Overview
Graveyard Giant Skeleton is a control archetype that dominates through relentless spawner pressure and devastating death damage combinations. This unconventional deck establishes passive chip damage with Furnace and Goblin Hut while threatening explosive finishes with Giant Skeleton's bomb clearing defenders for Graveyard connections. The strategy revolves around cross-lane spawner pressure that forces awkward defensive splits, then capitalizing with perfectly timed Graveyard punishes when opponents overcommit resources. Zappies provide stun-lock control against single-target threats, Berserker handles swarms with rage-enhanced counterpushes, and Goblin Curse delivers burst spell damage for critical tower finishes. This deck rewards patient players who maximize spawner value across multiple lanes, then strike decisively when opponents run low on elixir or defensive options.
Strategy
Opening Play
Start with Furnace or Goblin Hut in opposite lanes to establish immediate pressure and scout your opponent's deck. Place your first spawner defensively to build elixir advantageâFurnace in center can activate King Tower against Miner or Goblin Barrel. Avoid committing Giant Skeleton or Graveyard early unless you identify a clear opening. Use this phase to cycle cheap units like Zappies or Giant Snowball while your spawners generate passive chip damage and force defensive responses.
Single Elixir
Focus on building spawner advantage while defending efficiently with Giant Skeleton's massive bomb threat. Place Furnace and Goblin Hut in opposite lanes to create cross-lane pressureâopponents cannot ignore Fire Spirits chipping their tower while Spear Goblins build up opposite side. This forces them into awkward defensive positions that drain elixir. Use Giant Skeleton defensively to counter heavy pushes, then immediately deploy Graveyard at the tower once the bomb detonates and clears their support troops. The death damage often eliminates 3-4 elixir worth of defenders, giving your Skeletons free tower connections. Save Goblin Curse for high-value targets or prediction plays on spawner counters. Zappies can repeatedly stun single-target attackers like Prince or Hog Rider to slow their attacks while your spawners continue chipping. Track opponent's elixir carefullyâwhen they're low, capitalize with Graveyard punishes backed by spawner pressure.
Double Elixir
Stack spawners aggressively to create overwhelming pressure. With two Furnaces active, opponents struggle to defend Graveyard while constant Fire Spirits chip their tower. Place both spawners in opposite lanes for maximum split pressure, then send Giant Skeleton + Graveyard combination when opponents commit heavily to one side. The bomb clears defenders perfectly timed as Skeletons spawn for guaranteed connections. Use Zappies behind Giant Skeleton for unstoppable pushesâthe stun prevents any melee unit from reaching the bomb carrier while their damage adds up quickly. Berserker becomes your opposite-lane punish tool when opponents overcommit to defending spawnersâhis rage ability makes him surprisingly threatening. Goblin Curse should be used for burst finishes on low-health towers or to curse entire defensive positions before Graveyard deployment. Giant Snowball provides crucial knockback against splash defenders like Valkyrie or Bowler, pushing them away from tower to extend Skeleton lifespan. The key is overwhelming opponents with multi-lane pressure they cannot fully answer.
Matchups
Favorable Matchups
- Golem Beatdown: Giant Skeleton's bomb single-handedly shuts down their massive elixir investment. Place him defensively to counter their Golem pushâthe death damage eliminates all support troops for massive positive trades. Apply opposite-lane spawner pressure when they commit Golem, forcing them to defend while their investment dies to the bomb. Your faster cycle lets you have Giant Skeleton ready for every Golem.
- Lava Hound: Spawners provide constant ground pressure they struggle to defend while building air pushes. Zappies and Berserker handle Lava Pups efficiently. Giant Skeleton's bomb clears balloon and support troops. Apply aggressive Graveyard pressure opposite lane when they commit Lava Hound, forcing impossible defensive splits.
- Hog Cycle: Furnace placement denies Hog Rider's approach path while Fire Spirits chip their tower. Zappies completely stop Hog Rider with stun-lock, giving you positive trades every cycle. Your spawners outcycle their cheap defensive cards, and Graveyard punishes when they overcommit to offense.
- X-Bow and Mortar: Spawners from multiple lanes create pressure they cannot fully defend. Furnace and Goblin Hut force them to respond while you build elixir advantages. Giant Skeleton tanks X-Bow shots efficiently, and his bomb clears their defensive setup. They lack answers to multi-lane spawner pressure combined with Graveyard threats.
- Bridge Spam: Zappies' stun-lock counters their aggressive plays cost-effectively while spawners provide constant chip damage. Giant Skeleton's bomb punishes their clumped pushes. Your defensive structure lets you weather their early aggression, then overwhelm with spawner stacks in double elixir.
Unfavorable Matchups
- Miner Poison Control: Poison hard-counters your spawners for positive trades, and they can out-cycle your defensive cards. Miner chip combined with Poison on spawners creates unstoppable pressure. Focus on aggressive Graveyard plays early before they establish spell cycle dominance. Use Giant Skeleton defensively to preserve tower health and seek prediction Goblin Curse value.
- Graveyard Poison Mirror: Poison destroys your spawners while their Graveyard mirrors your win condition. The matchup becomes a raceâwhoever applies better Graveyard pressure wins. Defend their Graveyard with Berserker and Zappies while applying opposite-lane spawner pressure. Time your Graveyard perfectly with Giant Skeleton bomb to maximize connections.
- Rocket Cycle: Rocket destroys your spawners for neutral trades while chipping your tower. They profit from long games as Rocket cycle accumulates damage. Play aggressively with Graveyard pushes to finish before they accumulate lethal spell damage. Stack spawners in opposite lane from their Rocket to split their attention.
- Earthquake decks: Earthquake devastates your building-heavy composition for massive value. A single Earthquake hits multiple spawners and deals crown tower damage. You cannot win defensive games against Earthquake. Focus on hyper-aggressive Giant Skeleton + Graveyard combinations to race their spell cycle. Use Goblin Curse predictively on their defensive positions.
- Sparky: Spawner units feed Sparky charges, creating devastating counterattacks. Zappies can reset Sparky but require perfect timing. Giant Skeleton's bomb can stop Sparky pushes but the matchup is challenging. Apply opposite-lane Graveyard pressure to force them defending instead of building Sparky pushes. Use Giant Snowball for Sparky resets.
Tips
Spawner placement: Place Furnace in center first game to activate King Tower against Goblin Barrel or Miner, then use spawners offensively in opposite lanes for subsequent placements to maximize cross-lane pressure.
Graveyard timing: Deploy Graveyard exactly 0.5 seconds after Giant Skeleton reaches towerâthe bomb explosion clears defenders precisely as Skeletons spawn, guaranteeing 3-5 tower connections before opponents can react.
Giant Snowball usage: Against splash units defending Graveyard (Valkyrie, Bowler, Executioner), use Giant Snowball's knockback to push them away from tower, extending Skeleton lifespan by 2-3 seconds for massive value.
Zappies positioning: Stack Zappies behind Giant Skeleton for unstoppable pushesâthe continuous stun prevents any melee unit from reaching the bomb carrier while their damage adds up to 200+ DPS when stacked.
Goblin Curse value: Use Goblin Curse proactively on Elixir Collectors or predictively on spawner counter positionsâthe 4-second curse duration often gets additional value when opponents cycle back to that spot.
Triple elixir strategy: Place both spawners in same lane and send Giant Skeleton + Graveyard opposite sideâopponents physically cannot defend Graveyard pressure while spawners chip 1000+ damage over 20 seconds.
Berserker counterpush: Save Berserker for opposite-lane pressure when opponent commits heavily to defending spawnersâhis rage ability makes him surprisingly effective at punishing overcommitments with 800+ damage potential.
Elixir management: Never overcommit in single elixirâyour deck needs patient spawner stacking. Aggressive pushes before double elixir leave you vulnerable to counterattacks you cannot defend with spawner-heavy composition.
Common Mistakes
Same-lane spawners: Placing spawners in same lane early gameâalways split pressure across both lanes to maximize chip damage and force awkward defensive rotations that drain opponent's elixir inefficiently.
Naked Graveyard: Using Graveyard without Giant Skeleton bomb support or tankânaked Graveyard gets easily countered by any splash unit. Wait for death damage to clear defenders or use Giant Skeleton as tank first.
Wasting Goblin Curse: Using Goblin Curse on small value targets like single skeletons or spirit chipsâthis spell shines when hitting 6+ elixir worth of troops or finishing towers below 500 health.
Early overcommitment: Overcommitting elixir in single elixir phaseâyour deck requires patient spawner stacking. Aggressive pushes before double elixir leave you defenseless against counterattacks with only buildings to defend.
Ignoring opposite lane: When opponent sends Hog Rider or Ram Rider opposite your Giant Skeleton push, you MUST respond with Zappies or Berserkerâtower trades rarely favor spawner decks that need time to build value.
Poor Giant Skeleton timing: Deploying Giant Skeleton offensively without elixir advantage or spawner pressureâhe's easily countered alone. Use him defensively first, then convert death damage into Graveyard opportunities for maximum value.
Predictable Graveyard placement: Always placing Graveyard in same cornerâopponents adapt their defensive positioning. Vary your Graveyard placement between all four corners to keep defenders guessing and maximize connections.
Spell cycling: Using Giant Snowball or Goblin Curse for chip damage instead of holding for critical momentsâyour spells should support Graveyard connections or provide game-winning value, not cycle cheap damage.