AI Overview: This Double Prince bait deck averages 3.3 elixir and uses no legendary card. Two Princes bait the Zap, and the Goblin Barrel slips through. Goblin Barrel’s best list wins 65.4% over about 1,500 battles, though this exact build has no tracker sample. Every price, rarity and 2026 change is rechecked below, so you can trust each number and skip the guesswork.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- The deck costs 26 elixir, which is 3.3 on average, and the Prince and Inferno Tower cost 5 each.
- Goblin Barrel’s first hit came 0.4 to 0.3 seconds sooner on October 6, and its best list wins 65.4%.
- Prince had no 2026 change, but his best list wins only 52.5% over 1,300, and one of seven lists tops 50%.
- Dark Prince’s hit speed moved from 1.3 to 1.4 seconds on May 4, and his best list wins 57.9%.
- Zap’s Crown Tower damage fell from 58 to 48 on June 1.
The Double Prince List, Priced Card by Card
The big idea. Bait means offering the opponent a bad trade. If they Zap the Prince, the Barrel goes in. If they save the Zap, the Prince hits.
Matchups. Against Hog cycle, the Inferno Tower and Zap hold. Against Giant Skeleton or P.E.K.K.A, the Prince struggles, so use the Tower. Against Graveyard, save the Zap. The rule: use the Princes to ask, not to answer.
| Card | Elixir | Job in the deck | 2026 status |
| Prince | 5 | Heavy hitter and bait | No 2026 change; best list 52.5% over 1,300, only one of seven above 50% |
| Dark Prince | 4 | Splash charger and bait | Hit speed 1.3 to 1.4 seconds on May 4; best list 57.9% over about 1,900 |
| Goblin Barrel | 3 | Win condition | Best list 65.4% over about 1,500; first hit 0.4 to 0.3 seconds on October 6 |
| Inferno Tower | 5 | Tank killer and only building | No 2026 change; best list 65.8% over about 3,000 (LogBait) |
| Goblin Gang | 3 | Swarm bait and chip | No 2026 change; best list 62.9% over about 3,100 |
| Dart Goblin | 3 | Ranged chip and bait | Evo poison buffed on June 1; best list 65.1% over about 3,500 |
| Zap | 2 | Cheap spell and reset | Crown Tower damage 58 to 48 on June 1; Evo Zap 77.0% over about 1,000 |
| Fire Spirit | 1 | Cheap chip and swarm kill | Hitpoints 230 to 215 (Aug 4), damage 207 to 215 (Sep 16); best list 62.9% over 707 |
The table shows each price, each job and the 2026 notes.
Zoom out. Bait decks live on the opponent making the wrong choice. If Zap and the Log keep getting cheaper to use, the baits get easier to read, and the Barrel loses its best trick. A weaker Goblin Barrel would slow the whole plan, and that slowdown is the first negative to watch.
What Changed in 2026
The short version. The Prince is unchanged. The Dark Prince hits a hair slower. The Barrel is faster. Zap hits a tower for 48, not 58. The Fire Spirit has less health but more damage.
One more way to see it. Think of the Princes as decoys. They look like the real attack, so the opponent spends elixir on them. The Barrel is the quiet knock on the back door that nobody was watching.
In plain English. The Prince is the same, Zap is weaker, and the Barrel is quicker. That is a small win for a bait deck, since the Barrel is the finisher. The Dark Prince’s tiny slowdown is hard to notice in play.
Claims, rechecked. The write-up says the deck took a friend from 3,300 trophies at Hog Mountain to Arena 12 in a few weeks. That uses an old trophy and arena system, so read it as a story. It also says the Fire Spirits stand in for Princess or Magic Archer, which suits a free-to-play account. Treat every figure as a starting point, not a rule.
The fine print. The Goblin Gang is a steady 62.9% at best over about 3,100 battles. The Dart Goblin has a best list of 65.1% over about 3,500, and his Evolution poison was buffed on June 1. The Inferno Tower, at 65.8%, is the deck’s best answer to a tank.
Card pages: Prince, Dark Prince, Goblin Barrel, Goblin Gang and Inferno Tower.
Zoom in. The Prince is the weakest tracked card here. If he stays near 52%, an opponent who ignores the bait and just defends can beat the plan. If the Prince slips in a coming patch, expect the deck to feel clumsy until you adjust.
How to Play It Today
Play the baits first. Send a Prince or Dark Prince to the bridge, and watch which small spell the opponent uses. If they Zap it, drop the Barrel next.
Quick recap. Bait with the Princes, finish with the Barrel, and let the Tower guard the back. The 2026 trims are small, and the plan still works.
Reality check. A bait deck needs a read, not just a list. If you do not watch which spells the opponent holds, the Princes are only two expensive troops.
Bottom line. Pick this list if you like mind games and own no legendaries. Bait first, Barrel second, and let the Tower guard the back.
Worth knowing. If the opponent has no small spell, play the Barrel right away. Only wait for a Zap to be used if you can see their hand cycle.
Upgrade order. Level the Goblin Barrel, Prince and Inferno Tower first. Dark Prince and Goblin Gang come next. Dart Goblin, Zap and Fire Spirit can wait, since cheap cards need fewer levels.
Tips. Do not drop the Prince alone against a Cannon. Wait for the Dart Goblin or Goblin Gang to share the pressure, and keep Zap for the swarm that would stop your Barrel. Open the linked card pages before you queue, since one balance patch can flip a trade.
Vary the Barrel. Center placement gets the most damage. Side or deep placement dodges Arrows or the Log. Watch for Ice Spirit, Goblin Gang or Valkyrie on the other side.
Elixir math. The Prince and Inferno Tower cost 10 of the 26 elixir. The other six cost 16, or 2.7 each. So the bait cards cycle fast enough to keep the pressure up.
Try it yourself: Double Prince Bait Deck is ready to play: the Clash Royale Deck Builder loads it in one click. It costs 3.3 elixir on average, and because no tracker covers this exact list, there is no 2026 win rate.
Zoom out again. Bait is a mind game, and ladder players learn fast. A deck that wins by surprise loses its edge as more players copy it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Double Prince bait deck good in 2026?
Goblin Barrel’s best list wins 65.4% and Inferno Tower’s best wins 65.8%, but this exact list has no tracker sample, so test the Prince slot first.
What is the average elixir cost?
26 elixir across eight cards, or 3.3 on average.
Why use two Princes?
Each one is a threat the opponent must answer, and either can pull a Zap away from the Barrel.
What counters Double Prince bait?
Cheap spells held for the Barrel, Valkyrie, and a Cannon or Tesla for the Princes.
Does this deck need legendary cards?
No. It uses three epics, Prince, Dark Prince and Goblin Barrel, and no legendary.
Original Guide, Kept in Full
The text below is the original page, kept in full. It was written between 2016 and 2024, so some details are out of date. The tips and numbers above use 2026 sources.
Howdy everybody!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with me (but I assume most of you are), I am Supermarine, and I have decided to bring to you folks here on Clash.World a Double Prince Zap Bait deck made by my friend CrazyJake01. He used this very deck to make it from 3300 (Hog Mountain) all the way to Arena 12 in a matter of weeks!
So, before y’all get too anxious, I’m just gonna get into this while I can.
Double Prince Zap Bait
Prince
This lance-loving, tiny pony-riding, dashingly good-looking man is a very good card to have in a Zap Bait.
His charge deals huge damage on offense and defense, although he can have issues versus big tanks like P.E.K.K.A and Giant Skeleton.
He is also good bait for our Goblin Barrel, meaning that if they Zap Prince, then the Barreled Goblins can go in unhindered.
Dark Prince
The splash damaging counterpart of the gold-clad Prince, the Dark Prince is basically the opposite of what the Prince is.
Many people think he is trash, but after the Meta change, he has become a much more prominent card in the current scene of things.
His 360 splash when charging is great at helping the Prince where he is weak, and the Prince does the same for him.
Similar to Prince, this buckethead also provides good Zap Bait for your Barrel as well.
Overall, he is an all-around great card, and even more great in Zap Bait!
Goblin Barrel: Obviously, this is your win condition.
You can have different placements for this too.
If you want to get as much damage done as possible is a short time, then center placement is advised.
If you want to be able to juke out Arrows, The Log, or overleveled Zaps, then the side or deep placements are advised.
When using the side and deep placements, watch out for other things that the enemy may have, such as Ice Spirit, Goblin Gang, or Valkyrie.
Fire Spirits: These poor little guys are barely experiencing any use these days, which is actually quite sad.
But, they represent well here in this deck (mainly because my friend doesn’t have Princess or Magic Archer).
They are great at swarm clear as well as for dealing that last bit of damage to that pesky tank you need down.
These three actually have the highest DPS out of any unit in the game, meaning the 300 or so damage they deal together (roughly 100 per Spirit) is inflicted almost instantaneously!
Dart Goblin
Coming to you with the wooden mask, the iconic blowgun, and many years worth of didgeridoo lessons, that’s right!
You know him, you love him (probably not), it’s the Dart Goblin!
He has one of the fastest fire rates in the game, and his damage is quite decent too. This means that he is able to tackle Princess, Mega Minion, and even the Punish Horde if placed right!
He also helps to bait out Arrows or Log as well, helping the Barrel even more when it comes to damaging spell counters!
Zap
Pretty self explanatory.
Kill swarms and reset Infernos with it.
Goblin Gang
Essentially the Clash Royale version of the Furious Five, these dudes are great for Zap and Log bait alike.
Their DPS isn’t to be taken lightly either, as they are definitely capable of taking on many mini tanks, as well as lower-health big tanks.
You can also split them in the back to invest Elixir and shape your hand to better arm yourself defensively.
Overall, a staple in any Bait deck!
Inferno Tower
The 5 Elixir Rare card you get at P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse, this fiery building is great for defense against big tanks, especially P.E.K.K.A, which is on the rise.
However, be sure to protect it using cards such as Fire Spirits or Goblin Gang, as there will be people trying to take it out!
Whether that’s by using a preemptive swarm or a reset card, be sure to bait it out using Goblin Gang or Fire Spirits first, so it will have free reign throughout the Arena!
Substitutions
General Gameplay
3:00-1:00:
Get some good chip damage pushes in during this time.
This way, you decrease the time that your opponent has to attack. This is especially useful if they’re using Beatdown of any kind, as a chip push can turn into a big punish!
Doing pushes with individual Princes and Barrel is also quite wise, as it saves one Prince for a rush attack or for defense.
In terms of defense, save you Gang and IT for emergencies.
1:00-End
Get those Princes down!
Double Prince combo is key to your success here, and if you can add in Zap, Goblin Barrel, or Fire Spirits as well, the opponent will be in massive trouble!
Matchups:
Giant
Always a relatively simple matchup to face, countering it is also relatively simple too.
Use the Inferno Tower in the center, and if there’s a swarm or reset card, use Goblin Gang or Fire Spirits to aid in the fight.
Golem
Now, I understand that fighting Golem is NOBODY’S cup of tea.
However, Inferno Tower is the easy counter.
If this is one of those rare occasions where a Golem crosses the bridge and your IT isn’t in cycle (trust me, it was no fun when my friend was using this for the first time), put Prince behind your King Tower, so he can get a charge off on the Golem and deal significant damage.
A more efficient, but riskier option is to rush the other lane with Dark Prince+Goblin Barrel, then use Inferno Tower or Prince to defend.
P.E.K.K.A: Inferno Tower or Prince+Goblin Gang is very efficient versus this robotic rabble rouser.
Use the Zap and Fire Spirits to deal with the support.
Dart Goblin also helps to whittle down the health of the P.E.K.K.A as well.
Lava Hound: Inferno Tower is a wise decision (doesn’t everybody know that?) versus Hound.
Also use Dart Goblin on Pups if necessary
If fighting LavaLoon and you know so, prevent their push from coming by rushing the other lane with Dark Prince+Barrel.
Your air defense is poor, so watchout!
Royal Giant: Use Inferno Tower.
Or, if you want to be able to counterpush, use Prince, then solidify the counterpush with Barrel and Fire Spirits (or use Dart Goblin).
Use Gang or Dark Prince (let him charge, though) on any Elite Retards.
Hog Rider: Inferno Tower is a very wise counter to use versus the Hog.
However, you can use Goblin Gang or even Prince if he gets a charge off.
When using a Gang or Prince, be sure to establish a counterpush.
Also, do NOT let them outcycle you, otherwise you may not have the right cards in rotation for the right pushes!
3M: Without the standard issue Rocket, 3M actually becomes a problem, so don’t treat these three ladies as a joke.
What you need to do is when they deploy the Muskets, place Prince same lane just as they’re about to cross the bridge.
This allows the Arena Tower to provide valuable support to aid the Prince.
If they use Log to stop the charge, then use Dart Goblin. Counterpush if possible.
Versus Pumps, use Dark Prince on the Tower and Barrel on the Collector.
Graveyard
Dark Prince and Dart Goblin are great counters to the Graveyard.
Versus Graveyard Poison, use Dark Prince, as DG will not survive Poison.
Versus Graveyard Freeze, use Dark Prince to bait Freeze, then once it comes, Zap the Skeletons out, then Dart Goblin for best results and a neutral trade!
Siege: Prince and Inferno Tower are your best counters to siege structures.
When using Inferno Tower, be very careful of reset cards like Ice Spirit, and preemptive swarms such as Bats, Goblins or even Archers.
If necessary, you can also use Fire Spirits to get that last bit of damage done to a structure to prevent unnecessary damage to your Tower.
Miner Poison: One of the hardest matchups, as none of our good Miner blockers can survive a Poison.
Dark Prince is a good Miner Blocker when Poison is out, but versus lone Miners, he isn’t, as his use will put you at an Elixir disadvantage.
So use Dart Goblin versus lone Miners (make him keep his distance) and DP to counter Miner Poison.
Use Inferno Tower if necessary, and counterpush whenever you can.
Spell Bait: Use your Zap, Fire Spirits and Gang wisely!
Use the Fire Spirits on the Barrel, and use Zap, DP, or Gang on anything else.
Counterpush whenever you can.
Also be sure to use Double Prince combo often, as the Inferno Tower can get easily overrrun by the Princes if Zap is used.
Versus Tornado Bait, be sure to place the Prince in the BACK if using Double Prince.
This means that the Dark Prince will be pulled to the King Tower, but the Prince will not! This makes taking the Tower much easier!
Mega Knight: Like with other tanks, Inferno Tower and Prince are great options.
Dark Prince is also generally good too, as it allows troops like Gang to strike MK while DP tanks.
If they place MK in the back, rush the other lane with Dart Goblin+Barrel.
It may not seem like much, but it can deal over 1,000 Tower damage if left ignored, so they’re gonna have to respond to it. This allows you to (possibly) kill the lone MK, if it is alone.
So that’s it for this deck guide! As always, leave a comment so I can hear what you guys have to say!
Until next time, see y’all later
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 October 2026), read through search summaries
- Supercell official Clash Royale API, card list (elixir cost, rarity, unlock arena)
- The original clash.world page (2016 to 2024), kept in full below