TH16 Root Rider Attack Guide 2026 -- Ricochet Cannon Counter Strategy

TH16 introduces the Ricochet Cannon -- a defense that fires a projectile that bounces between ground troops within a cluster, dealing chain damage to multiple troops with each shot. Root Riders burrowing in tight clusters are particularly vulnerable because the Ricochet Cannon continues hitting the same cluster on every bounce. The TH16 Root Rider adaptation is deploying Root Riders in a wider spread (8 to 10 tiles apart rather than 4 to 6 tiles) to reduce Ricochet Cannon bounce overlap, while adding a Ricochet Cannon Freeze to disrupt chain fire timing.

Army Composition and Spells

Standard TH16 Root Rider hybrid (340 housing): 4 Healers (28), 16 to 18 Root Riders (64 to 72 super boost housing), 3 to 4 Super Witches (24 to 32), 2 Golems (60), Wall Breakers (4), filler. Spells: 1 Rage (Queen Charge), 2 Rage (Root Rider wave), 2 Freeze (Ricochet Cannon / Monolith), 1 Earthquake, 1 Skeleton Spell. Pet assignments: L.A.S.S.I. on AQ, Electro Owl on RC, Mighty Yak on King, Frosty on Warden. At TH16, the Warden ability duration increases, providing longer Root Rider cluster protection during the Ricochet Cannon engagement zone.

Step-by-Step Execution

Step 1 -- Scout Ricochet Cannon position: The Ricochet Cannon is typically in the outer to mid ring. Its chain bounce reaches troops within 8 to 10 tiles of the initial target. Identify which burrowing corridors pass within its bounce range. Step 2 -- Wide Root Rider spread: Deploy Root Riders across a 12 to 16 tile wide deployment zone. The wide spread ensures Root Riders are more than 8 tiles apart during burrowing, reducing Ricochet Cannon bounce overlap. Step 3 -- RC Monolith targeting: Deploy RC with Electro Owl toward the Monolith side as at TH15. Step 4 -- Queen Charge: AQ with L.A.S.S.I. from the opposite side. Step 5 -- Root Rider Rage: When Root Riders surface inside the second ring, drop Rage. At TH16, Root Rider surfacing happens within 6 to 8 seconds of deployment. Step 6 -- Freeze on Ricochet Cannon when the Root Rider cluster is within its chain bounce range. Freezing the Ricochet Cannon for 4 to 5 seconds eliminates chain bouncing during Root Rider peak engagement. Step 7 -- Second Freeze on Monolith if RC has not destroyed it before Root Riders surface in range. Frosty Warden slow aura reduces both Monolith beam and Ricochet Cannon fire rate. Step 8 -- Skeleton Spell on Town Hall approach.

Multi-Archer Tower Consideration

TH16 also introduces the Multi-Archer Tower, which fires multiple arrows simultaneously at a single target. For Root Riders underground, the Multi-Archer Tower is less threatening -- they are burrowing and not targetable. However, once Root Riders surface, the Multi-Archer Tower concentrates fire efficiently. If the Multi-Archer Tower is positioned near the burrowing exit zone, use the second Freeze Spell to counter it after the Ricochet Cannon Freeze.

Browse TH16 war bases at our TH16 war base collection.