AI Overview: Hog Rider is a 4-elixir Rare troop in Clash Royale, unlocked in Arena 5. It is a fast melee troop that targets buildings and jumps over the river. RoyaleTracker listed seven of its eight printed decks at 54.8% win rate or more in October 2026, and the best won 61.2%. SeeMeta lists no 2026 change.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Hog Rider costs 4 elixir, is a Rare, and unlocks in Arena 5 (Builder’s Workshop).
- It is a fast melee troop that targets buildings and can jump over the river.
- RoyaleTracker shows no Evolution or Hero version for Hog Rider.
- SeeMeta lists no 2026 balance change for Hog Rider.
- RoyaleTracker tracked 30 decks, and the best printed list won 61.2% over about 3,800 battles.
Table of Contents
What Hog Rider Does
The short version: Hog Rider is a 4-elixir Rare. RoyaleTracker’s card text says it is a fast melee troop that targets buildings and can jump over the river. It unlocks in Arena 5 (Builder’s Workshop).
It runs straight at your tower and hops the river on the way.
| Stat | Value |
| Elixir cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Troop (building-targeting) |
| Special | Jumps the river |
| Unlocks | Arena 5 (Builder’s Workshop) |
| Evolution or Hero | None shown on RoyaleTracker |
| 2026 change | None listed (SeeMeta) |
Hog Rider has no 2026 change, while seven of the eight printed lists win above 54%. If the Hog lists stay on top, a nerf is the likely next step. The negative effect: Hog Rider is the win condition in two archetypes, so one nerf would hit both cycle and Earthquake players at the same time.
Best Hog Rider Decks Right Now
RoyaleTracker tracked 30 decks with Hog Rider in October 2026 and printed eight. The best printed deck won 61.2%, and the biggest sample, 14,600 battles, won 58.8%.
The pattern: five of the eight printed lists are Hog Cycle, and they won between 55.4% and 58.8%. The other three are Hog Earthquake lists that won 61.2%, 54.8% and 48.0%. What it means: the Hog is solid in both styles, and the spells and shield around it decide the rest.
| Build | Cards | Avg elixir | Win rate (sample) |
| Hog Earthquake, Evo Firecracker and Evo Cannon | 2.6 | 61.2% (3.8k battles) | |
| Hog Cycle, Evo Skeletons and Hero Musketeer, biggest sample | 2.6 | 58.8% (14.6k battles) | |
| Hog Cycle, Evo Musketeer and Evo Cannon | 2.6 | 57.8% (4.2k battles) | |
| Hog Earthquake, Evo Firecracker and Evo Tesla | 2.8 | 54.8% (8.6k battles) | |
| Hog Earthquake, Evo Firecracker and Evo Cannon, weakest | 2.6 | 48.0% (7.2k battles) |
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with the Hog Earthquake Evo Firecracker and Evo Cannon build in the table above, 48.0% in the tracker sample (7,200 battles), already loaded. It averages 2.6 elixir and is the weakest printed Hog list, so it is a good one to improve. Swap Electro Spirit for Ice Spirit and Barbarian Barrel for The Log to match the 61.2% list.
Which Decks Use Hog Rider?
RoyaleTracker lists 30 decks with Hog Rider and prints eight. Five are Hog Cycle lists, built around Evo Skeletons, Ice Spirit, Fireball and The Log, and three are Hog Earthquake lists. Every printed list carries Skeletons or Evo Skeletons.
What it means: Hog decks are cheap. All eight printed lists average between 2.6 and 2.8 elixir, so the card cycles quickly and the shield matters more than the tank.
How to Play Hog Rider
- Cycle it fast. The best Hog lists average under 3 elixir, so it comes back often.
- Play it at the bridge. The jump takes it over the river and straight to the tower.
- Use Skeletons or Ice Spirit as a shield. Every printed list runs Skeletons or Evo Skeletons.
- Keep Fireball or Earthquake ready. Spells finish what the Hog starts.
- Do not send it into a ready building. Cannon and Tesla pull it off line.
The move: next game, wait for their key counter to be in cooldown, then send the Hog with a cheap shield.
For a longer walk-through, read our Hog 2.6 Cycle deck guide.
Every printed list runs Skeletons or Evo Skeletons next to the Hog. Skeletons already got a tighter spawn spread on October 6, so another trim would hit all eight lists. The negative effect: when one cheap card sits in every winning deck, a small patch note can move the whole archetype.
How to Counter Hog Rider
- Cannon, Tesla or Tombstone: a building pulls the Hog off its line.
- Ice Golem, Skeletons or Guards: cheap blockers that cost less than the Hog.
- The Log or Barbarian Barrel: they push it back before it reaches the tower.
- Do not chase the cycle: trade cheap and keep your own pressure going.
The catch: the Hog is only a 4-elixir card. Spend less than 4 to stop it and you are ahead.
Is Hog Rider Worth Using Now?
Is it worth it? Yes, in cycle and Earthquake lists. Seven of the eight printed lists won 54.8% or more, and SeeMeta lists no 2026 change. One Earthquake list with Evo Firecracker and Evo Cannon won only 48.0%.
What to remember: the Hog is solid, so pick the spells and shield around it with care.
The weakest printed list, a Hog Earthquake list with Evo Firecracker and Evo Cannon, won 48.0% over 7,200 battles. If Supercell buffs Earthquake to lift it, the 61.2% list would gain too. The negative effect: a buff aimed at the weak list lands hardest on the strong one, and building-targeting games get harder to defend.
Go deeper: For more Hog lists, read the Hog Earthquake deck guide and common mistakes against Hog Cycle. You can build a variation in the Clash Royale Deck Builder, which shows the average cost as the deck fills up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hog Rider do in Clash Royale?
It is a fast melee troop that targets buildings and can jump over the river.
How much does Hog Rider cost?
4 elixir.
When do you unlock Hog Rider?
In Arena 5 (Builder’s Workshop), according to RoyaleTracker. It is a Rare card.
What is the best Hog Rider deck?
In October 2026, RoyaleTracker listed a Hog Earthquake deck with Evo Firecracker and Evo Cannon at 61.2% over about 3,800 battles.
What counters Hog Rider?
Cannon, Tesla and Tombstone pull it off line, and cheap blockers like Ice Golem and Skeletons stop it.
Does Hog Rider have an Evolution or Hero?
RoyaleTracker shows no Evolution or Hero for Hog Rider.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway: Hog Rider is a 4-elixir building-targeter that wins in cycle decks. Keep your elixir low and your shield cheap.
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, Hog Rider card page (October 2026 tracker data)
- RoyaleTracker, best decks with Hog Rider (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)