Upgrading your troops in Clash of Clans is a core part of getting stronger in the game. It helps you win more battles, gather more resources, and stand a better chance in clan wars. To upgrade troops, you need to use the Laboratory building in your village. Here, you'll spend Elixir or Dark Elixir and wait a certain amount of time for your troops to get stronger.

Getting stronger troops is a big deal in Clash of Clans. Imagine trying to take on a tough enemy base with weak troops - it’s like bringing a spoon to a sword fight! Stronger troops hit harder, last longer, and help you get more stars in attacks. They are key to growing your village and dominating your opponents.

How to Upgrade Your Troops

Upgrading your troops is pretty straightforward once you know where to go.

1. Find Your Laboratory: First things first, you need the Laboratory building. This is usually unlocked when you reach Town Hall level 3. It looks like a building with a beaker or flask on top.

2. Tap on the Laboratory: Once you find it, tap on the building. You'll see an option called "Research" or something similar.

3. Choose Your Troop: A list of troops and spells you can upgrade will pop up. These are units you've already unlocked through your Barracks and Dark Barracks. Select the troop you want to make stronger. You'll see how much Elixir or Dark Elixir it costs and how long the upgrade will take.

4. Confirm the Upgrade: If you have enough resources, simply hit the "Upgrade" or "Research" button. Your chosen troop will then start its upgrade process. During this time, you can still use the troop in battles, but it will be at its old level until the upgrade finishes.

Why Upgrading Matters So Much

Upgrading your troops might take time and resources, but it's totally worth it. Here's why:

• Stronger Attacks: Higher-level troops deal more damage and have more health. This means they can survive longer against enemy defenses and take them down faster, leading to more successful attacks.
• Better Loot: When you win attacks more easily, you grab more gold, elixir, and dark elixir from enemy bases. This helps you upgrade your buildings and other parts of your village even faster.
• Improved War Performance: In Clan Wars, every attack counts. Stronger troops mean you can reliably get more stars for your clan, helping your team win wars and earn great rewards. I remember back when I was a Town Hall 7, trying to push trophies with level 1 Dragons. It was a disaster! Every attack felt like I was just throwing troops away. But once I got those Dragons to level 2 and then 3, raids became so much smoother. It really showed me how much troop levels impact battles and why it's worth the wait.

Tips for Smart Upgrading

You want to get the most out of your upgrades, and there are ways to be smart about it.

• Keep Your Lab Busy: Always, always have something upgrading in your Laboratory. Even if it's a troop you don't use often, keeping the lab active means you're always getting stronger. You can even upgrade your Laboratory while a troop or spell is researching!
• Prioritize Offense: Generally, it's a good idea to focus on upgrading your offensive buildings (like the Laboratory, Clan Castle, and Army Camps) and your troops/heroes before everything else. Stronger attacks help you get more loot to fund other upgrades.
• Use Magic Items: If you want to speed things up, Magic Items like Books of Fighting, Books of Spells, and Hammers of Fighting can instantly finish troop or spell upgrades. Research Potions can also cut down the time. These are super helpful for those long upgrades!
• Focus on Your Main Attack Troops: Think about the army compositions you use most often for farming or war. Prioritize those troops first. For instance, if you love using Dragons, make sure they are a top priority for upgrades. I learned quickly to always keep my Laboratory busy. There was one time I saved up a ton of elixir for a big upgrade, then completely forgot to start it. Days later, I realized my lab was just sitting there doing nothing! Now, I always make sure I have enough resources lined up for the next troop upgrade before the current one finishes, or I use a Book of Fighting if I have one to instantly get that troop stronger for my next war.

Knowing what to upgrade first can sometimes be tricky. If you’re wondering about the best order for other village elements, check out our guide on What to Upgrade First in Clash of Clans.

Upgrading your troops is a constant journey in Clash of Clans, but with each new level, your army becomes more powerful, ready to smash through any defense. Keep that Laboratory humming!

If you want to make in-app purchases in Clash of Clans, use Playstorm to redeem Apple or Google Play gift cards.