Look at those towers topple! But winning a Clash Royale match takes more than brute strength—it takes smart strategy, impeccable timing, and crafty deck-building. Prove you’re king of the castle with these helpful tips:

Struggling to build the perfect deck? That’s expected—the Clash Royale meta is constantly changing, as new cards are introduced and old ones get nerfed or boosted. But no matter what’s trending, try to keep your deck’s average elixir cost under 4. While it’s tempting to load up on heavy hitters, anything higher puts you at risk of getting steamrolled by faster decks.

Always try to win the elixir trade: spend less elixir to stop an attack than it costs your opponent to send it your way. Defend a 4-elixir card with a 2-elixir card—like neutralizing a Mini P.E.K.K.A. with Bats—to gain an advantage that builds over time and fuels your own pushes.

Merge Tactics mode puts a brilliant spin on Clash Royale by turning troops into auto-battling heroes. To get the most out of your economy, sell merged rather than unmerged units. You’ll get a bit of extra elixir back, which could mean the difference between a two- and three-star Monk.

The order in which units march toward towers is just as crucial as their abilities. Hide Musketeers and Archer Queens behind Giants and other damage soakers to keep them alive as long as possible.

Take advantage of an attacker’s movement path by pulling them into trouble (a tactic called “kiting”). For instance, place an ice golem close to the middle of the board as a Mega Knight approaches—it’ll lure the Knight across the map to the opposite lane, letting both towers take shots at it.