AI Overview: The Clash Royale August balance update nerfed the Night Witch, Battle Ram and Graveyard, and buffed the Mini P.E.K.K.A, Dark Prince and Ice Wizard. It was aimed at Bridge Spam, the fast attack style built around cheap cards and quick pushes. The old write-up is kept below, so you can trust each point and skip the guesswork.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- The original says the update came on August 11th and aimed at Bridge Spam.
- The Night Witch lost 9% damage and 11% range.
- The Graveyard’s duration fell from 10s to 9s, and it spawns 15 skeletons.
- The Bats went from 4 to 5 in count.
- In 2026 the Graveyard’s top deck wins 71.6%.
The Scorecard: Did Each Change Last?
How to read this. Each line gives the change from the original, then a verdict from today’s data.
Quick recap. Three nerfs, three keepers. The Battle Ram is the only one that slipped to fair.
Plain talk. A nerf trims a card. It rarely deletes it.
- Night Witch (nerfed): damage -9%, range -11%, bats every 7s, 2 bats on death. Verdict: still strong, best list 68.7%.
- Battle Ram (nerfed): slower to charge, barbarians spawn slower. Verdict: fair, best base list 57.6%.
- Graveyard (nerfed): 9s duration, 15 skeletons. Verdict: strong, top deck 71.6%.
- Electro Wizard (nerfed): hitpoints -2%. Verdict: strong, best list 72.1%.
- Mini P.E.K.K.A (buffed): damage +4.6%. Verdict: fair, best list 60.6%.
- Ice Wizard (buffed): damage +10%, hit speed 1.5s to 1.7s. Verdict: fair, best list 64.6%.
The short version. Most nerfs did not end a card. Bridge Spam changed shape, and the cards came back in other decks.
Zoom out. Nerfs aimed at one deck type usually send players to another. If the next patch targets a new favorite, expect the same loop, and expect the best players to adapt a week before everyone else.
What Else Changed in August?
| Card | Change (original) | Today |
| X-Bow | Deploy time 4s to 3.5s | Damage 58 to 61 on October 6. Best list 62.7%. |
| Mortar | Deploy time 4s to 3.5s | Base-card lists 41.9% to 51.9%. |
| Dark Prince | Damage +6%, hit speed 1.5s to 1.4s | Hit speed 1.3 to 1.4 on May 4. Best list 57.9%. |
| Bats | Count from 4 to 5 | None of eight printed lists above 50%. |
| Heal Spell | Duration 3s to 2.5s | Removed in 2020. |
Good to know. The Heal Spell was cut from 3 seconds to 2.5. It was removed from the game in 2020. See the healer guide.
In plain English. The siege cards got faster to place. The Bats got one more body and still never took off.
Claims, rechecked. The page ends with a prose section that names a Bandit cooldown change and an Electro Wizard spawn-damage cut. Neither is in the change list above it. The two parts of the page disagree, so the prose claims are not repeated here. Treat every figure as a starting point, not a rule.
How the Meta Shifted
Control got room. With Bridge Spam slower, the original says control decks with the Tornado, Executioner and Ice Spirit became easier to play.
One more way to see it. Slow the fast deck, and the slow decks wake up.
Beatdown came back. It also says Golem, P.E.K.K.A and Lava Hound regained ground. That is the writer’s view of August 2017, and is not checked here.
Worth knowing. The Bandit, Night Witch and Bats page and the Tornado page show the same cards today.
Zoom in. If Bridge Spam returns, the same cards will lead it. Players who learned the August counters will have a head start, and those who skipped them will lose to the first fast push.
What Should You Do Today?
Play the winners. The Night Witch, Graveyard and Electro Wizard all hold best lists above 68%.
Next step. For the Night Witch’s draft partners, see Night Witch draft tips.
Reality check. A list of best win rates is a map of what is popular, not a promise that it will win for you.
Skip the Bats as a plan. They are cheap support, not a deck.
Check the date. The page says August 2017 in its text, but the header gives August 11th with no year.
Zoom out again. If every patch trims the favorite, loyal players lose the deck they trained for. The risk is a ladder where nobody wants to master one deck, because the next patch might delete it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Clash Royale August balance update?
The original calls it a balance patch on August 11th that nerfed the Night Witch, Battle Ram and Graveyard and buffed several cards. Use it as a guide, and check the linked pages for the current details.
What happened to the Night Witch?
She lost 9% damage and 11% range, and her bats spawn every 7 seconds.
Did the Graveyard get nerfed?
Yes. Its duration fell to 9s and it spawns 15 skeletons.
Which cards were buffed?
The Mini P.E.K.K.A, Dark Prince, Ice Wizard and Bats.
Is the Night Witch still strong?
Her best list wins 68.7% over about 1,400 battles.
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 guys,
As always, Supercell is releasing the new Balance Change update on August 11th in order to make the game fine tuned and to keep the fun throughout the updates.
This time, Supercell is tuning down Night Witch, Battle Ram, Graveyard and boosting some underrated cards! Let’s take a closer look!
Clash Royale August Balance Update
Night Witch:
Damage -9%, range -11%, Bat spawn speed to 7sec (from 6sec), spawns 2 Bats on death (from 3)
Battle Ram:
Takes a bit longer to begin charging, Barbarians spawn slower
Graveyard:
Duration to 9sec (from 10sec), spawns 15 Skeletons (from 17)
Electro Wizard:
Hitpoints -2%
Heal:
Duration to 2.5sec (from 3sec)
Mini P.E.K.K.A:
Damage +4.6%
X-Bow:
Deploy time to 3.5sec (from 4sec)
Mortar:
Deploy time to 3.5sec (from 4sec)
Dark Prince:
Damage +6%, hit speed to 1.4sec (from 1.5sec)
Ice Wizard:
Damage +10%, hit speed to 1.7sec (from 1.5sec)
Bats:
Bat count to 5 (from 4)
1. Battle Ram Nerf
The Battle Ram was at the heart of Bridge Spam strategies, rushing towards towers and dealing significant damage upon impact. In the August 2017 update, Supercell introduced a crucial change: the Battle Ram’s charge speed was reduced, making it easier for defenders to counter before it reached their towers. Additionally, the Barbarians that emerged upon breaking now had reduced hitpoints, making them less threatening and easier to handle with spells or defensive troops.
2. Bandit Adjustment
The Bandit’s dash ability was another key component of Bridge Spam decks, allowing her to quickly close gaps and deal hefty damage. In this update, the Bandit received a slight cooldown increase between her dashes, providing defenders with a better chance to react and counter her aggressive plays. This change helped slow down the relentless pressure that Bandit brought to Bridge Spam decks.
3. Night Witch Nerf
The Night Witch was a powerhouse in Bridge Spam decks, summoning bats that swarmed enemy defenses while dealing significant melee damage. The August 2017 update reduced her Bat spawn rate and hitpoints, making her less of a dominant force. This nerf meant she could no longer survive as long on the battlefield, reducing the overall potency of Bridge Spam pushes.
4. Electro Wizard Tweak
The Electro Wizard, known for his stunning entry and versatile control, was slightly reworked to reduce his impact on the battlefield. His spawn damage was decreased, making him less effective at instantly eliminating swarms and other low-health units. This adjustment allowed for more counterplay against the Bridge Spam’s immediate pressure tactics.
How the Meta Evolved
The August 2017 update didn’t just nerf Bridge Spam—it opened the door for new strategies and deck archetypes to rise. Here’s how the meta evolved in the aftermath of these changes:
- Control Decks Gained Popularity: With Bridge Spam’s pace slowed, control decks that emphasized defense and counter-pushing became more viable. Players began experimenting with cards like Tornado, Executioner, and Ice Spirit to effectively manage and dismantle enemy pushes.
- Beatdown Decks Made a Comeback: Beatdown decks, which focus on building a strong push behind a tank, benefited from the nerfs to Bridge Spam’s fast and reactive playstyle. Cards like Golem, P.E.K.K.A., and Lava Hound re-emerged as powerful options, providing players with a slower, but devastating approach to dismantling opponents’ defenses.
- Increased Variety in Deck Building: With Bridge Spam no longer the dominant force, players felt freer to experiment with a wider variety of decks. This led to a more diverse meta, where creativity and adaptability were rewarded, and the same repetitive strategies were no longer the norm.
Adapting to the New Meta
As the dust settled from the August 2017 Balance Update, it became clear that success in Clash Royale now required adaptability and a willingness to explore new strategies. Here are some tips for thriving in the post-Bridge Spam meta:
- Diversify Your Decks: Don’t rely on a single strategy. Explore different archetypes, from control to beatdown, and keep your opponents guessing.
- Master Defense: With the speed of the game slightly reduced, there’s more room for defensive play. Practice with cards like Tornado, Inferno Tower, and defensive spells to keep your opponent’s pushes at bay.
- Stay Updated with Meta Trends: As the meta evolves, keep an eye on popular decks and strategies used by top players. Watching replays and following the community can help you stay ahead of the curve.
What are your thoughts?
Not sure your deck survived the update? Load it in the Deck Builder and check the Patch risk and Counter tabs.
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 2017), kept in full below