AI Overview: The Poison in Clash Royale is a 4-elixir Epic spell that covers a wide area and damages troops and buildings over 8 seconds. It wins by control, not by burst. This guide keeps the old kill timings, eight combos and tactics, and adds the 2026 Crown Tower cut and the best printed deck, which wins 68.6% of its battles.
Last Updated: October 2026
Key Points:
- Poison costs 4, is Epic, and unlocks in Jungle Arena (Arena 9). No Evolution or Hero version.
- June 1: Crown Tower damage fell from 184 to 168 (-8.7%). Best printed list: 68.6% over about 3,800 battles.
- Earlier stats: lasts 8 seconds in 8 ticks, 75 per second (30 to Crown Towers), 600 total (240 to towers).
- Kill timings run from 1 tick (Skeletons, Bats) to 8 ticks (Musketeer, Wizard, Electro Wizard).
- Furnace trick: wait 3 seconds before placing Poison, because the Furnace spawns every 10 seconds.
The Basics and the Kill Timings
Here’s the thing: many players call Poison his favorite card. He describes it as a cross between Arrows and Fireball: more damage than Fireball, a wide radius like Arrows, and the damage comes over time. It lasts 8 seconds with 8 ticks, one per second. At the old tournament level that is 75 per second, or 600 in total, and 30 per second (240) against Crown Towers.
| Ticks to kill | Cards |
| 1 tick | Skeletons, Bats |
| 2 ticks | Spear Goblins, Fire Spirits, Lava Pups |
| 3 ticks | Minions, Ice Spirit, Dart Goblin, Goblins, Princess |
| 4 ticks | Archers |
| 5 ticks | Guards, Bomber |
| 8 ticks (whole duration) | Electro Wizard, Musketeer, Wizard |
| Damages but cannot kill | Ice Wizard, Bandit, Night Witch, Barbarians, Mega Minion, Witch |
| Item | Notes. | Card data now |
| Cost and rarity | Not stated | 4 elixir, Epic |
| Unlock | Not stated | Jungle Arena, Arena 9 |
| Crown Tower damage | 30 per tick at the old level | 184 to 168 (-8.7%), June 1 |
| Best printed list | Not stated | 68.6% over about 3,800 battles |
A pump check. The old Poison page says it denies 5 of the 8 elixir an Elixir Collector would make. The Collector guide on this site says a Poison leaves about 2 elixir, which is 6 denied. The difference is timing, so treat both as rough.
Spawners are the other soft target. Poison is a great counter to Furnace, Goblin Hut and Barbarian Hut. See the Poison guide and the Fireball guide for the other big spell.
Poison and Rocket both lost Crown Tower damage in June. The negative effect: if more spells get the same trim, slow decks lose their last finishing tool, and games that used to end with a spell may drag on.
Eight Combos That Keep Troops in the Cloud
| Partner | Cost | Why it works |
| Ice Golem | 2 | Holds troops in the radius; its blast kills what is left. |
| Ice Spirit | 1 | Freezes for 1.5 seconds, so at least 2 ticks land. Cheaper but fragile. |
| Ice Wizard | 3 | Constant slow. Poison does the damage. Great with Inferno Tower or Dragon. |
| The Log | 2 | Pushes troops back into the cloud. Cannot push air. |
| Tornado | 3 | Pull troops in. A Poison plus Tornado pull of a split Three Musketeers is a +2 trade. |
| Zap | 2 | Kills Minion Horde, Archers and Darts so a strong push can finish. |
| Valkyrie + Battle Ram | 4 + 4 | The Valkyrie clears Barbarians, and Poison helps. |
| Bowler | 5 | Boulders push back, but Poison plus Log is cheaper. |
Tornado plus Poison costs 7. Use it when you have spare elixir. The Graveyard version adds another 5.
Win conditions. Miner is the best match: swarms kill Miner, and Poison kills swarms. P.E.K.K.A is a close second. Graveyard has an insane synergy, as Poison covers 8 of its 9 seconds. Battle Ram, Giant (Goison), Hog Rider, Golem and Lava Hound also work.
Check the partners: Miner, Graveyard and Ice Wizard. The Night Witch answer is also on the Night Witch guide.
Poison wins the control matchups when the cloud lasts. The negative effect: a cheap push, shield or retarget card from the rival could break the cloud, and players who count on slow damage may find themselves behind on the clock.
Pre-Poison, Passive Poison and the Furnace Trick
Value beats tower damage. If the rival splits Three Musketeers at the back, Poison the tower with two of them, not the tower with less health. Pre-Poison is the key skill: place the cloud where the rival will drop a card, so it dies on arrival.
- On offense: the rival answers your Bandit with a Tombstone. Poison the spot and the skeletons die, so she dashes straight at the Tombstone.
- On defense: against a Giant Witch push supported by Minions, Poison the Witch and the spot near the Inferno Tower where the Minions land.
- Passive Poison: to kill a lone troop, let it walk into the cloud. Do not place on top of it, so it takes all 8 ticks and the rival cannot add another card.
- Furnace: wait 3 seconds, then place. The cloud lasts 8 seconds and the Furnace spawns every 10, so 3 + 8 = 11 covers the next wave, and no Fire Spirit reaches the tower.
Large radius. One Poison can hit an Elixir Collector and more than one building if placed between them, so look for a double target before throwing.
Poison is an Epic, so it levels slowly. Fireball dominates the ladder, and Poison shines in tournaments where levels are capped. See the Graveyard guide for the main partner.
A rule built on reading the rival is a rule that depends on the meta. The negative effect: if fast cycles keep rising, Pre-Poison may lose some of its value, because the rival will not stay long enough to play into the cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Poison cost?
4 elixir. It is an Epic spell that unlocks in Arena 9.
How long does Poison last?
8 seconds, with 8 ticks of damage, one per second.
What does Poison kill fastest?
Skeletons and Bats in 1 tick. Archers in 4. Musketeer and Wizard take all 8.
Did Poison change in 2026?
Yes. Crown Tower damage fell from 184 to 168 on June 1.
What is Pre-Poison?
Placing the spell before the rival drops a card, so the card dies on arrival.
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)