Clash Royale Royal Hogs Guide

Type	Level/Tier	Objective	Reward
Damage Dealer	1	Deal a total of 120,000 Damage to enemy Troops or buildings	100 Royal Hogs cards 50
	2	Deal a total of 360,000 Damage to enemy Troops or buildings	4,000 0 50
	3	Deal a total of 600,000 Damage to enemy Troops or buildings	150 50
Tower Tapper	1	Hit enemy Crown Towers a total of 2,250 times	6000 125
	2	Hit enemy Crown Towers a total of 6,400 times	100 125
	3	Hit enemy Crown Towers a total of 11,000 times	9000 125

Overview

The Royal Hogs are a rare, 5-elixir win condition card in Clash Royale, unlocked from Arena 10 (Hog Mountain). When deployed, they summon four fast-moving hogs that target only buildings. Their strength lies in their ability to apply split-lane pressure, as you can drop them in the middle of your side to send two hogs down each lane. This forces your opponent to split their defense or risk taking substantial chip damage. Each hog deals moderate single-target damage and has decent health, making them effective if not countered quickly.

Royal Hogs work best when paired with support troops or spells. Cards like Firecracker, Zappies, and Royal Recruits synergize well, offering defensive coverage and spell bait potential. They’re also often used with Earthquake to counter buildings, or Heal Spirit for sustain during a push. However, they can struggle against splash damage troops like Valkyrie or Bomb Tower, and are vulnerable to well-timed spells like Fireball. To use them effectively, it’s important to recognize when your opponent is low on splash counters or when their key defensive building is out of cycle.

Best Royal Hogs Decks

2.9 Royal Hogs Cycle:

This deck revolves around fast cycle and constant pressure. The main win condition is Royal Hogs, supported by cheap cycle cards like Skeletons, Ice Spirit, and Fire Spirit. Archer Queen serves as a powerful all-around card for defense and counterpush. Cannon provides solid ground defense against tanks, while The Log handles ground swarms. Earthquake is used to clear buildings that might block your Hogs, making it easier to chip away at towers. With only 2.9 average elixir, this deck allows for quick rotations and frequent Royal Hogs pushes.

Royal Hogs Earthquake:

This version focuses on combining Royal Hogs with Earthquake to punish building-centric decks. Archer Queen again plays a key role in both offense and defense with her strong ability and range. Cannon, Skeletons, Fire Spirit, and Ice Spirit form a low-cost, reliable defensive core that allows fast cycling and elixir-efficient trades. The Log deals with ground swarms and pairs well with Earthquake for clearing hut decks or Tombstone. This deck is excellent for consistent chip damage while cycling back to your win condition.

Royal Hogs Strategies

Royal Hogs are a versatile card that can be used in several effective strategies to gain an advantage in Clash Royale. One popular tactic is Split Lane Pushing, where deploying the Royal Hogs across both lanes applies dual-lane pressure. This makes it harder for the opponent to defend effectively, especially against spells like Fireball, which would otherwise hit all the Royal Hogs if they were grouped together. Another strategy is Rushing, taking advantage of the Royal Hogs’ fast speed and ability to cross the river. This makes them ideal for an early-game rush, particularly when the opponent has low Elixir or when their counter to the Royal Hogs is not in rotation.

Royal Hogs also pair well with Three Musketeers Decks, creating a devastating dual-lane push. The Royal Hogs can act as a “Lightning rod,” drawing attention away from the Three Musketeers, or simply serve as additional pressure to overwhelm the opponent. For more Advanced Placement tactics, placing the Royal Hogs one tile off-center will split them, with three Royal Hogs going down one lane and one in the other.

This technique is useful when pushing into both lanes, especially when one lane is more vulnerable than the other. Additionally, when one of the enemy towers is down, placing the Royal Hogs on the third tile from the pocket will allow them to deal maximum damage to the remaining Crown Tower, taking advantage of their fast speed and ability to target buildings directly.

Royal Hogs Tips and Tricks

When using Royal Hogs in Clash Royale, placement is key to ensuring they target the right buildings. Placing them at the corner side of either bridge is often the most effective, as it directs them toward enemy towers. If the opponent places a defensive building in the center, consider using other cards that apply pressure on the opponent, forcing them to use that defensive building early.

Timing also plays a crucial role in maximizing the effectiveness of Royal Hogs. Once your opponent has spent a significant amount of Elixir on one side, deploy the Royal Hogs on the opposite side. This can catch them off guard and create a situation where they are unable to defend effectively, leaving them to wait until they have enough Elixir to react.

Baiting is another effective strategy when using Royal Hogs. Since defensive buildings are one of their main counters, it’s important to draw them out by applying pressure with other cards. Using powerful cards like Mega Knight or swarm troops such as Valkyrie or Knight can force your opponent to play their defensive building, allowing your Royal Hogs to come in for the attack. To maximize the damage potential of Royal Hogs, avoid splitting them unless they have sufficient support, as they are more vulnerable when separated without backup.

In certain situations, Royal Hogs can be used to kite Very Fast melee troops into the opposite lane. If the opposing troop is moving toward the inner side of the bridge, place the Royal Hogs on the fourth tile away from the bridge and the third tile horizontally in the opposite lane to redirect the enemy unit.

Additionally, Royal Hogs can effectively counter an Elixir Collector placed in front of the King’s Tower. By placing the Royal Hogs in the middle, two of them will target one lane, one will target the other lane, and the last will target the Elixir Collector. This strategy not only deals damage to both Crown Towers but also disrupts the opponent’s Elixir generation, potentially leading to a strong counter-push.

How to Counter Royal Hogs

To effectively counter Royal Hogs in Clash Royale, there are several strategies you can employ. Defensive buildings such as the Tesla, Cannon, or Inferno Tower are great tools to divert and eliminate Royal Hogs. Placing these structures in the middle of your side of the arena will force the Royal Hogs to target them rather than your Crown Towers, giving your towers additional time to deal damage. Additionally, combining defensive buildings with swarm troops like Skeleton Army or Goblin Gang can quickly overwhelm the Royal Hogs and prevent them from dealing significant damage. However, it’s important to keep backup troops ready in case your opponent uses spells like Zap or Log to clear your swarm units.

Using splash damage troops and spells is another effective method. Cards like the Wizard, Baby Dragon, or Fireball can deal with multiple Royal Hogs at once, especially when timed well. Spells like Arrows or Poison can also help eliminate or severely damage the Royal Hogs, particularly when supported by splash damage troops. Timing your splash damage spells is crucial to ensure they hit the Royal Hogs and any support troops your opponent may deploy at the same time.

Elixir advantage is another key element in countering Royal Hogs. By managing your elixir efficiently and taking advantage of your opponent’s elixir expenditure, you can defend against Royal Hogs while also preparing for a counter-push. Use inexpensive defensive cards to save elixir for counterattacks, and apply pressure in the opposite lane with fast troops or spells to force your opponent to spread their elixir thin, making it harder for them to deploy Royal Hogs effectively.

Finally, the Bomb Tower is an excellent counter to Royal Hogs due to its high health, relatively low Elixir cost, splash damage, and ability to distract the Royal Hogs long enough for your Crown Towers to eliminate them. The Bomb Tower’s durability and damage output make it an efficient defensive structure against this fast-moving win condition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when playing Royal Hogs in Clash Royale, there are several key points to keep in mind. As a Rare card, Royal Hogs are a versatile win condition that costs 5 Elixir to deploy. Their ability to be used both offensively and defensively makes them a strong choice in many decks. Strategic deployment is essential—using split lane pushes can effectively apply pressure and make it harder for your opponent to counter.

Additionally, placing the Royal Hogs in optimal positions, such as when a tower is down or by exploiting advanced placements, can maximize tower damage. Be mindful of your placement to avoid defensive buildings, and don’t hesitate to use baiting tactics to draw out counters like buildings or spells.

Matchup awareness is crucial for success with Royal Hogs. Adjust your strategies based on your opponent’s deck, playing aggressively against Lava Hound decks or carefully against P.E.K.K.A. decks. Be prepared to counter specific threats, such as evolved units or strong defensive cards, and adjust your gameplay to deal with them effectively. In most matchups, it’s advisable to go opposite lane to split your opponent’s focus and apply pressure.

Finally, maintaining a defensive and offensive balance is key to playing Royal Hogs successfully. Knowing when to apply pressure with Royal Hogs and when to sit back and defend is crucial for securing the win. With these strategies in mind, you can maximize the effectiveness of Royal Hogs in various situations and create strong pushes that overwhelm your opponent.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)