AI Overview: Executioner is a 5-elixir Epic troop in Clash Royale, unlocked in Arena 14. He throws an axe that hits everything on the way out and on the way back. His Evolution adds bonus damage and knockback up close. RoyaleTracker listed his best Evolution deck at 59.9% win rate in October 2026, a cheap Hog Rider list.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Executioner costs 5 elixir, is an Epic, and unlocks in Arena 14 (Serenity Peak).
- His axe hits everything on the way out and on the way back.
- The Evolution adds 75% bonus damage and a 1.5-tile knockback within 3.5 tiles.
- His projectile range went from 7.5 to 7 tiles on August 4, 2026.
- RoyaleTracker’s best Evolution Executioner deck won 59.9% over 504 battles; its card page shows a top deck at 53.9%.
Table of Contents
What Executioner Does
The short version: Executioner is a 5-elixir Epic who throws his axe like a boomerang, so it strikes every enemy on the way out and again on the way back. RoyaleTracker lists him as unlocking in Arena 14 (Serenity Peak).
He is a ranged splash troop that is good against lines of weak troops.
| Stat | Value |
| Elixir cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Epic |
| Type | Troop |
| Attack | Axe boomerang, hits on the way out and back |
| Unlocks | Arena 14 (Serenity Peak) |
| Evolution | Yes (Evo Executioner) |
What changed: SeeMeta lists one change in 2026. On August 4 his projectile range went from 7.5 to 7 tiles, a 6.7% cut.
The range cut was small, and small cuts slow a card down without killing it. More are likely if the Evolution keeps climbing. The negative effect: each shorter range makes his axe easier to dodge and harder to use well.
Evolution Executioner
Within 3.5 tiles, the Evolved Executioner’s axe throw deals 75% bonus damage and knocks the target back 1.5 tiles on the way out.
- Close range: 75% bonus damage inside 3.5 tiles.
- Knockback: the target is pushed back 1.5 tiles on the way out.
The facts: the bonus only works up close. What it means: the Evolution rewards pushing in, not hiding behind a tank.
It takes an Evolution slot. Our deck slots guide covers how to choose.
Best Executioner Decks in October 2026
RoyaleTracker tracked 18 decks with Executioner in October 2026. The most common partners were Witch, Wizard, Mega Knight, Elite Barbarians and Sparky, followed by Firecracker, Valkyrie, Skeleton Army, Boss Bandit and Electro Giant.
The pattern: the best list is a cheap Hog Rider cycle with Evo Executioner. The heavy Balloon and Beatdown lists won 47.4% and 44.9%. What it means: Executioner is better in a cheap deck than a heavy one.
| Build | Cards | Avg elixir | Win rate (sample) |
| Hog Rider, Evo Executioner and Evo Valkyrie | 3.4 | 59.9% (504 battles) | |
| Mega Knight, Hero Wizard | 5.1 | 53.1% (731 battles) | |
| Balloon, Elite Barbarians, Rocket | 5.0 | 47.4% (1.1k battles) | |
| Beatdown | 5.5 | 44.9% (967 battles) |
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with the Hog Rider build with Evo Executioner and Evo Valkyrie in the table above, 59.9% in the tracker sample (504 battles), already loaded. It averages 3.4 elixir, the cheapest Executioner list on the page. The sample is small, so treat it as a good start. Swap Rocket for another spell to see how the average cost moves.
How to Play Executioner
- Place him behind a tank. He is a ranged card and has less health than a tank.
- Aim for lines. His axe hits everything in a line twice.
- Use the Evolution up close. Keep targets inside 3.5 tiles for the bonus.
- Pair him with Elite Barbarians or Mega Knight. Both are common in his decks.
- Cycle him in a cheap deck. The best list averages 3.4 elixir.
The move: next game, place Executioner behind a Valkyrie or Mega Knight when the opponent sends a swarm.
He fits with the Mega Knight card and our Executioner tips, and our Mega Knight deck guide shows the lists.
The best tracked list is a Hog Rider cycle, which is not where Executioner usually lives. If more players copy it, Supercell may adjust Hog Rider instead of Executioner. The negative effect: a card that shifts between archetypes can leave a player with the wrong upgrades.
How to Counter Executioner
- Fireball or Rocket: his health is low, and a spell kills him with a small troop.
- Use a building: a Cannon or Tesla in front pulls the axe and keeps your troops out of its line.
- Fast troops: a Hog Rider or Battle Ram runs past his axe.
- Do not stack troops in a line: his axe hits everything on the way out and back.
The catch: the axe comes back. A troop that survives the first hit can still take the second.
Is Executioner Worth Using in 2026?
Is it worth it? Yes, in a cheap deck with the Evolution. The best list won 59.9%, though the sample is only 504 battles. In heavy Beatdown he won 44.9%.
What to remember: keep him cheap and close.
The Evolution’s bonus damage only works up close, so future changes will probably tune the 3.5-tile limit. A larger limit would make him safer and stronger, a smaller one would push him back toward Beatdown. The negative effect: either change breaks the cheap Hog list that is winning today.
Go deeper: For more heavy picks, read the Executioner and Bowler Beatdown deck and the Elite Barbarians deck guide. Use the Clash Royale Deck Builder to compare your own eight cards against this one; it shows the average cost live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Executioner do in Clash Royale?
He throws an axe that hits every enemy on the way out and on the way back.
How much does Executioner cost?
5 elixir.
When do you unlock Executioner?
In Arena 14 (Serenity Peak). He is an Epic card.
What does Evo Executioner do?
Within 3.5 tiles his axe deals 75% bonus damage and knocks the target back 1.5 tiles on the way out.
What is the best Executioner deck?
In October 2026, RoyaleTracker listed a Hog Rider deck with Evo Executioner and Evo Valkyrie at 59.9% over 504 battles.
How do you counter Executioner?
Use Fireball or Rocket, or a fast troop that runs past the axe.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway: Executioner is a ranged splash card that wins in cheap decks with the Evolution. Keep targets close and avoid lines.
Building around this card? Our guide on how to use the Clash Royale Deck Builder shows how to load a deck, check patch risk and copy it into the game.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- RoyaleTracker, Executioner card page (October 2026 tracker data)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Executioner (October 2026 tracker samples)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Evo Executioner (Evolution text and decks, October 2026)
- 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)