Air Defense and the Lightning Spell: how many do you need?
The number of Lightning Spells needed depends on the Air Defense level and the Lightning Spell level; there is no single fixed number. cocbot's approach is simple: it drops 3 Lightning Spells on every Air Defense it finds.
Why does the Air Defense matter?
The Air Defense is a defensive structure that works well against incoming air troops. For armies made up of air troops such as Dragons and Balloons, it is one of the biggest obstacles. That's why neutralizing Air Defenses early in an attack keeps the army alive. For general information, see the Air Defense wiki page.
What does the Lightning Spell do?
The Lightning Spell deals instant damage to a targeted structure. A single lightning bolt often isn't enough to take down a defense; you need to stack several. For details on spells and their levels, the Lightning Spell page helps.
How many Lightning Spells do you need?
There's no single answer to this question. Two variables decide it: the level of the Air Defense and the level of the Lightning Spell. As the defense level goes up, it withstands more damage; as the lightning level goes up, fewer spells are enough. We don't give exact numbers here because they change with level and updates. Checking current values on the wiki is best.
| Factor | Effect on the number of Lightning Spells |
|---|---|
| If the Air Defense level is high | More Lightning Spells are needed |
| If the Lightning Spell level is high | Fewer Lightning Spells are needed |
| If the Clan Castle lightning is used | The load is lightened thanks to the extra spell |
| If the Siege Machine is sent to the Air Defense | Some spell needs may drop |
How does cocbot use lightning?
cocbot finds the Air Defenses on the screen and drops 3 Lightning Spells on each one. This is a fixed, predictable rule; even though game values change by level, the bot applies the same approach to every Air Defense. In addition, it uses the lightning from the Clan Castle and brings in the Siege Machine. It triggers hero abilities at the right time and spreads the army around the village at 9 points.
The aim of this approach is to stop Air Defenses from wearing down your troops. If the defenses are neutralized quickly, the rest of the army reaches its target.
Tips for using lightning efficiently
Upgrade your spell levels
Upgrading the Lightning Spell in the Laboratory lets you get the same result with fewer spells. We cover the research plan in our Laboratory guide.
Don't leave the Clan Castle empty
Reinforcements from the Clan Castle mean extra spells or troops. This resource shouldn't go to waste. cocbot requests Clan Castle reinforcements and uses them in the attack.
Direct the Siege Machine correctly
The Siege Machine helps with getting close to defenses. When sent to the right target, it can reduce the need for spells.
Set a target priority
You don't need to give every defense equal importance. It makes sense to take down the defense that would wear down your army most first. If you use an air army, the Air Defense is at the top of that list.
Manual vs. automatic use
| Topic | Manual | Bot |
|---|---|---|
| Finding targets | By eye, at the moment of attack | Finds Air Defenses by itself |
| Number of spells | By on-the-spot decision | 3 Lightning Spells on each Air Defense |
| Timing | Depends on speed and attention | The same routine, every attack |
| Extra tools | Used manually | Clan Castle lightning and Siege Machine |
You can find all the bot's features in our introduction article. See the farm guide for the farming plan. The download page is ready for you to try it.
How should you plan your spell budget?
In every attack you have a limited number of spell slots. How many of them you give to lightning depends on your army's makeup. If you use an air army, setting aside enough spells for Air Defenses is critical for the army to survive. If you set aside too few, the defenses stay up and the troops melt; if you set aside too many, there's no room for other spells. The right balance varies with your village's layout and is found by experiment.
The bot's 3-Lightning approach ties this balance to a fixed rule: 3 Lightning Spells for each Air Defense. Because the rule is simple, the result is predictable too; you can observe what result you get at which level and adjust your army accordingly. We don't give numbers here because exact damage values change by level.
Finding the Air Defense on the screen
The human eye recognizes an Air Defense from its shape and position; the bot finds it by recognizing the structures in the screenshot. This isn't an easy job because the village layout is different in every attack. The bot treats each Air Defense it finds as a separate target and sends its own lightning at each one. That way the system works consistently in villages with more than one Air Defense.
Air army vs. ground army
| Topic | Air-heavy army | Ground-heavy army |
|---|---|---|
| Importance of the Air Defense | Very high, the main threat | Lower, a secondary threat |
| Lightning need | High | Less |
| Target priority | Air Defenses first | Storages and main structures first |
| Extra tools | Clan Castle spell, siege | Siege Machine, hero |
This table is a general comparison; the exact need depends on your village's layout and levels. We cover which army is more efficient for farming in our farm guide.
Common mistakes when using lightning
- Stacking everything on one structure: The other defenses stay up.
- Using spells too late: The troops melt first, and then the spells are useless.
- Forgetting the Clan Castle reinforcement: The extra spell goes to waste.
- Not upgrading the spell level: You need more spells.
Most of these mistakes come from making quick decisions at the moment of attack. A bot that uses a fixed rule removes that burden of decision. For the general properties of the Lightning Spell, see the Lightning Spell page on the community resource.
Summary: what to remember about lightning
The number of Lightning Spells needed depends on the level of the Air Defense and the spell; there is no fixed number. Picking a practical rule and applying it consistently beats deciding anew on every attack. cocbot applies this rule as 3 Lightning Spells for each Air Defense, and adds the Clan Castle spell and the Siege Machine as well. As you upgrade your spell level in the Laboratory, the result the same rule gives gets better.
Because the village layout is different every time, no rule works perfectly in every situation. What matters is that the army doesn't melt at the Air Defenses and the loot can be taken. Watch for this: if the army gets stuck at the defenses and melts, increase the spell share; if the spells go up and the army still falls short needlessly, review your army composition.
For the bot's other features and setup, you can look at the setup guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many Lightning Spells does it take for one Air Defense?
It varies with the defense and spell level. There is no fixed number; you can check the wiki pages for current values.
How many Lightning Spells does cocbot use?
It drops 3 Lightning Spells on every Air Defense it finds. It also uses the lightning from the Clan Castle and the Siege Machine.
How do you strengthen the Lightning Spell?
The spell level is raised in the Laboratory. As the level goes up, fewer spells are needed for the same result.
When are hero abilities triggered?
cocbot triggers hero abilities at the right time during the attack.