Should I Rush to Get the 6th Builder in Clash of Clans? A Strategic Guide

Absolutely! Rushing your Builder Base to unlock the 6th builder, known as OTTO, for your Main Village is almost universally recommended for efficient progression in Clash of Clans. The benefits of having that extra builder in your Main Village far outweigh any perceived drawbacks of a “rushed” Builder Base. It’s a strategic decision that accelerates your overall game progress, plain and simple.

Why Rushing for OTTO is the Smart Play

The key to understanding why rushing is beneficial lies in understanding the function of the Builder Base. Unlike the Main Village, the Builder Base is primarily a means to an end: unlocking OTTO. The faster you achieve this, the sooner you’ll reap the rewards in your Main Village, which is where the majority of your gameplay and strategic focus likely reside. Here’s a breakdown of the key advantages:

• Accelerated Main Village Progression: This is the most compelling reason. An extra builder shaves off significant time when upgrading buildings, walls, and heroes, particularly at higher Town Hall levels where upgrade times can stretch into weeks. The impact on your overall progression is substantial.
• OTTO’s Utility in the Builder Base: Once unlocked, OTTO remains in the Builder Base, acting as a second builder there. This allows you to keep your Master Builder permanently in your Main Village, maximizing building efficiency.
• Resource Acquisition: A higher-level Builder Base grants access to more resources through increased loot from attacks and higher resource production rates. While not the primary focus, this contributes to faster upgrades in both bases.
• No Significant Penalty for Rushing: The matchmaking system in the Builder Base is primarily trophy-based. Rushing doesn’t drastically impact your ability to find suitable opponents, and you can still climb trophies effectively with strategic army compositions.

How to Rush Effectively

While rushing is encouraged, it’s important to do it strategically to minimize any potential setbacks. Here’s a guide to effective rushing in the Builder Base:

1. Prioritize Builder Hall Upgrades: Focus on upgrading your Builder Hall as quickly as possible. This unlocks new buildings and upgrade levels, allowing you to progress towards OTTO faster.

2. Unlock and Upgrade Key Buildings: Immediately build all new structures that become available with each Builder Hall upgrade. Prioritize upgrading resource collectors (Elixir Collectors and Gold Mines), storage facilities, and your laboratory.

3. Focus on OTTO Requirements: The requirements for unlocking OTTO are:

   • Upgrade the Mega Tesla to level 9.
   • Upgrade any Builder Base troop to level 18 (requires Builder Hall 9 and a level 9 Star Laboratory).
   • Upgrade the Battle Machine to level 30.
   • Gear Up 3 buildings in your Main Village (Cannon, Archer Tower, Mortar)

   Direct your resources and builder time towards meeting these specific requirements.

4. Upgrade Strategic Troops: While any troop can be upgraded to level 18, consider focusing on troops you find effective for attacking or those that contribute to your overall strategy. Popular choices include Baby Dragons, Raged Barbarians, and Cannon Carts.

5. Don’t Neglect the Battle Machine: The Battle Machine is crucial for both attacking and defense. Its upgrades significantly improve its effectiveness, making it easier to climb trophies and defend your base.

6. Ignore Maxing: Resist the urge to max out every building and troop before upgrading your Builder Hall. This will only slow down your progress towards OTTO. Focus on the essential buildings and troops needed for your chosen strategy.

The Minimalist Approach to Rushing

For players who are solely focused on unlocking OTTO as quickly as possible, a minimalist approach is highly effective. This involves:

• Building only the minimum required structures to upgrade your Builder Hall.
• Upgrading only the troops and defenses necessary to maintain a reasonable trophy level.
• Ignoring cosmetic upgrades and non-essential buildings.

This approach allows you to blast through the Builder Base and unlock OTTO in the shortest possible time.

Addressing Common Concerns

Some players worry about the potential downsides of rushing, such as being vulnerable to attacks or struggling to climb trophies. However, these concerns are largely unfounded. The matchmaking system generally pairs you with opponents of similar trophy levels, and even a rushed base can be effective with the right strategy and troop composition.

The key is to focus on developing your attacking skills and utilizing efficient army compositions that can consistently earn you victories. Even if you occasionally lose battles, the overall benefits of having OTTO in your Main Village far outweigh any minor setbacks in the Builder Base.

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FAQs About Rushing for the 6th Builder

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the strategy of rushing for the 6th builder:

1. What exactly is the “6th builder” (OTTO), and why is it so important?

OTTO is a robot assistant in the Builder Base that becomes available to the Main Village as a 6th builder once specific upgrade requirements are met in the Builder Base. This is crucial for accelerated progress, especially at higher Town Hall levels.

2. What are the specific requirements to unlock OTTO?

You must upgrade your O.T.T.O Hut to level 5. This requires: Upgrade the Mega Tesla to level 9. Upgrade any Builder Base troop to level 18 (requires Builder Hall 9 and a level 9 Star Laboratory). Upgrade the Battle Machine to level 30. Gear Up 3 buildings in your Main Village (Cannon, Archer Tower, Mortar)

3. Is it really okay to rush my Builder Base all the way to Builder Hall 9?

Yes, it’s generally recommended. The rewards in the Main Village are worth the temporary “disadvantage” in the Builder Base. Focus on the OTTO requirements above all else.

4. Which troop should I upgrade to level 18 for the OTTO requirement?

There is no best answer. Choose a troop that fits your attacking style. Baby Dragons and Cannon Carts are popular choices because they’re relatively easy to use and upgrade.

5. How important is the Battle Machine for unlocking OTTO?

Very important. Upgrading the Battle Machine to level 30 is one of the key requirements and it also helps you win more battles.

6. Will rushing my Builder Base make it harder to win battles and earn trophies?

Initially, it might be slightly challenging. However, with a focused troop upgrade strategy and good attacking skills, you can still climb trophies effectively. Focus on strategic attacking, not maxing out everything.

7. Should I upgrade my Builder Base defenses at all while rushing?

Only upgrade defenses if it helps you maintain a reasonable trophy level. Focus on the Mega Tesla, as it is part of the OTTO unlocking requirement. Don’t over invest in defenses at the expense of offense.

8. What happens to OTTO once I unlock him for my Main Village?

OTTO remains in the Builder Base and acts as a second builder there. The Master Builder then moves permanently to your Main Village as the 6th builder.

9. How long does it typically take to unlock OTTO by rushing?

The time varies depending on your activity level, gem usage, and strategic focus. A dedicated player can unlock OTTO within a few months of focused rushing.

10. Is it worth spending gems to speed up the OTTO unlocking process?

It depends on your personal preference and gem availability. Using gems to speed up crucial upgrades, like the Battle Machine or the level 18 troop upgrade, can significantly accelerate the process.

11. Does the Town Hall level in my Main Village affect my ability to unlock OTTO?

No, the progress in your Main Village does not directly affect your ability to unlock OTTO. The requirements are solely based on your progress in the Builder Base. But, you have to Gear Up buildings from Main Village, which requires Main Village TownHall Level 9.

12. What should I focus on upgrading after I unlock OTTO?

After unlocking OTTO, you can choose to either continue rushing or focus on maxing out your Builder Base. The choice is yours, but the most significant benefit has already been achieved.

13. Is the Builder Base even fun if I’m just rushing?

Some players find the Builder Base inherently enjoyable, while others see it primarily as a means to an end. Even if you don’t find it particularly fun, the rewards in the Main Village make the effort worthwhile.

14. Are there any disadvantages to unlocking OTTO too early?

No, there are no significant disadvantages. The sooner you unlock OTTO, the sooner you benefit from the extra builder in your Main Village.

15. What if I prefer a more balanced approach to the Builder Base?

While rushing is generally recommended for efficiency, you can still adopt a more balanced approach if you prefer. Just be aware that it will take significantly longer to unlock OTTO, and you’ll be missing out on the accelerated progress in your Main Village.