Do not upgrade your Town Hall weapon — the Giga Inferno is automatically maxed. Focus entirely on placing your Scattershots, unlocking the Royal Champion at Hero Hall Level 7, and utilizing Super Troops from the Super Sauna. Use CWL medals on Hammers of Fighting to skip the lengthy TH13 laboratory queue. Track everything at ClashOS Upgrade Tracker.
What to Upgrade First at TH13 in 2026?
Start TH13 by upgrading your Scattershot to level 2 and unlocking the Royal Champion immediately from the Hero Hall. Your Giga Inferno should be your second builder priority to gain the defensive nuclear deterrent. In the laboratory, research Yetis for the Pekka Smash meta and upgrade Sneaky Goblins for farming simultaneously.
- Upgrade Scattershot to level 2
- Unlock Royal Champion via Hero Hall
- Upgrade Giga Inferno to level 2
- Research Yetis and Sneaky Goblins in lab
- Build Siege Barracks for Yeti bomb attacks
What's New at Town Hall 13 (2026 Mechanics)
Town Hall 13 represents a massive leap in raw defensive and offensive power that fundamentally transforms the competitive landscape. In 2026, the Giga Inferno on the Town Hall no longer requires five expensive individual levels — it is fully weaponized immediately upon upgrading, retaining its signature slowdown effect and maximum damage output.[2, 3] This critical change fundamentally restructures the economy of TH13, allowing players to redirect millions of gold directly into the new Scattershot defenses rather than sinking resources into the Town Hall weapon.
Giga Inferno — Auto-Maxed & Slowdown Active
The Giga Inferno retains the full maximum stats of the old five-level weapon system. When the Town Hall sustains damage, it fires a continuous beam that deals escalating damage over time and applies a devastating movement speed reduction to all nearby troops. Upon destruction, it releases a damaging burst that punishes clustered armies. The slowdown mechanic is particularly lethal against ground smash armies, as it forces Yetis and Pekkas into extended exposure zones where splash defenses can dismantle them.[1, 2, 3]
Key Mechanic Change — October 2025
The Giga Inferno is automatically maxed upon upgrading to TH13. All gold previously earmarked for five weapon levels can now be redirected into Scattershots and heavy defenses from the moment your upgrade completes.
Royal Champion & Super Sauna
On the offensive side, the Royal Champion is unlocked at Hero Hall Level 7, instantly becoming the most important hero in the game.[9, 10] Her defense-targeting ability and automatic wall-jumping mechanics allow her to bypass base compartments entirely, diving straight into core defenses and the Town Hall. Super Troops, unlocked via the Super Sauna, become a core component of army compositions.[5, 11] The Super Sauna allows players to boost troops like Super Archers, Super Witches, and Sneaky Goblins, which completely redefine pathing and funneling mechanics. Additionally, the Yeti reaches max level 4, and the Log Launcher is introduced, providing a heavy-tanking meta that excels at opening deep base compartments.[8, 11]
Day-One Progression Blueprint
The first 24 hours at TH13 are defined by a single objective: unlock the Royal Champion and establish your Scattershot defense as rapidly as possible. Every builder must be assigned to maximize the five-day Town Hall boost while simultaneously placing both Scattershots to neutralize the offensive strength of opposing TH13 attackers. The builder assignments below represent the mathematically optimal resource allocation after the October 2025 economy overhaul.
- Builder 1: Hero Hall Level 7 (6.2M Elixir) — Unlock the Royal Champion
- Builder 2: Laboratory (5.8M Elixir) — Utilize the 5-day TH boost
- Builder 3: Scattershot 1 (8.5M Gold) — High-impact splash damage
- Builder 4: Scattershot 2 (8.5M Gold) — Opposite quadrant coverage
- Builder 5: Clan Castle (8.0M Gold) — Expanded reinforcements
- Builder 6: Dark Barracks (5.5M Elixir) — Unlock the Headhunter
Day-One Builder Assignments
| Builder | Target Structure | Resource Cost | Upgrade Time | Strategic Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Builder 1 | Hero Hall Level 7 | 6.2M Elixir | 3d 12h | Unlocks the Royal Champion and expands hero slots |
| Builder 2 |
|
5.8M Elixir | 3d | Upgrades immediately to utilize the 5-day TH boost |
| Builder 3 | Scattershot 1 | 8.5M Gold | 4d 12h | Introduces high-impact splash damage to stop hog/hybrid pushes |
| Builder 4 | Scattershot 2 | 8.5M Gold | 4d 12h | Balances defense coverage across opposite quadrants |
| Builder 5 |
|
8.0M Gold | 5d | Essential for holding larger reinforcement spells and Sieges |
| Builder 6 | Dark Barracks | 5.5M Elixir | 3d | Unlocks the Headhunter for defensive CC and offense |
Complete Upgrade Priority Order
The upgrade priority at TH13 follows a strict four-phase model that establishes the Royal Champion and Scattershot defense before investing in secondary structures. The Giga Inferno auto-max mechanic eliminates the old gold bottleneck, freeing resources for an accelerated Scattershot timeline.[11] For TH13 progression, unlocking the Royal Champion at the Hero Hall is your immediate focus. Allocate a dedicated builder to her upgrades continuously, while another builder focuses on the Laboratory to unlock Super Bowlers and Super Archers. Upgrade the Siege Workshop to unlock the Log Launcher, which is vital for smash attacks. In the defensive queue, build and max both Scattershots early as they represent a major jump in splash damage. Point defenses like cannons and archer towers should be left for the final phase. By focusing resources on offense first, you maintain high war win rates and earn maximum daily bonuses to fund your progression.
| Phase | Priority Targets | Core Purpose | Resource Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Offense | Hero Hall Lvl 7, CC, Army Camps, Lab | Establish maximum army capacity and unlock the Royal Champion immediately | Elixir Dominant |
| Phase 2: Point Def | Scattershots, Giga Inferno base | Mount effective defense blocks against popular ground smash armies | Gold Dominant |
| Phase 3: Heavy Def | Eagle Artillery, Inferno Towers, X-Bows | Secure mid-tier splash defenses to protect point components | Gold Dominant |
| Phase 4: Economy | DE Drills, Gold/Elixir Storages | Expand storage ceilings to accept heavy late-stage resource costs | Balanced |
Time to Max TH13 in 2026
The October 2025 rebalance delivered sweeping reductions across every upgrade category at TH13. Wall upgrades received the largest cut at 40%, making Level 14 walls dramatically more accessible. Combined with hero timer reductions of nearly 30%, the total time to max TH13 dropped from 825 days to 568 days — a staggering 31.1% reduction that compresses the progression window by over eight months.[2, 7, 12, 20] Managing the 420-day builder timeline at TH13 requires strategic use of Magic Items. Save your Books of Building for the Scattershot and Giga Inferno upgrades, which have the longest build times. If you have the 6th builder unlocked, you can speed up your overall progression by 20%. The 2025 economy rebalance reduced TH13 wall costs by 40%, making it much easier to keep your builders active without getting bottlenecked by resources. Use ClashOS progress notifications to plan your resource requirements and stagger upgrades, ensuring you never sit on full storages or idle builders.
| Category | Pre-October 2025 | Post-October 2025 | Resource Savings | % Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structures | 210 Days | 150 Days | 60M Gold / Elixir | 28.5% |
| Wall Upgrades | 180 Days | 108 Days | 120M Gold / Elixir | 40.0% |
| Heroes | 240 Days | 170 Days | 2.5M Dark Elixir | 29.1% |
| Laboratory | 195 Days | 140 Days | 110M Elixir / DE | 28.2% |
| Total | 825 Days | 568 Days | 290M Total Resources | 31.1% |
Hero Priority & Equipment Breakpoints
The hero landscape at TH13 is dominated by the Royal Champion's arrival. She consumes the bulk of Dark Elixir but delivers unparalleled offensive value that justifies every investment. The Minion Prince, as an Elixir-based hero, should never compete with the RC for Dark Elixir resources. Keep at least two heroes upgrading at all times using the ClashOS Equipment Planner to optimize gear progression.[11, 15]
| Hero | Max Level | Priority | Recommended Equipment | Avg Cost | Upgrade Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
25 | 1 | 160k DE | 4d 12h | |
|
|
50 | 2 | Equip from CWL medals | 5.5M Elixir | 3d 12h |
|
|
40 | 3 | 5.8M Elixir | 4d | |
|
|
75 | 4 | 180k DE | 4d 12h | |
|
|
75 | 5 | 170k DE | 4d |
Royal Champion — Top Priority Hero
The Royal Champion is the single most important unlock at TH13. Her Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her natural defense-targeting AI combined with automatic wall-jumping means she can bypass entire base compartments. Neglecting her upgrades is the single biggest progression mistake at TH13 — keep her upgrading at all times, even if it means pausing the Barbarian King.[10, 11, 15]
Laboratory Priority — Top 10
The laboratory at TH13 must prioritize a single competitive army composition rather than spreading upgrades across multiple troop types. The Yeti and Bowler combination forms the backbone of the dominant Pekka Smash strategy, while Hog Riders and Miners anchor the versatile Hybrid meta. Spreading research across four different army styles simultaneously guarantees mediocrity in all of them.[11, 27]
| Rank | Troop / Spell | Max TH13 Level | Research Cost | Research Time | Primary Strategic Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Level 4 | 7.8M Elixir | 5d | Key tank for Yeti Smash and funneling |
| 2 |
|
Level 5 | 110k DE | 4d 12h | Core DPS for Pekka Smash and ground armies |
| 3 |
|
Level 10 | 120k DE | 4d 12h | Essential component for Hybrid and RC Walk attacks |
| 4 |
|
Level 7 | 7.2M Elixir | 5d | Pairs with Hog Riders to create the deadly Hybrid meta |
| 5 | Super Archer | Level 9 | 7.0M Elixir | 4d | Enables Blimp clone tactics and range funneling |
| 6 |
|
Level 5 | 8.0M Elixir | 5d | Foundation for the slow, unstoppable Smash meta |
| 7 |
|
Level 8 | 8.2M Elixir | 5d | Heavy air spam support for casual war attacks |
| 8 |
|
Level 8 | 6.5M Elixir | 4d | Vital for keeping Hog Riders alive through Scattershots |
| 9 |
|
Level 5 | 90k DE | 3d 12h | Speeds up balloons and hybrid core units |
| 10 |
|
Level 4 | 6.0M Elixir | 4d | Essential for Pekka and Yeti pathing over walls |
Pro Tip — CWL Medal Strategy
Use CWL medals exclusively on Hammers of Fighting or Spells to skip the lengthy TH13 laboratory upgrades. Save Book of Heroes specifically for the Royal Champion's final 5 levels, where each upgrade takes over 4 days and consumes massive amounts of Dark Elixir.
Detailed Upgrade Strategy
Day-One Builder Logic
At Town Hall 13, the addition of the Royal Champion and Scattershots introduces a dramatic shift in both defensive and offensive capabilities. The immediate objective is upgrading the Hero Hall to Level 7 to unlock the Royal Champion, whose defense-targeting and wall-jumping mechanics make her the most lethal offensive asset at this level. Concurrently, constructing both Scattershots establishes immediate defense blocks against standard Yeti Smash attacks from opposing TH13 players.[10, 11, 15]
Optimal Defense Progression
The point defense progression at TH13 focuses on upgrading X-Bows and Inferno Towers after the Scattershots are operational. In 2026, point defenses carry far greater defensive weight than standard splash defenses like Wizard Towers and Mortars. The Eagle Artillery should be upgraded during Phase 3 once the Scattershot network is fully established. A common defensive layout mistake is placing both Scattershots adjacent to each other — they must be positioned on opposite quadrants to maximize coverage against both ground and air approaches. Consult the ClashOS Base Layout Directory for optimized Scattershot positioning.[11]
Pitfalls and What NOT to Upgrade First
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
Do not prioritize Cannons and Mortars before Scattershots. Due to the massive reductions in wall costs (40% for Level 14 walls), gold must be directed to walls and Scattershots to prevent attackers from easily dismantling the outer compartments. Do not neglect the Royal Champion. Leaving her under-leveled is the single biggest progression mistake at TH13 — she should always be upgrading, even at the expense of the Barbarian King.[7, 11, 20]
Meta Analysis — War & Farming (2026)
The Town Hall 13 meta in 2026 is anchored by Super Troops and the Pekka Smash strategy and the heavy tanking capabilities of the Yeti. The introduction of the Royal Champion creates entirely new attack vectors that were impossible at TH12, as her defense-targeting AI can systematically dismantle core compartments without requiring wall breakers or jump spells.[11, 27]
Pekka Smash — The Dominant War Strategy
This strategy utilizes Yetis and Pekkas as front-line sponge units, guided by a Warden Walk to shape one flank. The Barbarian King and a Siege Barracks establish the opposite flank. Once the funnel is secured, the core force of Pekkas, Bowlers, and Super Witches dives directly through the center using Jump and Rage spells. The Royal Champion is deployed late on the edge to clean out side compartments and support the exit. The critical timing window is ensuring the Eternal Tome activates during the Giga Inferno exposure zone, preventing the slowdown effect from halting the core dive.[27]
Yeti Super Archers Spam — The Farming Meta
Combining the heavy tanking of Level 4 Yetis with the long-range, linear damage of Super Archers creates an incredibly easy, high-percentage three-star strategy that requires minimal spell coordination. For passive farming, Mass Sneaky Goblins with Jump and Haste spells remains the most efficient resource accumulation method, allowing players to safely snipe collectors and the Town Hall for maximum loot bonuses.[8, 27]
Super Troops & Wall Reduction Impact
The late-2025 wall progression cost reduction has cut the cost of Level 14 walls by 40%. This allows players to allocate gold directly into defenses like Scattershots while easily farming resources with Sneaky Goblins. The combination of reduced wall costs and the auto-maxed Giga Inferno means that TH13 players in 2026 have access to approximately 120 million more gold for defensive investments compared to pre-October 2025 economies.[8, 20]
Community Research & Reddit Debates
Reddit analysis under upgrade order discussions highlights deep frustration with players who neglect the Royal Champion at TH13. The consensus across competitive communities is that the RC is the most important hero at this Town Hall level, and leaving her under-leveled is the single biggest progression mistake. Players who rush to TH13 specifically to unlock her report significantly faster war performance improvements compared to those who stayed at TH12 to max remaining defenses.[11, 15]
The "max versus rush" debate at TH13 supports strategic rushing once the Archer Queen reaches level 65 at TH12. Staying at TH12 simply to finish defense upgrades is viewed as a waste of laboratory and pet time, as TH13 unlocks Scattershots and the Royal Champion, both of which provide far greater strategic return on investment. The standard efficiency model in 2026 prioritizes unlocking the Royal Champion and beginning her upgrade path as early as possible.[6, 15]
Track Your TH13 Progress
Use the ClashOS Upgrade Tracker to monitor your Royal Champion levels, Scattershot upgrades, and Super Troop lab research.
Open Upgrade Tracker →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Royal Champion unlocks at Hero Hall Level 7, which becomes available at Town Hall 13. She is the most important offensive hero at this level due to her defense-targeting and wall-jumping mechanics. The Royal Champion's Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her wall-jumping AI lets her bypass entire compartments that would stall other heroes. Keep her upgrading continuously at all times — even pausing the Barbarian King to free Dark Elixir is worth it. Pair her with Hog Rider Puppet and Haste Vial for maximum backend cleanup speed.
Pekka Smash and RC Charge Dragons are the two most dominant competitive strategies at TH13 in 2026. Pekka Smash uses Yetis, Pekkas, and Bowlers for ground domination, while RC Charge leverages the Royal Champion's ability to dive deep into enemy cores. Prioritize your Laboratory and Hero Hall before investing gold into point defenses. The five-day TH boost temporarily maxes all troop levels — use this window to push your farming army and primary war composition. Stagger upgrade completions so you never sit on idle builders or full storages, and always keep the Lab running on a critical war troop.
At Town Hall 13, you can build a maximum of two Scattershots. The Scattershot is a premier defensive structure that deals heavy splash damage to ground and air units alike. Because it targets area-of-effect zones, it is highly effective at stopping swarm attacks and surgical balloon entries. Placing your Scattershots in separate compartments near the core, protected by high-HP storage units, is essential to maximize their defensive value and prevent them from being easily frozen together.
Yes. The October 2025 update removed all five Giga Inferno weapon levels. The Giga Inferno is automatically maxed upon completing the Town Hall 13 upgrade, retaining its signature slowdown effect and full DPS output. The Giga Inferno's 50% slow effect is the primary obstacle for ground smash attacks. Always reserve one Freeze spell for the Town Hall compartment, or time your Grand Warden's Eternal Tome to overlap with the slow zone. Since weapon levels are auto-maxed, you can redirect all gold that would have gone into the TH into Scattershots and heavy defenses instead.
Super Archers and Super Witches are the top Super Troop choices at TH13. Super Archers provide devastating long-range linear damage for funneling, while Super Witches create an unstoppable slow-push meta with their Big Boys. Super Archers provide devastating long-range linear damage that clears entire defense corridors from a safe distance. Super Witches create an unstoppable slow-push with their Big Boy skeletons that tank for the main army. Activate these through the Super Sauna as a day-one priority, and pair them with a Log Launcher to open deep compartments for your Pekka Smash force.
Level 14 wall costs decreased by 40% in the late 2025 economy update. This allows players to allocate gold directly into Scattershots and heavy defenses while easily progressing walls through passive farming. Both Scattershots should be positioned on opposite sides of your base, with coverage overlapping the Town Hall compartment. Space them far enough apart that a single Freeze spell cannot hit both. Protect each Scattershot with a ring of high-HP buildings and traps to delay attackers from reaching them with flanking Queen Charges or RC dives.
Level 25. The Royal Champion starts at level 1 when unlocked at TH13 and can reach level 25, making her the longest hero progression at this Town Hall level. The Royal Champion's Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her wall-jumping AI lets her bypass entire compartments that would stall other heroes. Keep her upgrading continuously at all times — even pausing the Barbarian King to free Dark Elixir is worth it. Pair her with Hog Rider Puppet and Haste Vial for maximum backend cleanup speed.
Yes, the Log Launcher is the best siege machine for opening up deep ground paths at TH13. It rolls a continuous stream of logs that destroy walls and damage buildings along a straight line toward the Town Hall. With the 40% reduction in wall costs, upgrading your walls serves as an excellent resource sink for excess gold and elixir. Stagger your builders so you always have one free to dump resources into walls before starting a long upgrade. This keeps your storages empty, making your base an unattractive target for attackers.
The Super Sauna boosts standard troops into their powerful Super variants. At TH13, it allows you to activate Super Archers, Super Witches, Sneaky Goblins, and other enhanced versions that completely redefine pathing and funneling mechanics. Super Archers provide devastating long-range linear damage that clears entire defense corridors from a safe distance. Super Witches create an unstoppable slow-push with their Big Boy skeletons that tank for the main army. Activate these through the Super Sauna as a day-one priority, and pair them with a Log Launcher to open deep compartments for your Pekka Smash force.
You can deprioritize the Barbarian King and Archer Queen temporarily, but keeping the Royal Champion upgrading at all times is critical. She provides the highest offensive return on Dark Elixir investment at TH13. The Royal Champion's Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her wall-jumping AI lets her bypass entire compartments that would stall other heroes. Keep her upgrading continuously at all times — even pausing the Barbarian King to free Dark Elixir is worth it. Pair her with Hog Rider Puppet and Haste Vial for maximum backend cleanup speed.
The maximum level for the Grand Warden at Town Hall 13 is level 40. Upgrading the Grand Warden is a top priority, as it increases the health and damage of all surrounding troops within his Life Aura. At level 40, his active ability, the Eternal Tome, provides complete invincibility to your main army for a crucial duration. Ensure you keep your Warden upgrading continuously using elixir while your other heroes occupy your dark elixir resources.
Level 75. The Archer Queen gains 10 additional levels at TH13, further cementing her role as the primary surgical hero for Queen Charge tactics and hybrid openings. The Royal Champion's Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her wall-jumping AI lets her bypass entire compartments that would stall other heroes. Keep her upgrading continuously at all times — even pausing the Barbarian King to free Dark Elixir is worth it. Pair her with Hog Rider Puppet and Haste Vial for maximum backend cleanup speed.
Level 75. The Barbarian King matches the Archer Queen's cap at TH13 but remains a lower priority for Dark Elixir due to the Royal Champion taking precedence. Prioritize your Laboratory and Hero Hall before investing gold into point defenses. The five-day TH boost temporarily maxes all troop levels — use this window to push your farming army and primary war composition. Stagger upgrade completions so you never sit on idle builders or full storages, and always keep the Lab running on a critical war troop.
Yes. Despite the removal of weapon upgrade levels, the Giga Inferno retains its signature slowdown effect on troops when the Town Hall is attacked. This slowdown is critical for defending against ground smash armies. The Giga Inferno's 50% slow effect is the primary obstacle for ground smash attacks. Always reserve one Freeze spell for the Town Hall compartment, or time your Grand Warden's Eternal Tome to overlap with the slow zone. Since weapon levels are auto-maxed, you can redirect all gold that would have gone into the TH into Scattershots and heavy defenses instead.
Yes, the Scattershot targets both ground and air units. It fires a bundle of boulders that bursts on impact, dealing high splash damage to the target and all surrounding troops in a cone-shaped zone. This makes it devastating against air compositions like LavaLoon or mass Dragons, as well as ground spam. Placing your Scattershots to cover your core defense zone, alongside your Giga Inferno, is key to defending your base against competitive war attacks.
4 days and 12 hours under the 2026 economy. This is a significant reduction from the pre-October 2025 timeline, allowing players to get both Scattershots operational within the first week of TH13. Both Scattershots should be positioned on opposite sides of your base, with coverage overlapping the Town Hall compartment. Space them far enough apart that a single Freeze spell cannot hit both. Protect each Scattershot with a ring of high-HP buildings and traps to delay attackers from reaching them with flanking Queen Charges or RC dives.
The Magic Shield allows you to farm continuously with Sneaky Goblins without removing your shield protection. This creates an infinite farming loop where you accumulate resources while your base stays defended. Prioritize your Laboratory and Hero Hall before investing gold into point defenses. The five-day TH boost temporarily maxes all troop levels — use this window to push your farming army and primary war composition. Stagger upgrade completions so you never sit on idle builders or full storages, and always keep the Lab running on a critical war troop.
Yes, always upgrade the Lab first at every Town Hall level. The five-day TH boost temporarily maxes all troops, and upgrading the Lab immediately ensures you can start researching the moment it finishes. Prioritize your Laboratory and Hero Hall before investing gold into point defenses. The five-day TH boost temporarily maxes all troop levels — use this window to push your farming army and primary war composition. Stagger upgrade completions so you never sit on idle builders or full storages, and always keep the Lab running on a critical war troop.
At TH13, the Blacksmith equipment level caps are raised to level 15. This allows you to upgrade common and epic hero equipment to more powerful thresholds, significantly boosting hero performance in war. The Royal Champion's Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her wall-jumping AI lets her bypass entire compartments that would stall other heroes. Keep her upgrading continuously at all times — even pausing the Barbarian King to free Dark Elixir is worth it. Pair her with Hog Rider Puppet and Haste Vial for maximum backend cleanup speed.
Yes. The Minion Prince is unlocked starting at TH9 and reaches a max level of 50 at TH13. He is an Elixir-based hero who provides strong air support and funneling capabilities. The Royal Champion's Seeking Shield ability targets four structures simultaneously, and her wall-jumping AI lets her bypass entire compartments that would stall other heroes. Keep her upgrading continuously at all times — even pausing the Barbarian King to free Dark Elixir is worth it. Pair her with Hog Rider Puppet and Haste Vial for maximum backend cleanup speed.
Disclaimer: ClashOS is an independent fan site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Supercell Oy. Clash of Clans is a trademark of Supercell Oy. All game content and assets are the property of their respective owners. The information in this guide is based on publicly available game data and community research. Prices, timers, and stats are subject to change with game updates.