AI Overview: To level up fast in Clash Royale, upgrade cards often, donate to your clan and finish events. Epic cards come from chests, offers and clan requests, so save gold for upgrades. A 2026 guide says King Tower level now follows how many cards you have upgraded, not XP alone, so spread upgrades across your deck.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- A 2026 leveling guide says King Tower level is now tied to how many cards you have upgraded to a given level (May 26, 2026 system).
- A September 2026 guide says the card level cap is 16, Elite Wild Cards no longer exist and Star Levels are cosmetic.
- The old gem advice (a 500-gem Bucket of Gold) and the 14 to 26 daily gems from chests could not be confirmed and are likely out of date.
- Do not donate the card you are trying to level.
Table of Contents
What Gives You Progress
He answered with a short plan: upgrade your cards, donate, and finish achievements. That plan is still the base of any progress.
The short version: upgrades and donations are the fastest steady source of progress. The catch: the way King Tower level works has changed. A 2026 leveling guide, read through a search summary, says it now follows how many cards you have upgraded to a given level, not just XP.
What changed: a September 2026 guide says the card level cap is now 16, up from 15, that Elite Wild Cards were removed and that upgrades use normal copies plus gold. It also says Star Levels are cosmetic only. What it means: a few maxed cards no longer carry your King level, so even upgrades across your deck matter. Still unknown: exact thresholds, because the guide sources are summaries.
| Notes. | 2026 check |
| Upgrade cards for XP | Still the main source; also drives King level |
| Donate to your clan | Still a steady source of gold and XP, per summaries |
| Finish achievements for gems | Rewards change; check the in-game list |
| Buy a Bucket of Gold with 500 gems | Not confirmed; check current shop offers |
| Free and Crown Chests give 14 to 26 gems a day | Not confirmed; the numbers are out of date |
Supercell keeps changing how progress works, from the level cap to Elite Wild Cards to the King Tower rule. If the next change makes upgrades faster, new players will catch up sooner. The negative effect: each change can leave dated guides wrong, and players who follow a stale plan may waste gold on the wrong cards.
How to Get Epic Cards
His reasoning was about value: gold buys more than one card, and upgrades cost more as levels rise. We could not confirm today’s shop prices, so check the in-game offers before you spend anything.
- Save gems for the best offer you can see. Compare prices before you buy.
- Save gold for upgrades. Costs rise fast with each level, so plan your upgrades.
- Use clan requests. Request cards your deck needs, and donate to others.
- Finish events and challenges. They often give card rewards.
- Do not donate the card you are leveling. If you are leveling Wizard, donate everything else.
The move: pick two or three cards that your deck needs most, and upgrade those first. The catch: an Epic you cannot use well is a wasted upgrade. Our guide on card level breakpoints and the page on underleveled cards help you pick.
Expect more event rewards and pass tiers to be tied to the King Tower rule. The negative effect: players who skip upgrades on cheap, supporting cards may find their King level stuck, even when their main cards are strong.
A Weekly Plan
- Daily: open free rewards, donate what you can, and finish the easy tasks.
- Weekly: look at your deck, find the weakest card, and upgrade it.
- Monthly: review the shop and event offers for good value, and keep a gold reserve for the next upgrade.
Quick math: one upgrade a day beats saving everything for a big jump, because small upgrades keep your cards close to your opponents’ levels. The catch: gold is limited, so do not spread it across cards you rarely use.
Common Mistakes When Leveling
- Spreading gold across 20 cards. Pick your deck of eight first.
- Buying cards you will not play. An Epic you never use does not help you win.
- Donating the card you need. Keep those copies for your own upgrades.
- Ignoring cheap cards. Spells and small troops decide close fights.
The pattern: every mistake wastes gold or cards that could have gone into your deck. What it means: list your eight cards, rank them, and upgrade from the top. The catch: if the King Tower rule rewards even upgrades, balance your list too.
Expect more catch-up systems, such as extra rewards for returning players and event passes. The negative effect: players who buy shortcuts may reach high ladders before they learn the cards, and meet opponents who punish weak play.
Quick math: if one upgrade a day costs about the same gold as a weekly shop trip, the daily route wins on speed because each level lifts your whole deck sooner. The catch: gold prices rise at higher levels, so check the real cost in the game before you plan. Our page on Elixir Collector vs spells shows how a small stat gap changes a fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you level up fast in Clash Royale?
Upgrade cards, donate to your clan and finish events. Spread upgrades, because King level now follows how many cards you have upgraded.
How do you get Epic cards in Clash Royale?
From chests, shop offers, events and clan requests. Check current prices in the game.
What is the max card level now?
A September 2026 guide says 16.
Do Star Levels change stats?
No. They are cosmetic.
Should you donate cards?
Yes. It gives gold and XP, but do not donate the card you are trying to level.
Is the 500-gem Bucket of Gold still a good deal?
Not confirmed. The old advice may be out of date.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- Search summary of a 2026 leveling guide (Izoate): King Tower level now follows how many cards you upgraded (May 26, 2026 system), max account level 70
- TimeSaver, Clash Royale card levels explained (September 2026): level cap 16, Elite Wild Cards removed, Star Levels cosmetic