"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."
Level 1
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Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
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Level 6
Summary
The X-Bow is a single target, rapid-firing turret that unlocks at Town Hall 9.
It can be configured to two modes - Ground Mode, where it can only target ground troops at a 14 tile range, or Ground and Air, where it can target both ground and air units at a 11 tile range.
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.
Remember to refill your X-Bow with Elixir. 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. Support it with powerful defenses (such as Mortars) so it can quickly take out your enemies.
The dominance of Balloon and Minion oriented attacks at this level both 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.
X-Bows under construction act as if they are fully built during Clan Wars. This allows players to buy one before the war, but they cannot cancel its construction.
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 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 it 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 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 levels 2, 3 and 4.
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.
At level 2, the X-Bow base gains gilded legs and rotational mount. It appears to have gold spikes on the corners.
At level 3, the X-Bow base becomes solid black with large black spikes on each corner.
At level 4, the X-Bow base becomes golden and the large spikes on each corner turn red, like they are glowing with heat.
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 turns darker and more pronounced, while the tips of the spikes becomes black. The rectangular ammunition cartridge at the top of the X-Bow turns from wooden to golden in colour. 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.
Trivia
The X-Bow is one of three defenses (the others being the Inferno Tower and the Eagle Artillery) that need to be reloaded at the cost of resources.
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.
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 localizations of the game, the X-Bow is called the "Large Crossbow."
In both Chinese localizations of the game, the X-Bow is called the "X Crossbow."
When the X-Bow is firing, you can see smoke coming out of it.
The X-Bow will notify you when it is running low on ammunition with a bubble above it saying "Low Ammo".
When first built, the X-Bow is already fully loaded with Elixir. Upgrading a X-Bow will also fully load it.
There is an achievement named X-Bow Exterminator whose objective is to destroy a certain number of X-Bows in multiplayer battles.
X-Bows under construction also count towards the X-Bow Exterminator achievement.
Prior to the update, all Traps (except the Spring Trap), the Archer Tower and the Wizard Tower were already visually inactive when being upgraded.
Icon Descriptions
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Damage Per Second, Hitpoints, Range, Damage Type, Targets and Favorite Target.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Re-arm cost, Damage Type and Targets.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Damage Type and Targets.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Capacity, Production and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Capacity, Production and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Storage Capacity and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays the Hut's Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Total Troop Capacity and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays the Army Camp's Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Spell Capacity and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Elixir Storage Capacity, Gold Storage Capacity and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Troop Capacity, Hitpoints and Troops inside.
Tapping this icon displays information about the Wall, such as Level and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the Wall, such as Level and Hitpoints.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Damage per Second, Hitpoints, Regeneration Time and Ability Level.
Tapping this icon displays information about the X-Bow, such as Level, Damage per Second, Hitpoints, Regeneration Time and Ability Level.
Tapping this icon displays information about the Workshop, such as Level, Siege Machine Capacity and Hitpoints.
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, 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.
Tapping this icon, which is shown only when the Town Hall is level 12, begins upgrading the Giga Tesla to the next level, if you have enough resources and a free Builder. When the Giga Tesla is at maximum level, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon, which is shown only when the Town Hall is level 12, instantly upgrades the Giga Tesla to the next level, at the cost of one Hammer of Building if you have one. When the Giga Tesla is at maximum level, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon begins upgrading the X-Bow to the next level, if you have enough resources and a free Master 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, 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, cancels the current upgrade and refunds half of the upgrade cost.
Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow attack mode to attack air units. This icon is only displayed while the X-Bow is in Ground mode.
Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow attack mode to attack ground units. This icon is only displayed while the X-Bow is in Air mode.
Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow to be deployed as an air unit. This icon is only displayed while the X-Bow is in Ground mode.
Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow to be deployed as a ground unit. This icon is only displayed while the X-Bow is in Air mode.
Tapping this icon re-arms this X-Bow. This icon is only displayed after this X-Bow has been triggered during an enemy attack.
Tapping this icon re-arms all Traps. This icon is only displayed when one or more of your Traps have been triggered in a previous enemy attack.
This icon informs you that all Traps are armed. It is not tappable, and replaces the re-arm icons.
Tapping this icon reloads this X-Bow with Elixir. This icon only appears if this X-Bow is not fully loaded.
Tapping this icon reloads all X-Bows with Elixir. This icon only appears if one or more X-Bows are not fully loaded.
Tapping this icon reloads the Eagle Artillery with Elixir. This icon only appears if the player owns the Eagle Artillery but not an X-Bow, and if the Eagle Artillery is not fully loaded.
Tapping this icon reloads all X-Bows and the Eagle Artillery with Elixir. This icon only appears if at least one of these buildings is not fully loaded, and will replace the icons above if the player has both an X-Bow and the Eagle Artillery.
This icon informs you that all X-Bows are fully loaded. It is not tappable, and replaces the Load icons.
This icon informs you that the Eagle Artillery is fully loaded. It is not tappable, and only appears if the player owns the Eagle Artillery but not an X-Bow.
This icon informs you that all X-Bows and the Eagle Artillery are fully loaded. It is not tappable, and replaces the icon above if the player has both an X-Bow and the Eagle Artillery.
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.
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.
Tapping this icon reloads this Inferno Tower with Dark Elixir. This icon only appears if this Inferno Tower is not fully loaded.
Tapping this icon reloads all Inferno Towers with Dark Elixir. This icon only appears if one or more Inferno Towers are not fully loaded.
This icon informs you that all Inferno Towers are fully loaded. It is not tappable, and replaces the Load icons.
Tapping this icon switches the Inferno Tower attack mode to attack multiple enemies. This icon is only displayed while the Inferno Tower is in Single attack mode.
Tapping this icon switches the Inferno Tower attack mode to attack a single enemy. This icon is only displayed while the Inferno Tower is in Multiple attack mode.
Tapping this icon reloads the Eagle Artillery with Elixir. This icon only appears if the Eagle Artillery is not fully loaded.
This icon informs you that the Eagle Artillery is fully loaded. It is not tappable, and replaces the Load icon.
Tapping this icon boosts your Gold production for 1 day at the cost of the displayed amount of Gems.
Tapping this icon boosts your Gold production of all the X-Bows for 1 day at the cost of the displayed amount of Gems.
Tapping this icon boosts the production of all the Resource collector buildings for 1 day at the cost of one Resource Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Resource Potion.
Tapping this icon collects the uncollected Gold from the X-Bow.
This icon informs you that you don't have Gold to be collected from your X-Bow.
Tapping this icon boosts your troop training for 1 hour, reducing the time required to train troops by a factor of four for the duration of the boost.
Tapping this icon boosts your troop training, spell brewing and hero regeneration for 1 hour, reducing the time by a factor of four for the duration of the boost, at the cost of one Training Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Training Potion.
Tapping this icon opens up the troop training interface, allowing you to train troops.
Tapping this icon opens up the troop training interface, allowing you to train troops.
Tapping this icon opens up the troop training interface, allowing you to train troops.
Tapping this icon opens up the Laboratory interface, allowing you to upgrade your troops' levels.
Tapping this icon opens up the Star Laboratory interface, allowing you to upgrade your troops' levels.
Tapping this icon boosts your spell creation for 1 hour, reducing the time required to create spells by a factor of four for the duration of the boost.
Tapping this icon boosts your troop training, spell brewing and hero regeneration for 1 hour, reducing the time by a factor of four for the duration of the boost, at the cost of one Training Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Training Potion.
Tapping this icon opens up the X-Bow's interface, allowing you to brew spells.
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 Heroes if you have one. When the X-Bow is at maximum level, 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 Heroes. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Book of Heroes.
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 Heroes.
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.
Tapping this icon puts the X-Bow to sleep. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is at full health and is in Guard mode.
Tapping this icon awakens the X-Bow, whom will then help guard your village. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is at full health and is in Sleep mode.
Tapping this icon instantly heals the X-Bow for the displayed amount of Gems. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is currently regenerating health on the Altar.
Tapping this icon boosts the X-Bow's regeneration speed for 1 hour, reducing the time required to regenerate the X-Bow by a factor of four for the duration of the boost.
Tapping this icon boosts your troop training, spell brewing and hero regeneration for 1 hour, reducing the time by a factor of four for the duration of the boost, at the cost of one Training Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Training Potion.
Tapping this icon temporarily boosts all your Heroes by 5 levels for 1 hour, bounded by your Town Hall and Builder Hall's limits, at the cost of one Hero Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Hero Potion.
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 Heroes if you have one. When the X-Bow is at maximum level, 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 the Battle Machine is being rebuilt, 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 the Battle Machine is being upgraded, instantly finishes that upgrade at the cost of one Book of Heroes. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Book of Heroes.
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 or Book of Heroes, where relevant.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed only while an upgrade is in progress, cancels the current upgrade and refunds half of the upgrade cost.
Tapping this icon instantly heals the X-Bow for the displayed amount of Gems. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is currently regenerating health on the Altar.
Tapping this icon temporarily boosts all your Heroes by 5 levels for 1 hour, bounded by your Town Hall and Builder Hall's limits, at the cost of one Hero Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Hero Potion.
Tapping this icon requests troops from your fellow clan members. It will appear if your Clan Castle is not already full and the timer since your last request has elapsed.
Tapping this icon requests troops from your clan members without waiting for the timer at the cost of the displayed number of Gems. It will appear if your Clan Castle is not already full and the timer since your last request is still counting down.
This icon informs you that your Clan Castle is full of troops and spells. It will replace both Request icons if the Clan Castle is full.
Tapping this icon displays information about the clan which the player owning the Clan Castle belongs to (this icon can appear when you are visiting another village). This icon only appears if the player owning the Clan Castle is in a Clan.
Tapping this icon displays information about your Treasury.
Tapping this icon displays information about your inventory of Magic Items.
Tapping this icon puts the X-Bow to sleep, preventing any troops inside from guarding your village. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is in Guard mode.
Tapping this icon awakens the X-Bow , allowing any troops inside to help guard your village. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is in Sleep mode.
Tapping this icon upgrades the Wall to the next level, if you have enough Wall Rings and a free Builder. When the Wall is at maximum level, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon selects a row of Walls to move or rotate instead of a single Wall. The longest contiguous row of Walls will be selected.
Tapping this icon rotates the selected row of Walls. This icon is only displayed while you have multiple Walls selected.
Tapping this icon upgrades all the upgradable Walls in the selected row to the next level, if you have enough resources and a free Builder. This icon is only displayed while you have multiple Walls selected.
Tapping this icon rotates the selected row of Walls.
Tapping this icon upgrades the selected Walls to the next level, if you have enough resources and a free Master Builder. When the selected Walls are at maximum level, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon upgrades the selected Walls to the next level, if you have enough Wall Rings and a free Master Builder. When the selected Walls are at maximum level, this icon is not shown.
Tapping this icon rotates the Air Sweeper 45 degrees clockwise.
Tapping this icon gears up the X-Bow, if you have upgraded it enough to do so, have enough resources and a free Master Builder. If any X-Bow is already geared up, this icon will not appear.
This icon informs you that the X-Bow cannot be geared up because it is insufficiently upgraded. Tapping this icon will tell you the required level to gear up this X-Bow. If any X-Bow is already geared up, this icon will not appear.
Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow to Burst mode. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is geared up, and is in Normal mode.
Tapping this icon switches the X-Bow to Normal mode. This icon only appears when the X-Bow is geared up, and is in Burst mode.
Tapping this icon switches the Archer Tower to Fast Attack mode. This icon only appears when the Archer Tower is geared up, and is in Long Range mode.
Tapping this icon switches the Archer Tower to Long Range mode. This icon only appears when the Archer Tower is geared up, and is in Fast Attack mode.
Tapping this icon switches the Archer Tower to Fast Attack mode. This icon only appears when the Archer Tower is in Long Range mode.
Tapping this icon switches the Archer Tower to Long Range mode. This icon only appears when the Archer Tower is in Fast Attack mode.
Tapping this icon rotates the Push Trap 90 degrees clockwise.
Tapping this icon collects the loot from the Loot Cart.
Tapping this icon switches between the Home Village and the Builder Base.
Tapping this icon boosts timers in the Builder Base, by a factor of eight for a duration determined by the level of the Clock Tower. This icon is only displayed when a free boost is available.
Tapping this icon boosts timers in the Builder Base, by a factor of eight for 30 minutes, at the cost of one Clock Tower Potion. This icon is only displayed if you have at least one Clock Tower Potion.
Tapping this icon allows you to boost the Clock Tower before its free boost is available, at the cost of the displayed amount of Gems. This icon is only displayed when the Clock Tower's free boost is in cooldown.
Tapping this icon removes this obstacle using Gold, if you have enough Gold and a free Builder. This icon only appears if the obstacle is in the Home Village and requires Gold to remove.
Tapping this icon removes this obstacle using Elixir, if you have enough Elixir and a free Builder. This icon only appears if the obstacle is in the Home Village and requires Elixir to remove.
Tapping this icon removes this obstacle using Gold, if you have enough Gold and a free Master Builder. This icon only appears if the obstacle is in the Builder Base and requires Gold to remove.
Tapping this icon removes this obstacle using Elixir, if you have enough Elixir and a free Master Builder. This icon only appears if the obstacle is in the Builder Base and requires Elixir to remove.
Tapping this icon, which is displayed while the selected obstacle is being removed, cancels the removal of this obstacle and refunds the full cost.
Tapping this icon moves this Obstacle to another place, at the cost of one Shovel of Obstacles. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Shovel of Obstacles.
Tapping this icon sells the selected decoration for one-tenth of their price.
Tapping this icon completely fills the Gold Storages, at the cost of one Rune of Gold. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Rune of Gold.
Tapping this icon completely fills the Gold Storages, at the cost of one Rune of Builder Gold. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Rune of Builder Gold.
Tapping this icon completely fills the Elixir Storages, at the cost of one Rune of Elixir. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Rune of Elixir.
Tapping this icon completely fills the Dark Elixir Storage, at the cost of one Rune of Dark Elixir. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Rune of Dark Elixir.
Tapping this icon 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 boosts your siege machine training for 1 hour, reducing the time required to train Siege Machines by a factor of four for the duration of the boost.
Tapping this icon boosts your siege machine training, spell brewing and hero regeneration for 1 hour, reducing the time by a factor of four for the duration of the boost, at the cost of one Training Potion. This icon is only shown if you have at least one Training Potion.
