How to choose the best farming army for your account
Before picking an army, decide your farming style. You’ll get better results instantly because you’ll stop using “the wrong tool for the job.”
- Collector Farming (fast, low effort): You snipe mines/collectors/drills and leave. Best when you’re busy or just want quick loot.
- Storage Farming (higher loot, higher commitment): You break into storages for big hits. Best when you’re saving for a major upgrade.
- Dark Elixir Focus (heroes/equipment): You build armies that reach the Dark Elixir Storage/drill safely. Best from TH7 onward, especially TH9–TH18.
- Safe Star Farming (trophy stability): You aim for reliable 1–2 stars with solid loot so you don’t drop too low and get bad bases.
The best farming setup for most players is:
1 fast collector army + 1 heavier “secure loot” army (switch based on what bases you’re finding).
Universal farming rules that work at every Town Hall
These rules matter more than the exact troops. If you follow them, almost any decent army will farm well.
- Rule 1: Don’t fight “pretty bases.” Pretty bases (tight, upgraded, symmetrical) usually defend well and hide loot. Skip them.
- Rule 2: Loot comes first, ego second. A quick 250k/250k hit is often better than a risky 700k/700k hit that fails twice before you find it.
- Rule 3: Decide your target before you drop troops. Are you taking collectors, the Town Hall, the DE storage, or a full 100%? Pick one plan and commit.
- Rule 4: Use spells to guarantee value, not to look cool. If a spell doesn’t secure loot or secure stars, it’s probably wasted.
- Rule 5: Stop upgrading randomly. Farming gets easier when your offense is strong. Prioritize Laboratory, camps, spells, and your favorite troops first.
TH4 Best Farming Armies
TH4 farming is all about speed. You don’t have spells yet, and your best loot comes from weak bases with exposed collectors and easy Town Halls. The best TH4 farming armies are simple and fast.
- Army Option 1: GiBARCH (most reliable)Core: Giants + Archers (add a few Barbarians for cleanup)
- How it farms: Giants tank defenses while Archers clear collectors and reach storages
- How to attack:
- Drop Giants to soak damage
- Place Archers in a wide line behind them
- Use Barbarians to clean outside buildings so your Archers don’t get stuck
- Best targets: bases with collectors outside walls and short paths to storages
- Army Option 2: Balloon Snipe (fast collector farming)Core: Balloons + a few Archers
- How it farms: Balloons delete exposed defenses fast, Archers grab outside loot
- How to attack:
- Drop a few Balloons to remove key defenses (especially if they protect collectors)
- Spread Archers to pick up collectors around the edges
- Best targets: bases with air defenses poorly placed (or no strong air coverage)
- TH4 tip (huge upgrade for farming): If you’ve unlocked the Barbarian King early, use him as a free “tank” to grab outside collectors while your army goes deeper. Even a low-level King saves troops and reduces fails.
TH5 Best Farming Armies
At TH5 you unlock Lightning Spell, which opens easy farming tactics: remove a key defense and force your way to loot. TH5 is still about fast hits, but you can now “fix bad entries” with spells.
- Army Option 1: GiBARCH + Lightning (safe and consistent)Core: Giants, Wall Breakers, Archers, a few Barbarians
- Spells: Lightning (save it for an important defense that blocks your entry)
- How to attack:
- Giants first to tank
- Wall Breakers to open the nearest compartment holding storages
- Archers in a wide spread to clear collectors and support Giants
- Lightning a defense that is shredding your Giants early
- Best targets: storages near the edge or one wall layer deep
- Army Option 2: BARCH (fastest farming)Core: Mostly Barbarians + Archers
- How it farms: fast training, quick hits, great for collector circles
- How to attack:
- Place Barbarians first in a line (they tank a bit)
- Drop Archers behind them in a longer line
- Don’t chase the core—take collectors and leave
- Best targets: bases with full collectors and weak outside defenses
TH6 Best Farming Armies
TH6 adds Healing Spell and Healers. You can now build “sustained pushes” that don’t die instantly. The key at TH6 is using Heal at the right time: not too early, not too late.
- Army Option 1: GiWiz + Heal (storage smash)Core: Giants, Wall Breakers, Wizards, a few Archers for cleanup
- Spells: Heal
- How to attack:
- Giants first
- Wall Breakers to open the compartment
- Wizards behind Giants to delete buildings quickly
- Heal when Giants are taking focused damage from multiple defenses
- Best targets: bases where storages are close enough for a straight push
- Army Option 2: Healer-supported push (easy mode)Core: Giants + Healers + Archers/Wizards
- Spells: Heal (even though you have Healers, Heal can save the push)
- How to attack:
- Start Giants, then Healers behind them
- Add Wizards/Archers to clear damage buildings
- Use Heal when defenses spike damage (not when everything is calm)
- Best targets: bases with scattered defenses and reachable storages
TH7 Best Farming Armies
TH7 is a huge farming upgrade because Dark Elixir begins (Dark Elixir Drill + Dark Barracks), and Dragons unlock. You can now farm for gold/elixir and also target Dark Elixir for hero upgrades.
- Army Option 1: Mass Dragons (safest farming)Core: Mostly Dragons
- Spells: Rage (and Lightning if you prefer removing a threat)
- How to attack:
- Funnel with a few Dragons on the edges so the main group goes inward
- Rage where Dragons stack under heavy fire
- Aim for safe 2 stars when possible (Town Hall + percent)
- Best targets: bases with reachable Town Hall and decent loot, even if storages are deeper
- Army Option 2: GiBARCH for Dark Elixir (efficient DE farming)Core: Giants, Wall Breakers, Archers, a few Barbarians
- Spells: Heal/Rage depending on availability and preference
- How to attack:
- Identify the Dark Elixir Storage/drill location
- Open the closest compartment and push directly toward it
- Take DE, then decide whether to continue or leave
- Best targets: bases with DE storage not centered too deep
- Army Option 3: Minions cleanup (smart mixed farming)Core: Giants/Archers plus a small group of Minions for cleanup
- How it farms: Minions clean outside buildings fast so you secure percent and avoid time fails
TH8 Best Farming Armies
TH8 gives you stronger troops and better spell control, including Poison and access to more Dark troops. The main farming question at TH8 is: do you want speed (BARCH/GiBARCH) or low-stress wins (Dragons)?
- Army Option 1: Dragons + Rage/Lightning (reliable and lazy)Core: Mostly Dragons, a few Balloons if you like extra front-loaded damage
- Spells: Rage + Lightning (or double Rage depending on your approach)
- How to attack:
- Zap a key defense if it blocks your entry
- Funnel sides, then push through the middle
- Rage when Dragons are under concentrated defenses
- Best targets: good loot bases where you want a safe 1–2 stars consistently
- Army Option 2: Hog Heals (fast and powerful)Core: Hogs + a small kill squad (Giants/Wizards) for funnel
- Spells: Heal + Poison (Poison is huge for defending Clan Castle troops)
- How to attack:
- Use a small squad to remove Clan Castle troops (if they lure)
- Send Hogs in a path through defenses
- Heal where Hogs take splash damage
- Best targets: bases with predictable defense paths and reachable storages
- Army Option 3: GiBARCH (best daily grinder)Still works because it’s flexible and fast, especially when you only want collectors and drills.
TH9 Best Farming Armies
TH9 is where farming becomes “serious” because you unlock the Archer Queen. Even at low levels, the Queen changes farming: she can snipe value, control funnels, and secure percent safely.
- Army Option 1: Goblin Knife (best Dark Elixir farming)Core: Giants, Wall Breakers, Goblins (add Archers for cleanup)
- Spells: Jump + Heal (and Poison for defending troops)
- How it farms:
- Giants tank
- Jump opens the path straight to storages
- Goblins rush loot fast
- How to attack:
- Enter from the closest side to the DE storage
- Clear enough outside buildings first so your troops don’t walk sideways
- Jump into the compartment with DE storage and dump Goblins
- Best targets: bases where DE storage is 1–2 layers inside, not dead center
- Army Option 2: Baby Dragon farming (low-effort and stable)Core: Mostly Baby Dragons (optionally a few Balloons)
- Spells: Lightning/Freeze depending on comfort
- How to attack:
- Spread Baby Dragons to keep their “rage” style value
- Target collectors and outside buildings
- Use heroes to secure Town Hall/percent
- Best targets: bases with outside collectors and weak air targeting spread
- Army Option 3: Queen-supported GiBARCH (classic, efficient)Use Queen to clear one side, then GiBARCH takes collectors and a storage section.
- Great when you want loot without complicated planning.
TH10 Best Farming Armies
TH10 unlocks Miners and more advanced Dark troop options. Miners are one of the best “farming troops” ever because they’re fast, consistent, and don’t get stuck on walls the same way ground pushes do.
- Army Option 1: Mass Miners (top all-around farming)Core: Mostly Miners
- Spells: Heal + Rage (Freeze optional if you want extra safety)
- How to attack:
- Create a simple funnel with heroes or a few troops on the edges
- Drop Miners in a line so they path inward
- Heal when they cross splash damage zones (Wizard Towers, Bomb Towers)
- Rage in the core if damage spikes
- Best targets: bases with storages reachable via natural pathing, not weird ring designs
- Army Option 2: Goblin Knife 2.0 (DE focus)Same concept as TH9, but stronger spells/levels make it more reliable.
- Use it when you only care about Dark Elixir and don’t want long fights.
- Army Option 3: Baby Dragons (easy trophies + loot)Great when you want stable wins with low risk and minimal spell usage.
TH11 Best Farming Armies
TH11 is where farming changes again because Super Troops become available (like Sneaky Goblins). If you farm a lot, Sneaky Goblins become one of your highest “loot per minute” tools.
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (best pure farming in the game)Core: Sneaky Goblins
- Spells: Jump + Haste (and a couple Invisibility-style tactics if you use them later at higher THs)
- How it farms:
- Sneaky Goblins rush storages fast and don’t need a full army fight
- How to attack:
- Identify 1–2 storages/drills you want
- Use Jump to open direct access
- Use Haste to speed Goblins through danger zones
- Take loot and leave, or secure 1 star if you want trophy stability
- Best targets: bases with exposed storages or predictable compartments you can jump into quickly
- Army Option 2: Electro Dragons (low-stress, safe wins)Core: Electro Dragons (plus Balloons if you like)
- Spells: Rage + Freeze
- How to attack:
- Funnel, then push into value
- Freeze key defenses when E-Drags clump
- Use for safe 2 stars with decent loot
- Best targets: high-loot bases you don’t want to fail against
- Army Option 3: Hybrid-lite (Miners + Hogs)Core: Miners + Hogs with heroes supporting
- Spells: Heal + Rage + Poison
- Why it farms: fast clears, consistent loot, good for trophy stability
TH12 Best Farming Armies
TH12 unlocks Siege Machines through the Workshop, which makes farming easier because you can force entries even against awkward bases.
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins + Siege entry (fast, surgical loot)Core: Sneaky Goblins
- Spells: Jump + Haste + Freeze/Poison as needed
- Siege idea: use a siege to open a direct lane if the base is annoying
- Best targets: bases where storages are protected behind a single wall line or compartment
- Army Option 2: Yeti farming (strong, flexible)Core: Yetis + support troops (Wizards/Bowlers)
- Spells: Rage + Freeze + Heal depending on your style
- How to attack:
- Use a siege to open the core lane
- Rage Yetis into storages/core value
- Freeze defenses that would delete your push
- Best targets: bases with stacked loot deeper inside
- Army Option 3: Electro Dragons (still excellent)At TH12, E-Drags remain one of the easiest ways to farm while staying stable in trophies.
TH13 Best Farming Armies
TH13 adds more hero power and strong air options like Dragon Riders. Farming becomes less about “can I win?” and more about “can I win fast, repeatedly, and with low stress?”
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (still the king of loot/minute)Best when your goal is maxing walls, saving for hero upgrades, or grinding resources quickly.
- Army Option 2: Hydra farming (Dragons + Dragon Riders)Core: Dragons + Dragon Riders (with a small funnel group)
- Spells: Rage + Freeze
- How to attack:
- Funnel cleanly so the air army goes into storages/core
- Rage through high DPS zones
- Freeze key defenses that delete Riders quickly
- Best targets: bases with big loot and a clear air path
- Army Option 3: Hybrid farming (Miners + Hogs)Fast, reliable, and great when you want consistent 2 stars and steady loot.
TH14 Best Farming Armies
TH14 introduces Pets, which makes hero-led farming stronger. Good pet usage lets you farm efficiently even when your troop army is simple.
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (best pure loot tool)If you want fast upgrades and walls, this remains top tier.
- Army Option 2: Hydra farming (still excellent at TH14)Core: Dragons + Dragon Riders
- Spells: Rage + Freeze
- Pet tip: Pair your Queen with a sustain pet so she can clear one side reliably and keep the funnel stable.
- Army Option 3: “Hero-first” farming routineUse heroes to take outside buildings and set funnel
- Use a compact army to reach storages safely
- Great when you want loot plus trophy stability without long raids
TH15 Best Farming Armies
TH15 farming often centers on two things: keeping heroes upgrading while still farming well, and choosing armies that don’t require perfect timing every raid.
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (fastest upgrade progress)Ideal for wall grinding and saving for major upgrades.
- Army Option 2: Root Rider farming (easy ground power)Core: Root Riders with support troops (like Witches or Bowlers depending on preference)
- Spells: Rage + Freeze + Heal (choose based on how your pushes fail)
- How to attack:
- Create a funnel
- Push Riders into compartments that hold storages
- Use Rage in high-pressure zones, Freeze to protect your core troops
- Best targets: bases with reachable storages through natural lanes
- Army Option 3: Hydra (safe air farming)Still strong when you don’t want to think too hard and just want reliable loot.
TH16 Best Farming Armies
TH16 adds even more high-end options like the Electro Titan and Thrower. Farming here is about consistency and controlling your time—your upgrades are long, so you want a repeatable routine that doesn’t burn you out.
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (surgical loot)Use when you’re saving for heroes, pets, or expensive upgrades.
- Army Option 2: Electro Titan farming (heavy, stable)Core: Electro Titans + support troops
- Spells: Rage + Freeze (Heal optional depending on your style)
- How to attack:
- Use heroes to create a funnel
- Titans push through compartments reliably
- Freeze heavy threats and Rage through the core
- Best targets: bases with storages deeper inside where “quick goblins” might be risky
- Army Option 3: Root Riders + support (fast and forgiving)Great when you want a ground army that doesn’t get stuck and can still secure loot while heroes are down.
TH17 Best Farming Armies
At TH17, your best farming results come from picking one of two paths:
- Surgical farming (Sneaky Goblins) for pure resources
- Heavy farming (strong push) for consistent 2 stars + solid loot
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (still unmatched for speed)Best for maxing walls and funding constant upgrades.
- Army Option 2: Meteor Golem smash-style farmingCore: Meteor Golem supported by strong troops that benefit from space control
- Spells: Rage + Freeze (plus utility spells you prefer)
- How to attack:
- Use a planned entry to reach storages/core
- Take loot and secure a safe star outcome
- Best targets: bases where you want reliable deeper value, not just outside collectors
- Army Option 3: Hydra or hybrid-styleGreat when you want repeatability and trophy stability while still pulling strong loot.
TH18 Best Farming Armies
TH18 farming is the endgame loop: long upgrade times, expensive walls, and constant resource demand. The “best” TH18 farming army depends on whether you’re farming while pushing Ranked or farming purely in Battle mode.
- Army Option 1: Sneaky Goblins (fastest TH18 resource farming)Why it’s #1: It scales perfectly into endgame because storages are huge and upgrades are expensive.
- Best use: wall grinding, funding continuous hero/equipment/pet progress, fast daily sessions.
- Army Option 2: Heavy ground farming (Root Riders / Titan-style)Core: choose your strongest forgiving ground core (Root Riders and/or Titan-style cores depending on what you’ve upgraded)
- Spells: Rage + Freeze + one utility choice
- Why it works: consistent deep loot without needing perfect micro
- Army Option 3: Safe air farming (Hydra-style)Core: Dragons + Dragon Riders (or your best upgraded air core)
- Spells: Rage + Freeze
- Why it works: low-stress 2 stars and reliable loot even when bases are tough
- TH18 practical rule: if you’re farming while trying to stay competitive, build two armies:
- One surgical army (quick loot)
- One stable army (safe stars)
That combo prevents trophy crashes and keeps your loot consistent.
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FAQ
What is the best farming army in Clash of Clans overall?
For pure loot per minute from mid-game onward, Sneaky Goblins are one of the strongest options because they can take storages quickly without full base clears.
Is BARCH still good in 2026?
Yes. BARCH remains one of the best early-game collector farming armies because it’s fast and flexible.
When does Dark Elixir farming start?
Dark Elixir becomes relevant when you unlock the Dark Elixir Drill and Dark Barracks (starting from TH7 onward), and it becomes a major priority at TH9+ because heroes require a lot of Dark Elixir.
What if my heroes are upgrading—can I still farm well?
Yes. Collector farming armies like BARCH/GiBARCH and surgical farming like Sneaky Goblins work well even with heroes down.
Should I farm in Ranked Mode or Battle Mode?
For pure loot, Battle mode is typically better because it’s designed for farming and repetition. Ranked is better for competitive progress and structured trophies.
How do I stop failing farming attacks?
Stop attacking hard bases for small loot. Next more, target exposed collectors/storages, and use spells only to guarantee value (loot or stars).
What’s the best TH10 farming army?
Mass Miners is one of the best all-around TH10 farming armies because it’s consistent and fast, especially with Heal spells.
What’s the best TH18 farming army?
For speed and resource efficiency, a surgical farming setup (often Sneaky Goblins) is usually the best. For stability, pair it with a heavy “safe stars” army.
