(Stats and writeup provided by Delpez)
Supreme Cream! vs Kaskus Cavalry
| Supreme Cream | Enemy | |
| Average TH Level | 7.71 | 7.78 |
| Score | 126 | 122 |
| Total Attacks Used | 82 | 77 |
| Total 3 Star Attacks | 39 | 37 |
| Total 3 Star % | 47.56 | 48.1 |
| 3 Stars Against Same Level | 31 | 20 |
| 3 Star % Against Same Level | 51.7 | 39.2 |
| 3 Stars Against Lower Level | 4 | 13 |
| 3 Star % Against Lower Level | 66.7 | 76.5 |
| TH4,5&6 3 Stars | 0 | 2 |
| TH4,5&6 3 Star % | 0.0 | 66.7 |
| TH7 3 Stars | 19 | 13 |
| TH7 3 Stars % | 65.5 | 61.9 |
| TH7 3 Stars (same level) | 13 | 8 |
| TH7 3 Stars % (same level) | 76.5 | 80.0 |
| TH8 3 Stars | 17 | 15 |
| TH8 3 Star % | 41.5 | 35.7 |
| TH8 3 Stars (same level) | 17 | 9 |
| TH8 3 Star % (same level) | 50.0 | 26.5 |
| TH8 Ave Stars / Attack (same level) | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| TH9&10 3 Stars | 3 | 7 |
| TH9&10 2 Star % | 33.3 | 63.6 |
| TH9&10 3 Stars (same level) | 1 | 1 |
| TH9&10 3 Star % (same level) | 16.7 | 25.0 |
| TH9&10 Ave Stars / Attack (same level) | 1.67 | 1.50 |
Another close war and another close win. In fact, this was the smallest victory margin (4) since I started reporting on the wars. If you analyse this margin, two of the stars came from 3-star attacks, and another two from stars against top level bases.
We have only three TH6 bases left, so their performance doesn’t really influence the wars. However, pulling clan troops is still a problem preventing some low level 3-stars. At TH7 the percentages were similar, but it’s worth noting that half our TH7’s were smashed by higher levels. At TH8 we did well, smashing their TH8’s half the time while they could only manage one in four – our recent focus on defense is still paying dividends. This forced their top bases to attack down – six of our TH8’s were smashed by higher levels. However, this meant less attacks against our TH9&10’s, and we beat them by two crucial stars at the top.
This war shows the inherent redundancy in war attacks. You can be quite inefficient and still get close, because each clan gets 90 attacks but only 45 targets. The war also showed the difference between attacking lower versus same level bases. Many wars can be won with a downward attacking policy, but you are sacrificing stars at the top. In a close war it’s better to have a predominant sideways attacking policy – if your TH7 and TH8’s manage to clear most of the opposing bases, it leaves more same level attacks for top bases. Having said that, it’s usually better for rushed or newly promoted bases to attack down until they acquire the necessary attacking power.
Some observations:
Livercat’s anti-dragon base weathered eight (!) attacks before being smashed. However, these bases can be unlocked, as a TH7 showed against my own anti dragon base. The advantage of these bases is that they really punish careless dragon attacks and forces the opponent to be more precise.
Lightning is still working well for me, even against anti-dragon bases. In fact, the TH7 who smashed my base used triple Lightning. My gut feel is that Rage and/or Heal spells are more powerful against most TH8’s, but Lightning spells are easier to use and more consistent against flawed bases (with an AD close to the edge). Against TH7’s there is no contest – triple Lightning is the best and cheapest.
Rushed TH9 bases with crappy air defenses are surprisingly hard to 3-star. Their #16 looked like a juicy target, yet he defended seven of our dragon attacks with his low level air defenses. The problem is that he had four AD’s, and even at a low level they deal a ton of damage. So even if you deal with two or three AD’s, the fourth usually got the remaining dragons.
Hardcore Casual 
My base design comes from here: http://forum.supercell.net/showthread.php/282861-TH8-War-Base-Spread-Formation-Anti-Hog-Anti-Dragon
It claims to have an anti-hog element as well, but I’ve been destroyed by a dragons+hog combo (it does depend on a giant bomb guess, so YMMV). I’ve also been 3-starred by a 2* full drag army, so keep that in mind.
Another thing; we can’t have too many people using the same basic base, since once someone cracks it, everyone else will just repeat for easy stars.
No base is perfect, the key is to have people guessing and use as many attacks as before giving up 2 or 3 stars.
One of the other things with lightning is it doesn’t just hit the AD. If you have a base with a Wizard Tower and/or an archer tower protecting the AD, if they are close enough, chances are 3 lightning will take out all 3, which is pretty huge. Something to consider when looking at a base and deciding between lightning and rage/heal.
Great point Kobe.
The seeker mines are a big factor in hitting TH9 as well (4 up from 2 at TH8) as well as an extra Tesla and archer tower. Add to that the regular defences being a level higher and you have a recipe for disaster.
Dragon just bad in general after TH8, I think you need a big chunk of luck to make it work for anything but the crappiest designed base.
I like 3 lightning as dragons are quite chaotic, and it adds a little bit of order.
Can I just add a tip for people? If you are going with triple lightning don’t open up with it, you are wasting 20-30 seconds watching each strike hit. Start your attack and then do it when things are moving, no dead time them. Also just drop all 3 directly on the defence (all at once, no need to do one at a time), only the square you target receives 100% of the damage, rest is distributed randomly about it.