AI Overview: Clone costs 3 elixir and copies troops in a small circle. The copies have 1 hitpoint, and they freeze for a moment, so a Zap can wipe them. Giant Skeleton was reworked in May 2026, so its old bomb number is out of date. Figures are taken from October 2026 card data. Elixir costs were summed using the official card list.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Clone costs 3 elixir, and the copies have the same stats as the originals except hitpoints, which fall to 1.
- The best targets are troops with a death effect: Golem, Lava Hound, Balloon, Giant Skeleton and Battle Ram.
- Giant Skeleton was reworked on May 4, 2026, so the old 957 tower damage figure is stale.
- Giant Skeleton is in seven of the eight printed Clone lists. The best Clone deck won 54.3% over 1,500 battles.
- The page is titled top 10, but it covers five troops and one bait trick.
How Clone Works
Here’s the thing: Clone is a risky card. It copies your troops, but each copy has 1 hitpoint, and they stop to be cloned. That gives the rival time to Arrow, Log or Zap them all.
| Fact | Notes. | 2026 check |
| Cost | 3 elixir | 3 elixir, Epic spell (Arena 15) |
| Radius | 3 tiles | Not re-checked |
| Copy hitpoints | 1 | Same idea; copies are fragile |
| Buildings | Not covered | Not copied |
| Best deck | Not covered | 54.3% over 1,500 battles |
| Most common partner | Lava Hound | Giant Skeleton in seven of eight lists |
The short version: clone troops that matter when they die, not troops that matter while they live. The catch: a cloned troop stops and cannot move or attack for a moment, so a clean Zap kills the lot. See the Clone guide.
Clone has no 2026 change, so its role depends on which troops get buffed or nerfed around it. The negative effect: a single rework to a favorite target, as happened to Giant Skeleton, can end a combo overnight.
Troops With a Death Effect
Golem splits into two Golemites. Lava Hound splits into six Lava Pups. Balloon drops a bomb. Giant Skeleton drops a bigger bomb. Battle Ram deals damage and releases two Barbarians. Fire Spirits and Ice Spirits technically have a death effect, but it does not fire unless they attack first.
- Lava Hound: the most cloned card. Six Pups are worth a lot, and it only hits buildings, so it is not easy to distract.
- Balloon: clone it behind a Lava Hound and the pair cannot be ignored. If the clone is stopped, the bomb still drops.
- Golem: even a cloned dying Golem makes a new Golem and two Golemites.
- Giant Skeleton: the clone’s bomb deals 957 to the tower.
- Battle Ram: if the rival pulls the Ram with a building, clone it and push the copy to the other side.
What it means: the old numbers are tournament-level figures from years ago. The catch: Giant Skeleton was reworked on May 4, 2026: fewer hitpoints, a smaller body, a bigger bomb against troops and a smaller bomb against towers. So the 957 tower claim no longer holds. See the Giant Skeleton guide and the Lava Hound guide.
Because Giant Skeleton now hits towers less and troops more, Clone lists may use it as a defender with a bomb, not as a tower finisher. The negative effect: players who still plan around the old tower bomb will waste elixir and fall behind.
Clone for Spell Bait
The idea: spells shut down clones, but you can use that. If the rival always Logs your Princess and Arrows your Minion Horde, play Princess at the back and clone her. Now there are Princesses in both lanes.
The result: the rival needs both spells to clear them, and your other cards get free.
Same trick: play Goblin Gang at the back and clone it. Two gangs, two lanes. Or clone a couple of Skeletons the rival ignored at the tower for chip damage.
This is the part of Clone that most players miss. It works because the copies cost nothing extra to threaten: the 3 elixir buys a second threat. Test it with a card your rival already hates to face.
What the 2026 Data Says
RoyaleTracker’s best Clone deck in October 2026 won 54.3% over 1,500 battles. Giant Skeleton appears in seven of the eight printed lists.
The takeaway: Clone is a fun card with a modest record. Still unknown: how the spell-bait version performs, because the printed lists are Giant Skeleton decks, not Princess decks. See the card timing page and use the Deck Builder to test it.
When Not to Clone
- Into a Zap or Log: if the rival still holds a cheap spell, the copies die at once and the 3 elixir is gone.
- On a troop the tower is shooting: the copy stops, and the original may die before the copy matters.
- When you are behind on elixir: Clone is a luxury. Defend first and clone on the counter push.
What it means: Clone rewards patience. The catch: it is risky, and the best use is on troops that pay off even if the copies die.
If Supercell keeps reworking big troops, Clone could become more of a bait card and less of a damage card. The negative effect: bait Clone decks live and die by the rival’s spells, and a rival with Zap and Log in hand erases the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best cards to Clone?
Troops with a death effect: Lava Hound, Golem, Balloon, Giant Skeleton and Battle Ram.
How much does the Clone spell cost?
3 elixir. It is an Epic spell.
Do cloned troops have full health?
No. The copies have 1 hitpoint.
What changed for Giant Skeleton in 2026?
It was reworked on May 4: fewer hitpoints, a smaller body, a bigger bomb against troops and a smaller bomb against towers.
Can you Clone buildings?
No. Clone copies troops, not buildings.
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)