Does a Skeleton Spell Trigger a Spell Tower in Clash of Clans? The Definitive Guide
Yes, a Skeleton Spell can trigger a Spell Tower in Clash of Clans. The Spell Tower, when set to Poison mode, will target attacking units that enter its range. Since the skeletons summoned by the Skeleton Spell are considered attacking units, they will activate the Poison Spell Tower, causing it to launch a poison bomb at them. This can be a strategic move to deflect the poison effect away from your more valuable troops.
Understanding Spell Tower Mechanics and the Skeleton Spell
To fully grasp the interaction between the Skeleton Spell and the Spell Tower, it’s crucial to understand how each works individually and their interplay on the battlefield.
How the Skeleton Spell Functions
The Skeleton Spell, unlocked at the Dark Spell Factory, allows you to summon a horde of skeletons anywhere on the battlefield. These skeletons are relatively weak in terms of hitpoints and damage, but they serve several important purposes:
- Distraction: Skeletons can draw the fire of defenses, giving your other troops time to deal damage.
- Triggering Traps: While skeletons cannot trigger traps themselves (such as Spring Traps or Bombs), they can trigger Hidden Teslas by entering their activation range.
- Dealing Damage: A large group of skeletons can, over time, contribute a surprising amount of damage, particularly against single-target defenses.
How Spell Towers Work
Spell Towers were introduced as a dynamic defensive building capable of switching between different spell effects. The Spell Tower has three modes:
- Rage: Boosts the attack speed and damage of nearby defensive buildings and troops.
- Poison: Launches a poison bomb at attacking units within range, slowing them and dealing damage over time.
- Invisibility: Makes nearby defensive buildings and units temporarily invisible.
The interaction we’re most interested in is the Poison Spell Tower. When set to this mode, it actively scans for attacking units. When a unit enters its range, it unleashes a poison spell, creating a damaging and slowing cloud.
The Interplay: Skeletons vs. Poison Spell Tower
When a Skeleton Spell is cast near a Poison Spell Tower, the skeletons act as a trigger. The Poison Spell Tower recognizes them as attacking units and launches a poison bomb. This has several implications:
- Deflection: You can use the Skeleton Spell strategically to draw the poison effect away from your primary attacking force, preventing them from being slowed and damaged.
- Sacrificial Lambs: The skeletons essentially act as sacrificial lambs, absorbing the poison damage while your stronger troops remain unaffected.
- Timing is Key: The placement of the Skeleton Spell needs to be precise to ensure the skeletons enter the tower’s range before your main attack force does.
Strategic Implications
Understanding this interaction allows for some clever strategic plays:
- Queen Charge Support: Use a Skeleton Spell ahead of your Queen Charge to trigger the Poison Spell Tower and allow your Queen to deal with the tower unimpeded.
- LavaLoon Support: Deploy a Skeleton Spell near a Spell Tower to protect your Lava Hounds and Balloons from being poisoned and slowed.
- Hybrid Attack Support: Use skeletons to distract defenses and absorb poison damage while your Miners and Hog Riders work their way through the base.
Remember, however, that the Skeleton Spell is vulnerable to splash damage defenses like Wizard Towers and Mortars, so consider their placement before deploying your skeletons.
FAQs: Skeleton Spells and Spell Towers
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the use of Skeleton Spells and their interactions within Clash of Clans:
1. Can Skeletons spawned by Witches trigger the Poison Spell Tower?
No, Skeletons spawned by Witches and Skeleton traps do not trigger the Poison Spell Tower, similar to Skeletons spawned by Skeleton Spells.
2. Can Skeletons trigger traps?
No, skeletons, regardless of their origin (Skeleton Spell, Witch, Skeleton Traps), cannot trigger traps like Spring Traps or Giant Bombs.
3. Do Skeletons trigger Clan Castle troops?
No, skeletons do not trigger Clan Castle troops. This is a crucial aspect of their utility.
4. Can Skeletons trigger Hidden Teslas?
Yes, skeletons can trigger Hidden Teslas if they enter their activation range.
5. How many skeletons does a max level Skeleton Spell spawn?
A max level Skeleton Spell spawns 18 skeletons.
6. What is the range of the Poison Spell Tower?
The exact range of the Poison Spell Tower isn’t explicitly stated in the game, but it’s generally considered to be a moderate range, similar to a Wizard Tower. Observe its behavior in replays to get a feel for its effective range.
7. Does the Rage Spell Tower affect Skeletons?
Yes, the Rage Spell Tower will boost the attack speed and damage of the skeletons if they are within its radius when it activates. This can be useful but is often situational.
8. Are Skeleton Spells effective against single-target Inferno Towers?
Yes, Skeleton Spells can be effective against single-target Inferno Towers. The skeletons can distract the Inferno Tower, allowing your other troops to deal damage. However, multiple-target Inferno Towers will quickly eliminate the skeletons.
9. Can I clone a Skeleton Spell?
Yes, if you clone troops that summon other units, like Witches, the cloned units will also summon cloned versions of their respective sub-troops. This includes Skeletons from the Skeleton Spell.
10. Is the Skeleton Spell better than the Bat Spell?
Whether the Skeleton Spell or Bat Spell is “better” depends on the specific attack strategy and base layout. Bat Spells are often favored for their ability to bypass walls and target defenses directly, while Skeleton Spells excel at providing distraction and triggering defenses.
11. Can I use an Invisibility Spell on Skeletons?
Yes, you can use an Invisibility Spell on skeletons to make them temporarily untargetable by defenses. This can be useful in specific situations, such as protecting them from splash damage defenses.
12. Do Skeletons target resource buildings?
Skeletons only target ground troops.
13. How fast do Skeletons move?
Skeletons have a movement speed of 24 (TMS).
14. How much damage per second do Skeletons deal?
Skeletons deal 25 damage per second at the base level.
15. What is the best way to use the Skeleton Spell?
The best way to use the Skeleton Spell is to use it to distract defenses, trigger Hidden Teslas, or absorb damage from Poison Spell Towers, thus protecting your more valuable troops.
Conclusion: Mastering the Skeleton Spell
The Skeleton Spell, while seemingly simple, is a versatile tool in the Clash of Clans arsenal. Understanding its interactions with defenses like the Spell Tower, and its limitations, allows you to use it to its full potential. Experiment with different deployment strategies and consider the overall base layout to maximize the effectiveness of your Skeleton Spells.
The world of gaming offers rich opportunities for learning and development. Organizations like the Games Learning Society are dedicated to exploring and promoting these possibilities. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about their research and initiatives. By mastering the nuances of games like Clash of Clans, you are not only honing your strategic thinking but also engaging with a vibrant community of players and learners.