Is Goblin Farming Worth It? Absolutely for Mid-Level Players

Goblin farming can be an incredibly effective farming strategy with the right plan and execution. For mid-level Town Hall 9-13 players, sneaky goblin spam is hands down one of the best ways to quickly accumulate massive loot hauls. However, it does require some strategic finesse – blindly spamming goblins will only get you so far. This definitive guide will break down exactly when and how goblin farming can help you progress fastest in Clash of Clans.

What Are Goblins and How Are They Used?

For those unfamiliar, goblins are a fast moving, resource-targeting troop unlocked at Town Hall 5. Their low hitpoints make them fragile, but their high speed lets them swiftly loot exposed collectors and mines before defenses take them out.

Upgrading goblins boosts their damage and hitpoints. The major power spike comes at level 7 "Sneaky Goblins" available at Town Hall 11. These goblins turn invisible for 7 seconds, enabling them to infiltrate deep into bases protected by defenses and loot storages incredibly effectively.

When goblin farming, the goal is to cleverly deploy sneaky goblins to grab as much loot as possible before they are destroyed. Proper spell support and funneling is crucial to their success.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Goblin Farming

Let‘s break down the resource investment required to upgrade goblins versus their looting potential across the different townhall levels:

Early Game (TH5-TH8)

In the early game when focusing on upgrading offence, the cost to upgrade goblins to level 5 is relatively cheap at 4 million elixir. But bases at this stage have pretty soft defenses and exposed collectors, so full armies of archers, barbarians, and giants can easily overpower them. Goblins will help grab extra loot, but don‘t need to be a farming cornerstone yet.

Mid Game (TH9-TH12)

This is the sweet spot for goblin farming. The level 7 sneaky goblin upgrade costs 10 million elixir and 14 days, but the power spike is well worth it. TH9 is when splash defenses really ramp up, making traditional full armies less reliable. Sneaky goblins can adeptly maneuver around mortars, wizard towers and bombs.

I track my loot hauls, and 200 sneaky goblins with jump spells generally yields me 650K gold, 500K elixir, and 4K dark per raid in Crystal League as a new TH11. That adds up fast with multiple raids per day. The key is attacking dead bases with full collectors.

Late Game (TH13-TH14)

Fully maxed TH14s with high level defenses are designed to counter sneaky goblin attacks. However, goblin farming is still viable with the right strategy. I follow YouTube guides using zap quake lightning spells to destroy key splash threats first. Then sending a line of goblins with jumps and haste straight to the core. Skilled attackers can still 2 star strong TH14s this way. But it‘s an advanced technique requiring precision.

Optimal Upgrade Order for Goblin Farming

Based on the above analysis, here is the upgrade priority I recommend to maximize goblin farming effectiveness:

1. Upgrade goblins to level 5 early at TH8/TH9
2. Focus on upgrading camps, barracks, and clan castle to support goblin capacity
3. Unlock sneaky goblins at TH11 and immediately upgrade to level 7
4. Max out lightning and earthquake spells to clear paths
5. Upgrade jump spell to improve goblin pathing
6. Upgrade invisibility spell to greater boost sneaky goblin cloak

As a general rule, prioritize offensive upgrades like camps that multiply goblin effectiveness before defensive structures. This will accelerate your farming and progression.

Comparing Goblins to Other Farming Troops

How do goblins compare to other common farming troops like barbarians, archers, and giants? Here‘s a breakdown:

Barbarians have much more health than goblins, making them better suited as tanks on tougher bases. They also pack more damage per housing space. However, their slow movement speed hampers loot grabbing – they spend too much time beating on walls compared to fast goblins.

Archers have great range, enabling them to snipe buildings guarded by defenses. Their fast movement also helps grab loot, but they prioritize targeting defenses rather than resources.

Giants are excellent meat shields for soaking damage. Pairing them with goblins often leads to solid loot gains. However, giants are extremely slow moving and relatively high cost. You need spells like jump and rage to make them viable.

In summary, while barbarians, archers, and giants all have roles in farming armies, none can match the sheer loot grabbing power and cost efficiency of hordes of sneaky goblins. No other troop fulfills that niche.

Effective Spell Compositions for Goblin Armies

Troop synergy and spell composition is key to successful goblin raids. Here are proven templates I‘ve had success with at TH11:

Main Raid Army: 16 Giants, 8 WB, 1 Baby Dragon, 5 Archers, 220 Sneaky Goblins

Spells: 1 Heal, 1 Rage, 1 Jump

Zap Army: 220 Sneaky Goblins

Spells: 4 Earthquake, 1 Rage

Balanced Army: 10 Giants, 5 WB, 6 Baby Dragons, 100 Goblins, 40 Archers

Spells: 2 Jump, 2 Heal, 1 Rage

Customizing around goblin core with secondary troops and spells that complement their strengths is important against tougher bases.

Is Goblin Farming Effective in Wars and Trophy Pushing?

When it comes to clan wars and trophy pushing for leagues, mass goblin attacks generally won‘t cut it against organized war bases or max TH14s. You need more heavy firepower and coordinated army compositions to reliably 3 star tough opponents and progress up the rankings.

However, there are certain niche goblin war attacks like "Super Goblin Smash" that uses a blimp filled with rage spells and goblins. So don‘t rule them out entirely – just know pure goblin spam has limitations versus coordinated defenses.

Has Goblin Farming Gotten Better or Worse Recently?

Goblin farming is stronger today than ever before thanks to key game updates:

• Sneaky Goblins introduced at TH11 was game changing

• Lightning spells got huge buffs improving zap potential

• Obstacles spawn less frequently, clearing pathways

• Jump spell levels boosted goblin pathing

But higher level mortars, wizard towers, and seeking air mines introduced at TH13 and TH14 threaten goblins. So it remains a constant arms race to keep them viable!

Concluding Thoughts: Should You Use Goblin Farming?

After thoroughly analyzing the pros, cons, and best practices for goblin farming, I believe it should be a staple strategy for all mid-level Town Hall 9-13 players looking to progress quickly. The loot output potential is simply too good to pass up. Just be sure to train full armies and use goblins situationally at lower TH levels.

That said, max TH14 farming requires more strategy and spell support to keep sneaky goblins relevant. My advice is adjust your army compositions and attack tactics over time to adapt to the ever-changing meta.

So in summary, incorporate goblin farming into your upgrade plan, but don‘t rely on it exclusively at higher levels. Mixing skilled goblin attacks with traditional armies is the best way to maximize offensive power and available loot at any townhall.