Builder Hall 4 Guide: Clock Tower, Guard Post and Bases

What changes at Builder Hall 4

The Clock Tower can now be repaired. When active it makes every Builder Base timer run ten times faster for a short time: construction, Star Laboratory research and resource production. A free boost becomes available after a 22 hour cooldown, and upgrading the tower lengthens the boost, from 14 minutes at level 1 to 20 minutes at level 4, the BH4 cap. It does not shorten the Star Bonus cooldown.

New defenses are the Guard Post, which keeps a Raged Barbarian and a Sneaky Archer standing outside it that return at full health every battle, and Air Bombs, an air-only defense that throws barrels with splash damage. The Mega Mine is a big trap you set to ground or air. You also get a second Archer Tower, a fourth Army Camp, more Push Traps and Mines, and 75 Walls.

The Builder Barracks reaches level 6, unlocking the Bomber, who deals heavy damage to Walls, and the Baby Dragon. The upgrade to BH4 costs 200,000 Builder Gold and takes one day, and the Elixir Cart now holds up to 300,000 Builder Elixir from defenses.

Upgrade priority

Builder Base upgrades take days rather than hours from here on, and you have one builder (plus B.O.T.O if you bought his Shack), so the Clock Tower comes first: every later upgrade finishes sooner because of it.

1. Repair the Clock Tower and upgrade it. Use the free boost whenever your builder and the Star Laboratory are both busy.
2. Star Laboratory to level 4, then the troops you attack with.
3. Builder Barracks to level 5 for Bombers or level 6 for Baby Dragons, depending on your army.
4. Crusher, Double Cannon and the new Air Bombs. These decide most BH4 defenses.
5. Guard Post, then the Mega Mine and new traps.
6. Gold Storage and Elixir Storage, so you can hold the 400,000 Builder Gold BH5 costs.
7. Walls, Archer Towers and the Gem Mine when nothing more important is waiting.

How to choose a base at BH4

Builder Base battles have no farming layout to worry about, because no loot can be stolen: attackers earn Builder Gold from the stars they score, and you earn Builder Elixir for every defense, more for fewer stars given up. Up to Builder Hall 5 a base has one stage, so every layout has the same goal: stop the third star and, if possible, the Builder Hall.

Put the Builder Hall in the middle with the Crusher close to it. The Crusher slams everything on the ground next to it, so ground troops that reach the Builder Hall walk into it. Keep long-range troops away from the Crusher with Archer Towers set to Long Range, and use Push Traps to throw troops into its range.

Pair the Air Bombs with the Firecrackers: Air Bombs hit hard in a small area, Firecrackers reach further and fire faster, and together they handle Baby Dragons and Beta Minions. A Mega Mine set to air next to them is the best answer to a Baby Dragon push. Put the Guard Post near the Crusher so its defenders pull attackers into the slam.

Common attack strategies at BH4

Boxer Giants in front with Sneaky Archers or Bombers behind are the reliable ground attack. Boxer Giants go straight for defenses, Bombers break the Walls in their way, and the Sneaky Archers clear buildings from range while staying invisible for their first few seconds.

Baby Dragons are strong against bases with weak air defense. They hit harder when they are kept apart from other air units, so spread them out across the base rather than deploying in one clump. Check where the Air Bombs and Firecrackers are first, and send the dragons on the side with the fewest.

There are no spells in the Builder Base, so your only tools are troop choice and placement. You have one minute before the battle to swap troops in your Army Camps, so change your army to fit the base you are shown.

Farming and resources at BH4

Builder Gold comes from scoring stars on attack, and Builder Elixir from defenses, collected from the Elixir Cart, plus your Gold Mine and Elixir Collector. Defenses only happen as often as you attack, because each search exposes your base to one defense, so attacking regularly is how both resources grow.

Higher Builder trophy leagues pay more per battle and larger Star Bonuses. The Star Bonus is paid as soon as you reach its star count, and two can stack. Builder Gold pays for the Builder Hall and defenses, while Builder Elixir pays for the Barracks, Star Laboratory, Army Camps and the Gem Mine.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving the Clock Tower in ruins. It is the single best time saver in the Builder Base.
• Activating the Clock Tower when nothing is upgrading. It mostly speeds up timers.
• Gearing up your Home Village Cannon right away. It needs the Master Builder, who then leaves the Builder Base, and before O.T.T.O arrives at BH6 that can leave you with no builder here.
• Placing the Crusher by Walls, where it cannot reach troops attacking from the other side.
• Dropping trophies on purpose for easier bases. Lower leagues pay less loot per battle.