AI Overview: Royal Hogs is a 5-elixir Rare troop in Clash Royale that unlocks in the Royal Arena (Arena 7) and has an Evolution. The King’s pets chomp on apples and towers alike. SeeMeta lists the Evolution landing damage cut from 84 to 43 on May 4, 2026. In October 2026, RoyaleTracker’s best Royal Hogs deck won 58.7% over 658 battles.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Royal Hogs cost 5 elixir, are a Rare troop, and unlock in the Royal Arena (Arena 7).
- They have an Evolution but no Hero version.
- On May 4, 2026, SeeMeta lists Evolution landing damage down from 84 to 43.
- RoyaleTracker’s best Royal Hogs deck won 58.7% over 658 battles.
- Two lists differ only by Skeletons versus Evo Skeletons, and they won 49.3% and 58.7%.
Table of Contents
What Royal Hogs Do
The short version: Royal Hogs are a 5-elixir Rare pack. RoyaleTracker’s card text says the King’s personal pets are loose and love to chomp on apples and towers alike. They unlock in the Royal Arena (Arena 7).
Royal Hogs are a pack of fast building-hitters. They cost 5, so a pack that gets through is worth the elixir.
What changed: SeeMeta lists one change on May 4, 2026: Evo Royal Hogs landing damage went from 84 to 43 (-48.8%). What it means: the Evolution got much weaker on landing, and the base card has no listed change this year.
| Stat | Value |
| Elixir cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Troop (building-targeting) |
| Unlocks | Royal Arena (Arena 7) |
| Evolution / Hero | Evolution, no Hero |
| Last change | May 4, 2026 (SeeMeta) |
The Evolution landing damage was cut almost in half in May, and the tracker still shows Evo Royal Hogs in winning lists of other cards. If the base card is next, the 58.7% list could drop. The negative effect: a base card that is nerfed after its Evolution can leave both versions weak.
Best Royal Hogs Decks Right Now
RoyaleTracker printed eight Royal Hogs decks. The best two won 58.7% and 57.8%, and the other six won between 41.6% and 49.3%.
The pattern: the two Evo Cannon lists with Archer Queen, Earthquake and Royal Delivery are the same except for one card. With Skeletons the list won 49.3%, and with Evo Skeletons it won 58.7%. What it means: one Evolution slot moved the result by 9.4 points.
| Build | Cards | Avg elixir | Win rate (sample) |
| Evo Royal Recruits, Evo Goblin Cage and Hero Barbarian Barrel | 4.1 | 57.8% (1.2k battles) | |
| Hero Goblins, Giant Skeleton and Zappies | 3.8 | 41.8% (758 battles) | |
| Evo Cannon, Earthquake and Skeletons | 2.9 | 49.3% (738 battles) | |
| Evo Cannon, Earthquake and Evo Skeletons | 2.9 | 58.7% (658 battles) | |
| Evo Witch, Hero Bowler and Golden Knight | 4.3 | 41.6% (724 battles) | |
| Evo Witch, Evo Mega Knight and Three Musketeers | 6.0 | 45.6% (706 battles) | |
| Evo Mega Knight, Evo Furnace and Lightning | 5.0 | 43.1% (666 battles) | |
| Evo Witch, Evo Goblin Cage and Mighty Miner | 3.6 | 43.1% (650 battles) |
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with the Evo Witch and Evo Goblin Cage build in the table above, 43.1% in the tracker sample (650 battles), already loaded. It averages 3.6 elixir, the lightest list on the page that is not already a Try-it deck elsewhere. Swap Vines for The Log or Arrows to test a cheaper spell.
How to Play Royal Hogs
- Play them at the bridge. They are fast, so a lane with no answer is a tower hit.
- Use Evo Skeletons. The one change between 49.3% and 58.7%.
- Add a spell. The 58.7% list runs The Log and Earthquake, and the 57.8% list runs Fireball and Arrows.
- Keep the cost down. The two best lists average 2.9 and 4.1 elixir.
- Use them as a finisher. The two winning lists pair them with cheap cycle cards, not with a tank.
The move: next game, wait until their cheap answer is in the other lane, then play Royal Hogs at the bridge.
Royal Delivery was cut on August 4 from 437 to 384, and it is in both of the 2.9-elixir Royal Hogs lists. If it is nerfed again, the cheapest lists lose a card. The negative effect: players who rely on one card for the tower finish may see their win rate drop together.
How to Counter Royal Hogs
- The Log or a cheap swarm: a swarm stops a fast pack on the ground.
- A building: a Cannon or Tesla in front of the tower takes the hit.
- Splash damage: a Valkyrie or Wizard clears a whole pack.
- Counter-push: once they spend 5 elixir, send your own push the other way.
The catch: do not use a single troop to stop them. A pack beats one defender.
Are Royal Hogs Worth Using Now?
Is it worth it? Yes, in the right list. Two printed lists won over 57%. The catch: five of the eight won under 46%, and the heaviest list, at 6.0 average elixir, won 45.6%.
What to remember: Royal Hogs win when the deck around them is cheap and has a spell.
Earthquake lost 7.5% of its Crown Tower damage on June 1, from 159 to 147, and it is in the best list. If it is trimmed again, the Evo Cannon lists lose part of their tower plan. The negative effect: a pack that relies on one spell for tower damage can slip without being touched itself.
Go deeper: For the full deck breakdown, read the Royal Hogs deck guide and the Earthquake guide. The Clash Royale Deck Builder is the quickest way to build your own version, because it keeps a running average cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Royal Hogs do in Clash Royale?
They are a pack of fast troops that go for towers and buildings, according to RoyaleTracker’s card text.
How much do Royal Hogs cost?
5 elixir.
When do you unlock Royal Hogs?
They unlock in the Royal Arena (Arena 7). They are a Rare card.
What is the best Royal Hogs deck?
In October 2026, RoyaleTracker listed an Evo Cannon and Evo Skeletons deck with Archer Queen and Earthquake at 58.7% over 658 battles.
What counters Royal Hogs?
The Log, a cheap swarm, a building in front of the tower, and splash troops.
Was Evo Royal Hogs nerfed?
Yes. SeeMeta lists the Evolution landing damage cut from 84 to 43 on May 4, 2026.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway: Royal Hogs are a 5-elixir pack that wins in cheap decks. Pair them with Evo Skeletons and a spell.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- RoyaleTracker, Royal Hogs card page (October 2026 tracker data)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Royal Hogs (October 2026 tracker samples)
- SeeMeta, Clash Royale balance changes 2026 (page updated October 8, 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)