What should I upgrade first at TH16?

Usually the hero you just unlocked (Minion Prince) and your primary offense, while keeping defenses within range of the TH15 baseline. Run a free CoachScore for an order tuned to your account and goal.

What are the max hero levels at TH16?

At Town Hall 16 the hero caps are Barbarian King 95, Archer Queen 95, Grand Warden 70, Royal Champion 45, Minion Prince 40. These are best-effort values from the CoachScore reference table; confirm against the live game for edge cases.

Should I rush to TH17?

Moving to TH17 before your TH16 heroes and defenses are near their caps almost always lowers your grade and your war performance. CoachScore's rush check tells you whether you are ready to advance.

How much does hero equipment matter at TH16?

From TH16 equipment is its own scored dimension. At TH16 the 6 key epic pieces matter most when they power your main attack, so CoachScore weighs them against your hero levels to keep the order right.

TH16 upgrade order (2026)

Updated June 2026 · data 0.1.0-th18

Sitting at Town Hall 16 and not sure what to upgrade next? TH16 unlocks the Minion Prince, which reshuffles your priorities — a brand-new hero is usually the biggest single grade gap on the account. TH16 is also where hero equipment first becomes a scored dimension, so it now competes with raw hero levels for your loot. CoachScore grades seven dimensions — Heroes, Offense, Defense, Equipment, Progression (rush), Walls, and Clan value — and orders the roadmap by cost-weighted impact toward the goal you pick.

TH16 reference (max levels)

Barbarian King: max level 95
Archer Queen: max level 95
Grand Warden: max level 70
Royal Champion: max level 45
Minion Prince: max level 40
Walls: max level 17
Key defenses: around level 18
Lab / offense: around level 14
Hero equipment: 6 key epics, max level 15

Bring the Minion Prince online first

A freshly-unlocked hero starts far below the TH16 caps (Barbarian King 95, Archer Queen 95, Grand Warden 70, Royal Champion 45, Minion Prince 40), so its early levels are the cheapest grade you can buy. For war and trophy goals CoachScore surfaces the Minion Prince and your main attack upgrades first, because that is where the biggest gap to a maxed TH16 sits.

Don't out-run your defenses

Pushing offense while defense lags is the most common TH16 mistake. CoachScore's Progression dimension compares your base to the maxed TH15 baseline you should have finished before moving up, then reports exactly how rushed you are and which defensive upgrades (key defenses cap around level 18 at TH16) to catch up on.

Fit hero equipment into the plan (6 key pieces)

At TH16 you have roughly 6 meta-relevant epic equipment pieces, each maxing around level 15. Equipment compounds with hero levels, so CoachScore only prioritizes the pieces your actual army uses — and weighs them against any under-levelled hero so you do not pour loot into a fourth epic while a hero lags.

When is it safe to move to TH17?

Move up once your TH16 heroes, key defenses, and main army are close to their caps — not the moment the Town Hall upgrade finishes. A CoachScore at TH16 shows whether you are maxed enough to advance without rushing into TH17.

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FAQ

What should I upgrade first at TH16?: Usually the hero you just unlocked (Minion Prince) and your primary offense, while keeping defenses within range of the TH15 baseline. Run a free CoachScore for an order tuned to your account and goal.
What are the max hero levels at TH16?: At Town Hall 16 the hero caps are Barbarian King 95, Archer Queen 95, Grand Warden 70, Royal Champion 45, Minion Prince 40. These are best-effort values from the CoachScore reference table; confirm against the live game for edge cases.
Should I rush to TH17?: Moving to TH17 before your TH16 heroes and defenses are near their caps almost always lowers your grade and your war performance. CoachScore's rush check tells you whether you are ready to advance.
How much does hero equipment matter at TH16?: From TH16 equipment is its own scored dimension. At TH16 the 6 key epic pieces matter most when they power your main attack, so CoachScore weighs them against your hero levels to keep the order right.