Clash of Clans

How Clash of Clans works

Clash of Clans is a free-to-play cartoon-style combat game available on PC, Android and iOS. The game is set within a fantasy world. Users build a village, design their base, establish an army and join or create a group of players known as a ‘Clan’ to defend it. With their clan, users can battle with other clans from around the world to raid their villages. These are known as ‘Clan Wars’.

By forming clans with friends, players can work together by strategically planning and donating troops to attack and defend against other players from around the world. Players can use the resources and rewards they gain from attacking other villages to further build their own defences, upgrade their buildings and train their troops.

Minimum age requirements

Clash of Clans’ Terms of Service state that users must be at least 13 years of age to play the game.

When signing up for an account, players are asked to input their date of birth. If the date entered is for an age under 16, the player will only be able to join ‘Family Friendly’ clans with stricter chat filters. However, there is no age verification to check that the player’s true age has been entered, so you should supervise your child while they create their account to ensure they enter the correct date of birth.

Features

Clan

A group of players who work together in the game under the same banner. This is a user’s team.

Chat

A feature that allows players to chat within their clan.

Event

An ‘Event’ is a time limited challenge which can offer rewards on completion.

Gems

The in-game currency. Gems can be earned while playing the game or purchased with real money.

League

Players are placed in a league once their trophy count is above 400. Each league has its own rewards which increase as the trophy count gets higher.

Trophies

Rewards that dictate the status of a player. Trophies are earned by winning battles and defending attacks and are lost by losing battles or being raided.

Standard Clans

These clans are only available to players aged over 16.

Family-friendly clans

These clans can include players under 16 and the chat filtering in these clans is stricter.

Terms

CoC

This is the short form off Clash of Clans.

Troll

People who taunt, tease or bait other players for a reaction.

BM’ing

Short for bad mannering, which usually involves taunting or poor sportsmanship.

What Clash of Clans offers

Teamwork and social connection

Clash of Clans can give young people something to work on with their friends or family and feel like part of a team. While in a family-friendly clan, users can communicate with each other in a moderated environment and connect with others.

Strategy and problem-solving skills

Young people can develop their strategic thinking skills while playing Clash of Clans.

The game requires players to:

• design their base
• manage resources properly
• study rival bases before they attack at the right moment

Managing risks

Contact with other users

While playing Clash of Clans, your child will likely come into contact with other players.

These players pose a risk as they:

• could send offensive messages, request personal information or attempt to scam your child
• may begin arguing over the clan strategy in the clan chat or start bullying another clan member

You can take the following actions to reduce the chance of this happening.

Family Friendly clans

Encourage your child to only join Family Friendly clans with people that they know and trust in real life. These clans have chat filters, lowering the chances that other players will use inappropriate language.

Check what communication channels they use

Some gamers use third party chatting apps like Discord to chat while gaming. Ask your child whether they are using any additional chatting apps while playing and check who they are communicating with.

Talk to your child about online safety

Have a conversation with your child about interacting safely online.

Teach them not to share personal information such as their location or social media accounts. Advise them not to click any links that are sent in the chat, as these could be scams. Let them know that if anyone in the game is making them upset or uncomfortable, they can come to you for support.

Muting and reporting tools

Showing your child how to use the muting and reporting tools will allow them to end contact with anyone that is making them uncomfortable.

Excessive screen time

Clash of Clans can be highly immersive and compelling, resulting in extended stints of gameplay.

You can take steps to keep your child’s screen time balanced.

Set time limits

In the settings of your child’s iOS or Android device, you can set time limits on apps.

Turn off notifications

Disabling notifications will prevent your child from being distracted by alerts from the game. This will stop messages in clan chat or notifications of raids.

Overspending

While Clash of Clans can be downloaded and played for free, players have the option to purchase Gems, the in-game currency. Users might be pressured to overspend on Gems to keep up with other members of their clan.

To prevent your child from overspending, there are steps you can take.

Talk about spending

Speak to your child about in-app purchases and ensure they understand that real money is used to make purchases in the game. Help them understand the value of money by comparing the price of in-game transactions to things they could buy in the real world.

Set spending restrictions

You can set the relevant in-app purchase settings on the device being used and make sure that the game is not unknowingly linked to your bank cards or financial details.

Settings to protect your child

If your child wants to play Clash of Clans, the following settings can help them play safely.

Explore reporting and mute tools

Report a player or message

• Open the chat within the game.
• Find the message or player you wish to report.
• Tap the message or player and select ‘Report’.

Mute a player

• Select the player you wish to mute.
• Select the ‘Emote’ icon and choose ‘Mute’.

Disabling purchases

In the settings of the device your child uses to play Clash of Clans, you can disable unauthorised in-app purchases. This will prevent your child from overspending on micro-transactions.

Disable in-app purchases (on iOS)

• With Screen Time enabled, go to ‘Settings’.
• Open ‘Screen Time’ and select ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’.
• Turn on the toggle next to ‘Content & Privacy Restrictions’.
• Select ‘iTunes & App Store Purchases’.
• Select In-app Purchases and select ‘Don't Allow’.

Disable in-app purchases (on Android)

• Go to ‘Google Play Store’ app.
• Select the profile icon.
• Select ‘Payments and subscriptions’.
• Select ‘Purchase verification’.
• Select ‘Verification frequency’.
• Set it to ‘Always’ and select ‘OK’.