AI Overview: Royal Hogs is a 5-elixir Clash Royale card that sends four Hogs down the bridge. A Royal Hogs deck pairs it with Earthquake or spells to break the defense. In October 2026, RoyaleTracker’s best Royal Hogs build, a cheap Earthquake list with Evo Skeletons, Evo Cannon and Archer Queen, won 59.7% of 616 battles at 2.9 elixir.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Royal Hogs is a 5-elixir card that sends several Hogs at once.
- The best October 2026 build used Evo Skeletons, Evo Cannon, Archer Queen and Earthquake at 59.7% over 616 battles.
- It averaged just 2.9 elixir.
- A Royal Recruits build won 57.7% over 1,000 battles at 4.1 elixir.
- Witch, Skeletons and Archer Queen pair with Royal Hogs in many successful lists.
Table of Contents
What a Royal Hogs Deck Is
Royal Hogs sends a pack of Hogs across the bridge. Earthquake or a spell clears the way.
Royal Hogs costs 5 elixir and sends several Hogs at the nearest building, which is usually the tower. Decks around it use cheap cycle cards and an Earthquake or Fireball to remove the defense. RoyaleTracker’s October 2026 data shows four builds, from 49.5% to 59.7%.
Why it matters: the Hogs force an answer right away. If the opponent has no splash, the tower takes a lot of damage.
Cause and effect: four Hogs move fast, so the opponent has only seconds to answer. A rushed answer usually costs elixir, and Earthquake takes away their best building answer.
Royal Hogs decks shift as Supercell changes the cards around them. An Earthquake adjustment would hit this deck first. The negative effect: a deck that depends on a single spell can lose its main plan in a single patch.
Royal Hogs Builds in October 2026
| Build | Cards | Avg elixir | Win rate (sample) |
| Royal Hogs EQ | 2.9 | 59.7% (616 battles) | |
| Royal Recruits |  7Evo Royal Recruits 4Evo Goblin Cage 2Hero Barbarian Barrel 4Zappies 4Flying Machine 5Royal Hogs 4Fireball 3Arrows | 4.1 | 57.7% (1,000 battles) |
| Battle Ram and Hunter | 4.4 | 51.1% (601 battles) | |
| Royal Hogs EQ (Cannon only) | 2.9 | 49.5% (693 battles) |
The difference between the first and last builds is Evo Skeletons. With it the deck won 59.7%, and without it 49.5%.
The facts: the cheap list with two Evolutions is the best. What it means: the list with Evo Skeletons won 10 points more than the same list without it. Still unknown: whether the gap holds with a bigger sample.
Quick math: 1 + 3 + 1 + 5 + 5 + 2 + 3 + 3 = 23. Divide by 8 and you get 2.9.
The cost split: Royal Hogs takes 5 of the 23 elixir in the top list. The other seven cards cost 18 together, about 2.6 each. That is why the deck can still cycle.
Try it yourself: open the Clash Royale Deck Builder with the Royal Hogs EQ build above, 59.7% in the tracker sample, already loaded. Swap Earthquake for another spell to see how the average cost moves.
How to Play Royal Hogs
- Cycle first. Play cheap cards to learn how the opponent defends.
- Send Royal Hogs when the opponent is low. They need to spend elixir right away.
- Use Earthquake on a building. It clears the Cannon or Tesla in front of the Hogs.
- Add Archer Queen behind. She supports the push from a safe spot.
- Hold Log for the defenders. It clears small troops that come out.
- Switch lanes. A second Hogs push on the other side catches the opponent late.
The move: after the opponent places a defensive building, play Earthquake first and Royal Hogs a moment later.
Royal Hogs could return to the top if Earthquake or the Hogs get a buff. The negative effect: a one-card combo that dominates the ladder can draw a quick nerf, which leaves players who invested in the combo with less to show for it.
What Beats Royal Hogs
- Splash defenders: Valkyrie, Wizard and Baby Dragon kill a pack of Hogs.
- Fast spells: Fireball and Arrows hit the whole pack.
- Lane control: a defender already in place will win the trade.
For related decks, read our Hog Earthquake guide and the Hog 2.6 Cycle guide. For the other side, see how to counter splash damaging units.
Here’s the problem: a single Valkyrie can handle the whole pack and win elixir. Always check for splash before you commit.
Can You Play It Without Evolutions?
It is possible, but the tracker shows a big gap. The best list uses Evo Skeletons and Evo Cannon. See the deck slots guide and how to upgrade cards in Clash Royale.
The list with both Evolutions did best in the data.
If Evolutions keep making cheap cards stronger, cycle decks like this one will keep rising. The negative effect: players without the shards will have fewer ways to match the best list.
Go deeper: For card basics, read the Hog Rider card page, the Earthquake card guide and the double-lane pressure guide. Want to try a version of your own? Add cards in the Clash Royale Deck Builder and watch the average elixir change.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Royal Hogs cost?
Five elixir.
Is Royal Hogs good in 2026?
RoyaleTracker listed builds from 49.5% to 59.7% in October 2026.
What is the best Royal Hogs deck?
The Earthquake list with Evo Skeletons, Evo Cannon and Archer Queen at 59.7%.
What cards go with Royal Hogs?
Witch, Skeletons and Archer Queen appear often in successful lists.
What counters Royal Hogs?
Splash defenders and quick spells such as Fireball.
How much elixir does the top build average?
2.9.
The Bottom Line
The takeaway: cycle cheap, clear the building with Earthquake, and send the Hogs when the opponent is short.
What to watch next: any Earthquake or Royal Hogs change.
Want to test this list yourself? Our step-by-step Deck Builder guide walks through every tab, from the meters to the copy link.
Sources
Researched from the following (no links, listed for transparency):
- RoyaleTracker, Royal Hogs best decks (October 2026 tracker samples)
- RoyaleTracker, deck archetypes 2026 (usage and win rates by archetype, October 2026)
- The original clash.world pages (2017-2024), used only for the “then” comparison