"The X-Bow shoots mystical bolts with terrifying power. Load it with Elixir and the X-Bow works automagically. You can set it to target ground units at long ranges, or all targets at reduced range."
Ground Mode
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
Level 8
Air & Ground Mode
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
Level 8
Summary
The X-Bow is a single-target, rapid-firing turret that is unlocked at Town Hall level 9.
The X-Bow has to be loaded to work. Loading is free and takes place automatically after you log into the game, but if it fires enough shots without being reloaded it will eventually run out of ammunition and will not fire.
It can be configured to two modes - Ground Mode, which can only target ground troops at a 14 tile range, or Ground and Air, which can target both ground and air units at an 11 tile range.
Strategies
Defensive Strategy
A well-placed and loaded X-Bow will dominate attacks, but to be most effective it should not be used as a front-line defense. With the second longest range of any damage-dealing defense, it is best placed behind all other defenses, typically in the center of a base.
Be sure to keep your X-Bow loaded by logging into the game from time to time. An unloaded X-Bow is not only a waste of space, it is a good indicator that your base may be neglected, encouraging others to raid you.
Although the X-Bow shoots rapidly, each shot causes only a relatively small amount of damage, but has a high damage per second. Support it with powerful defenses (such as Mortars or Wizard Towers) so it can quickly take out your enemies.
The dominance of Balloon and Minion oriented attacks at and around Town Hall 9 in Clan Wars and regular raids make a strong case for keeping X-Bows set to Air and Ground in both farming and war bases. At higher levels, it is still useful to set it to Air and Ground if extra aerial defense is needed against air attacks like Lavaloon, Electro Dragons, or Bat-based attacks, or if Air Defenses are being upgraded and unavailable.
Offensive Strategy
The X-Bow has essentially no weaknesses unless it is set to ground-only mode, determinable by the way it is angled. If it is horizontal to the ground, it can target ground troops only. If it is tilted up, then it can attack air units as well.
The X-Bow can lock on to a unit for a very long time because of its long range. This means that placing the X-Bow near the center can allow it to snipe at troops on the outer areas of your base. It also counteracts the effect of the Healer when set to Ground and Air mode. The X-Bow also counters the Queen Walk, a popular strategy consisting of the Archer Queen and Healers, with the help of other buildings.
In order to attack an X-Bow, treat it like a longer-ranged Cannon or Archer Tower, but don't forget that many units can be mowed down very quickly by this defense. Distract it with high-health troops like Giants, Golems or P.E.K.K.As, and destroy it with a large group of attackers such as Archers or Barbarians.
Attacking players can see if the defender's X-Bow is loaded or not. Currently, there is no way to tell exactly how much Elixir the X-Bow has left, but a player can visually tell when it is empty. When it is loaded, you will see a small box containing what appears to be small Elixir bolts. An unloaded X-Bow will be lacking the box, and the bowstring will be missing (see the image gallery below).
Attacking players can also see if the X-Bow is set to ground-only or both ground and air. Take advantage of ground-only X-Bows and send in air units to destroy it first.
An X-Bow that is empty is completely useless and will not fire. It still must be destroyed to achieve 100% destruction, and troops that preferentially attack defenses (e.g. Giants and Balloons) will still target an unloaded X-Bow if it is closer to them than an active defense.
Upgrade Differences
X-Bows undergo significant visual changes at all levels except level 8. The projectiles also changes significantly as well.
When initially constructed, the X-Bow consists of a huge crossbow-like structure mounted on a base made of light-colored wood. It has small black stones on the corners of the base and a rotational mount resembling a gear wheel.
At level 2, the X-Bow base gains gilded legs. It gains gold spikes on the corners. The projectiles that the X-Bow shoots turn golden.
At level 3, the X-Bow base becomes solid black and large black spikes are added on each corner of the base. The projectiles that the X-Bow shoots turns dark purple.
At level 4, the X-Bow base becomes golden and the large spikes on each corner turn red like they are glowing with heat. The projectiles that the X-Bow shoots turns to orange.
At level 5, the X-Bow's golden circular rim becomes bigger and now extends all the way to the floor. The stone foundation is now covered with a red casing, complete with a metal band around it. The red spikes at the edges of the foundation turn darker and more pronounced, while the tips of the spikes become black. The rectangular ammunition cartridge at the top of the X-Bow turns from wooden to golden in color. The barrel now comes with a small golden tip, with a small golden spike flanking both sides.
At level 6, the spikes are removed in favor of having a new metallic platform with octagonal corners. The central base piece of the X-Bow is now mostly purple. The X-Bow itself is now made of stone with golden details and stirrup added as well. It also gains a steel bar on the front of the bow.
At level 7, the central base turns into a turquoise wood, and the four corner pieces are now slightly longer, with ice tops and 2 navy blue spikes along the bottom for each piece. The top layer for the base sides is now purple. The ropes wrap around the handle another time and the stirrup is now a shining navy blue spike.
At level 8, The gold plating sections that go into the ground now turn thicker and are more rectangular pieces that hold the X-Bow down. At the side of each corner piece is a small purple plate that itself has an even smaller navy blue plate on it. The gold on the end of the bow is now darker. The side-plate of the base becomes a little thicker and the entire base of the X-Bow looks slightly larger. The circular piece in the center now glows reddish-pink. The projectiles that the X-Bow shoots turn to an icy blue color.
The arrow shots from the X-Bow changes throughout the levels (except for level 4-7).
At level 1, the arrows are pink.
At level 2, the arrows turn yellow.
At level 3, the arrows turn dark purple.
At level 4, 5, 6, and 7, the X-Bow shoots flaming arrows.
At level 8, the arrows turn frosty and glows cyan.
Achievement
X-Bow Exterminator
Description
Rewards
Rewards
Destroy one X-Bow
50
50
Destroy 250 X-Bows
100
100
Destroy 2,500 X-Bows
1,000
200
History
The X-Bow was added in the October 27, 2012 Halloween update that introduced Town Hall level 9, with only 1 level.
The January 10, 2013 update added the 2nd X-Bow available at Town Hall level 9, added levels 2 and 3 X-Bow, decreased range to 11 tiles in Air and Ground mode, decreased ammo capacity by 25%, and displayed loading cost in the info screen.
The February 5, 2013 lowered the reload costs for X-Bow levels 2 and 3.
The May 23, 2013 update added the level 4 X-Bow and decreased the upgrade cost of levels 2 and 3.
The June 17, 2013 update added the 3rd X-Bow available at Town Hall level 10.
The August 27, 2013 "Player Profile update added the X-Bow achievement called the 'X-Bow Exterminator'.
In May 16, 2014 update, you can now toggle your X-Bow between different modes in your War Base even if you are upgrading your X-Bows.
The December 10, 2015 update added the 4th X-Bow unlocked at Town Hall level 11, and reduced reload costs massively.
The March 21, 2016 update increased damage for level 2-4 X-Bow.
The October 12, 2016 update added the level 5 X-Bow. The update also made the upgraded X-Bows resemble the unloaded ones to indicate base weakness more clearly.
The December 18, 2017 update reduced the DPS from level 2-4 X-Bow.
The June 11, 2018 updated added the level 6 X-Bow.
The June 26, update reduced upgrade times for level 1-5 X-Bow.
The October 23, 2018 update reduced damage from level 3-5 X-Bow.
The February 22, 2019 increased the DPS at all levels.
The April 2, 2019 update reduced upgrade times of level 1 and 2 X-Bow, reduced upgrade costs of level 1-5 X-Bow, and removed the Elixir cost to reload the X-Bow, instead reloading for free when you log back into the game.
A bug existed when copying or sharing layouts, in which the mode of X-Bows and Inferno Towers were taken from the active layout rather than the chosen layout. This bug was fixed in the June 20th 2019 Maintenance break.
The December 9, 2019 update added the level 7 X-Bow.
The December 7, 2020 update added the level 8 X-Bow.
In April 12, 2021 update, the ground X-Bow asset is fixed to match other assets of the same level for level 5, 6, and 7. The update also gave the level 5 X-Bow a minor change; the crystals from the corners now glow aesthetically, and the circular piece in the center now glows red.
Trivia
The name "X-Bow" is a play on the word "Crossbow", which the device resembles. The letter "X" resembles a cross (十), leading to this abbreviated name.
In the Japanese and Korean localization of the game, the X-Bow is called the "Large Crossbow."
In both Chinese localization of the game, the X-Bow is called the "X Crossbow."
In ground-only mode, the X-Bow has a range of 14 tiles, the second-longest damaging defensive building (Eagle Artillery being the first) in the game (the Air Sweeper has a range of 15 tiles but it does no damage).
If measured by the area that its firepower can cover, a centered X-Bow covers approximately 616 tiles in ground-only mode and approximately 380 tiles in ground and air mode.
At 7.8125 shots per second, the X-Bow is one of the two fastest shooting defenses in the game, tied with the Inferno Tower.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Damage Per Second, Hitpoints, Range, Damage Type and Targets.
Tapping this icon begins upgrading the X-Bow to the next level, if you have enough resources and a free Builder. When the X-Bow is at maximum level, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon instantly upgrades the X-Bow to the next level, at the cost of one Hammer of Building if you have one. When the X-Bow is at maximum level, or if the Town Hall requirements for the next level are not met, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed only while an upgrade is in progress, instantly finishes that upgrade at the cost of the displayed number of Gems.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed only while an upgrade is in progress, instantly finishes that upgrade at the cost of one Book of Building. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Book of Building.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed only while an upgrade is in progress, instantly finishes that upgrade at the cost of one Book of Everything. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Book of Everything but do not have a Book of Building.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed only while an upgrade is in progress, boosts all your Builders for 1 hour by a factor of ten, at the cost of one Builder Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Builder Potion.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed only while an upgrade is in progress, cancels the current upgrade and refunds half of the upgrade cost.
This icon indicates that the X-Bow is currently set to Ground mode, to attack ground units only. Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow attack mode to attack both ground and air units. This icon is only displayed while the X-Bow is in Ground mode.
This icon indicates that the X-Bow is currently set to Air and Ground mode, to attack both air and ground units. Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow attack mode to attack ground units only. This icon is only displayed while the X-Bow is in Air and Ground mode.
Gold Pass modifiers
Input Gold Pass boost to modify the statistics in the tables below accordingly
Rewards
Rewards
