Okay so, this idea comes from an old Risk-like Flash game called Vortex Wars. It might still be running, I don't know. Essentially, matches had two types of assault setting - Attrition (ie. normal), or Hardcore. In Hardcore games, every attack is an auto-rolled attack, and the winner loses no troops. This means in a 20v20 attack, someone is going to lose 20 troops and the other none. If the attacker wins, they advance 19 troops. If the attacker loses, they lose 19 troops and the defender stays on 20.
This was super popular, and makes for some really interesting strategy. No more tapping, no more slow assaults, no more "attrition" style battles where you gradually wear your opponent down. It's all or nothing, high risk, high reward. If you lose, you lose big time, so you gotta be sure you'll win.
I know for a fact this can work and be incredibly popular, because this game was essentially just the same as CC but in a flashy futuristic skin. I really enjoyed it and there's no reason it shouldn't work here too. Thanks!