Five Clash Royale tips to kickstart your journey

Whether it’s managing your elixir or figuring out how to balance your deck, there are ways to make those early days of your Clash Royale journey smoother. Here are five things we wish we knew before diving into the arena.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a new player is rushing into battle. It can be tempting to drop all your cards as soon as you have enough Elixir, but restraint is key. Let your Elixir bar fill up completely and carefully counter your opponent's moves.

Wait to see what they play, determine their strategy, and only then decide whether you want to defend or counter. This approach will not only conserve your resources but will also help you avoid costly mistakes. Strategic waiting will save your matches and let you build powerful counterattacks.

The sooner you understand Elixir trades, the better. In Clash Royale, every card you play costs Elixir, and managing its availability wisely is crucial. If you’re constantly playing expensive cards and your opponent is countering successfully with cheaper ones, you’ll find yourself running dry while they still have plenty left to defend.

For example, using a high-cost card like a P.E.K.K.A. against a low-cost Skeleton Army is a huge waste of your resources. Instead, look for low-cost counters like Arrows to keep your Elixir in check and set yourself up for a bigger push later​.

Building a deck isn’t just about picking your favorite cards; it’s about figuring out how they work together. Early on, it can be confusing trying to balance offense and defense, but understanding how different types of cards support each other is key to mastering the game.

For instance, pairing Hog Rider with a Freeze spell can surprise your opponent and take down a tower in no time. Another classic combo is the Baby Dragon and Tornado — the Tornado pulls enemy troops together, while the Baby Dragon’s splash damage wipes them out​.

Learning how to distract enemy units away from your towers is vital for your game. Cheap cards like Skeletons can pull stronger, tower-damaging units like Giant or P.E.K.K.A. away from your towers, giving you more time to defend. It’s a small tactic that can make a huge difference in how well you hold your ground, especially against more aggressive opponents​.

Early on, it may feel like you should be aiming for a three Crown win every match. But the reality is, a one-tower victory is just as good, and often much safer. After taking down one of your opponent’s towers, shift to a more defensive strategy, especially if your own towers are in good shape. Pushing for the three-crown can leave you vulnerable to counter-attacks​.

These five lessons may seem simple, but they will make a world of difference when you’re starting out. Master them early, and you'll find yourself winning more matches with confidence!