Evolution of lavaloan in Clash of Clans

 # The Lavaloon Troop in Clash of Clans: A Deep Dive into Its 23 Housing Space Design

The **Lavaloon** troop in *Clash of Clans* is a unique hybrid unit combining the tanking power of a Lava Hound with the explosive splash damage of a Balloon. Introduced during the 2023 Clash-o-Ween event and later made permanent via the **Lavaloon Puppet** hero equipment, this troop has carved a niche in air-based attack strategies. With a housing space of **23**, it stands out as the only troop in the game with this exact requirement. Below, we explore the Lavaloon’s details, its role in gameplay, and address the confusion around a rumored **35 housing space** variant as of October 2025.

## Lavaloon Troop: Key Details

- **Housing Space**: **23**

  - The Lavaloon occupies exactly 23 housing spaces, a unique value that balances the high cost of a Lava Hound (30 spaces) and the lower cost of a Balloon (5 spaces). This allows players to fit up to **13 Lavaloons** in fully upgraded Army Camps (280–320 spaces, depending on Town Hall level, though capped by camp limits).

- **Role**: Hybrid Tank and Damage Dealer

  - Acts as a tank, absorbing damage from air defenses and traps like a Lava Hound.

  - Delivers splash damage to defenses, similar to a Balloon, prioritizing defensive structures.

  - Upon destruction, spawns **Lava Pups** (like a Lava Hound), which deal minor damage and distract defenses.

- **Stats** (as of Town Hall 14, max level):

  - **Hitpoints**: Comparable to a mid-tier Lava Hound, making it durable but not as tanky as a full Hound.

  - **Damage**: Splash damage akin to a Balloon, effective against clustered defenses.

  - **Training Cost**: Moderate Elixir cost, reflecting its hybrid nature.

  - **Training Time**: Around 2–3 minutes per unit, depending on Barracks upgrades.

- **Availability**:

  - Unlocked through the **Lavaloon Puppet** hero equipment (equippable on heroes like the Archer Queen) or as a trainable troop post-event.

  - Requires a high-level Barracks and sufficient Town Hall progression (typically TH10+).

## Strategic Use of the Lavaloon

The Lavaloon’s **23 housing space** design makes it a versatile addition to air strategies. Here’s how to use it effectively:

- **Army Composition**:

  - **Core Setup**: 8–10 Lavaloons (184–230 spaces) for a balance of tanking and damage.

  - **Support Troops**: 10–15 Balloons (50–75 spaces) for additional damage, 10–20 Minions (20–40 spaces) for cleanup, or 1–2 Archers/Wizards for precision.

  - **Spells**: 2–3 Haste Spells (to speed up Lavaloons/Balloons), 2 Rage Spells (to boost damage), 1–2 Freeze Spells (to neutralize Air Defenses or Inferno Towers).

- **Attack Strategy**:

  - Deploy Lavaloons first to tank Air Defenses, Seeking Air Mines, and traps.

  - Follow with Balloons in waves, using Haste/Rage to target defenses.

  - Release Minions or cleanup troops to clear remaining non-defense buildings.

  - If using the Lavaloon Puppet, activate the hero ability to spawn additional Lavaloons mid-battle, overwhelming defenses.

- **Target Bases**:

  - Ideal for bases with centralized or weak Air Defenses.

  - Avoid bases with multi-target Inferno Towers or heavy air traps unless paired with sufficient Freeze Spells.

## The 35 Housing Space Confusion

Some players have speculated about a **35 housing space** Lavaloon, but as of October 2025, this is not accurate. Here’s why:

- **Current Status**: The Lavaloon troop is confirmed to use **23 housing spaces**, with no official updates from Supercell (via patch notes or X posts) indicating a change to 35.

- **Possible Origins of Confusion**:

  - **Army Math**: A combination like 1 Lava Hound (30 spaces) + 1 Balloon (5 spaces) equals 35 spaces, but this isn’t a practical Lavaloon strategy and doesn’t refer to the hybrid troop.

  - **Misinformation**: Rumors may stem from private servers, mods, or event misinterpretations, but no official troop in *Clash of Clans* uses 35 spaces.

  - **No Other Troops**: No air troops (e.g., Dragon at 20 spaces, Electro Dragon at 30 spaces) match 35, and no event or update has introduced a 35-space variant.

- **Impact of a Hypothetical 35-Space Lavaloon**:

  - Would reduce the number of Lavaloons in an army (e.g., only 8 in a 280-space camp vs. 13 at 23 spaces).

  - Would require significant stat buffs (e.g., more health or damage) to justify the cost, potentially unbalancing the troop.

  - Unlikely given Supercell’s careful balancing of troop dynamics.

## Why 23 Housing Spaces Works

The **23 housing space** design is a deliberate choice, offering:

- **Efficiency**: Fits more units than a Lava Hound (30 spaces), allowing for a critical mass of troops.

- **Flexibility**: Leaves room for support troops and spells within standard Army Camp limits (e.g., 280 spaces at TH12+).

- **Balance**: Combines tanking and damage without overpowering the meta, maintaining strategic depth.

## Conclusion

The Lavaloon troop, with its **23 housing space** requirement, is a game-changer for air-based attacks in *Clash of Clans*. Its hybrid nature simplifies the classic Lavaloon strategy while offering new tactical possibilities. The rumored **35 housing space** variant appears to be a misunderstanding, as no such troop exists in the official game as of October 2025. Players should focus on mastering the 23-space Lavaloon, experimenting with compositions and spell synergies to dominate enemy bases. For the latest meta tips, check community discussions on X or Supercell’s official channels, and keep clashing!