Clash Royale: BEST Deck for Retro Royale Tournament (Top 5 Ranked)

 

Hey everyone, welcome back to the blog! If you’ve been living under a rock (or just grinding ladder like crazy), you might have missed that Global Tournaments are finally back in Clash Royale. And not just any tournament — we’re talking about Retro Royale!

For those who need a refresher, Retro Royale takes us back to the golden era of Clash —2017 rules. That means:

• ❌ No Evolutions
• ❌ No Champions
• ❌ No cards released after Royal Ghost

Just pure, unfiltered, classic Clash Royale. And honestly? It feels amazing .

But here’s the thing — just because the cards are old doesn’t mean themetais stuck in the past. Card balances are CURRENT, not from 2016. So that broken card you remember? It might have been nerfed into oblivion. You’ve been warned.

I’ve been compiling the absolute best decks you can run right now. Whether you’re hunting for a new badge, a new win peak, or just want to collect all the rewards —I got you. Let’s dive in.

#5: Classic Log Bait (The Bait King Returns)

Deck List:

Card	Elixir
Princess	3
Goblin Barrel	3
Goblin Gang	3
Dart Goblin	3
Knight	3
Cannon	3
Ice Spirit	1
The Log	2

Average Elixir: 2.6

Log Bait is a timeless classic for a reason. The entire strategy revolves around forcing your opponent to waste their small spells (Log, Zap, Arrows) on one threat, then punishing them with another .

In Retro Royale, this deck absolutely shines because:

• No Mother Witch means your swarm cards actually survive
• No Evolved Archers/Royale Ghost means your barrels connect more often
• Cannon over Inferno Tower keeps you cheap and cycling fast

How to Play It

Your main goal is simple: bait out their spell, then send in the Barrel.

Start by throwing a Princess at the bridge or tossing a Goblin Gang in the opposite lane. Once they Log it? That’s your green light. Goblin Barrel on the tower. Rinse and repeat.

Knight is your mini-tank for defense. Cannon is your answer to Hog Rider (and trust me, you’ll seea lot of Hog). Ice Spirit is your cycle card and can also freeze swarms for a positive trade.

Pro Tip: Against Pekka Bridge Spam (which is surprisingly common in Retro), don’t be afraid to use Goblin Barrel defensively. It sounds crazy, but dropping a Barrel on top of a Pekka can save your tower. It’s not panic — it’s strategy.

#4: Giant Double Prince (Beatdown Perfection)

Deck List:

Card	Elixir
Giant	5
Prince	5
Dark Prince	4
Mega Minion	3
Miner	3
Electro Wizard	4
Fireball	4
Zap	2

Average Elixir: 3.8

This is the deck for players who like to build massive pushes and watch their opponent panic . The Giant tanks, the Princes charge, and the Electro Wizard + Zap combo shuts down any pesky Inferno cards trying to melt your tank.

The beauty of this deck is its versatility. Can’t break through? No problem — you have Miner + Fireball cycle to chip them out. The Giant can even pivot to defense if needed, soaking up damage while your support troops clean up.

How to Play It

In single elixir, play defensively. Don’t just drop Giant at the bridge and hope for the best. Wait for your opponent to commit, then counter-push.

In double elixir?Go crazy. Drop Giant in the back, follow up with Prince and Dark Prince, and keep that Electro Wizard ready to reset any Inferno Tower. If they overcommit to defense, send Miner to the tower and Fireball their defensive building.

Matchup Notes

• Good against:Log Bait, X-Bow (if you play patiently)
• Tough against:2.6 Hog Cycle (they out-cycle you hard)

 

#3: Splashyard (The Control Master)

Deck List:

Card	Elixir
Ice Wizard	3
Baby Dragon	4
Tornado	3
Tombstone	3
Poison	4
The Log	2
Graveyard	5
Knight	3

Average Elixir: 3.4

Splashyard is the definition of a control deck. You have answers for everything:

• Log Bait? Log + Poison
• Hog Cycle? Tornado + Tombstone
• Beatdown? Ice Wizard + Tornado = infinite value

The deck’s weakness? You have to play good defense. This isn’t a brainless spam deck. You need to know when to defend and when to commit to a Graveyard push. In some matchups, you won’t even play Graveyard until triple elixir .

How to Play It

Your defense is your offense. Keep Tombstone active to distract tanks. Use Ice Wizard + Tornado to slow and group enemies. Once you have an elixir advantage and their spell is out of cycle? Graveyard + Poison on their tower.

One key tip: Don’t be afraid to use Poison on defense. If they drop a big push, Poisoning their support troops can be game-winning.

Why It’s #3: Splashyard has no hard counters in Retro Royale. Every matchup is winnable if you play correctly. That consistency is why it’s a top-tier choice.

 

#2: 3.0 X-Bow Cycle (The Siege Specialist)

Deck List:

Card	Elixir
X-Bow	6
Tesla	4
Knight	3
Archers	3
Fireball	4
The Log	2
Ice Spirit	1
Skeletons	1

Average Elixir: 3.0

Even with Evolutions and Champions in the main game, X-Bow is still a menace. Take those away? It becomes absolutely broken.

The deck works because X-Bow punishes any over commitment from your opponent. They drop a Giant in the back? X-Bow opposite lane. They cycle poorly? X-Bow at the bridge. They breathe wrong? You guessed it — X-Bow.

How to Play It

Protect your X-Bow at all costs.Tesla is your best friend — place it slightly in front of the X-Bow to distract troops. Knight tanks. Archers provide DPS. Skeletons and Ice Spirit cycle you back to your next X-Bow.

If you can’t lock an X-Bow?Fireball cycle is your backup plan. Chip them out one Fireball at a time. It’s slow, but it works.

Pro Tip: Against Lightning decks,play your X-Bow in the opposite lane of where they want to Lightning. If they have to choose between hitting your X-Bow or your tower, they’ll usually pick the X-Bow — and that’s a win for you.

 

#1: 2.6 Hog Cycle (The GOAT)

Deck List:

Card	Elixir
Hog Rider	4
Musketeer	4
Cannon	3
Ice Golem	2
Ice Spirit	1
Skeletons	1
Fireball	4
The Log	2

Average Elixir: 2.6

Why It’s #1

Let’s be real — you saw this coming.2.6 Hog Cycle is the most iconic deck in Clash Royale historyfor a reason . And in Retro Royale, with no Evolutions to break the meta and no Champions to ruin your day, it’sperfect.

The deck has:

• Rock-solid defense (Cannon + Musketeer + Ice Golem kiting)
• Reliable offense (Hog + Ice Spirit + Log)
• Insane cycle speed (Skeletons + Ice Spirit = 2 elixir cycle)

How to Play It

Here’s the secret most players get wrong: Be aggressive from the start.

2.6’s offense can sometimes struggle against heavy defenses (like a Mini Pekka or Tesla). So you need to apply pressureconstantly. Hog + Ice Golem first play?Do it.Hog alone at the bridge?Do it.Keep throwing Hogs until they crack.

Your defense is strong enough to recover from almost anything. The only matchup that’s truly scary is Graveyard — but even then, if you activate your King Tower early, you’re fine.

Key Interactions

• Hog + Ice Golem: Always send them together if they have Mini Pekka. The Ice Golem tanks the Mini Pekka hit, letting your Hog connect.
• Cannon placement: Always 4-2 or 4-3 from the river to pull Hogs and Giants.
• Musketeer positioning: Keep her away from Fireball range. Spread your troops.

Pro Tip: If they Fireball + Log your Hog push? That’s 10 elixir they just spent.You’re up elixir. Immediately send another Hog. They won’t have spells in cycle to stop it.

 

BONUS: X-Bow Rocket Cycle (The Alternative)

Deck List:

Card	Elixir
X-Bow	6
Rocket	6
Tesla	4
Ice Wizard	3
Knight	3
Tornado	3
The Log	2
Skeletons	1

Average Elixir: 3.5

This deck gives you two win conditions. Can’t lock an X-Bow? Start Rocketing their tower. Ice Wizard + Tornado defense is nearly unbreakable. It’s slower than 3.0 X-Bow, but it’s also safer.

 

Final Thoughts

So, which deck should YOU play? My personal recommendation:If you’re comfortable with cycle decks,2.6 Hog Cycle is the move. It’s the most consistent, the most tested, and the most rewarding.

But here’s the real advice —check the leaderboard before you lock in your deck. The Retro Royale meta shifts fast. One day it’s all Hog, the next day it’s all Graveyard. Don’t be the guy bringing Log Bait into a sea of Poison decks.