Royal Hogs are four hogs for 5 elixir that run at buildings and can be split into both lanes. They’re often played with Earthquake or Royal Recruits. Each hog is fragile, so area damage stops them; split pushes need an answer in both lanes.

Quick answer: the most efficient counters to Royal Hogs are Valkyrie, Bowler, Fireball, Executioner.

Best counters to Royal Hogs

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

• 
  Valkyrie 4 elixir +1 elixir trade
  Valkyrie spins through all the hogs in one lane and survives for a counterpush.
• 
  Bowler 5 elixir
  Bowler’s rolling boulders hit every hog in a line and knock them back toward the river.
• 
  Fireball 4 elixir +1 elixir trade
  Fireball badly damages a whole group of hogs, and your tower finishes them off.
• 
  Executioner 5 elixir
  Executioner’s axe flies out and comes back, hitting the hogs twice along its path.

How to defend

• When they split the hogs, a building in the middle can pull both pairs; otherwise answer the bigger group with splash and let the tower take the rest.
• If the opponent has Earthquake in cycle, prefer troop answers to buildings.
• Place splash troops so the hogs run toward them in a line.
• Don’t spend your splash card on Royal Recruits if the hogs are coming next.

Common mistakes

• Using single-target troops like Mini P.E.K.K.A: they kill one hog at a time.
• Placing your building too far from the middle, so it only pulls one lane.
• Forgetting the other lane when they split the hogs.

After defending: the counterattack

Royal Hogs cost 5 elixir. After a clean splash defense, push with your Valkyrie or Bowler in the same lane.

Which spells kill it on their own?

At equal levels, whether a single spell takes this troop out without help from towers or other cards:

• Royal Hogs (HP 837): Lightning, Rocket

* Poison and Earthquake only kill it if the troop stays in the area for the whole duration. Values assume equal levels; level differences change the outcome.

Best decks against Royal Hogs

Decks ElixirDeck’s deck builder makes against Royal Hogs: 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 Royal Hogs

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

• Hog 2.6 Cycle · Good matchup
• Mortar Miner · Good matchup
• Rune Giant Lumberjack · Good matchup
• X-Bow 3.0 · Good matchup

Which decks use Royal Hogs?

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 Royal Hogs 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 Royal Hogs?

The most efficient counters to Royal Hogs are Valkyrie, Bowler, Fireball, Executioner. Valkyrie spins through all the hogs in one lane and survives for a counterpush.

What deck is good against Royal Hogs?

Among the classic decks, Hog 2.6 Cycle, Mortar Miner, Rune Giant Lumberjack match up well against it. The best counter deck ElixirDeck builds is a X-Bow deck: Tesla, Goblins, P.E.K.K.A, X-Bow, Ice Spirit, The Log, Fireball, Magic Archer.

How do you get a positive elixir trade against Royal Hogs?

Stop Royal Hogs (5 elixir) cleanly with Valkyrie (4 elixir) and you are 1 elixir ahead, enough to attack the other lane.

Royal Hogs card guide: stats, decks and balance history →

How to counter other cards