Dragon Rider — Clash of Clans
Troops
Updated: 18 September 2026 · By the Goblins Farm team
A Dragon Rider is an air unit that targets defences specifically, which makes it behave far more like a flying Giant than like a Dragon. That targeting preference is the whole point of the unit.
What it does
Unlike the Dragon, which attacks whatever is closest, the Dragon Rider prefers defences and will fly past collectors, huts and storages to reach them. Combined with air movement, that produces a unit which flies directly toward the things that matter, ignoring both walls and distractions.
The usual corollary applies: once every defence is destroyed, it reverts to nearest-target behaviour like anything else.
How to use it
Because they self-direct toward defences, Dragon Riders need much less steering than most armies.
- Deploy as a group toward the defensive core rather than trying to funnel them.
- Support with spells for the anti-air. Their weakness is the same as every air unit's, and rage or freeze on the key Air Defence is usually what decides the attack.
- Bring clean-up. Since they ignore non-defensive buildings until the end, an army of only Dragon Riders can leave a scatter of huts standing.
How to beat it
Strong, well-spread anti-air, and defensive Clan Castle troops that can engage air units. Because Dragon Riders go straight for defences, a base that keeps its anti-air deep and mutually covering forces them to fly through sustained fire to reach anything.
Stats by level
| Level | Hitpoints | DPS | Research cost | Research time | Town Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4,100 | 340 | — | — | 13 |
| 2 | 4,400 | 370 | 7,500,000 Elixir | 6 d | 13 |
| 3 | 4,700 | 400 | 12,000,000 Elixir | 8 d | 14 |
| 4 | 5,100 | 430 | 14,500,000 Elixir | 9 d | 16 |
| 5 | 5,600 | 470 | 19,000,000 Elixir | 10 d 6 h | 17 |
| 6 | 5,900 | 490 | 29,500,000 Elixir | 15 d 12 h | 18 |
Where these numbers come from. Read from Clash of Clans' own game files, client build 18.600.3. They are exact for that build and do not reflect anything released after it, so verify in game before committing an upgrade.
Game values are read from Supercell's own game files, reproduced as fan content under Supercell's Fan Content Policy. Goblins Farm is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Supercell, and Supercell is not responsible for it.
Frequently asked
How is the Dragon Rider different from the Dragon?
The Dragon Rider targets defences specifically, while the Dragon attacks whatever building is nearest. That makes Dragon Riders far more self-directing, since they fly straight to the defences instead of eating the perimeter first.
Do Dragon Riders need a funnel?
Much less than a ground army, because they fly and they seek defences directly. What they do need is a plan for the anti-air, which is what actually stops them.
Keep reading
Goblins Farm is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or specifically approved by Supercell. Clash of Clans is a trademark of Supercell Oy. This material is unofficial fan content produced under Supercell's Fan Content Policy. Game values change with every update; always verify in-game before committing an upgrade.