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Mastering Advanced Strategies
While having the right cards and decks is important, mastering advanced gameplay strategies is what truly separates top players from the rest. This guide covers essential techniques that will help you outplay your opponents and climb the ladder.
Each strategy includes detailed explanations, step-by-step instructions, and practical examples to help you implement these techniques in your own gameplay. Let's dive in!
Elixir Management
Elixir management is perhaps the most fundamental skill in Clash Royale. Players who can consistently maintain an elixir advantage will win more matches, regardless of card levels or deck matchups.
Track Your Opponent's Elixir
Always keep a mental count of your opponent's elixir. When they play a card, subtract its cost from their total. This helps you identify when they're low on elixir, creating opportunities for aggressive plays.
Example
If your opponent starts with a 5-elixir card (like Valkyrie) at the beginning of the match, you know they only have 5 elixir left. This is an excellent time to push the opposite lane with a fast win condition like Hog Rider.
Make Positive Elixir Trades
Always look for opportunities to defend using less elixir than your opponent spent attacking. These positive elixir trades accumulate throughout the match, giving you a significant advantage in the late game.
Example
Using a 4-elixir Inferno Dragon to counter a 7-elixir Mega Knight gives you a +3 elixir advantage.
Know When to Leak Elixir
Sometimes it's better to leak elixir than to make a suboptimal play. If you're at 10 elixir but don't have a good card to play, it might be better to wait for your opponent to make the first move.
Pro Tip
In the first 10-15 seconds of a match, it's often advantageous to wait and see what your opponent plays first. This gives you information about their deck and allows you to respond appropriately.
Card Placement
Precise card placement can dramatically change the outcome of interactions. Even a single tile difference can determine whether a unit targets the tower or a building, or whether a spell hits all intended targets.
Building Placements
Buildings should generally be placed in the center of your side, 3-4 tiles from the river. This maximizes the pulling distance for enemy troops while ensuring both Princess Towers can target them.
Example
Against Hog Rider, place your Cannon 4 tiles from the river and 3 tiles from the Princess Tower. This pulls the Hog away from your tower while allowing both towers to target it.
Troop Placements
When defending, place troops in positions that maximize their effectiveness while minimizing their vulnerability to spells.
Example
When defending against a Balloon, place your anti-air troops (like Musketeer) away from the path of the Balloon to avoid them being targeted by spells like Fireball or Arrows.
Pro Tip
Against splash damage troops like Valkyrie or Mega Knight, spread out your defending units to minimize the splash damage they take.
Spell Placements
Precise spell placement can maximize value by hitting multiple targets or activating King Tower against certain cards.
Example
Use Tornado to pull a Hog Rider to your King Tower for an activation. In subsequent defenses, you can pull the Hog to the center to be targeted by both Princess Towers.
Timing Techniques
Timing is crucial in Clash Royale. Knowing when to play your cards can be just as important as knowing which cards to play.
Delayed Card Deployment
Sometimes it's better to wait a moment before deploying a defensive card. This can bait out additional cards from your opponent or allow your Princess Towers to weaken enemy troops first.
Example
Against a Goblin Barrel, wait until the goblins lock onto your tower before using The Log. This ensures you hit all three goblins, even if they're spread out.
Elixir Doubling Time
At 2:00 (double elixir) and 1:00 (triple elixir), the pace of the game changes dramatically. Adjust your strategy accordingly.
Pro Tip
In single elixir, focus on defense and making positive elixir trades. In double elixir, you can be more aggressive with your pushes, especially with heavy decks.
Punishing Overcommitment
When your opponent commits a lot of elixir to one lane, they may be vulnerable in the opposite lane. This is an excellent time for a quick counter-push.
Example
If your opponent places a Golem (8 elixir) in the back, immediately push the opposite lane with a fast win condition like Hog Rider to force them to defend with limited elixir.
Counter Pushing
Counter pushing is the art of turning a successful defense into an offensive push. This technique maximizes the value of your defensive troops by using their remaining health for an attack.
Identify Counter Push Opportunities
After successfully defending, assess which of your troops survived and how much health they have left. If they're still at a reasonable health level, consider supporting them for a counter push.
Example
If your Valkyrie successfully defends against a push and still has 50% health, support her with a fast unit like Hog Rider or a ranged unit like Musketeer for a counter push.
Support Your Counter Push
Add appropriate support cards to your surviving defensive troops based on what your opponent has in cycle and how much elixir they have.
Pro Tip
If your opponent just used their main counter to your win condition (e.g., they used Inferno Tower against your Golem), it's an excellent time to counter push with that win condition.
Know When to Reset
Sometimes it's better to let your defensive troops die and reset for a fresh push, especially if they're low on health or your opponent has perfect counters in hand.
Example
If your Musketeer is at very low health after defending, it might be better to let her die and save your elixir for a fresh push rather than investing more elixir into a counter push that's likely to fail.
Dual Lane Pressure
Dual lane pressure involves attacking both lanes simultaneously, forcing your opponent to make difficult decisions about how to allocate their defensive resources.
Split Your Pushes
Instead of committing all your elixir to one lane, split your forces between both lanes. This makes it harder for your opponent to defend effectively with area damage cards or buildings.
Example
Place Royal Hogs in one lane and Goblin Drill in the other. Your opponent will have to split their defensive resources, likely leaving one lane vulnerable.
Identify the Weaker Lane
Pay attention to which lane your opponent defends more effectively and focus your subsequent pushes on the other lane.
Pro Tip
If one of your opponent's Princess Towers is lower on health, that lane becomes a priority target for them to defend. Use this to your advantage by applying pressure to the other lane.
Time Your Dual Pushes
The timing of your dual lane pushes is crucial. Ideally, you want both pushes to require a response at the same time, forcing your opponent to make split-second decisions.
Example
Start a slow push with a tank like Giant in one lane, and just as it crosses the bridge, deploy a fast win condition.