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Clash of Clans Hero Equipment Upgrade Priority Guide 2026 – What to Upgrade First

David
|2026-01-20

 Clash of Clans is a strategy game where limited resources mean you should not simply upgrade the strongest hero equipment listed in hero equipment tier list, but instead priortize one containing practicability. Therefore, based on their practicability and real in-game performance, this article introduces the best Hero Equipment upgrade priority in 2026.

How to Decide Hero Equipment Upgrade Priority

The attack pays attention to versatility and survivability in Clash of Clans TH18 version. So, you should rethink Hero Equipment upgrade priority. While players endeavor to deal devastating burst damage before, you ought to choose equipment that can address diverse situations. Don't blindly pursue top-tier equipment. Build a correct equipment setup can optimize your synergy and resonably allocate resources.

Hero Equipment Upgrade Priority Overview

Before we delve into specific Hero Equipment, you can go through overall upgrade priority for all equipment to help you clarify your choices.

Low Priority also means "Avoid". These equipment are weak and normal, such as Barbarian Puppet and Vampstache, unless you have no choices.

Characters

Top Priority

Secondary Options

Alternative

Low Priority

Barbarian King

Spiky Ball

Earthquake Boots, Snake Bracelet

Giant Gauntlet, Rage Vial

Barbarian Puppet, Vampstache

Archer Queen

Action Figure, Magic Mirror

Giant Arrow, Healer Puppet

None

Archer Puppet, Invisibility Vial

Grand Warden

Eternal Tome

Healing Tome, Fireball, Rage Gem

None

LavaLoon Puppet, Heroic Torch, Life Gem

Royal Champion

Electro Boots

Rocket Spear, Haste Vial, Frostflake

Hog Rider Puppet

Seeking Shield

Minion Prince

Dark Orb

Henchmen Puppet, Dark Crown

Meteor Staff, Metal Pants

None

If you have enough resources to upgrade Hero equipment, you can priortize mighty equipment based on our Clash of Clans Hero Equipment Tier List.

Barbarian King

The King has shifted towards damage and versatility. He focuses on breaking turret, destroying tribes.

Top Priority

Spiky Ball: The top priority. It allows the King to launch a ball that ricochets across multiple buildings, inflicting damage on them for each hit.

Spiky Ball

Secondary Options

Earthquake Boots: Paired with Spiky Ball, the King will dive into the core building and melt down defenses. Excellent for running away or directing main building.

Earthquake Boots

Snake Bracelet: If you use Barbarian King to funnel, he greatly benefits from Snake Bracelet for his damage taken converted into snake summoning.

Snake Bracelet

Alternative

Giant Gauntlet: It makes the King gigantic after activating ability, enabling him to release very strong area damage. Besides, it reduces his damage taken for the duration of the ability. However, it is less versertile than Spiky Ball.

Giant Gauntlet

Rage Vial: The king is granted with the Enrage effect and greatly increases his attack and movement speed.

Rage Vial

Low Priority

Barbarian Puppet: Use the ability and summon a large amount of enraged Barbarians. They become squishy at higher TH level.

Barbarian Puppet

Vampstache: When you are at lower levels, it enhances your survivability but falls off at higher Town Halls.

Vampstache

Archer Queen

Archer Queen is a powerful damage dealer but a fragile archer, thus, you require boosting her survivability.

Top Priority

Action Figure: This provides unparalleled survivability by generating a Giant Giant tank. The puppet possesses high HP and immunity of Spring Trap. So, it is indispensable in almost every strategy.

Action Figure

Magic Mirror: The best DPS equipment for the Queen. It allows the her to summon clones, drastically increasing her output.

Magic Mirror

Secondary Options:

Giant Arrow: The Gaint Arrow pierces everything along its path. Specifically perfect for Air Attacks or triggering Spell Towers.

Giant Arrow

Healer Puppet: Heal the Queen through summoning serveral healers. A nice budget alternative if you don't have the Action Figure.

Healer Puppet

Low Priority:

Archer Puppet: Similar to Barbarian Puppet that summons a number of Archers. Weaker than other options.

Archer Puppet

Invisibility Vial: It makes the Queen invisible. Mostly replaced by Magic Mirror since it also applies Invulnerability.

Invisibility Vial

Grand Warden

The Grand Warden remains the most significant support who heavily relies on equipment. Different choice of equipment determines your attack strategy.

Top Priority

Eternal Tome: This is absolutely the best equipment in the game. It features giving allies and himself immunity to damage. Whether you are dealing with poison or huge bomb, Grand Warden will protect you with this tome. Prioritize its progression!

Eternal Tome

Secondary Options

Healing Tome: It enables the Warden to continue to heal allies in the area surrounding him. The dragons and root riders advance unhindered under his support.

Healing Tome

Fireball: If you are fascinated the synergy "Warden Walk". You need to pick Fireball that can directly destroy your opponent's base and surrounding building. Beware, it is difficult to use and demands high level.

Fireball

Rage Gem: With Rage Gem, the Warden buffs allies within a range of purple magical aura. The units Essential for ground smash attacks or supporting healers.

Rage Gem

Low Priority

LavaLoon Puppet / Heroic Torch / Life Gem: Generally considered inferior or too niche compared to the Tome or Fireball combos.

Royal Champion

Royal Champion is a powerhouse with comprehensive ability in this meta, because she gets new equipment that brings outstanding CC effect.

Top Priority

Electro Boots: Royal Champion is weak for solving skeletons and other small minions. With the help of this best all-around equipment, she chains Electro damage to these enemies.

Electro Boots

Secondary Options:

Rocket Spear: A mighty weapon for sniping defenses from range or finishing off bases.

Rocket Spear

Haste Vial: It greatly increases attack and movement speed, granting her with immediate explosive power.

Haste Vial

Frostflake (New): New powerful equipment. Frostflake will freeze defenses for a short duration. Ideal for advancing troops.

Frostflake

Alternative:

Hog Rider Puppet: You can use it for survivability and distraction, but Electro Boots are generally useful.

Hog Rider Puppet

Low Priority:

Seeking Shield: Good for beginners but lacks the utility of newer equipment.

Seeking Shield

Minion Prince

In terms of Minion Prince, he is perfect for supporting allies and finishing off buildings with two viable playstyles.

Top Priority

Dark Orb: Dark Orb serves as his core equipment. Prince with it can slow down defenses in a wide area and provide great passive stats. It resembles a Poison Spell protecting troops.

Dark Orb

Secondary Options:

Meteor Staff: It allows Minion Prince to summon mysterious meteors that continue to offend the Defenses.

Meteor Staff

Dark Crown: Equip Minion Prince with Dark Crown to improve DPS. It makes him stronger to finish off the bases.

Dark Crown

Alternative:

Henchman Puppet: Generate some minions to take damage and supply damage. It is a cheaper option compared with Meteor Staff.

Henchman Puppet

Metal Pants: It simply shield Minon Prince from any type of damage, however, it lacks the utility of other options.

Metal Pants

Conclusion

In TH18 version in Clash of Clans, the player requires optimizing attack strategy through selecting viable Hero Equipment. So, you ought to choose top priority equipment to save your upgrade materials and launch perfect attack.

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David
|
Freelancer

The big fan of Gacha game, especially Fate/Grand Order and Umamusume: Pretty Derby. Keen on gathering recruit tickets and gems to gacha beloved characters. As the faithful gacha game player, I've experienced over 15 games and strived for sharing unique guide for 2 years!