Graveyard is a 5-elixir spell that keeps spawning skeletons around your tower for a while. It’s strongest behind a tank (Knight, Giant, Ice Golem) or with Freeze. Your answer is area damage close to the tower, timed to catch the skeletons as they appear.

Quick answer: the most efficient counters to Graveyard are Poison, Valkyrie, Arrows, Bomber.

Best counters to Graveyard

These cards deal with it safely and for little elixir. Tap a card’s name to open its own guide.

• 
  Poison 4 elixir +1 elixir trade
  Poison covers the whole Graveyard area and keeps killing skeletons as they come out for its whole duration.
• 
  Valkyrie 4 elixir +1 elixir trade
  Valkyrie spins through the skeletons around the tower and survives for a counterpush; place her in the middle of the Graveyard.
• 
  Arrows 3 elixir +2 elixir trade
  Arrows clear the skeletons that are already out; cast them a moment after the Graveyard so they catch more.
• 
  Bomber 2 elixir +3 elixir trade
  Bomber placed next to the tower blows up groups of skeletons for only 2 elixir while the tower protects him.

How to defend

• The skeletons do the real damage. Handle the tank cheaply and save your splash for the Graveyard.
• Place splash troops right next to your tower, inside the Graveyard, so they hit the skeletons as they appear.
• Watch for the opponent’s Poison or Freeze: they use them to protect the skeletons from your defenders.
• A building can pull the tank away from the tower so the skeletons are left without protection.

Common mistakes

• Casting your spell too early: skeletons keep spawning, so a spell at the very start misses most of them.
• Defending with single-target troops like Mini P.E.K.K.A that kill one skeleton at a time.
• Ignoring the tank in front: it soaks the tower’s shots while the skeletons do the damage.

After defending: the counterattack

Graveyard decks rely on spells and small troops. After you defend with Valkyrie or Bomber, they make a good counterpush, and a tank in the other lane forces the opponent to spend elixir.

Best decks against Graveyard

Decks ElixirDeck’s deck builder makes against Graveyard: each one is scored on both deck balance and its matchup against this card (all cards at the same level, evolutions and heroes unlocked). Every deck uses a different win condition; if your cards differ, you can adapt any deck to your collection.

Classic decks with a good matchup against Graveyard

Each guide explains step by step how the deck is played.

• Elixir Golem Healer · Good matchup
• Graveyard Poison · Great matchup
• PEKKA Bridge Spam · Good matchup
• Skeleton King Graveyard · Great matchup

Which decks use Graveyard?

Guides to the classic decks that run this card; each one also explains what to play against that deck.

Build a counter deck from your own cards

Enter your player tag and ElixirDeck finds the best decks against Graveyard with your cards and levels.

Matchups are estimated from card roles and well-known counters; player skill and card levels change the result a lot.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best counter to Graveyard?

The most efficient counters to Graveyard are Poison, Valkyrie, Arrows, Bomber. Poison covers the whole Graveyard area and keeps killing skeletons as they come out for its whole duration.

What deck is good against Graveyard?

Among the classic decks, Elixir Golem Healer, Graveyard Poison, PEKKA Bridge Spam match up well against it. The best counter deck ElixirDeck builds is a Miner deck: Inferno Dragon, Magic Archer, Zap, Miner, Bats, Poison, Inferno Tower, Mega Knight.

How do you get a positive elixir trade against Graveyard?

Stop Graveyard (5 elixir) cleanly with Bomber (2 elixir) and you are 3 elixir ahead, enough to attack the other lane.

Graveyard card guide: stats, decks and balance history →

How to counter other cards