It is time for a new rare card rankings for all the rare cards in Clash Royale! We will be having a power ranking, 24-1, of the rare cards in Clash Royale as of February 2019. As many of you know, I have done this ranking before, back in November when there were still 24 cards. The top 5 cards then, in order, were fireball, ice golem, battle ram, dart goblin, and hog rider. Let’s see how much those rankings were shaken up over the past couple balance changes and updates!
You can view the old ranking here: https://clashfordummies.com/2018/11/17/clash-royale-rare-card-rankings-november-2018/
How the Rare Cards are Ranked
When ranking these cards we put a lot of thought and effort into what makes the best rare card the best. We are considering a variety of different ways to rank which are order in importance as follows:
- Versatility
- Cost/Damage Ratio (is the card worth it?)
- Strength on defense and offense
So now that you know what we are judging on, lets go ahead and get into the rankings, starting with number 24!
Note: Text color indicates which way the card is trending in regard to the November rankings.
Rare Card Rankings
#24- Bomb Tower
These is almost a complete consensus between players that the bomb tower is the worst defense in Clash Royale and one of the worst overall cards in the game. Despite being revamped to 4 elixir, it still suffers, mostly because it can get overwhelmed by flying units, while the cheaper cannon isn’t such an elixir investment.
#23- Three Musketeers
Based on the timing of this article, the three musketeers could have either been #1 or #23! Before the February balance changes upped their cost to 10 elixir, the three musketeers were one of the most dominant cards in the game. Instead, 10 elixir is too high of a commitment, which makes the 3M our biggest fallers, down 15 spots.
#22- Goblin Hut
I have to admit that I’m happy to see the first of the spawners this low in the rankings, as the goblin hut is barely even seen anymore, neither on ladder or in challenges. With buildings that do a better job defending, the goblin hut turns into an offensive minded card. However, slow chip damage won’t cut it in the current meta, so it remains at the bottom of the rare cards.
#21- Heal
Finally, finally, finally, Clash Royale buffed the heal, reducing its cost to 1 elixir and completely changing the gameplay. While the heal has definitely improved and seen more playing time, it is still a very unpopular and weak card, with the card barely offering any healing. Still, this is a huge improvement over the old three elixir heal, so with a few tweaks, it can definitely rise up.
#20- Barbarian Hut
Every time I make these rare card rankings and every time the barbarian hut is not in the top half, I praise the Clash Royale gods. A meta where the barbarian hut is OP would be TERRIBLE, and the statistics are there to make it happen. Fortunately, in the December balance changes, the HP was nerfed by 7%, toning the BH back down to a manageable place.
#19- Elixir Collector
Since three musketeers are the card that the elixir collector is most paired with, its understandable that the pump sees a decrease in use over the next few months. Before the 3M nerf, I already felt like the elixir collector was a risky investment; one fireball or miner and you have a massive negative elixir trade. I think we need to go back to a 5 elixir pump for it to be viable.
#18- Zappies
It is good to see the zappies on the return, even though they are still overshadowed by the electro-wizard and electro-dragon. Again, with the three musketeers nerf, the zappies are going to be hurting a bit, but they are versatile enough to be incorporated into other deck archetypes. I want to see a small buff to really get these guys into an elite support card role.
#17- Rocket
The rocket has been pretty consistent in past rare card rankings, slotting between 11-15 the last three rankings. However, with the popularity of the fireball and poison, the rocket’s main competition, it is slowly falling out of use. The massive damage that it inflicts still has no equal, though for two elixir less, you can get pretty close.
#16- Wizard
In all of the rare card rankings we have ever done, this is the lowest that the wizard has ever been ranked. Whether it is the popularity of the fireball or the rise of new cards that offer a better option than the wizard, his usage rate is down to 1 percent in grand challenges, which is a historic low for a card once trending around 20 percent in grand challenges.
#15- Royal Hogs
I’m a super fan of this win condition so it saddens me a little bit that the royal hogs aren’t cracking into the top 50% of rare cards. With the uniqueness of the card, being the only swarm win condition, I feel like Clash Royale needs to buff this card to be one of the best rare cards in the game. Please add a damage increase to the royal hogs so they can be elite!
#14- Mini-PEKKA
We can call this a partial return of the mini-PEKKA. He is nearing the elite of the rare cards, though he is still a few spots away from really becoming meta. Like the royal hogs, I’m a huge fan of the mini-PEKKA and want to see him at the top of game. However, he needs a faster hit speed to really move up as a popular defensive option.
#13- Furnace
One of the biggest risers in these rankings, the furnace is going to be up 8 spots to the 13th spot here. It really pains me to say this, but the furnace has been a solid building, offering constant chip damage to the tower over time. You basically have to answer this four elixir spawner or suffer tons of damage onto your arena tower.
#12- Inferno Tower
In a meta where PEKKAs, lava hounds, and golems run amuck, it is always helpful to have an inferno tower in your back pocket to melt these tank cards. There’s no doubt that the inferno tower is the most powerful defense in Clash Royale, not only destroying these tanks, but usually being able to take out whatever support cards are behind as well.
#11- Valkyrie
With such slow movement speed, it is tough for the valkyrie to convert offensive opportunities but on the defensive end, there is no alternative to the valkyrie. Royal hogs can get absolutely shut down by the valkyrie, and it is always great to play a valk in the middle of several support units in order to shred them.
#10- Giant
Since PEKKA is so OP right now, it is tough for a card like the giant to gain playing space, but right now, this card isn’t doing a bad job. The giant retains the distinction of a top win condition, being a cheaper option for players who don’t like to commit as much elixir as a PEKKA or mega knight. The giant can be considered a smaller form of beatdown.
#9- Tombstone
Seemingly out of nowhere, the tombstone is also going to rise up 8 spots to claim a share of our biggest riser title in February. The main cause for the rise in popularity of the tombstone is the lava hound gaining ground, since the synergy between these two cards is through the roof. Even without the lava hound, the tombstone can still shut down a number of cards.
#8- Dart Goblin
For some reason, the dart goblin got a small nerf in February, which hurt it softly, but the rise of another long range unit also moved the dart goblin down. Despite these two changes, the dart goblin is still one of the best three elixir cards in Clash Royale, giving almost unbeatable range that can snipe defenses from across the river.
#7- Mega Minion
Even though lava hound is at an all time high, mega minion is going to drop. Don’t worry about that though, since the mega minion is undeniably one of the best support cards in Clash Royale. The damage that the mega minion packs means that it can shut down a number of ground troops, making it a solid counter to just about every card in Clash Royale.
#6- Flying Machine
This top 6 ranking has been a long time coming, with the flying machine just waiting to break out as a top meta card over the last few months. There has been no buffs or nerfs, but the flying machine’s range has been the real reason behind its climb, fitting in well behind almost any troop in Clash Royale.
#5- Musketeer
With the three musketeers constantly overshadowing the musketeer over the past year, I’m glad to see the musketeer back in the top 5. In the slight buff to offset the big nerf to the three musketeers, the musketeer was buffed, giving it just enough to really change the meta and shoot to the top of all support units in Clash Royale.
#4- Hog Rider
It seems as if the hog rider is basically untouchable, constantly appearing within the top 5 rare cards every single time that the rare card rankings have been published. It is a constant in an ever changing meta and you have to give the Clash Royale team props for that. Expect the hog rider to stay here for many rankings in the future.
#3- Ice Golem
Without a doubt the ice golem is one of the most valuable cards in Clash Royale. For only two elixir, you can play a mini tank or a defensive weapon that slows all attacking units within its radius. This guy can also be used as a cheap spell if you don’t have zap, log, or barbarian barrel in rotation at the moment. The two elixir is almost always worth it.
#2- Fireball
Right now, with exception of *possibly* barbarian barrel and zap, fireball is the most OP card in Clash Royale. In fact, fireball bait decks have been created, featuring many cards that the fireball can be baited out with. With the fall of the three musketeers, there is no doubt the fireball will take a small hit, but will it really matter in its dominance?
#1- Battle Ram
For the first time, the battle ram is going to be the #1 rare card in Clash Royale. For a win condition to have a usage rate of around 30% is unbelievable and means that the battle ram has to be rated the best rare card. Yet again, with the three musketeers nerf, a card the BR paired well with, the future is uncertain, but the battle ram is looking good for at least a few more months or until a nerf.
So that is going to wrap it up for our rare card rankings for February of 2019! Stay tuned soon to see our epic and legendary card rankings soon. Thanks for reading and comment below what you think of the rankings!
Check out our videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNo3IxCrp34erbCRLmG8HIA
Pingback: Clash Royale Rare Card Rankings (May 2019) | Clash for Dummies
When was the last time supercell added a card that’s perfectly balanced before Earthquake? (Earthquake’s use rate isn’t impressive but it’s win rate was actually pretty strong)
LikeLike
I know, I feel like earthquake is perfect! Its been a while…
LikeLike
Oh my god……. I just checked, in my personal opinion, before Earthquake, Magic Archer when released was balanced which is 1 year ago, but lots of people said it was underpowered, then the other card I found balanced before Magic Archer was actually Meta Knight which was 1 year and 9 months ago, yet people said he was OP, going back further, I think the last card’s that’s balanced was Executioner which was 2 years and 3 months ago, but then people realised that there was a bug that turned him broken. So going back even further, the last cards that was perfectly balanced were……..
MINER AND SPARKY?!
Oh my god……. the last time supercell added a card that’s perfectly balanced was 3 years ago!
LikeLike
I remember sparky well… it was SO OP at the very beginning for like a few weeks until CR added the zap reset. After it was balanced until the slow decline to the bottom
LikeLike
“In a meta where PEKKAs, lava hounds, and golems run amuck,”
The saying is “Run amok”
LikeLike
Actually, I did some research and it turns out that run amuck was the original saying in the early 1900s, which has slowly transitioned to run amok. Nowadays, through the ever changing English language, run amok is the more popular spelling, though run amuck was the original!
LikeLike
3 musketeers will cost 9 elixir again!
But, they’ll take longer to deploy
LikeLike
I decided to look at old rare card rankings.
Why was battle ram at the bottom with bomb tower?
LikeLike
Probably a terrible card when it first came out
LikeLike
I don’t see how it was a bad card.
LikeLike
I honestly can’t even remember what it was like when it was first released over 2 years ago. What matters is its ranking now!
LikeLike
Bomb Tower is still not effective, but definitely much better than before
LikeLike
No doubt, it was TERRIBLE before!
LikeLike
“This guy can also be used as a cheap spell if you don’t have zap, log, or barbarian barrel in rotation at the moment”
ice golem is a troop not a spell
LikeLike
But used like a cheap spell
LikeLike
“which is a historic low for a card once trending around 20 percent in grand challenges.” Wait what? When was Wizard ever trending around 20%?
LikeLike
Whenever the peak was, probably about a year ago
LikeLike
Oof! Apparently Battle Ram got hit really hard in the last update, usage rate went straight down to 9%, thankfully the win rate is still good: 49%.
Though Hog Rider isn’t in a better spot: 7% use rate and only 39% win rate……which was surprising as I thought Hog Rider was actually doing well
LikeLike
I’m hoping hog rider can make some gains
LikeLike
Death Damage will be added for Bomb Tower next update
LikeLike
Epic card rankings?
LikeLike
Just released it!
LikeLike
I got a way to make 3 Musketeers viable but NOT OP
Make them 9 elixir again, but make them spawn like the Royal Recruits
LikeLike
would that make split pushing easier?
LikeLike
“With the uniqueness of the card, being the only swarm win condition”
dechshop.pro counts 3 muskies, graveyard, goblin barrel, and lava hound as swarm win conditions
LikeLike
That’s absolutely insane. A swarm card is specifically a card that can be annihilated by splash damage. Graveyard can’t because of the timing, goblin barrel can’t because of the deployment, and lava hound is a single tank until it pops. Three musketeers MIGHT be considered a swarm card, but I’d classify it more towards beatdown
LikeLike
poison
LikeLike
well, tricky barrel gets rekt by splashers
LikeLike
True, but its more common to see the straight barrel
LikeLike
valkyrie (it’s really hard to make her kill all 3 gobs, but it’s possible)
LikeLike
Wouldn’t she have to be placed on the tower for that to happen
LikeLike
when the goblins land, they are first in a small circle, then spread out. the valk rekts them when they are still in a small circle
LikeLike
My new rank
24. Bomb Tower
23. Goblin Hut
22. 3 Musketeers
21. Heal
20. Zappies
19. Elixir Collector
18. Rocket
17. Barbarian Hut
16. Royal Hogs
15. Inferno Tower
14. Furnace
13. Wizard
12. Mini P.E.K.K.A.
11. Valkyrie
10. Giant
9. Dart Goblin
8. Hog Rider
7. Tombstone
6. Flying Machine
5. Musketeer
4. Ice Golem
3. Mega Minion
2. Battle Ram
1. Fireball
LikeLike
Ayeee we have the exact same top 10, just not in the same order!
LikeLike
ayeee? (i’m joking)
LikeLike
fireball’s font is supposed to be red because it fell down 1 spot
LikeLike
fixed
LikeLike
Ok, Battle Ram needs a nerf for real
LikeLike
80% sure we will see one for the next March balance changes
LikeLike
didn’t it’s charge damage get reduced by 11 percent?
LikeLike
Nice catch, must have missed that!
LikeLike
That’s not enough though…. it’s still too OP, it still have 25% use rate and 53% win rate, tied with the Musketeer. The only 2 cards with higher use rate are Mega Minion and Fireball, and the only card with a higher win rate is the Flying Machine, only by 1% though
LikeLike
this is from the guy who doesn’t know how to find the specific use and win rate of a card (oh sure i could scroll through winrate order, but what if I wanted to check out clone’s winrate?)
LikeLike
Here are all the win rates I use: https://statsroyale.com/top/cards?type=grand
LikeLike
“A meta where the barbarian hut is OP would be TERRIBLE” actually, I don’t really mind that, Barbarian Hut’s slow spawn rate doesn’t really bother me that much, when we have the Goblin Hut/ Furnace meta, that really made me rage because the spawn rate just really annoy me
LikeLike
The barbarian hut you have to counter every spawn though while you can let the goblin hut/furnace be for a few spawns
LikeLike
As for the Heal, I think supercell has went the right direction on reworking it, HOWEVER, I think they should give it back a bit of healing power, because I think they took away a bit too much, even though that’s how they should rework cards, expect to see Heal being the top of the meta if they give some of the healing power back
LikeLike
Completely agree with you
LikeLike