AI Overview: This Hog Rider Rocket deck averages 3.9 elixir and uses no epic or legendary card. The Hog runs, the swarm cards follow, and the Rocket clears the way. Hog Rider’s best list wins 61.2% over about 3,800 battles, though this exact build has no tracker sample. Below, each card is priced and checked for 2026. Every price, rarity and 2026 change is rechecked.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- The deck costs 31 elixir, which is 3.9 on average, and Rocket and Elixir Collector cost 6 each.
- Hog Rider had no 2026 change, and his best list wins 61.2% over about 3,800 battles.
- Rocket’s Crown Tower damage fell from 371 to 342 on June 1.
- Minions had no 2026 change, and their best list wins 65.2% over 2,300.
- Spear Goblins hit faster now, 1.7 to 1.6 seconds, and Goblins were reworked on August 4.
The Hog Rider Rocket List, Priced Card by Card
The plan in one line. Swarms bait the spells, the Hog hits the tower, and the Rocket takes down the buildings that would stop it.
Matchups. Against beatdown, kill the support with the Rocket and swarm the tank. Against Hog mirrors, Minions and Goblins win. Against Valkyrie, keep your swarms in two groups, not one. The cause is simple: swarms win when the splash is gone.
| Card | Elixir | Job in the deck | 2026 status |
| Hog Rider | 4 | Win condition | No 2026 change; best list 61.2% over about 3,800 |
| Rocket | 6 | Building and tower hitter | Crown Tower damage 371 to 342 on June 1 |
| Elixir Collector | 6 | Elixir engine and distraction | Only six tracked decks run it; touched in the October patch |
| Minion Horde | 5 | Air damage and tank defense | Best list 51.9% over 992; only one of eight above 50% |
| Minions | 3 | Air defense and support | No 2026 change; best list 65.2% over 2,300 |
| Goblins | 2 | Cheap distraction | Rework on August 4; best list 59.9% over 504 |
| Spear Goblins | 2 | Cheap chip and distraction | Hit speed 1.7 to 1.6 seconds on August 4; best list 54.9% over 915 |
| Arrows | 3 | Swarm spell | Crown Tower damage 93 to 75 on June 1; best list 68.7% |
Here is each card with its price and the 2026 numbers.
Zoom out. A deck built on swarms depends on cheap cards staying cheap. If Arrows or Zap get a boost, a list full of Goblins and Minions has fewer ways to keep up.
What Changed in 2026
The short version. The Hog is unchanged. Rocket hits a tower for 342, not 371. Spear Goblins are faster. The Goblins were reworked, and the Minion Horde sits at a best list of 51.9% over 992 battles, with only one of eight lists above 50%.
In plain English. Rocket got weaker against towers, and Spear Goblins got faster. Minions held steady. For a swarm deck, that mix is fine: the cheap cards keep their value, and the Rocket still removes a building. Just aim it better, since each hit now does 342 to a tower, not 371.
Claims, rechecked. The write-up says the deck has no epics, no Mortar and no Bomb Tower. That is right, as every card is common or rare. It also reports the card levels as commons 7 and rares 4, and says the list took a player from about 1,700 trophies to Arena 7. Treat every figure as a starting point, not a rule.
The fine print. Minions are the bright spot, with a best list at 65.2% over 2,300 battles. The Collector is rare, as only six tracked decks run it. So the swap with a Cannon, which the write-up allows, is a fair one.
Card pages: Hog Rider, Rocket, Minions, Minion Horde and Goblins.
Zoom in. Rocket at 6 and Collector at 6 put 12 of the 31 elixir in two cards. A lost Rocket trade can cost the game, so aim it at something worth the price.
How to Play It Today
Place the Collector early. If it is in your starting hand, drop it in front of your King Tower, in the middle, so enemy troops go there and not at the tower.
Bottom line. Choose this list if you own no epics and like swarms. Run the Hog behind a swarm, bait the Arrows, and Rocket what matters.
Worth knowing. In overtime, send a batch of Goblins and Minions, wait for their Arrows, then send the next batch on the other lane. That is how the deck wins the late game.
Upgrade order. Level the Hog Rider, Minion Horde and Rocket first. Minions and Goblins come next. Spear Goblins, Arrows and Collector can wait. The write-up notes that the Lightning slot’s level does not matter.
Tips. Counter ground troops with air, and lure them away with ground. If your opponent sends Barbarians at the river, use Spear Goblins and Minions to defend and bait the Arrows. Open the linked card pages before you queue, since one balance patch can flip a trade.
Send the Hog when you can see the counter. At 10 elixir with nothing else to play, drop the Hog to learn what they hold. Later, send it with Goblins or Spear Goblins when they cannot defend.
Aim the Rocket. Hit a building behind a tower, or the tower with troops next to it. Do not Rocket a lone tower unless it is low.
Try it yourself: Hog Rider Rocket Deck is ready to play: the Clash Royale Deck Builder loads it in one click. It costs 3.9 elixir on average, and because no tracker covers this exact list, there is no 2026 win rate.
Zoom out again. Swarm decks are fun, but a good Valkyrie or Zap can undo a whole push. Expect cleaner counters as players learn the list. The negative case is simple: once opponents expect the swarm, the Rocket and Hog lose their surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Hog Rider Rocket deck good in 2026?
Hog Rider’s best list wins 61.2% and the Minions’ best wins 65.2%, but this exact list has no tracker sample, so test the Rocket slot first.
What is the average elixir cost?
31 elixir across eight cards, or 3.9 on average.
Can Lightning replace the Rocket?
Yes, and the Rocket slot works the same way if you own Lightning.
Can Zap replace Arrows?
Yes, though Arrows hit wider swarms, so check your opponent first.
Does this deck need epic or legendary cards?
No. It uses only commons and rares.
Original Guide, Kept in Full
The text below is the original page, kept in full. It was written between 2016 and 2024, so some details are out of date. The tips and numbers above use 2026 sources.
Hello everyone, Today I am going to introduce with you an Arena 6 No Epic Free to Play Deck which helped Swirlled, co-leader of Reddit Beta, push from 1700+ trophies to Arena 7! This is his first ever guide! Anyways, he was testing a deck at around 2500 trophies and to my surprise worked quite well.
This deck as I said in the title does not use epics, mortar or bomb tower. Although, you can replace Rocket for Lightning if you please.
Get to Arena 7 with Arena 6 No-Epic Free-to-Play Deck
Rocket – Used to hit those players who use huts, elixir collectors, etc. Can be used to hit buildings behind towers, troops along with the tower, or just to snipe the tower. Ex. opponent puts elixir collector behind tower, I rocket it hitting both the tower and elixir collector. Only reason I use rocket is because I do not have lightning spell on this account. Although on my main account I use lightning and prefer that over rocket. Can be replaced with lightning
Goblins – Used defensively and offensively, sometimes I send this right after I send in my hog rider, this is increase my damage output and maybe bait a zap/arrows. Play this card in middle of base so their troops are lured to the middle and get hit by both towers or take the long route to your tower. Cannot be replaced
Hog Rider – Use this when you are sitting at 10 elixir in beginning if you don’t have anything else to play, that way you can see what they have to counter and in the future try to play it when they can’t defend back along with goblins or spear goblins. This card acts as the front line and tanks for your smaller troops. Cannot be replaced
Arrows – Used to counter swarms, minion hordes, etc. Sometimes used if you need to get that last hit off the tower. Can be replaced with zap if you please
Elixir Collector – Place this in front of your towers in the middle so that troops are going towards the middle. Used to tank for your towers and generate elixir so you can spam more troops. If hog/prince or whatever is already at your tower, don’t hesitate to place it on top of them if that’s what it takes to win. Can be replaced with cannon if you don’t have elixir collector yet
Minion Horde – Used to defend against tanks or big threats such as P.E.K.K.A, Valkyrie, Giant, etc. Can be used offensively if you know your opponent has no counter such as arrows, zap, fireball, etc. Cannot be replaced
Minions – Can be used to defend against smaller threats such as knight, valkyrie, musketeer, can be used behind hog rider to inflict some great damage. Cannot be replaced
Spear Goblins – Can be used defensively to slowly chip off opponents or lure troops to the middle, can be used offensively behind hog rider and potentially bait zap or arrows Can be replaced with archers, not recommended
My card levels are commons: 7, Rares: 4, Epics: N/A, (Lightning level does not matter)
Please be sure to read top Clash Royale tips at here!
General Play Style
If you have Elixir Collector in your starting hand, awesome, place that in front of your king tower in the middle of your base so troops are lured there and attack that instead of your tower. If they place down bomb tower, or elixir collector and you have lightning/rocket, take it out. If you don’t have it, use minions to take it out, potentially bait some troops to be played. Counter their ground troops with your air troops and lure them away with your ground troops. ie. they use barbs at river, use spear goblins and minions to defend, potentially baiting arrows, if not, send the hog in to tank and let the minions and spear gobs to attack the tower. Repeat process just play safe and be alert of their cards, their counter cards, and when it is your time to strike. If one of their towers are low enough, go ahead and rocket or lightning but make sure your towers are clean of their troops because you are using 6 elixir. In overtime, once you send the hog, maybe lightning/rocket their building or tower or tower + troops, and have a swarm of goblins and minions coming at his tower, and they arrow your swarm, that is when you send the next batch in, whether its in the other lane or the same lane, they will have a tough time defending if they already used their counter card because this deck cycles super quick.
Thank you for reading swirlled_’s first ever guide guys! If there’s any questions in the comment section I will try to answer. Feel free to ask me anything or give me constructive criticism. Other than that I hope this guide helped you, good luck in the arena, challenger!
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- CryptoAIMeta card guides for these cards, built from RoyaleTracker October 2026 samples and SeeMeta 2026 balance changes
- SeeMeta, Clash Royale balance changes 2026 (page updated October 2026), read through search summaries
- Supercell official Clash Royale API, card list (elixir cost, rarity, unlock arena)
- The original clash.world page (2016 to 2024), kept in full below