Browse COC Base Layouts

How to Choose the Right Base Layout

Choosing a base isn't just about picking whatever looks cool. The "right" base depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish. Are you trying to push trophies? Protect resources while you sleep? Hold your war weight? Each goal calls for a different type of layout — and using the wrong one for your situation is one of the most common mistakes I see newer players make.

Start by asking yourself one question: what am I trying to defend right now? If you're actively raiding and don't care about getting attacked, a farming base makes sense. If war is coming up, you need a war base. If you're pushing for a higher league, trophy bases are what you want. It sounds obvious but a lot of players just pick "whatever looks hard to attack" without thinking about goal alignment.

Once you know your goal, filter by TH level first — using a TH15 base on a TH14 account won't work because you'll be missing buildings. Then narrow by base type. From there, look at the defense replay if one's available. A base that's held two-star in multiple replays is almost always better than one with no replay data at all. That's why we specifically tag bases with defense replay footage — it's the most reliable indicator of real performance.

One thing worth noting: meta changes fast in COC. A base that was crushing in early 2025 might be getting demolished now because of new troops or equipment updates. Check when the base was last verified and look for recently added layouts when Supercell drops major updates. We tag new additions and try to remove bases that are consistently getting three-starred post-update.

Understanding Base Types: War, CWL, Farm, Trophy, Progress

These five base types cover most situations in Clash of Clans. Here's what each one actually means and when you should use it:

Base Layout Styles: Ring, Box, Island, Toxic, Diamond

Beyond base types, there's a whole vocabulary for describing how a base is physically structured. Understanding these styles helps you pick layouts that counter the armies your enemies typically use.

How to Copy a COC Base to Your Game

Every base in our library has a copy link — here's exactly how to use it:

1. 1

   Find a base you want

   Use the filters above to narrow by TH level and base type. Click on any base card to see the full details, defense replays, and copy link.

2. 2

   Tap "Copy Base Link"

   This copies a special Clash of Clans base link to your clipboard. The link is in the format https://link.clashofclans.com/... — it's Supercell's official deep-link format for sharing bases.

3. 3

   Open Clash of Clans on your phone

   Switch to your COC app. If you copied the link on your phone, the game should prompt you automatically. On some Android devices you'll see a notification saying "Open in Clash of Clans."

4. 4

   Import and place the layout

   The game opens your base editor with the imported layout pre-loaded. You can adjust individual building positions from here before saving. This is a good step if your base has buildings that don't perfectly match the template (e.g., different levels).

5. 5

   Save and set as active

   Hit save in the base editor and set the layout as your current active arrangement. Don't forget to switch it to your war layout if you imported it for CWL — bases don't automatically apply to war unless you set the war layout specifically.

If a base link isn't working, it's usually because the link has expired or the base was submitted before a major game update changed building counts. We try to refresh these regularly but if you spot a broken link, use the report button on the base card and we'll fix it.

When to Change Your Base Layout

This is something a lot of players don't think about enough. Most people pick a base, forget it exists, and then wonder why they keep getting three-starred. Here's when you should actually swap:

• After a major game update — new troops, new equipment, or new defenses change what attacks work. A base that held well pre-update might be wide open afterward. This is probably the most important time to check.
• When you hit a new Town Hall — don't carry over your old base. The building count changes, and a mismatched base has buildings missing from the design, which creates obvious weak points.
• When you're getting consistently three-starred by the same attack — if three different players all Super Witch their way through your base in one week, it's not bad luck. The base has a problem with that specific attack style and you need to find one that counters it.
• Before Clan War League season — CWL is the highest-stakes war mode. Don't go in with a farming base you forgot to swap. Check our CWL base section before the season starts.
• When a base becomes "famous" — if a base gets popular enough that it shows up in YouTube videos, top attackers will have it memorized. Swap it out. Predictability is a weakness in COC.

Changing your base once a month isn't overcorrecting — it's reasonable. The meta shifts faster than most players track it. We also have the AI base finder if you spot a base that's been doing well against you in war and want to understand how people attack it.