AI Overview: Mortar is a 4-elixir Common building in Clash Royale that shoots boulders at long range but cannot hit close targets. It unlocks in Builder’s Workshop (Arena 5) and has an Evolution. SeeMeta lists hit speed changes on August 4. In October 2026, RoyaleTracker’s best base-card deck won 51.9%, while Evo Mortar lists on another page won up to 69.7%.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Mortar costs 4 elixir, is a Common building, and unlocks in Builder’s Workshop (Arena 5).
- It has an Evolution and no Hero version.
- SeeMeta lists a base hit speed gain and an Evolution hit speed cut on August 4, and a slower Evolution deploy on June 1.
- RoyaleTracker’s eight base-card lists won between 41.9% and 51.9%.
- Evo Mortar lists on the Cannon Cart page won up to 69.7%.
Table of Contents
What Mortar Does
The short version: Mortar is a 4-elixir Common building that shoots boulders at long range. RoyaleTracker’s card text says it deals area damage but cannot hit targets that get very close. It unlocks in Builder’s Workshop (Arena 5).
It is a siege building. It shoots across the river at your tower, but anything that reaches it is safe.
What changed: SeeMeta lists three changes. On June 1, the Evolution’s deploy time went from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds. On August 4, the base Mortar’s hit speed went from 5 to 4.7 seconds (faster), and the Evolution’s from 4 to 4.7 seconds (slower). What it means: the base card shoots a little more often, and the Evolution a little less.
| Stat | Value |
| Elixir cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Building (siege) |
| Unlocks | Builder’s Workshop (Arena 5) |
| Evolution / Hero | Evolution only |
| Last change | August 4, 2026 (SeeMeta) |
The Evolution was slowed twice this summer, and the base card sped up once. If the Evolution is trimmed again, Siege lists may move to the base card. The negative effect: a building that depends on its Evolution is hard to rebalance without hurting one group of players.
Best Mortar Decks Right Now
RoyaleTracker printed eight Mortar decks with the base card. The table shows six of the eight base lists and two Evolution lists. The best base list, a Siege Mortar deck with Giant Skeleton, Ice Golem and Hunter, won 51.9% over only 337 battles. A Skeleton Army list with Cannon Cart won 50.2% over 814. The rest won 41.9% to 49.2%.
The pattern: the Evolution is where the high rates are. Two Evo Mortar lists from the Cannon Cart page won 69.7% over 1,400 battles and 65.2% over 2,300. Both run Evo Skeleton Barrel, Cannon Cart, Rascals, Fireball and Barbarian Barrel. What it means: Mortar wins inside a small, tight shell.
| Build | Cards | Avg elixir | Win rate (sample) |
| Evo Skeleton Barrel, Evo Mortar and Hero Ice Wizard | 3.6 | 69.7% (1.4k battles, from the Cannon Cart page) | |
| Evo Skeleton Barrel, Evo Mortar and Hero Berserker | 3.5 | 65.2% (2.3k battles, from the Cannon Cart page) | |
| Giant Skeleton, Ice Golem and Hunter | 3.8 | 51.9% (337 battles) | |
| Evo Skeleton Army, Skeleton King and Cannon Cart | 3.6 | 50.2% (814 battles) | |
| Hero Dark Prince, Witch and Mega Knight | 4.6 | 49.2% (539 battles) | |
| Evo Giant Snowball, Knight and Freeze | 3.6 | 46.8% (295 battles) | |
| Evo P.E.K.K.A, Witch and Flying Machine | 4.1 | 44.7% (503 battles) | |
| Evo Skeleton Barrel, Ice Wizard and Cannon Cart | 3.5 | 42.5% (395 battles) |
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with the Evo Giant Snowball and Knight build in the table above, 46.8% in the tracker sample (295 battles), already loaded. It averages 3.6 elixir and is the only Mortar list with Freeze and Inferno Tower. Swap Freeze for a cheaper card to lower the cost.
How to Play Mortar
- Place it near the bridge. Its range reaches the tower from your side of the river.
- Protect it. It cannot hit targets that get close, so put a troop in front.
- Pair it with Skeleton Barrel and Cannon Cart. The two best Evo lists run both.
- Use the Evolution if you can. The Evo lists won 65.2% and 69.7%.
- Keep Fireball and Barbarian Barrel. Both Evo lists run them.
The move: next game, place the Mortar at the bridge after the other player spends elixir on defense.
Skeleton Barrel, Cannon Cart and Rascals are in both top Evo lists, and Rascals lost hitpoints on June 1, from 1,940 to 1,832. If another small-troop cut comes, the shell gets thinner. The negative effect: a siege deck with several fragile partners has few ways to adjust.
Mortar Placement and the Blind Spot
The short version: the Mortar fires from a long range and cannot hit close targets. Place it behind a troop, and use the blind spot on defense.
The blind spot
When a target walks inside the Mortar blind spot, it stops shooting at it and retargets the troops behind. Against a Hog Rider, this means your tower takes the first hit. Against a Golem push, the Mortar hits the supports behind the tank.
Where to place it
Place it where troops can stand in front, your tower covers it, and it ignores the other lane. Directly below the bridge works, but you cannot put a damage-soaking troop in front.
Pair it with
Mini-tanks and tank killers, such as Ice Golem, Knight and Mini P.E.K.K.A.
Against swarms
Furnaces and Goblin Huts can be answered with a deep plant. Fast troops such as Spear Goblins and Fire Spirits may dodge the shot. If you cannot afford tower damage, place it lighter and use Ice Golem as a shield.
Weak points
- It is slow to reload.
- Tanks and evasive troops beat it.
- Lightning and Poison are the spells that gain value on it.
- Ice Golem and Zap can reset a locked Mortar.
The move: next game, place the Mortar so your tower covers it and a mini-tank can stand in front.
How to Counter Mortar
- Fast troops: Hog Rider or Battle Ram get inside its minimum range.
- Rocket or Lightning: a spell can kill a 4-elixir building.
- Fireball the supports: take out the troops that protect it.
- Cross the bridge: pressure the other lane so the Mortar’s owner has to defend.
The catch: do not let it hit your tower for free. Each boulder adds up.
Is Mortar Worth Using Now?
Is it worth it? As the Evolution, yes. As the base card, it is close: only two of the eight lists won over 50%, both on samples under 850 battles. The catch: the base-card lists are small samples.
What to remember: the Evolution is where the high win rates are.
Fireball is in both top Evo lists and the 50.2% list, and SeeMeta lists its Crown Tower damage cut on June 1 and again on September 8. If it is trimmed again, the siege lists lose a little reach. The negative effect: a building that chips a tower relies on its spell to finish the job.
Go deeper: For the cards in the Evolution lists, read the Skeleton Barrel guide, the Cannon Cart guide and the Rascals guide. Building something similar? The Clash Royale Deck Builder tracks the average cost for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mortar do in Clash Royale?
It is a defensive building with a long range that shoots boulders dealing area damage, but cannot hit close targets, according to RoyaleTracker’s card text.
How much does Mortar cost?
4 elixir.
When do you unlock Mortar?
It unlocks in Builder’s Workshop (Arena 5). It is a Common card.
What is the best Mortar deck?
In October 2026, RoyaleTracker listed an Evo Skeleton Barrel and Evo Mortar deck with Hero Ice Wizard at 69.7% over 1,400 battles.
What counters Mortar?
Fast troops that get inside its range, or a spell such as Rocket.
Did Mortar get nerfed?
Mixed. SeeMeta lists a faster base hit speed and a slower Evolution hit speed on August 4.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway: Mortar is a siege building that wins with the Evolution. Place it at the bridge, and protect it from fast troops.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- RoyaleTracker, Mortar card page (October 2026 tracker data)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Mortar (October 2026 tracker samples)
- 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)