AI Overview: This Golem Royal Ghost deck averages 3.9 elixir and skips the Elixir Collector. The Collector had been nerfed, so the list stays safe in 1v1 ladder. In 2026 the Royal Ghost lost some hitpoints on October 6 and its best list still wins 77.0%, though this exact list has no tracker sample. The full card-by-card check follows.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- The deck costs 31 elixir, which is 3.9 on average, light for a Golem list.
- Royal Ghost lost hitpoints on October 6, 1,210 to 1,152, and its best list wins 77.0% over 993 battles.
- Golem had no 2026 change, and its best list wins 68.7% over about 1,400 battles.
- Cannon Cart had no change, and its best list wins 69.7% over 1,400 battles.
- Inferno Dragon’s Evolution charge time fell from 9 to 7 seconds on June 1, and its best Evolution list wins 72.3%.
The Golem Royal Ghost List, Priced Card by Card
Here’s the thing: This is the first installment of a deck series and the newest Legendary at the time was in it. The idea is simple. Build a Golem push with a Flying Machine and Cannon Cart behind it, and let the Royal Ghost and Inferno Dragon handle defense.
| Card | Elixir | Job in the deck | 2026 status |
| Golem | 8 | Main win condition | Best list 68.7% over about 1,400 battles; no 2026 change |
| Royal Ghost | 3 | Runner that defends and counter-pushes | Hitpoints 1,210 to 1,152 on October 6; best list 77.0% over 993 |
| Inferno Dragon | 4 | Tank killer | Evo charge time 9 to 7 seconds on June 1; best Evo list 72.3% over 792 |
| Flying Machine | 4 | Ranged support behind the Golem | No 2026 change; best list 57.8% over 1,200, two of eight lists above 50% |
| Cannon Cart | 5 | Glass cannon with a shield | No 2026 change; best list 69.7% over 1,400, four of seven printed lists above 64% |
| Ice Spirit | 1 | Cheap slow and cycle card | Hitpoints 230 to 215 on August 4; every printed list 56.7% or more |
| Zap | 2 | Cheap reset spell | Crown Tower damage 58 to 48 on June 1; Evo Zap 77.0% over about 1,000 |
| Poison | 4 | Spell that clears defenders | Crown Tower damage 184 to 168 on June 1; best list 68.6% over about 3,800 |
Check the table for each card’s cost and how it holds up in 2026.
A Golem list that drops the Collector has to win on trades. The negative effect: the Ice Spirit and Poison both took small cuts this year, so the cheap tools that protect the Golem push are a little weaker.
What Changed in 2026
The Golem, Cannon Cart and Flying Machine are unchanged. The Royal Ghost has fewer hitpoints. The Inferno Dragon’s Evolution charges faster. Poison hits towers for 168 instead of 184 and Zap for 48 instead of 58. The Ice Spirit has 215 hitpoints, not 230.
Claims, rechecked. The Royal Ghost was a 3-elixir Legendary from Hog Mountain. The cost is unchanged, 3 elixir. The line that it would be nerfed soon turned out right: hitpoints fell from 1,210 to 1,152 on October 6.
The weak spots. The Royal Ghost would soon be nerfed, and he was right. The Flying Machine’s best list wins 57.8%, with two of eight above 50%. The Ice Spirit’s lists are all 56.7% or higher, so it is a safe slot.
Card pages: Golem, Royal Ghost, Cannon Cart and Inferno Dragon.
The Royal Ghost would be nerfed soon, and it was. The negative effect: with a 1,152 hitpoint cap and a high win rate, the card remains a target for another trim, and a deck that leans on it for defense should have a backup plan.
How to Play It Today
Here’s the thing: use the first two minutes to learn the opponent’s deck. Defend and counter-push at normal elixir, go a bit more aggressive from 1:59, and do not overcommit.
Roles. The Ice Spirit freezes attackers just enough for the Cannon Cart to land, and can freeze a Mega Knight for a moment. The Inferno Dragon is the primary tank killer. Poison clears defenders and unlucky swarms, so keep it for value.
Translation: use the Cannon Cart with the Ice Spirit against Mini P.E.K.K.A, Valkyrie, Musketeer and tanks. Place the Flying Machine behind the Golem and keep it away from targeting. Zap resets Inferno cards, Battle Ram, Prince and Sparky, and Poison is for defenders and swarms, not for defense unless you must.
Elixir math: the Golem and Cannon Cart take 13 of the 31 elixir. The other six cost 18, or 3 each. A Golem plus Flying Machine push is 12 elixir, and the cheaper Royal Ghost, Ice Spirit and Zap keep the cycle moving.
Try it yourself: send Golem Royal Ghost Deck to the Clash Royale Deck Builder and tweak it to fit your levels. The average cost is 3.9 elixir; as a classic list it carries no 2026 win rate.
About Zap and the Electro Wizard against the Inferno Dragon. The negative effect: the Electro Wizard’s best list wins 72.1%, and that card is common in ranked decks, so the dragon’s main weakness shows up often.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Golem Royal Ghost deck good in 2026?
The Royal Ghost’s best list wins 77.0% and the Cannon Cart’s best wins 69.7%, but this exact list has no tracker sample, so test the Flying Machine slot first.
What is the average cost of the eight cards?
It averages 3.9 elixir, from 31 elixir spread over eight cards.
Does the deck use an Elixir Collector?
No.
What does the Cannon Cart do?
It is a glass cannon with a shield. If it dies while a tank is on your side, the tank is pulled to it.
What is the Royal Ghost for?
A runner on defense that turns into a counter-push, and splash support for the Golem.
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.
Greetings, clashers! It’s Inaros (Frisk Dreemurr in the comments, and Frisk Dreeemurr#4961 on Discord), here with the first (or is it the second?) installment of my “Frisk’s Exotic Wonders” deck series!
Today, I’m bringing you a Golem Beatdown deck featuring the newest addition to my card collection: Royal Ghost!
I already know that some of you who have him and are looking for good decks with him are just ANXIOUS to read on. Let’s get this show on the road!
(Disclaimer: This deck does not include Elixir Collector. Due to the most recent nerf, it’s very dangerous to play this card in 1v1 ladder)
The Golem Royal Ghost Deck
Golem
The main win condition of this deck (what else would it be?).
Once this bad boy gets to a tower, he’ll guaranteed deal huge damage.
For optimal tower-taking results, build up support troops behind him…just make sure they survive any opposing defenders, though.
Cannon Cart
You’ve seen Cannons as defensive buildings, mindlessly firing at incoming opponents, but have you ever seen…a Cannon ON WHEELS?
Maybe not, but in the Clash universe, anything is possible.
Cannon Cart will be your glass cannon with a shield here.
Use it along with Ice Spirit (And other cards, obviously) to kill Mini Pekkas, Valkyries, Musketeers, and tanks. (Bonus: If destroyed when a tank is on your side, ready to hit the tower, it will get pulled to the CC instead!)
Royal Ghost: OOOOooooOooOOoooOoooooOOOoooo… Yikes!
What was that? Was it tonight’s minestrone soup, ready to punish my excretory system? No, it’s just the Royal Ghost, announcing his presence in the arena…phew!
The Royal Ghost (A card that will SOON be nerfed) is a 3 elixir legendary card that is now unlockable in Hog Mountain, along with the Mega Knight.
He’s extremely powerful, wielding a sword that somehow deals area damage (and to think…all the sword-wielding cards in the game deal point-damage…), turning invisible after every kill, and almost unstoppable if not pulled by a troop.
This guy will be your close-quarters replacement for Executioner, even though he can’t target air.
More explanation on how to effectively use him later.
Flying Machine: Part of the newest batch of cards, Flying Machine is the Master Builder’s first gift to the Arena.
It’s extremely squishy, meaning it can die to Fireball, even at Tournament standard.
It makes up for being weak with decent damage output and insane range, deeming it the card with the third longest range in Clash Royale (the second being X-Bow, the first being Princess). Acting as a support card for Golem, it can snipe out Inferno Towers, Teslas, or any other glass cannon.
To maximize its usefulness, try to not let it get targeted (like Night Witch in a classic Golem Beatdown).
Ice Spirit
This little frosty dude is ready to give anyone that crosses his path a nice, nippy hug.
Easily my favorite Common card in the game, Ice Spirit offers insane value like no other card.
He can freeze attackers just enough for your Hog to get the winning strike, he can freeze Mega Knight for a moment as your own Knight and tower go to work, he can be used as a cycle card…boy, isn’t Ice Spirit AMAZING?
Inferno Dragon
Likely a buffed version of Baby Dragon, the Inferno Dragon will serve as your primary tank killer.
But of course, you knew that already. Just watch out for Zap and Electro Wizard.
Zap
Again, another self-explanatory card.
Resets the attack of Inferno Dragon(!), Inferno Tower, Battle Ram, Prince, Dark Prince, Sparky, and Mega Knight (of course, it serves that very purpose for almost every card in the game, just wanted to list the cards that are high priority).
Poison
Covers the ground in a sticky toxin that damages all non-spell cards in radius, but somehow leaves the grass in pristine condition.
Poison spell will be used primarily to deal with defending troops, or the unlucky swarm that happens to spawn in.
Wouldn’t recommend using Poison on defense unless you absolutely MUST.
Card Replacements
Gameplan
3:00 – 2:00
Take this time to get to know your opponent’s deck and playstyle.
Chances are, you’ll have it all down before the 2-minute mark hits, because you have powerful cards to support Golem that can’t be ignored.
As in any game in the state of normal elixir, defend and counterpush.
1:59 – 1:00
By now, you and your opponent know each other’s decks and playstyles, so try and go a bit more on the aggressive side when you attack.
Just don’t overcommit…or else you’ll regret it
0:59 – 0:00
Time for things to get FRISKY!
Be as aggressive as you can, dropping your Golem at the back and slowly building from there.
You are almost guaranteed to get a crown with the supports you have on your side.
Tips
- To maximize the effectiveness of Royal Ghost’s area damage, try and find a way to get troops all grouped up.
- When playing Flying Machine as a support card, don’t drop it behind Golem. Instead, deploy this crazy contraption AWAY from the action, so it can safely snipe out any glass cannon or building. Given Flying Machine’s amazingly long range, you’ll find this tip mighty useful.
- When planning to pull something within crown tower range, deploy your troop one tile away from the center of your half in the arena.
Matchups
Other Golem Decks
You should have no problem with this. Inferno Dragon to melt Golem, Royal Ghost to take care of support, Cannon Cart acting as tank, Flying Machine can snipe from a safe distance…you know the deal.
Giant
See Golem
P.E.K.K.A
See Golem
Mega Knight
Same as Golem, except you’ll need to pull the big dude, first.
Bait
GG EZ. Goblin Barrel could give you issues, though.
Hog Rider
Should be relatively easy, if you don’t get outcycled.
You’ve got everything you need to take down the porcine prance, stay calm and focused.
Just keep in mind that most Hog Decks have Inferno Tower.
Miner Poison
See Hog Rider.
Royal Giant
Dead, super easy to beat.
Graveyard
See Royal Giant.
Bridge Spam
I don’t know about YOU guys, but I’ve encountered some versions of Bridge Spam on ladder.
It should be easy to beat.
3 Musketeers
This deck is gonna cause you crap ton of trouble.
With double lane offense in their favor, you’ll need to constantly pressure them into defending instead of attacking.
And since most 3M decks rely on swarms for defense, you’ll have no problem dropping poison. And since Musketeer dies to poison, you’ll have even less to worry about.
And so, we have reached the end of a marvelous journey…thanks for reading, and I hope you liked the deck! Be sure to leave a positive comment below 😉
This is Frisk Dreemurr, saying sayonara and STAY DETERMINED! <3
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