Hey Chief! The Clash of Clans Balance Changes for January 2026 are live, and they bring some of the most impactful shifts we’ve seen in years. Supercell is clearly targeting “abusive” mechanics—like the infinite tanking of the Totem Spell—while breathing life back into forgotten units like the Druid and Super Witch.
Latest Headlines: Clash of Clans Balance Changes
- New Clash of Clans Balance Changes: Is the TH18 Spam Meta Dead?
- January Update: How the Clash of Clans Balance Changes Revived the Druid
- The Ore Spending Guide: Impact of Clash of Clans Balance Changes on Hero Gear
- Why the Clash of Clans Balance Changes Just Made Super Witches Unstoppable
Clash of Clans Balance Changes January 2026
The Big Nerf: Meteor Golems & Totem Spells
The most significant “losers” in this update are the tools that made pathing and tanking too easy.
- Meteor Golem: Damage against walls has been slashed by 50% at all levels. Previously, players used Meteor Golems as “secret wallbreakers” to bypass compartments. Now, they will stall significantly longer, making Super Wall Breakers or Log Launchers mandatory once again.
- Totem Spell: This is the change everyone is talking about. The Totem Spell now decays in HP per second. You can no longer drop a Totem at the start of an attack to distract a Monolith or Single Inferno for the entire duration. Timing is now everything.
- Longshot Guardian: This defensive unit took a major hit to its reliability:
- Attack Range: Reduced by 8.33%
- Splash Damage Radius: Reduced by a massive 33.33%
- Search & Alert Radius: Reduced by 5-6%
The Return of the Druid & Super Witch
On the flip side, “Smash” attacks and “Queen Charges” just got a massive power-up.
- Druid Redemption: Despite an evolution time increase of 20%, the raw healing stats are soaring:
- HPS (Healing Per Second): Increased by 17.65% to 23.08%.
- Hero Healing: Increased by 5% to 15% (Levels 1-5).
- Bear Buffs: Level 5 Bears now boast 2500 HP and 205 DPS, making them formidable tanks after the Druid transforms.
- Super Witch “Big Boys”: * Spring Trap Immunity: By increasing the housing space of the “Big Boy” skeletons from 10 to 20, they can no longer be sprung.
- Level 7 Stats: Super Witches themselves received a 4.17% HP and 2.38% DPS buff.
- Electro Dragon: A surprise buff for the spam meta—HP increased by up to 6.25% and DPS by up to 8.33% across levels 1-9.
Hero Equipment Shifts: The New “Max” Priority
The balance changes have significantly shifted which equipment you should spend your Ores on:
- Heroic Torch (Grand Warden): This received a massive “buff package” across the board:
- Duration: Increased by 36% to 45%.
- Damage Reduction: Scaled up from +50% to a staggering +250%.
- Stats: HP and DPS both saw increases up to 20%.
- Lavaloon Puppet: The housing space reduction of 8.7% is a “stealth buff.” It now allows a Clone Spell to produce two LavaLoons instead of one. Additionally, the number of spawned LavaLoons increased from 2 to 3 for levels 21-27.
- Life Gem: Received an Extra HP Cap increase of up to 26% and raw HP/DPS buffs around 3%, making it the premier choice for protecting glass-cannon troops like Bowlers.
- Hog Puppet (RC): The Royal Champion’s Hogs are now higher level (up to 25% increase) and come in greater numbers (up to 14% increase).
Pets & Siege: LASSI Finally Bites
- LASSI: Long considered the “starter pet,” LASSI just received a staggering 37.93% DPS increase and up to 9.76% HP increase at max level. LASSI is no longer just a distraction; it’s a damage dealer.
- Sneezy: A huge utility buff here—Boogers no longer trigger traps, allowing Sneezy to path through the base without ruining your funnel or pulling seeking air mines.
- Wall Wrecker: To counter the Meteor Golem nerf, the Wall Wrecker received a 17.65% HP boost and a 34% DPS boost at level 6.
How the Clash of Clans Balance Changes Will Reshape the Meta
The strategic landscape of Town Hall 18 has fundamentally shifted overnight. Here is how the Clash of Clans Balance Changes will impact your war performance:
- The Return of Technical Smash Attacks: With the Super Witch buffs and Spring Trap immunity for Big Boys, “Super Witch Smash” is reclaiming its throne. Attacks now rely on sustained core power rather than Meteor Golem “wall hacks.”
- Hero-Centric Pushes: The Druid’s 15% Hero Healing boost and the massive Heroic Torch buffs signal a shift toward Hero-heavy openers. Your Heroes are now more durable than ever, allowing for longer Queen Charges and Warden-led pushes.
- Death of “Set-and-Forget” Spells: The Totem Spell HP decay means you can no longer drop spells early and expect them to provide value throughout the fight. The meta now favors high-apm (actions per minute) players who can time spells perfectly as their main force enters high-damage zones.
- Air Superiority 2.0: Thanks to the Lavaloon Puppet’s housing space reduction, the “Air Slice” meta is evolving. Being able to clone two LavaLoons per spell creates overwhelming distraction for Single Infernos and Monoliths.
- Wall Breakers are Essential Again: Since Meteor Golems now struggle against walls, you must re-allocate housing space for Super Wall Breakers. If you fail to open the base manually, your attack will likely time out in the outer layers.
Recommended Attack Strategy: The “Immortal Smash”
With the Clash of Clans Balance Changes favoring the Druid and Super Witch, this is the top-tier strategy for 3-starring TH18 bases right now.
- Army Composition: 4-5 Super Witches, 3-4 Druids, 2 Apprentice Wardens, and remaining housing space for Super Wall Breakers and funneled troops.
- Hero Equipment: * Warden: Heroic Torch + Eternal Tome (Essential for the 250% damage reduction combo).
- Queen: Healer Puppet + Frozen Arrow.
- The Execution:
- The Warden Walk: Start with a Warden Walk supported by 2 Druids. Use the Druids’ high HPS to build a massive funnel.
- The Entry: Once the funnel is set, deploy Super Witches and Heroes. Use Super Wall Breakers immediately to compensate for the Meteor Golem nerf.
- The Core Push: As your main force enters the core, drop the Totem Spell precisely as they engage the Monolith.
- The Heroic Torch Activation: Activate the Warden ability to give your Super Witches 27.5 seconds of near-invincibility. Since “Big Boys” are immune to Spring Traps, they will stay alive to tank the entire core.
Conclusion: Adapting to the New Meta
The Clash of Clans Balance Changes January 2026 represent a clear pivot toward skill-based attacking. By nerfing “lazy” mechanics like the infinite Totem tanking and the Meteor Golem’s wall-crushing power, Supercell is forcing players to focus on precise timing and hybrid army compositions.
Success in this new era requires mastering the interplay between Hero Equipment and unit synergies. While the defensive buffs to units like the Longshot Guardian make “blind spam” nearly impossible, the massive offensive potential of the Heroic Torch and Druid means that 3-starring is more achievable than ever for the strategic attacker. Keep practicing your Totem Spell timing and Druid deployment—the meta is yours for the taking!.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the biggest change in the January 2026 balance update?
The most impactful change is the Totem Spell HP decay. It can no longer tank indefinitely, meaning you must drop it exactly when your troops enter the danger zone of a Monolith or Single Inferno.
Is the Druid better than the Healer in the new TH18 Meta?
For Hero-heavy attacks, the answer is often yes. With the 15% Hero Healing boost from the latest Clash of Clans balance changes, Druids provide more raw survivability for a Queen Charge or Warden Walk than traditional Healers, though you must manage their 30-second transformation time carefully.
Can Spring Traps still kill Super Witch skeletons after the January update?
No. Because the “Big Boy” housing space was increased to 20, they are now too heavy for Spring Traps to trigger. This makes Super Witch Smash one of the best TH18 attack strategies for high-level war play.
Which Hero Equipment has the highest Ore priority after these changes?
The Heroic Torch for the Grand Warden is the new Ore priority leader. Its duration and damage reduction buffs make it the most powerful tool for protecting your core army through high-damage compartments.
Why was LASSI buffed so much in the latest Clash of Clans balance changes?
LASSI has historically been underused compared to pets like the Spirit Fox or Diggy. The 37% DPS boost is an attempt to make it a viable combat partner for the Royal Champion, allowing her to clear defenses much faster.
How does the Sneezy buff affect trap detection?
In these Clash of Clans Balance Changes, Sneezy’s “Boogers” no longer trigger traps. This is a massive utility buff, allowing Sneezy to path through bases safely without prematurely activating Seeking Air Mines or Tornado Traps that could otherwise ruin a high-value funnel or Queen Charge.
Where can I find the official patch notes?
For the full technical list of numbers, you can visit the Official Supercell Blog which hosts the primary announcement for these Clash of Clans Balance Changes.
What do you think of these changes, Chief? Are you happy to see the Druid back, or are you mourning the nerf to your Totem Spells? Let us know in the comments!