How to Play Clash Royale

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: May 4, 2022

Clash Royale is a card collecting strategy game from the makers of Clash of Clans. The goal of Clash Royale is to assemble a strong deck of cards to face off against other players. The cards in a deck are used to deploy units. To win a match, you must destroy your opponent's towers. This wikiHow teaches you how to play Clash Royale.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Started

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1
Download Clash Royale. You can download Clash Royale for free from the Google Play Store on Android, or the App Store on iPhone and iPad. Use the following steps to download Clash Royale:
- Open the Google Play Store on Android, or the App Store on iPhone and iPad.
- Tap the Search tab (iPhone and iPad only).
- Type Clash Royale in the search bar.
- Tap GET or Install next to the Clash Royale icon or banner.
- Tap Open or tap the Clash Royale icon on your home screen or apps menu to open Clash Royale.
2
Play through the tutorial. When you first start a new game of Clash Royale, the game walks you through 5 training battles. These battles will guide you through battling, collecting cards, and opening chests. Follow the on-screen instructions to learn how to play the game.
- It is best to not use your gems and save them for later.
- You will be able to access the shop and tournament later.
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After you complete the tutorial battles, you will be asked to enter an username and agree to the terms and conditions. Enter the name you want to use as your display name and tap Okay to agree to the terms and conditions. After the tutorial, you will be fighting against players online. In doing this step, you will also receive the free exclusive chicken emote.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Playing a Match

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To start a match, open Clash Royale and tap the battle tab at the bottom of the screen. It's the tab with two swords crossing at the bottom-center of the screen. Then tap the yellow button that says Battle to begin a match.
The arena is divided into two sides containing three towers on each side. Your side of the arena is at the bottom of the screen and your opponent's side is at the top of the screen. Both sides are divided by a river with two bridges. The two towers on the sides are the defensive towers. The large towers in the middle are the King's towers.
Elixir is needed to deploy units. Each player starts the match with 5 elixirs and can hold a maximum of 10 elixirs. At the start of the match, players gain 1 elixir every 2.8 seconds. After 2 minutes, the game enters double-elixir time and each player gains an elixir every 1.4 seconds. ^{[1]
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4
Deploy units and attacks. Your units and attacks are represented with the cards at the bottom of the screen. Cards can be a unit, such as a knight, minions, archer, or a giant. It can also be an attack such as a fireball or volley of arrows. The number at the bottom of the card represents how many elixir it takes to deploy the unit. Tap and drag a card to where you want it to deploy in the arena. You cannot deploy units to areas shaded in red on the arena. Cards can be used to attack your opponent's towers or their units.
- Units can be used to attack your opponent's towers or their units.
- You can deploy multiple cards at a time, provided you have enough elixir. Try deploying a primary attack card, such as a knight, or a giant, with minions, or archers as a backup.
In Clash Royale, you win a match by taking out your opponent's towers. The large towers at the back of the arena are the King's towers. If a King's tower falls, the match is over.
You win a crown for each tower you destroy during a match. You also win a chest each time you win a match. To open the chest tap the icon above the chest that says Tap to Unlock , then tap Countdown to unlock to begin the countdown. The countdown timer may take anywhere from 1 hour to 8 hours. Once the countdown timer is finished, you can tap the chest to open it. Each chest contains random rewards. Most chests usually contain some gold and some cards. You can have up to 4 chests at a time. ^{[2]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Assembling a Deck

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To open the cards tab, open Clash Royale, and tap the icon that resembles 3 cards at the bottom of the screen.
You can have 10 unique decks of cards. To select which deck you want to use, tap one of the numbered boxes at the top of the battle deck menu.
3
Select cards you want to use. The cards in your deck are at the top of the battle deck menu. You can have 8 cards in your deck. All cards you have found are listed in your card collection below your deck of cards. To select a card from your collection, tap the card, then tap Use . Tap the spot you want it to go in. If there is already a card in the spot, it will be swapped out.
- Think strategically about how you assemble your deck. Your deck should have a win-condition, which is your main offensive card. Pick other cards that compliment your win-condition card. The type of deck you assemble is called the "Archetype". Assemble a deck that best suits your play style.
When the bar below a card is green, it can be upgraded to the next level. To upgrade your cards, tap Upgrade below the card, and then tap Upgrade again on the upgrade screen. Upgrading your cards adds new perks, such as increased damage and health to the card.
5
Collect new cards. Collecting new cards allows you to create powerful combinations of troops. As you battle and level up, you will unlock new arenas. Each arena has new cards for you to find. You can also use one of the following steps to find new cards:
- Join a clan by tapping the icon that resembles social tab. The social tab has an icon that resembles a shield with people on it. Then you may request cards by tapping on the orange request button. Assuming there are willing donors, you will soon get the card you request.
- Purchase cards from the shop. The shop is the tab that has an icon that resembles a chest full of treasure. The shop has 1 common card (10 gold), 1 rare card (100 gold), and 1 epic card (1000 gold) for sale. They will refresh in 12 hours.
- Open the free chest. You get a free chest every 4 hours. You can have as many as two free chests at a time.
- Open the Crown chests. If you win 10 crowns from matches, you can open the Crown Chest. To open the Crown chest, tap the gold icon that says Claim when it is available. The tap the cards in the Crown Chest to claim each reward.
- Compete for the clan chests and tournament chests. Clan chests happen every 2 weeks. Your clan collects crowns to unlock a chest. It has levels, each better than the last. When you are at level 8, you can join tournaments. If you win 12 matches, you get the grand prize chest, although you will get a small chest just for joining the tournament.
6
Try one of these decks. The following contains a good combination of troops, spells, and buildings. You should make a deck comprising of the troops that you can use well.
- Goblin Arena: Goblin Hut, Giant, Bomber, Prince, witch, Valkyrie, fireball, arrows
- Bone Pit: Skeleton Army, Witch, Minions, Skeleton Giant, Arrows, Goblin Hut, Mini P.E.K.K.A., Valkyrie
- Barbarians Bowl: Prince, Bomber, Giant, Barbarians, Arrows, Witch, Valkyrie, Fireball
- P.E.K.K.A. Playhouse: bomber, inferno tower, Valkyrie, musketeer, skeletons, zap, hog rider, poison
- Spell Valley: Mirror, Wizard(if level 5 or above)/witch, Zap, hog rider, cannon, Valkyrie musketeer, bomber
- Builder's Workshop: Musketeer, Goblin Barrel, Hog Rider, Fire Spirits, Fireball, Inferno Tower, Minion Horde, and Skeleton Army.

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What if I lose a match?

Vortrexion

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Take the loss and be aware you will lose trophies. Maybe take a break and figure out why you lost. Replace a few cards in your deck if needed. Accept your losses at a time to improve your skill.

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Will I lose cards in Clash Royale?

Vortrexion

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You cannot lose cards in Clash Royale. The only way to "lose cards" is by trading with your clanmates, but you do receive an equivalent amount of cards in return once you complete the trade.

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Is there any way to get trophies except winning battles? Like a Cheat code?

Vortrexion

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There are no ways to hack Clash Royale's code as many online videos claim; these videos are all fake and there to take your money through monetization and you clicking on their video. Unfortunately, the only way to gain trophies is by completing ladder battles.

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Tips

Let the opponent attack first and lure his troops to your side of the battle arena. When they come near, try to deploy a cheap unit that can kill your opponent's unit(s) for equal or less elixir. This will give you an elixir advantage because you used less elixir than your opponent.

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Deploy a durable slow troop that attacks only buildings. Then deploy troops when necessary. Save up elixir and when it reaches up to 10, add troops on the other side.

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Let the enemy deploy his troops first. After deploying an appropriate defensive troop, deploy one attacking troop on the other side and see if he is ready for it or not. Deploy another attacking troop which will be supported by the defensive troop.

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How to Play Clash Royale

Steps

Getting Started

Playing a Match

Assembling a Deck

Community Q&A

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