Winter Update Recap: The 10 Biggest Changes of the 2018 Xmas Update!

img src="winterupdate_recap2.jpg" width="549" quality="50" alt="News - Next Update: Everything We Know About the 2018 Xmas Update! | Clash of Clans"

Here it is Clashers, the Winter Update has finally arrived, and here is the ultimate recap so you will not miss a thing:

New Troop: Ice Golem

img src="ice_golem_01.jpg" width="574" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans "

Let's start with a short comparison to his big brother, the Golem.

img src="ice_golem_04.jpg" width="514" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Ice Golem"

The Ice Golem stats are about 50% of the regular Golem. HP, speed, damage and most important, housing space. Using only 15 housing spaces, you can take 2 Ice Golems on the space of 1 regular Golem.

img src="ice_golem_05.jpg" width="546" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Ice Golem"

What makes the url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/troops/dark/ice-golem/"Ice Golem/url very special are his super abilities. Last year we had the Ice Wizard as a seasonal troop and he was quite popular, with many Clashers asking to make him a regular troop.

img src="ice_golem_02.jpg" width="397" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans "

The url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/troops/dark/ice-golem/"Ice Golem/url has similar powers: he can slow the enemy defenses he is currently attacking. Upon death, he completely freezes all nearby defenses for a few seconds, making him very, very useful.

NEW TROOP SELECTION BAR

img src="new_troop_bar.jpg" width="1282" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans New Troop Bar"

A very welcome "quality of life" change, a new in game troop selection bar.

Builder Base Balance Changes

• Cannon Cart: DPS reduced by 15%

• Cannon Cart: 3rd Cannon Cart unlocked at level 10

• Baby Dragon: HP increased by 7.5%

• Super P.E.K.K.A: HP reduced by 5%

• Star Laboratory: Upgrade times of Builder Base troops reduced

• Gem Mine: can be upgraded to level 3 at Builder Hall level 3

New Siege Machine: the Stone Slammer!

img src="siegemachine_stoneammer.jpg" width="532" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Introducing Siege Machine the Stone Slammer"

This heavy-duty flying mountain is filled to the brim with Bowler's boulders where they are used to visit devastation on your opponent. Unlike its other Siege Machine siblings, the url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/siege-machines/stone-slammer/"Stone Slammer/url does not fly directly towards the enemy Town Hall.

img src="siegemachine_stoneammer_03.jpg" width="510" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Siege Machine Gameplay"

The url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/siege-machines/stone-slammer/"Stone Slammer/url targets enemy defenses, and will proceed to drop massive stones causing massive damage to structures and will create subsequent earthquakes that do splash damage to surrounding targets.

Not targeting the Town Hall is a major change from other Siege Machines. This makes this Siege Machine kind of "Balloon" hero, making precision attacks much better and air attacks stronger than ever.

img src="siegemachine_stoneammer_02.jpg" width="564" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Stone Slammer Siege Machine Gameplay"

Like all other Siege Machines, the Stone Slammer is only available at Town Hall 12 when you upgrade your Siege Workshop to level 3. The Stone Slammer can be upgraded to a max Level 3.

img src="80hqsoy.png" width="398" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Stone Slammer Siege Machine Stats"

NEW DARK SPELL: BAT SPELL!

img src="sp2_spell_2.jpg" width="549" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans "

After over two years, here is a brand new spell: url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/spells/dark/bat-spell/"The Bat Spell/url!

The bats make Splash Damage and target ground defenses. They have very low life and can be easily killed, so they must be used along with other aerial troops. Another good use is to distract single Inferno Tower, this might be very useful as you can release the bats right on the top of the Inferno Tower.

img src="sp2_spell_5.jpg" width="529" quality="50" alt="Clash of ClansSpell Bat Horde "

When the Bat Spell is dropped, it will summon a cloud (up to 27 at level 5) of angry Bats that will target your enemy's defenses. The duration os the spell is not confirmed yet, but a maxed out spell takes around 15 seconds to spawn all bats.

The Bat Spell is available at Town Hall level 10.

img src="sp2_spell_3.jpg" width="447" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Spell Bat Maxed Out "

The Bat Spell can be upgraded to Level 5, depending on your Town Hall level.

New Spell Factory

img src="sp2_spell_4.jpg" width="411" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Spell Factory Level 5 Spell Bat "

To unlock the url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/spells/dark/bat-spell/"Bat Spell/url you must upgrade your Spell Factory first. The update cost and time might change on the release.

Winter 2018 Obstacle

img src="xmas_tree_2018.jpg" width="497" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans "

Removing it will cost 25,000 Gold but you will receive 75,000 Gold after clearing it.

This will of course come with the traditional Winter theme, complete with snow effects in your village.

New Magic Item: Shovel of Obstacles

img src="shovel_obstacle.jpg" width="445" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Magic Item Xmas Update Shovel Obstacle"

With the url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/magic-items/shovel-of-obstacles/"Shovel of Obstacles/url you will be able to move ALL obstacles of your village, including special ones on the borders. It costs 500 gems, but hopefully we will get them on Clan Games.

New Magic Item: Hero Potion

img src="hero_potion_1.jpg" width="494" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Magic Item Xmas Update Hero Potion"

The Hero url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/magic-items/potions/"Potion/url adds up to 5 new levels to your Heroes for one hour.

img src="hero_potion_2.jpg" width="484" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Magic Item Xmas Update Hero Potion"

The level increase is limited by the hero cap (60/60/30) and by the Town Hall level

img src="hero_potion_3.jpg" width="461" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans Magic Item Xmas Update Hero Potion" caption="Boosted Heroes will show a purple number."

MAGIC ITEMS FROM EVENTS CAP

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Today you can stack Magic Items from events beyond the Clan Castle capacity. You can have 6/5 Training url="https://houseofclashers.com/r/clash-of-clans/en/articles/home-village/magic-items/potions/"Potions/url for example, as long as the 6th was acquired from an Event. This will change and the limit cap will always be the enforced.

img src="magic_items_cap.jpg" width="491" quality="50" alt="Clash of Clans " caption="Overstock will no longer be possible."

If you do not have enough free space to store a particular Magic Item, first you'll have to free up some space, and then tap the "Claim" button from the event tracker. Those Magic Items will then be transferred to your Magic Item inventory, as well as the XP won from completing that challenge.