AI Overview: Executioner is a 5-elixir Epic troop in Clash Royale that throws an axe that comes back. Exenado pairs it with Tornado. In October 2026, RoyaleTracker’s best Exenado list, with Evo Executioner, Evo Giant Snowball and Golden Knight, won 52.9% over 1,600 battles at 3.1 elixir. The best Executioner deck overall, a Mega Knight list with Freeze, won 53.1% over 731 battles.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Executioner costs 5 elixir, is an Epic troop, and has an Evolution.
- The best Exenado list won 52.9% over 1,600 battles at 3.1 elixir.
- The best Executioner deck, a Mega Knight list with Freeze, won 53.1% over 731 battles at 5.1 elixir.
- The other seven printed lists won 42.2% to 47.4%.
- SeeMeta lists an Executioner range cut on August 4, from 7.5 to 7 tiles.
Table of Contents
What an Executioner Deck Is
The short version: Executioner is a 5-elixir Epic troop that throws an axe in a straight line and gets it back, so it hits everything in a row twice. Exenado adds Tornado to pull a crowd into the axe’s path. The catch: at 5 elixir, one bad placement costs a lot.
What changed: SeeMeta lists one change for Executioner. On August 4, projectile range went from 7.5 to 7 tiles (-6.7%). Rocket‘s Crown Tower damage fell from 371 to 342 and Giant Snowball‘s from 54 to 45, both on June 1. Golden Knight gained damage on October 6 (161 to 168) but lost dash range (5.5 to 5 tiles). What it means: the axe reaches a little less far, and the spells next to it hit towers a little softer.
Executioner lost range this summer and its best list leans on Evo Giant Snowball, which also lost tower damage. If another cut lands, Exenado may drop below 50%. The negative effect: a deck that wins by a point or two has no margin for a nerf.
Best Executioner Builds Right Now
RoyaleTracker printed eight Executioner decks, and the best Exenado list is not on that page. It sits on the Tornado page instead: Evo Executioner, Evo Giant Snowball, Skeletons, Fire Spirit, Golden Knight, Cannon, Rocket and Tornado won 52.9% over 1,600 battles at 3.1 elixir. On the Executioner page, the best list was a 5.1-elixir Mega Knight deck with Hero Wizard and Freeze at 53.1% over 731 battles.
| Build | Cards | Avg elixir | Needs |
| Exenado with Evo Executioner and Golden Knight | 3.1 | 52.9% (1.6k battles) | |
| Mega Knight, Hero Wizard and Freeze | 5.1 | 53.1% (731 battles) | |
| Evo Witch, Evo Battle Ram and Mighty Miner | 3.8 | 47.3% (713 battles) | |
| Balloon, Prince and Elite Barbarians | 5.0 | 47.4% (1.1k battles) | |
| Hog Rider, Evo Witch and Hero Wizard | 4.4 | 46.7% (856 battles) | |
| Evo Mega Knight, Sparky and Hunter | 4.5 | 45.3% (1.0k battles) | |
| Evo Barbarians, Prince and Boss Bandit | 4.6 | 42.3% (759 battles) |
The pattern: the 3.1-elixir Exenado list and the 5.1-elixir Mega Knight list both won about 53%. Every other list won under 48%. What it means: Executioner works in a very cheap deck or a very heavy one, and badly in between. Still unknown: the samples are 731 and 1,600 battles.
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with the Exenado build with Evo Executioner in the table above already loaded. It averages 3.1 elixir. This exact list is not in the tracker sample, so it has no win rate; it is the 52.9% list with Skeletons swapped for Ice Spirit.
How to Play an Executioner Deck
- Place it behind the tower. Executioner’s axe is long, and the tower protects it.
- Save Tornado. Use it when two or more troops stand together.
- Defend with the cheap cards. Skeletons, Fire Spirit and Cannon stop small pushes.
- Use Rocket for value. Fire it at a building or a big clump, not at a single troop.
- Watch your elixir. A 5-elixir troop plus Tornado is 8 elixir.
Evo Executioner and Evo Giant Snowball are both in the best list and both lost something this year. If either is trimmed again, Exenado loses its edge. The negative effect: players who unlocked both Evolutions may feel they paid for a deck that no longer works.
How to Counter an Executioner Deck
- Fast troops: Hog Rider or Battle Ram can attack before the axe turns around.
- Spells on the troop: Rocket or Fireball hit a 5-elixir troop hard.
- Do not clump: a Tornado and an axe punish two troops in the same spot.
- Pressure the opposite lane: Exenado needs time to cycle.
The catch: if you push before Executioner is placed, the cheap cards will hold you.
Is an Executioner Deck Worth Using Now?
Is it worth it? Barely. The best two lists won about 53%, and the other seven all won under 48%. The catch: one more nerf may end it.
Golden Knight is in the best Exenado list. His dash range fell on October 6 while his damage rose. If the next patch moves him again, that list may change shape. The negative effect: a Champion that is adjusted every month makes it hard to settle on one deck.
Go deeper: For heavier lists, read our Mega Knight decks guide and our Rocket Cycle guide. For the cards in the best list, see the Executioner guide, the Tornado guide and the Golden Knight guide. Building something similar? The Clash Royale Deck Builder tracks the average cost for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Exenado in Clash Royale?
A deck that pairs Executioner with Tornado so the axe hits a crowd.
Is Exenado still good in 2026?
It is playable. The best list won 52.9% over 1,600 battles in October 2026.
How much does Executioner cost?
5 elixir. It is an Epic troop with an Evolution.
What is the best Executioner deck?
RoyaleTracker listed a Mega Knight, Hero Wizard and Freeze deck at 53.1% over 731 battles, and an Exenado list at 52.9% over 1,600.
What counters Executioner?
Fast troops, Rocket or Fireball on the troop, and not clumping your own cards.
Did Executioner get nerfed in 2026?
SeeMeta lists one change: projectile range went from 7.5 to 7 tiles on August 4.
Original Guide, Kept in Full
The text below is the original guide, kept in full. Its stats and win rates are older than the 2026 data above.
Hello fellow Clashers, this is ABAPO from Israel, clan Aba-Pagum, with my first guide.
It’s going to be a long and detailed one, but this deck got me to my personal best of 4327, so… worth reading. I’m using this deck for over 150 battles now- so it’s well tested.
| Deck | Cards | Avg elixir | Needs |
| Deck in this guide | 3.8 | Arena 15 (Tornado) |
TL; DR: Control deck for Ladder for Arena 7 -> League. Reactive, slow and above all PATIENT. This is a great defensive deck with a formidable offense. Zap/ Arrows/ Log/ Poison resistant. Works great with many Win-conditions instead of Dark-Prince.
A bit about behind the scenes of this deck
I’m a 42 y/o dad, and started playing CR 3-4 months after the international release, following my 10 y/o boy. Like many of us here – he’s long since moved on to other games and I stayed.
I love the thought involved in this game and to me it’s like Chess with cards. However… I’m sadly aware that I’m not as finger-nimble on the screen as most of the younger players, and not as fast to respond.
I’ve had many troubles climbing up the ladder, especially since the rise of faster and faster Metas.
That is why I opted early on to focus on control decks, which are inherently slower and more forgiving to user mistakes
I’ve been using the strongest synergy in the game, IMHO, the Executioner-Tornado ever since I got the Ax-boy.
More tips on combining that to the mighty and feared P.Ex-Nado later on.
P.E.K.K.A Exenado Deck
Dark Prince
The ground splash unit has received a buff- and has a shorter Charge length than the Prince- only 2 tiles- and for 1 Elixir less.
This makes him a great Main Win Condition now for this deck. More on substitutions- later on.
He will be our early game mini-tank, canceling small pushes such as rams, small Chippers and Squishies. He’s also a split push master- when your P.E.K.K.A is counter-pushing with an Executioner behind her.
The ideal use for him is pushing the P.E.K.K.A and bypassing her when she’s distracted- to deliver Charge & Splash damage.
Executioner
This guy likes a crowd- and the denser the better! FYI, Khaleesi – He’s the real storm-born.
I really can’t understand player who deck him without the Tornado…
For 5+3 Elixir you can demolish 15+ Elixir pushes, and your opponents’ will to live, in 2.5 seconds. MUHAHA!!!
Tornado
The most versatile spell in the game, I feel, and certainly the most synergizing spell. Amazing return-for-value for just 3 elixir.
Use it to pull troops to the king tower, to bundle the up for the Executioner, or to gather far away threats to the loving embrace on the motherly P.E.K.K.A.
If they start an Inferno-Dragon in the middle a great trick is to Tornado it to the opposite side of your attacking P.E.K.K.A so he’ll lose range and wander on to your princess tower- to be dealt with MM or Bats.
Pro-Tips: Watch OJ’s you-tube vid. On Tornado tech- it’ll change your game.
P.E.K.K.A
P.E.K.K.A is the main tank/killer of the deck. It’s also your designated SECONDARY win condition- although in many cases WILL land the decisive blow.
You all know her by now, as you get her and face her very early on.
Since we don’t have Pump in the deck we need to be careful with our elixir investment in this card.
Make sure that your opponent is not at peak elixir too or else they may punish you with a small push.
This deck works best with an Over-Levelled P.E.K.K.A., therefore less applicable to tournaments. This is doable since the tornado is very level independent (the mechanic is a lot more important than the damage).
Fireball
Musketeers? Pump? Witches & Wizards? Minion horde? BURN’EM ALL!!!
This is a great tradeoff card- the usually not only destroys or nearly so most support troops- it also deals value chip damage to nearby towers.
Always be mindful of the setting in which you use it- as it’s the only big damage spell you have and WILL win you games at clutch time.
For instance- one of your towers is at 2/3 health+, and his Minion horde is passing the river AND a Gob. Barrel is also on the way- it’s a good idea to trade one blow to decimating the lot of them with our fireball- 4 elixir gain.
Mega Minion
Your main defense against Inferno-Dragon, and will support many pushes.
It’s a great defensive card and also one of our cycle cards.
Bats
Inferno-Dragon/ Balloon/ Skeletons-Barrel destroyers.
Can single-wingedly kill all major tanks if uninterrupted.
Probably the best DPS per Elixir ratio in the game. Another cycle card, obviously…
Zap
You know Zap, right?
In the words of the great Supermarine: It is also good to gain advantages in battles like P.E.K.K.A vs P.E.K.K.A or a similar push so the delay that Zap causes the enemy can change the tide in the game.
General Gameplan
Try to activate the King tower with your tornado early as possible- can be key against fast decks.
Starting hand
Best hand
P.Ex-Nado + Zap with D-Prince in waiting. If you got this- wait. Don’t start until you see what the other player does. If needed, WAIT till double-time.
This deck shines there and you’ll most likely win in a single push as you’ll be able to cycle back to your D-Prince/ Exe/ P.E.K.K.A
Worst hand
3 spells, Mega-Minion and bats. Wait for 9.66± Elixir (As not to leak Elixir- shameful waste!) and send bats. Most likely your opponent will wait to see what you got so again- 9.66± and MM. By then you’ve got a decent defensive hand.
Anything else
Cycle as needed to get closer to the best hand, don’t show your P.E.K.K.A unless must- to stop bridge pushes like E-Barbs, Bandit-Battle Ram, M-K and the like.
3:00-1:00
Wait to see what the opponent holds.
Wait. No- seriously- jaaaaast wait.
If you have the ideal hand- and the opponent waits too- even let 2 minutes pass. In many such cases I’ve won in a single counter push, during Double-time.
Keep track of the major counters to your deck, I.E.- Infernos, 3M’s, P.E.K.K.A, Minion Horde, Skarmy, etc.
Start with Mega-Minion / Bats to draw response.
- If they start with a Wizard/ Witch at the back and you have a strong enough Fireball nip this at the bud. Otherwise respond with Exe at the back, and wait till 8+ elixir to reveal your P.E.K.K.A at the bridge. By then they’ve put their tank by the bridge AND you have your Tornado at hand to fold everything up.
- If they sprint with e-Barbs/ Battle-ram/ Hog/ Princes- P.E.K.K.A in front of tower and Exe at the back. For Miner use Mega-M. or P.E.K.K.A at the side. All these will get your counter-push going.
- If they start with any hut or Furnace- Exe in front of your king, and sideways to the needed lane.
Hide P.E.K.K.A unless necessary, make counter attacks that will get us good elixir trades.
1:00-0:00
By now you know their deck, know their counters to yours and have a good idea how to respond AND reach a good card cycle against this opponent.
DO NOT OVER-REACT!
If you can’t support your P.E.K.K.A. against an Inferno AND have juice to spare let blaze to glory, regroup and try again.
Wait for the opponents’ mistakes – don’t give them yours.
CYCLE SMART!
Strive for a P.E.K.K.A-> Exe-> Nado-> D-Prince-> Zap/Bats-> Fireball. Keep defending, and heavily supporting ONLY P.E.K.K.A counter-pushes.
If facing a Hog cycle be sure to always have your P.E.K.K.A cycled ready to counter the Hog.
If Facing Golem have you e Exe ready first, than P.E.K.K.A, than Fireball and/or Nado- as a Golem is always supported by splashers.
Send exploratory D-Prince pushes the other lane- support lightly with Zap/Bats if not needed as counters to Inferno. This can be game altering chip damage & distraction. It’ll disorient the opponent and will give you options.
When you’ve won- lean back and give the P.E.K.K.A win laugh: MUHAHAHA!!!
Substitutions
Keep this Deck below 4.1 Elixir, 3.8 for best results- as your main defensive troop is 7 Elixir…
Matchups
Siege Decks – X-Bow, Mortar – Hard Difficulty level.
P.E.K.K.A as shield at the bridge, ExNado the support, D-Prince for chip damage.
These are hard as they cycle faster than you to the siege weapon.
Be smart and conservative and go for tie.
Hog Cycles – Easy to Medium difficulty level.
It’s easy to win those, but you’ll need cycling experience. If you manage to achieve the right cycle you’ll constantly have a P.E.K.K.A to carve the hog, and an excellent counter push position.
When you’ve reached Double-time, and not made stupid mistakes- you’ve most likely already won, as you’ll be able to match their cycle speed and have a second P.E.K.K.A. ready by the time they recover from the previous counter-push.
3M Decks – Easy to Medium difficulty level.
These players are usually very smart.
Always fireball the pump. P.E.K.K.A the two Muskies lane, and support depending on condition. MM the lone Muskie when it locks on the Princess tower/ D-Prince. Tornado the pair to the P.E.K.K.A, and if you managed to support it with Exe you’re in a good place. The opponent isn’t…
If you didn’t- D-Price+ bats the other lane.
Chip decks – Easy to Medium difficulty level.
Value Fireball Huts+ Furnace.
Exe between Princess Tower and King Tower to the Huts lane, P.E.K.K.A to kill Miners and chargers. Then support counter-push.
Giant decks – Easy to Medium difficulty level.
P.E.K.K.A the Giant, Zap the fast tanks charges and support with exe in the back.
Defend split pushes and counter those with you D-Prince/ MM/ Bats as needed. If no Split push comes- use D-Prince to push P.E.K.K.A as a shield.
Be patient, as they can out cycle you…
E-Barbs – Easy difficulty level.
Same as Giant.
Pro-tip: if the opponents splits the E-Barbs at the back or at the other side of the river- place your P.E.K.K.A 4 tile above the king and in the middle, so she draws the both to her. Then counter-push. Same goes for Barbs.
Royal Giant – Easy difficulty level.
Same as Giant- just at the bridge.
MM and Bats come from the sides as to avoid opponents’ Splasers as best as possible.
Aerial Decks – Easy difficulty level.
P.E.K.K.A. same lane. Exe in support and Nado at the right time go get the Lava + support.
Than MM + Bats to support, and D-Prince to push the P.E.K.K.A
Golem Beatdown – Easy difficulty level.
Same as Aerial decks.
P.E.K.K.A Decks – Hard difficulty level.
This’ll come to who’s the better cycler. P.E.K.K.A to counter P.E.K.K.A, split push with D-Prince + light support when in Elixir advantage.
Spell-Bait – Very Hard difficullty level.
Honestly- I’m 90% losses against those.
They just cycle too fast, and the Rocket destroys all my support.
Good luck with those…
Have fun, kill much and I’d love to see your comments
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Executioner (October 2026 tracker samples)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Tornado (October 2026 tracker samples)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks right now, normal battles (data from October 9, 2026)
- SeeMeta, Clash Royale balance changes 2026 (page updated October 8, 2026)
- Supercell, Clash Royale October balance changes 2026 (October 6, 2026)
- Clash Royale card data used by the Deck Builder (elixir costs and card types)
- Supercell official Clash Royale API, card list (elixir cost, rarity, Evolution and Hero flags)