Overview
Giant Lightning Beatdown is a traditional heavy beatdown archetype that dominates through superior elixir management and overwhelming pushes. This deck leverages the Elixir Collector to build massive elixir advantages, then converts them into unstoppable Giant pushes supported by Executioner's splash damage and Lightning's building destruction. The combination of cheap cycle cards (Skeletons, Fire Spirit, Zap) allows you to defend efficiently while pumping up, then unleash devastating double-lane pressure in Double Elixir. This deck excels against building-heavy decks and spell bait archetypes, while struggling against fast cycle decks that can punish pump placements. Success requires disciplined elixir management and knowing exactly when to commit to your win condition.
Strategy
Opening Play
Your opening move depends entirely on reading your opponent's starting hand. If they play a slow defensive card or cycle cheaply in the back, place Elixir Collector behind your King Tower at 10 elixir to start building your advantage. Against aggressive decks that show immediate pressure, skip the pump and cycle Skeletons or Fire Spirit at the bridge to gauge their response while defending with Executioner or Mini P.E.K.K.A. Never blind pump against Miner or spell cycle decks—wait to identify their archetype first.
Single Elixir
This phase is about patient elixir accumulation and efficient defensive trades. Your primary goal is stacking pumps safely—place the first pump opposite lane from where you plan to push to minimize spell value on your tower. Defend with Executioner for swarms and Mini P.E.K.K.A for tanks, using cheap cycle cards to kite and distract. Only commit to Giant pushes when you have 10+ elixir with a pump down or when converting a successful defense into a counterpush. Track their big spell cycle—if they use Lightning or Rocket defensively, immediately pump in the safe window before it rotates back. Build your elixir advantage methodically; every successful pump is worth 2 elixir over time.
Double Elixir
Unleash your accumulated elixir advantage with relentless pressure. Start Giant at the bridge with 10+ elixir, immediately support with Executioner behind to clear defensive swarms and apply ranged pressure. Use Fire Spirit and Skeletons to protect your push from ground counters while saving Zap for Inferno resets. This is when Lightning becomes your trump card—use it to simultaneously destroy their defensive building, eliminate 5+ elixir worth of troops, and chip their tower. A well-timed Lightning removing Inferno Tower and Musketeer can win the game instantly. Apply same-lane pressure to force all their elixir into defense, or split-lane pressure if they have hard counters, making them choose which tower to sacrifice.
Matchups
Favorable Matchups
- X-Bow Siege: Pump freely since X-Bow can't punish effectively across the river. Use Lightning to destroy their X-Bow and Tower simultaneously for massive damage, or Lightning their defensive building and Tesla together. Executioner hard-counters their Archers and Knight defensive core. This matchup becomes nearly unwinnable for them once you establish pump advantage.
- Mortar Cycle: Similar to X-Bow, Mortar lacks the immediate pressure to punish pumps. Lightning their Mortar and defensive building for huge value while Executioner demolishes their swarm defenses. Your elixir advantage snowballs quickly, leading to overwhelming pushes they can't defend.
- Log Bait: Executioner's splash damage hard-counters their entire defensive core (Princess, Goblin Gang, Skeleton Army). Lightning handles their Inferno Tower while damaging Princess and tower together. Save Zap exclusively for Goblin Barrel, and this matchup becomes trivial. They have no answers to your Giant pushes.
- Graveyard: Executioner completely shuts down Graveyard spawns with his double-swing axe return mechanic. Use Skeletons and Fire Spirit to counter their support troops efficiently. Lightning their tank and support troops together while defending Graveyard with Executioner makes this a comfortable win.
- Spell Bait: Any bait variant struggles against Executioner's natural splash and Lightning for their Inferno Tower. Your cheap cycle cards (Zap, Skeletons, Fire Spirit) give multiple answers to their bait attempts, and pumping forces them into awkward offensive commitments.
Unfavorable Matchups
- Hog 2.6 Cycle: Their lightning-fast cycle punishes every pump with Hog Rider, forcing difficult decisions. They defend your Giant with Cannon and perfect kiting, then outcycle your counters. You must pump only when they're out of Hog cycle or accept significant tower damage. Focus on same-lane pressure to force defensive spending before pumping.
- Miner Control: Miner directly snipes your pumps for neutral trades while they control tempo with cheap defensive troops. Their spell control (Poison/Fireball) handles your pushes efficiently. Minimize pump usage, defend their chip damage, and look for Lightning value on their defensive troops and tower together. This matchup tests your patience.
- Rocket Cycle: They Rocket your pumps for neutral trades while chipping your towers with their spell. Every pump you place can be Rocketed, negating your elixir advantage while damaging your tower. You must win through aggressive same-lane pressure, forcing them to Rocket defensively and creating pump windows.
- Lava Hound: Their air-focused push can overwhelm your ground-heavy defense. Executioner and Mini P.E.K.K.A struggle against Lava Hound and Balloon pushes. You must apply heavy opposite-lane pressure with Giant when they commit Lava Hound, forcing them to choose between defending and supporting their push. Lightning their support troops (Mega Minion, Inferno Dragon) while they're clumped.
- Golem Beatdown: Mirror matchups often favor whoever attacks second. If both players pump, the first to commit usually loses since the defender has elixir advantage for counterattack. Defend their Golem push efficiently with Mini P.E.K.K.A and Executioner, then counterpush hard opposite lane. Never pump when they have Golem ready to deploy.
Tips
Pump placement strategy: Place your first pump in the opposite lane from where you plan to push. This minimizes spell value—if they Lightning or Rocket your pump, the tower damage hits the lane you're not pressuring, preserving your push-lane tower health.
Spell cycle tracking: Count their big spell rotation constantly. If they use Lightning or Rocket defensively to stop your push, immediately place a pump before it cycles back. This 15-second window is your safest pumping opportunity.
Lightning value calculation: Always aim for 8+ elixir value with Lightning. Destroying a 5-elixir building and hitting a 4-elixir troop plus tower damage is premium value. Lightning + Zap can instantly eliminate Electro Wizard, Musketeer, and Wizard while damaging their tower—this 10 elixir investment often wins tower trades.
Executioner positioning mastery: Place Executioner 4-5 tiles behind your Giant, never at the bridge. This maximizes his axe throwing range and allows the axe to hit troops twice (throw and return). Against swarms, position him so the axe return path crosses through grouped defenders for double damage.
Executioner as Lightning bait: Executioner survives Lightning with health remaining. Use him to bait their Lightning before committing more support troops. If they Lightning your Executioner, he still contributes value with the axe return. If they save Lightning for your push, Executioner provides consistent splash damage.
Fire Spirit timing perfection: Fire Spirit deals massive splash damage to Minion Horde, weakening all six minions so your Giant or tower can quickly finish them. Wait for the Horde to group up directly over your Giant before releasing Fire Spirit for maximum value.
Cycle card discipline: Always keep one cheap cycle card in hand during Single Elixir. Never cycle so aggressively that you're left with only expensive cards when they apply surprise pressure. This defensive insurance prevents disaster scenarios.
Counterpush conversion: When you successfully defend with Executioner or Mini P.E.K.K.A, immediately place Giant in front of your surviving troops. These spontaneous counterpushes are often more effective than planned pushes since opponents used elixir defending and can't respond optimally.
Common Mistakes
Greedy pumping in beatdown mirrors: When facing another beatdown deck, avoid pumping first. Whoever attacks first typically loses because the defender has elixir advantage for devastating counterattacks. Defend their push efficiently, then counterpush opposite lane while they're depleted.
Defensive Lightning usage: Lightning exists to support your offense, not to defend. If you're using Lightning to stop their pushes, you're already losing the elixir war. Use your troops for defense and save Lightning for destroying their defensive buildings and supporting troops during your attacks.
Chasing failed pushes: If your Giant dies before crossing the bridge or gets eliminated with minimal tower damage, cut your losses immediately. Don't throw additional elixir (Executioner, Lightning) trying to salvage a dead push. Reset, rebuild elixir, and start a fresh attack with proper support.
Executioner bridge placement: Placing Executioner at the bridge wastes his primary strength—ranged splash damage over time. He needs distance to maximize axe throws and survive. Always place him behind your Giant, giving him 4-5 tiles of safety to work with.
Ignoring opposite lane threats: This deck cannot rush effectively due to its expensive cards. When opponents apply heavy opposite-lane pressure during your push, use cheap cycle cards (Skeletons, Fire Spirit, Zap) to defend minimally. Sometimes accepting the tower trade is correct if you can take their tower in return.
Pumping into spell cycle: Placing a pump immediately after they cycled back to Lightning or Rocket is asking to be punished. Track their spell rotation and pump only when their big spell was just used or is clearly out of cycle.
Wasting Zap prematurely: Zap is your only answer to Inferno Tower and Inferno Dragon. Don't waste it on Skeleton Army or Goblin Gang when you have Executioner and Fire Spirit to handle swarms. Save Zap for critical resets that preserve your Giant's health.
Passive Double Elixir play: The worst mistake is reaching Double Elixir with pump advantage and playing passively. This is your win window—pressure aggressively, use Lightning liberally, and overwhelm them before they can stabilize. Hesitation wastes your accumulated advantage.