AI Overview: Underrated Clash Royale cards are the ones that win often but get played rarely. In RoyaleTracker’s October 7, 2026 sample of 8.2 million Ranked battles, Cannon Cart (52.6% win rate, 5.8% usage), Rascals, Furnace, Heal Spirit and Zappies all win above 51% while sitting under 6% usage. Win rates move with each patch, so test a card in a few matches before you commit Gold.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Cannon Cart wins 52.6% of battles at only 5.8% usage (RoyaleTracker, October 7, 2026).
- Rascals, Furnace, Heal Spirit and Zappies all win above 51% with under 6% usage.
- Suspicious Bush, Goblin Demolisher and Spirit Empress win about 50% to 51% with usage under 3%.
- Furnace was on the October 2026 nerf list, so its numbers may drop.
- Underrated here means high win rate and low use rate, not an opinion.
Table of Contents
What “Underrated” Means Here
An underrated card wins more than its popularity suggests. We use real numbers: win rate above average, use rate low.
The old version of this page was a list of one player’s opinions from a past season. This version uses RoyaleTracker’s October 7, 2026 Ranked data: 8,210,666 battles over three weeks. Another tracker, SeeMeta, ranks Cannon Cart, Rascals and Heal Spirit at the top too.
Here’s the problem: most underrated lists are opinions. Numbers can still mislead, but at least they can be checked.
The catch: a high win rate on low usage can come from a few strong players. Test each card yourself.
Hidden gems tend to get popular once players notice them, and Supercell may then adjust the ones that rise too fast, so today’s secret can be tomorrow’s staple. The negative effect: a card that wins because nobody counters it can fall hard once everyone plays it.
The Seven Hidden Gems
| Card | Win rate | Usage |
| Cannon Cart | 52.6% | 5.8% |
| Rascals | 52.2% | 5.3% |
| Furnace | 52.2% | 3.7% |
| Heal Spirit | 52.1% | 4.4% |
| Zappies | 51.8% | 5.7% |
| Suspicious Bush | 51.4% | 2.2% |
| Goblin Demolisher | 51.0% | 1.4% |
Spirit Empress also appears on the high-win, low-use side at 50.5% and 1.6%. Mother Witch (52.0%, 7.7%) and Bandit (52.0%, 8.0%) win just as often but are a little more popular.
The facts: seven cards win about 51% or better and sit under 6% usage. What it means: they beat their popularity. Still unknown: whether that holds after the October nerfs, since Furnace was on the list.
Quick math: a 52.6% win rate is 2.6 points above even. Over 100 games that is about 3 extra wins. Small, but it adds up across a season.
The catch: part of a hidden gem’s edge can be surprise. Once it gets popular, opponents learn the counter.
A Closer Look at the Top Four
Cannon Cart
The top-rated card in this sample. SeeMeta lists it at 53.3% and it costs 5 elixir. A different source reports an even higher number from another data set, which shows how much these figures depend on where they come from.
Rascals
A 5-elixir card with a 52.2% win rate and 5.3% usage.
Furnace
It wins 52.2% at 3.7% usage. It was nerfed in the October 2026 patch, so check whether the numbers hold.
Win rates for low-use cards rest on fewer games, so they can swing a lot. The negative effect: a player who builds a deck on a 1.4% usage card may be following noise, not skill.
Heal Spirit
It costs 1 elixir. At 52.1% win rate it is a cheap card that is hard to ignore.
Why it matters: the cheapest card here costs 1 elixir. If it fits your cycle, it costs almost nothing to try.
The move: start with the cheapest one, Heal Spirit, and see if it fits your cycle.
| Deck | Cards | Avg elixir | Win rate (sample) |
| Royal Hogs Lightning deck |  3Evo Archers 5Evo Royal Hogs 1Skeletons 5Goblinstein 1Electro Spirit 4Bomb Tower 6Lightning 2Barbarian Barrel | 3.4 | 61.6% (874 battles) |
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with a Royal Hogs Lightning deck featuring Evo Archers and Evo Royal Hogs, 61.6% in the tracker sample (874 battles), already loaded. Try a hidden gem in this deck and see what it does to the cost.
How to Test a Hidden Gem
- Swap one card, not three. If you change too much, you will not know what worked.
- Play at least 20 games before judging it.
- Check the patch notes. A recent nerf can erase the edge.
- Keep the level of the card up to your deck. A card at Level 11 beside Level 15 cards will underperform.
The move: write down your win-loss record before and after the swap.
For what to upgrade first once you find a keeper, read how to upgrade cards in Clash Royale. For the staple cards everyone plays, see the most used cards right now.
What to watch next: the next balance patch. Both the hidden gems and the staples can move.
As more players read tracker data, the gap between hidden and popular cards will likely shrink faster. The negative effect: decks may converge on a few top-rated cards, and the variety that makes the ladder fun can fade.
Go deeper: Related reading: the overrated cards article, the best decks guide and the top common cards. Building something similar? The Clash Royale Deck Builder tracks the average cost for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most underrated cards in Clash Royale?
In October 2026 data, Cannon Cart, Rascals, Furnace, Heal Spirit and Zappies win above 51% with low usage.
How do you know a card is underrated?
A high win rate with a low use rate across a large sample of battles.
Is Cannon Cart good?
It sits at the top of RoyaleTracker’s tier list with a 52.6% win rate.
Do these numbers change?
Yes, with every patch. Check the date before you act.
Should you replace a staple card with a hidden gem?
Swap one card at a time and test it over at least 20 games.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway: try one hidden gem in a deck you already know, watch the patch notes, and keep the numbers in perspective.
What to watch next: Furnace after the nerf. If its win rate drops, take it off your list.
Found a deck or card you like? Load it in the Clash Royale Deck Builder, and follow our step-by-step guide to check it before you play.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- RoyaleTracker, Clash Royale card tier list (October 7, 2026; 8,210,666 Ranked battles over three weeks)
- SeeMeta, Clash Royale card tier list (October 7, 2026; 691,087 Path of Legends battles, Sept 30 to Oct 7)
- Timesaver.gg, best Clash Royale decks for October 2026 (October 1, 2026; Season 88 nerf list)
- Pocket Gamer, Clash Royale Season 88 tier list (October 6, 2026)
- The original clash.world pages (2016-2022), used only for the “then” comparison