Hey there, fellow Clash Royale player! Are you tired of facing the infamous Tesla and watching it zap away your carefully planned pushes? You're not alone! The Tesla is one of the most frustrating defensive buildings in the game, known for its ability to hide underground, target both air and ground troops, and deliver consistent damage. But fear not, with the right strategies and card knowledge, you can absolutely turn the tide. Let's dive deep into how you can effectively counter the Tesla and secure those victorious crowns!
Step 1: Understanding the Tesla's Strengths and Weaknesses
Before you can beat your enemy, you must know your enemy! The Tesla is a 4-elixir Common building that can be incredibly annoying.
1.1 Tesla's Strengths:
Versatility: It attacks both ground and air units, making it a strong all-around defense.
Hidden State: When not attacking, it burrows underground, becoming immune to most spells (except Earthquake!) and troop targeting. This makes it difficult to pre-spell or target with melee troops.
Fast Hit Speed: It zaps quickly, making it effective against swarms and single-target threats.
Longevity: It has a decent lifetime and health, often outlasting many attacking troops.
Evolution Tesla: The evolved Tesla gains a powerful double-stun ability, making it even more disruptive.
1.2 Tesla's Weaknesses:
Single Target: While it zaps quickly, it can only target one troop at a time. This makes it vulnerable to swarms or multiple threats.
Fixed Position: As a building, once placed, it cannot move. This makes it susceptible to cards that can bypass buildings or apply pressure in other lanes.
Elixir Trade: While good, sometimes it can be pressured into negative elixir trades if you force the opponent to overcommit.
Vulnerable When Attacking: Once it pops up to attack, it becomes targetable by all troops and spells.
Step 2: The Art of Baiting and Outcycling
One of the most effective ways to deal with Tesla is to manipulate its targeting and outcycle your opponent's cards.
2.1 Drawing the Tesla Out:
Small Tanks/Distractions: Deploy low-elixir tanks like Knight, Ice Golem, or even Goblins slightly ahead of your main push. The Tesla will pop up to target them, allowing your heavier damage dealers or win conditions to move in.
Bridge Spam Tactics: Cards like Bandit or Royal Ghost can be tricky. Their dash/invisible abilities can sometimes bypass the Tesla's targeting if timed perfectly, or at least force it to reveal itself.
2.2 Outcycling:
Fast Cycle Decks: If you play a deck with a very low average elixir cost (e.g., 2.6 Hog Cycle, Log Bait), you can often cycle back to your win condition faster than your opponent can cycle back to their Tesla. This allows you to apply constant pressure and potentially catch them off-guard when their Tesla isn't in hand.
Split Lane Pressure: Deploying troops in both lanes can force your opponent to choose where to defend, potentially leaving the Tesla out of position or forcing them to overcommit elixir.
Step 3: Direct Counters and Spells
Some cards are inherently good against the Tesla due to their mechanics or damage output.
3.1 Earthquakes the Ground:
Earthquake (EQ): This is arguably the most direct counter to the Tesla. Earthquake is the only spell that can damage the Tesla while it's underground. Even if it doesn't destroy the Tesla, it deals significant damage to it and surrounding troops/towers, often leading to positive elixir trades or setting up easier pushes. Don't expect it to one-shot the Tesla, but the chip damage and consistent pressure are invaluable.
3.2 High Damage Spells:
Lightning: If the Tesla is placed near other high-value targets (like an X-Bow, Wizard, or Princess Tower), a well-placed Lightning can provide immense value. It hits three targets, dealing massive damage to buildings and troops.
Rocket/Fireball: These can be used to take out a Tesla, but often it's a negative elixir trade unless you can also hit the Princess Tower or other valuable troops. Use them judiciously when you can get maximum value.
3.3 Building-Targeting Troops:
Royal Giant (RG): The RG's long range allows it to target the Tesla from across the river, often out-ranging its pull range from the main tower. This forces the Tesla to pop up early and take damage while your RG chips away at the tower.
Hog Rider/Battle Ram/Goblin Giant/Giant/Golem/Balloon: These win conditions will all head straight for the Tesla if it's placed to pull them. While they will take damage, they will also destroy the Tesla, opening up the path to the tower for your support troops. Pair them with splash damage or high DPS units to take out supporting defenses.
Step 4: Swarms and High DPS Units
The Tesla struggles against multiple threats, especially if they are difficult to zap quickly.
4.1 Swarms:
Goblin Gang/Skeleton Army/Barbarians/Minion Horde: While the Tesla zaps fast, a large swarm can quickly overwhelm it. The Tesla can only target one unit at a time, allowing the other units to chip away at its health. Be wary of splash damage support from your opponent!
Skeleton Barrel/Goblin Drill: These cards release swarms directly onto the opponent's side, creating a chaotic push that can quickly overwhelm a lone Tesla.
4.2 High DPS Single-Target Troops:
P.E.K.K.A./Mini P.E.K.K.A./Prince/Lumberjack/Elite Barbarians: These heavy hitters can quickly dismantle a Tesla once it pops up. Ensure they are either tanked for or deployed in a way that avoids immediate counter-attacks.
Musketeer/Hunter/Electro Wizard: These ranged units can deal significant damage to the Tesla from a distance once it's revealed. The Electro Wizard's stun can also reset the Tesla's attack.
Step 5: Positioning and Timing are Key
Even with the right cards, how and when you play them matters immensely.
5.1 Strategic Placements:
Lane Isolation: If your opponent always places their Tesla centrally, try to push hard on one side. This can force them to use more elixir to defend the other lane, or allow your push to break through where the Tesla isn't covering.
Aggressive Placements: Sometimes, placing your win condition immediately at the bridge can force the Tesla to be played defensively and give you an immediate elixir advantage if they react poorly.
5.2 Timing Your Push:
Elixir Advantage: Wait until you have an elixir advantage before committing to a big push. This allows you to deploy multiple threats, making it harder for the Tesla alone to defend.
Punish Overcommitment: If your opponent plays an expensive card or overcommits on one side, you can launch a quick counter-push on the opposite lane, aiming to overwhelm their defenses before they can cycle back to their Tesla.
Double Elixir/Triple Elixir: In later stages of the game, with faster elixir generation, it's easier to cycle through your deck and put continuous pressure on the Tesla.
Step 6: Deck Archetypes That Excel Against Tesla
Certain deck archetypes naturally have an easier time against Tesla-centric defenses.
6.1 Siege Decks (X-Bow/Mortar):
While X-Bow often uses Tesla, Mortar can be a good counter. Mortar decks constantly chip away at towers and buildings from a distance, forcing the Tesla to expose itself or take damage without directly engaging it.
6.2 Spell Cycle Decks:
Decks heavily reliant on spells like Earthquake, Poison, Fireball, and Rocket can consistently chip away at the opponent's towers and Tesla over time, making it difficult for them to maintain a strong defense.
6.3 Beatdown Decks (Golem/Lava Hound/Electro Giant):
These decks focus on building up massive pushes behind a tank. While the Tesla will target the tank, the sheer volume of support troops behind it (e.g., Electro Dragon, Baby Dragon, Night Witch, Sparky) will eventually overwhelm the Tesla and the tower.
Related FAQ Questions
How to deal with an Evolved Tesla?
The Evolved Tesla's double stun is incredibly potent. Focus on swarms or heavy, un-stunnable units (like P.E.K.K.A. if it has support to kill the Tesla quickly). Spells like Earthquake are even more valuable against Evolved Tesla due to its enhanced defensive capabilities.
How to use Earthquake effectively against Tesla?
Play Earthquake directly on top of the Tesla and any troops or the Princess Tower nearby to maximize its value. Don't expect a one-shot, but the consistent damage helps break through.
How to bait out the Tesla for a positive elixir trade?
Use a low-elixir unit like Skeletons, Ice Spirit, or Goblins to activate the Tesla, then follow up with a higher damage troop or spell once it's revealed.
How to bypass Tesla's defense?
Cards like Miner, Goblin Barrel, and Graveyard bypass the Tesla by targeting the tower directly or spawning troops on the tower, forcing the opponent to use other defensive cards.
How to use Royal Giant against Tesla?
Place the Royal Giant at the bridge. Its long range will allow it to target the Tesla or tower, pulling the Tesla into a position where it can be quickly destroyed.
How to deal with Tesla in X-Bow decks?
If facing an X-Bow Tesla deck, focus on taking out the X-Bow first. Cards like Miner, Goblin Barrel, or Rocket can directly damage the X-Bow. Once the X-Bow is gone, the Tesla is easier to manage.
How to counter Tesla when it's placed centrally?
When Tesla is placed centrally, it can pull almost anything. Use a tank-and-spank strategy: a cheap tank to pull the Tesla, followed by high damage troops to take it out. Alternatively, apply pressure to the opposite lane.
How to use Lightning against Tesla effectively?
Use Lightning when the Tesla is positioned to get value on other troops (e.g., Musketeer, Wizard, Electro Wizard) or the Princess Tower, ensuring you get a positive elixir trade or significant damage.
How to beat Tesla with a Beatdown deck?
Build up a massive push behind your main tank (Golem, Lava Hound). The Tesla will target your tank, but your support troops will eliminate it and continue towards the tower.
How to cycle faster than a Tesla player?
Build a low-elixir cycle deck that allows you to play your win condition or main offensive cards more frequently than your opponent can deploy their Tesla or other defensive buildings.
