Making Multiple Clash of Clans Accounts

     I was asked just the other day if there was a way to have multiple accounts on Clash of Clans, and how to go about doing it, and I thought that this would make a good post since I'm sure there are plenty of us that have considered a second account but were unsure exactly how it works.  I haven't seen much information about this online either, so here I'll give you a detailed explanation about the various advantages, problems, and other issues with using multiple accounts. 
    

Can you Create a Second Account?

     Yes, and no.  Yes, you can certainly make other accounts on Clash of Clans, but there are only certain ways in which SuperCell will allow this to happen.  First, to maintain multiple accounts, you will need a separate device for each account you wish to have.  It doesn't matter what kind of device it is, or even if it is the same provider as your other accounts.  So you can have accounts on iPads, iPhones, Android versions of these devices, and any other kind of device that supports Clash of Clans, and it won't affect your ability to use and maintain multiple accounts. 
     All you have to do to start another account is simply download and open Clash of Clans on any device you own, other than a device you already have a Clash of Clans account on.  The game will start up just like it did when you started out on your original account, taking you through the tutorial and eventually asking you what you want to be called.  Just put in any name that you want, it doesn't make a difference what you choose even if it is the same name as your other account (not really recommended since it would probably get confusing for you). 
     It will also ask you if you want to link your device to your Game Center (or other provider's equivalent to this) and your Facebook accounts.  Decline this for now, we will talk about that in a moment, but for now you have a brand new Clash of Clans account and you can now play through the game doing everything the way you wish you had done it in your original account (that's what I did). 


Can I Link Multiple Clash of Clans Accounts to my Game Center and Facebook Accounts?

     This time the answer is a resounding no.  You can have as many CoC accounts as you have devices, but only 1 of those CoC accounts can be linked to your Game Center or Facebook accounts.  The game will allow you to continue to play the other accounts without needing to link them to anything, but not being linked means that your alternate accounts will be missing a few of the features you would see on a normal account.
     You will not be able to check your Facebook list of friends that play Clash of Clans from your alternate accounts, because you won't be linked to Facebook on any of the alternate accounts.  You will also not be able to compare achievements with friends and challenge them like you can on your main account, because you are not linked to Game Center on the alternate account. 
     Apart from these two minor differences, there really isn't any other major disadvantage to having multiple accounts.


What are the Benefits to Using Multiple Accounts?

     There are a few obvious advantages to using multiple accounts, and some not so obvious.  Obviously, you will never have to worry about waiting forever to get your troop requests filled again, because you can donate to yourself from your other accounts.  Now you can always get the best troops donated to you immediately upon requesting them!  Of course, at first you may not really want the low level troops your alternate accounts have, but they will grow quickly and in no time you will have good troops to donate to your main account.
     You will also have great troops to donate to your alternate accounts.  Because they will be such low levels, their multiplayer opponents will be low level as well, and you will have the great advantage of having a high level player (your main account) that is always willing to donate the best troops they have to you.  This should allow you to steal tons of resources from your fellow low level bronze and silver league players.
     Another fairly obvious advantage is that you can now play through the early levels of the game with all the knowledge you have gained while playing through the game on your main account.  Now you know to save those free gems you get at the beginning of the game and not waste half of them during the tutorial to instantly finish all your 1-minute constructions, and instead save as many as you can so you can get that third builder's hut without having to start from scratch.  You will know which defenses need to be upgraded first, and how to set up your walls to make raiders work for every penny they steal from you, and you will know the most efficient and effective farming armies to use when raiding others. 
     A less obvious advantage is the fact that you now have an extra (or several extra, depending on how many devices you have added CoC accounts on) clan member for wars, which can be wonderful if you have been having trouble keeping the required minimum of 10 members in your clan and as a result have had to miss out on having wars and leveling up your clan perks.  This is also helpful if your clan does have the required number of members, but many of the members of your clan have no interest or no aptitude for clan wars.  It can destroy your chances of victory when some of your members don't give it their all in wars, or don't have the necessary skills needed to succeed in war attacks and defense.  The problem comes when you have members like this, but have to include them to meet the minimum number to have a clan war, so it can be a godsend to have an extra account or two of your own that you can use to replace those kinds of clan mates. 
     Another less obvious benefit is that having a few secondary accounts can make your clan look that much bigger and therefore that much more appealing to potential new members.  When your clan is still small, it is easy for players to overlook you when they are searching for a new clan to join.  Adding 2-3 more members (even if they are all your alts) can really change the way a clan appears to potential members when there are only 10 or less members to begin with.  Then, all of the sudden, your clan jumps from barely being able to do 10 vs 10 wars to almost being capable of doing 15 vs 15 wars.  This makes your clan that much more appealing to potential applicants. 
     One last benefit to having multiple accounts is that if your secondary accounts have completely different names than your main account, you can pose as a completely different person when using your other accounts.  This has been used by players that try to spy in on the clans they are facing in wars to see what their war strategy will be, where their traps are set, and what they have in their defensive clan castles.  While I definitely look down on this, I wanted to include this for completeness and because I want this blog to be useful to all players, regardless of whether or not I agree with how they play the game. 
     You can also pose as another player to see how your clan mates act when they don't think you are around.  This is very useful as a clan leader or co-leader, because it can give you insight into how your clan mates truly feel about you and the job you are doing, and can help you figure out the things you need to change to make the clan work better for everyone.  It can also help you identify troublemakers that are trying to tear the good clan members apart and turn them on one another.  It sounds crazy, but apparently this happens rather often.  The way you go about this is to allow your alternate character to join the clan but never actually reveal that it is your alt.  Then, at some point make up a reason for your main character to leave the clan for a brief period, which will give your clan mates a chance to talk while they think you are gone. 
     I know this sounds kind of shady, but if you have noble intentions you shouldn't let that bother you.  Don't use this to get dirt on other players or do any underhanded things like that, this tactic should only be used to try to improve your clan and improve your leadership capabilities.  If a member of the clan says derogatory things about your main account or something of that nature, keep your cool and understand that they are just trying to express their frustration about how they feel that their leaders may need to improve in certain areas.  Use it as constructive criticism, and try to learn from it as best you can.

* Afterwards, you can choose to reveal your alternate account as yourself to your clan mates or decide to remain anonymous.  Think hard about it before you decide to tell your clan mates, as this could cause them to question how trustworthy you are, and there is not immediate benefit to revealing this information to them, unless you are doing so in order to confront someone that is causing trouble or was completely trashing you to your clan mates.  I hope this information is helpful, and remember that you should really think deeply about this before deciding to go undercover, as it is inherently shady and most clan mates would likely see it that way if you were to reveal it to them.  Keep in mind you could also find a way to let only the members you know and trust know that the alternate account is actually you; this way you don't betray the trust of your friends.


What if I Would Rather Link My Alternate Account Instead of My Main Account?

     If for some reason you really want to have one of your alternate accounts linked to your Facebook and Game Center accounts instead of your original account, it can be done. 

To switch the account that is linked to Facebook:

* Go to your settings (the button on the lower right of your home base screen that contains an image of gears, it is just above the button for the shop) and go to the tab that says "settings". 

* Here you will click the button below the word "Facebook" that says "Disconnected". 

* Most likely a window will pop-up that says "This Facebook account is already linked to another Clash of Clans game.  Link it to your current game instead?", and you will click "Okay"

* You will then go through the process of switching accounts by entering your Facebook information and confirming that you wish to do this.  Now your alternate account will be able to access your Facebook friends that play CoC list.

* You should also now be able to compare your achievements and challenge your friends.

* Note that your main account will no longer have access to these features, and will not be able to use this on this account again unless you switch your accounts back to their original state.