lot more fun.

Ready to dominate the next league? Start with your Lab upgrades—and let your victories speak for themselves!