Updated for Town Hall 18 (October 2026).
The Sky Wagon is the newest Siege Machine in Clash of Clans, added on April 27, 2026. It unlocks with the level 9 Workshop at Town Hall 17, flies toward defenses and drops barrels that each release Minions, a Balloon, a Baby Dragon and one of your Clan Castle troops. Supercell cut it back on May 26, 2026, and level 4 at Town Hall 18 is the current max.
How the Sky Wagon works
The Sky Wagon is an air unit that goes after defenses. Once one is within 5.5 tiles, it stops and fires a barrel every 8 seconds. The barrel does a tiny bit of damage when it lands, then breaks open and lets out its passengers: a set number of Minions, one Balloon, one Baby Dragon, and the next troop from your Clan Castle if any are left. Clan Castle troops leave smallest first.
The levels of the Minions, Balloon and Baby Dragon are set by the Sky Wagon’s own level, not by your Laboratory. The Wagon carries a fixed number of barrels and breaks itself once the last one is out. If defenses destroy it first, the remaining barrels are lost, but any Clan Castle troops still on board drop where it fell.
It works like an airborne cousin of the Troop Launcher. The difference is that the Launcher stays put and aims at your own troops, while the Sky Wagon moves on its own and aims at enemy defenses. Your spells don’t affect it, though the Grand Warden‘s Eternal Tome does protect it.
Unlock, donations and levels
The level 9 Workshop needs Town Hall 17 and costs 26,000,000 Elixir with a 13 day 12 hour upgrade. Building the Wagon is free and instant; research uses Elixir.
To receive one you need a level 11 Clan Castle, which means Town Hall 15. Donated Wagons arrive at level 2 in a CC11, level 3 in a CC12 and level 4 from CC13 up.
| Level | Hitpoints | Barrels | Per barrel | Minion / Balloon / Baby Dragon level | Research cost (Elixir) | Research time | Lab level | Town Hall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,600 | 4 | 2 Minions, 1 Balloon, 1 Baby Dragon | 10 / 9 / 8 | None | None | None | 17 |
| 2 | 3,800 | 4 | 3 Minions, 1 Balloon, 1 Baby Dragon | 11 / 10 / 9 | 22,000,000 | 10d | 15 | 17 |
| 3 | 4,000 | 5 | 4 Minions, 1 Balloon, 1 Baby Dragon | 12 / 11 / 10 | 26,000,000 | 13d 12h | 16 | 18 |
| 4 | 4,200 | 5 | 4 Minions, 1 Balloon, 1 Baby Dragon | 13 / 12 / 11 | 29,000,000 | 16d | 16 | 18 |
Each barrel also carries one Clan Castle troop, so a level 4 Wagon can bring out up to five of them in barrels before dropping the rest at the end. Movement speed is 16. Costs and times are before any Gold Pass discount.
The May 2026 Sky Wagon change
A few weeks after release, Supercell’s State of Gameplay post (which previewed the May balance changes) said the Wagon was a strong option but shouldn’t be in nearly every attack. The May 26, 2026 update took away one barrel, one Minion per barrel and one level from every troop inside, at all four levels.
| Level | Barrels (before / after) | Minions per barrel (before / after) | Troop levels before | Troop levels after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 / 4 | 3 / 2 | 11 / 10 / 9 | 10 / 9 / 8 |
| 2 | 5 / 4 | 4 / 3 | 12 / 11 / 10 | 11 / 10 / 9 |
| 3 | 6 / 5 | 5 / 4 | 13 / 12 / 11 | 12 / 11 / 10 |
| 4 | 6 / 5 | 5 / 4 | 14 / 13 / 12 | 13 / 12 / 11 |
Troop levels are listed as Minion / Balloon / Baby Dragon. Hitpoints and research costs were not changed. In its July 9, 2026 balance post Supercell left the Wagon alone and said it was still watching it after the May changes, so check back after the next balance pass.
How to use the Sky Wagon
Supercell’s own advice is to deploy it behind your air troops, and that matches how it plays. Its hitpoints are well below a Stone Slammer‘s, so on its own it gets shot down before it empties its barrels.
- Drop it after your tanks so Air Defenses and other anti-air are busy with something else. Each barrel then adds fresh bodies right where the fight is.
- Keep it on the outside of the base for its first barrels. A single Seeking Air Mine or a few high-level Air Bombs can take a big bite out of it.
- Let the Grand Warden’s Eternal Tome cover it when it comes under heavy fire from an Air Defense, a single-target Inferno Tower or a Monolith.
- Plan the Clan Castle the same way as for the Troop Launcher: small troops leave first in barrels, so the big ones you put in come out last.
It belongs in air armies at Town Hall 17 and 18. Full lists are on the Town Hall 17 and Town Hall 18 attack guides.
Defending against the Sky Wagon
Treat it like any air threat, but remember it stops at range and keeps dropping barrels as long as it lives. Air traps near the outer defenses matter most, because a Wagon that loses most of its health early throws fewer barrels. A Seeking Air Mine placed by an outside defense, Air Bombs along air lanes, and high single-target damage from a Monolith or single-target Inferno Tower all shorten its run. Splash defenses then deal with the Minions and Balloons that do get out.
Sky Wagon changes
- April 27, 2026, Sound of Clash update: Sky Wagon added with the level 9 Workshop and four levels. The same update made all Siege Machines immune to the Town Hall 14-16 poison, Life Gem effects and the Apprentice Warden‘s aura, and they now take damage from Firemite fires.
- May 26, 2026: one fewer barrel, one fewer Minion per barrel and troops one level lower at every level (see the table above).
- July 9, 2026: no change; Supercell said it was still being monitored.
Sky Wagon FAQ
What Town Hall unlocks the Sky Wagon?
Town Hall 17, with the level 9 Workshop. With a level 11 Clan Castle you can use a donated one from Town Hall 15.
What does the Sky Wagon target?
Defenses. It flies to the nearest one and drops barrels from 5.5 tiles away.
Was the Sky Wagon nerfed?
Yes, on May 26, 2026: one fewer barrel, one fewer Minion per barrel, and all its troops one level lower.
What is the Sky Wagon’s max level?
Level 4 at Town Hall 18. See all nine machines on the Siege Machines page and every cap on the max levels page.
Sources: Supercell release notes and posts (Sound of Clash update, April 2026, State of Gameplay part 2, May 2026 update, July 2026 balance update), in-game data.
