AI Overview: To counter Prince in Clash Royale, never let him run a long straight line to your tower. Lure him to the middle with cheap cards, use Witch or Tombstone, and place a blocker in front of the tower. Prince costs 5 elixir, and his charge doubles his first hit, so the first meeting decides the trade.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Prince costs 5 elixir, is an Epic and unlocks in Royal Arena (Arena 7), according to RoyaleTracker.
- SeeMeta lists no change for Prince in 2026.
- RoyaleTracker’s best Prince deck won 52.5% over 1,300 battles; the other six printed lists won 42.7% to 47.7%.
- Pull him with cheap cards, and split him from a Bomber with a pull.
Table of Contents
Why Prince Hurts Tower Defenders
Here’s the thing: Prince is one of the hardest cards for new players to handle. He is tanky, and if he gets a long run, his charge doubles the first hit. Left alone, he can take a tower fast. Prince is technically ranged, with a 2.5 attack range, so a melee troop has to walk up to him.
The short version: stop the charge. A Prince that has to turn, walk and re-charge is much weaker. The catch: he has no Evolution or Hero, so he does not change much, but his partners do.
What changed: SeeMeta lists no change for Prince in 2026. RoyaleTracker’s best Prince deck, a Hog Rider list with Evolved Furnace, won 52.5% over 1,300 battles, and the other six printed lists won between 42.7% and 47.7%. What it means: Prince alone is not the problem. Still unknown: his exact unlock arena, since dated guides say Training Camp and the tracker says Royal Arena.
| Answer | Elixir | Note |
| Witch | 5 | Drop her right after Prince lands, in front of the King Tower |
| Goblins, Skeletons | 1 to 2 | Cheap cards that lure him to the middle |
| Tombstone | 3 | Best building; time it for at least two skeleton waves |
| Tanky troops (Giant, Knight, Valkyrie, Skeleton Army) | 3 to 5 | Use them if you have no small troop |
| Musketeer, Spear Goblins, Goblins | 2 to 4 | Take him down if he already hit the tower |
Prince decks sit at the edge of the meta, held up by good partners. If Supercell buffs a partner such as Ram Rider or Furnace, Prince will rise without a change of his own. The negative effect: players who ignore the partners will keep blaming Prince for losses that come from the whole push.
Seven Smart Plays
- Drop Witch right away. Place her once Prince is placed, in front of your King Tower so spells cannot hit her while the King sleeps. She gets time to summon a second skeleton wave.
- Lure with cheap cards. Skeletons, Goblins or Tombstone pull him to the middle.
- Split Prince and Bomber. A pull separates them, since Bomber is slower and has longer range. Use Fireball or Minions on the Bomber.
- Pull Giant plus Prince. Use small troops to lure Prince to the other lane.
- Buy time if the pull is late. Place a cheap card in front of the tower so he cannot charge.
- Use Tombstone. It is the most effective building, and the advice is to time at least two skeleton waves.
- Hit him after he hits the tower. Use Musketeer, Spear Goblins or Goblins, and set up a counter-push.
The pattern: every play breaks the straight run. What it means: a Prince that never charges is a 5-elixir tank with a sword. Card pages: Prince, Witch, Tombstone and Bomber.
Charging troops are always sensitive to small changes in speed or deploy time. The negative effect: a tiny patch can move the pull timing by a fraction of a second, and counters learned by feel can fail without warning.
What Not to Do
- Do not use Huts as the main answer. It gives the opponent an elixir lead, unless a Hut is already down.
- Do not ignore him after he hits the tower. You lose a crown.
- Do not place troops too late or too far. A late Witch dies, or the tower takes a lot of damage.
- Do not clump. Bomber splash punishes a tight group.
The move: keep one cheap pull card in hand at all times. The catch: if your cheap card is also your only answer to Hog Rider, you may be short. See cheap defensive combos for more low-elixir answers.
Quick Math on the Trade
Here’s the thing: Prince costs 5 elixir. A cheap pull costs 1 to 2. Even a Tombstone at 3 gets a lot of value if it lasts for two skeleton waves. That is why pulling is the best answer: you spend less than the Prince costs, and the tower does the rest.
| Option | Cost | Gain vs 5-elixir Prince |
| Skeletons pull | 1 | +4 if the tower finishes him |
| Goblins pull | 2 | +3 |
| Tombstone | 3 | +2, plus skeleton waves |
| Witch | 5 | Even, but she sets up a counter-push |
The catch: gains assume the tower helps and the Prince is alone. What it means: the real gain is lower against a Prince with Bomber or Giant. Costs come from the official card list.
If Prince decks rise again, expect more cheap pull cards in the meta. The negative effect: a meta full of pull cards makes charging troops weaker, and that could make other slow cards worse too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you counter Prince in Clash Royale?
Lure him with cheap cards, use Witch or Tombstone, and stop his charge.
What is the best building against Prince?
Tombstone, timed for at least two skeleton waves.
How much does Prince cost?
Five elixir.
Does Prince have an Evolution?
No. He has no Evolution or Hero, and SeeMeta lists no 2026 change.
How do you stop the Prince and Bomber combo?
Pull Prince away, since Bomber is slower, and kill the Bomber with Fireball or Minions.
Can Prince solo a tower?
Yes, if he is left alone with a full run.
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 September 2026), read through search summaries
- Supercell official Clash Royale API, card list (elixir cost, rarity)