Understanding Deck Archetypes

In Clash Royale, understanding different deck archetypes is crucial for building a successful and well-rounded deck. Deck archetypes refer to the general strategies and playstyles that decks follow. Each archetype has its own strengths, weaknesses, and preferred card combinations. By understanding these archetypes, you can make informed decisions when constructing your deck and adapt your gameplay accordingly.

Author's Visual Understanding of Deck Archetypes and Its Relationships (2023)

Understanding how archetypes work in the game can be interpreted as an evolution of decks that are derived from multiple ways a card can shine or make others shine when placed in multiple decks. Some cards may dominate every deck, while some cards can only become viable when working with a certain archetype. This in turn allows some cards to be synonymous with certain archetypes. A good example would be Skeletons, which is a card that works well when paired with a win condition that can punish opponents quickly; cards like Goblin Barrel, Hog Rider, Goblin Drill, X-Bow, Mortar, and other cards you can think of. This allows the archetypes related to the cards mentioned to form its own spectrum on how various decks can be created.

Originally, there were only three archetype terms which were thrown around: Beatdown, Control, and Siege. As time passed, newer cards were introduced which paved the way for newer archetypes to branch off from the original three and dominate the meta. We will tackle each deck archetype on what cards they utilize the most in order to excel.

Beatdown

Beatdown decks in Clash Royale revolve around the concept of overwhelming opponents with powerful, high-cost units to create a dominating push. The main objective of a beatdown deck is to build a massive push that can be challenging for the opponent to defend against effectively. These decks typically feature tanks like Golem or Electro Giant, which act as the primary damage absorbers and provide a strong foundation for the push. Supporting troops or spells with high damage output, countermeasures, and good crowd control, such as Phoenix, Lightning, or Tornado, are deployed to complement the tank and deal significant damage to the opponent's defenses.

To execute a successful beatdown strategy, timing and elixir management are crucial. Players need to carefully manage their elixir resources to deploy the tank at the right moment, allowing it to reach the opponent's side of the arena while still having enough elixir to support it with additional troops. The supporting troops are chosen strategically to counter the opponent's defensive units and clear a path for the tank. Once the push is established, maintaining pressure and keeping the opponent on the backfoot become essential, as it becomes harder for them to mount a successful defense against the relentless assault.

Playing a beatdown deck requires patience, as it often involves slower gameplay during the initial stages of the match, focusing on building up elixir and planning the ideal push. Understanding the opponent's card cycle and elixir expenditure is key to taking advantage of their weak moments and capitalizing on their elixir deficiencies. By effectively coordinating the tank and support troops, players can create an overwhelming force that can quickly decimate the opponent's defenses and secure victory.

The Beatdown archetype can branch off into multiple sub-archetypes synonymous with its respective win conditions. Cards such as Elixir Golem, Golem, Giant, Goblin Giant, Electro Giant, and Lava Hound are able to define their own subdomain and are able to widen the scope on how Beatdown is usually played. Elixir Golem decks utilize its capability to punish opponents quickly despite it being a heavy deck while Golem decks are harder to stop once the push starts, but can be harder to pull off with its heavier elixir. This archetype usually requires its users to carefully consider their decisions whether to use a crown tower's health as an elixir investment to create bigger pushes, or defend every offense to create a counterpush, the point being to overwhelm your opponent's defenses.

Control

Control decks in Clash Royale are characterized by their strategic and defensive playstyle, focusing on maintaining control of the battlefield and capitalizing on the opponent's mistakes. The primary objective of a control deck is to defend efficiently and counter the opponent's moves while gradually chipping away at their towers. Control decks excel in defense and rely on counter-attacks to secure victories.

To successfully execute a control strategy, players must carefully manage their elixir resources and make efficient trades during defense. This involves deploying defensive units in the right positions and timing spells to neutralize the opponent's threats. Once the opponent's push has been thwarted, control decks capitalize on the elixir advantage and launch counter-attacks by combining their surviving defensive units with offensive troops. These counter-attacks are aimed at pressuring the opponent and gradually chipping away at their towers while maintaining a solid defense. Playing a control deck requires strategic thinking, adaptability, and precise timing. Control players must remain patient and focused, waiting for the opportune moment to strike and capitalize on the opponent's vulnerabilities. By effectively defending, countering, and making calculated plays, control decks can outmaneuver their opponents from their mistakes.

Usually, the Control archetype plays around with win conditions that are able to react quickly like Graveyard, Royal Giant, Balloon, Goblin Drill, and Hog Rider. Supporting this, a control deck is sometimes accompanied by buildings that allow win conditions to be played more aggressively, or supporting units that are usually really helpful in defense which in turn becomes the counterpush. The Control archetype is too broad of a term to define decks so there might be some archetypes that are influenced or fall under the term "Control". Deck terms you might've heard that may fall under this category include Royal Giant Cycle, Lumberloon, Spellbait decks, and Splashyard. All of which are able to control the pace of the endgame just by being reactive and passive at the beginning.

Siege

Siege decks in Clash Royale are unique and strategic, relying on buildings as win conditions to gradually chip away at the opponent's towers from a distance. The primary objective of a siege deck is to control the battlefield by setting up defensive structures and utilizing ranged units to continuously apply pressure on the opponent's towers. This archetype's variety of decks are usually difficult to master, but it's ability to adapt easily against opponents' playstyle is what makes this archetype so rewarding to play.

Siege decks are centered around deploying powerful and resilient defensive win conditions like the X-Bow or Mortar. These structures provide a stable base from which players can launch their long-range attacks. Supporting troops in siege decks are typically ranged units like the Musketeer or Archers, which can deal damage from a safe distance and protect the defensive structures. Following that are two spell cards (cheap and big spells), such as the Log or Fireball, are also commonly used to clear enemy troops and maintain control over the battlefield. And also cheap cards that allow the win conditions to be placed more frequently in order to easily punish players such as Skeletons, Spear Goblins, or Ice Spirit.

Timing and elixir management are crucial in siege gameplay. Players must carefully choose when to deploy their win conditions offensively, ensuring they have enough elixir to defend against the opponent's attacks. Proper placement of defensive structures is essential to protect the siege units and maintain a strong defensive front. Siege decks also excel in their ability to control the flow of the game by bringing the fight on their side of the arena. There are a few decks that can be considered as Siege. There's the classic X-Bow Cycle, IceBow Rocket, Mortar Cycle, and Spellbait Mortar. Compared to other Control decks, these Siege decks rely on a solid defense, cheap punishes, and a lot of spell cycling in order to win against even the heaviest of decks. Although do be careful whether you should or should not commit to an offense especially since these kinds of decks only excel defensively when you have sufficient elixir. Siege is all about being able to transition from defense to offense very quickly by determining which player has the elixir or matchup advantage.

Cycle

Cycle decks in Clash Royale are fast-paced and agile, focusing on quickly cycling through their cards to apply constant pressure on the opponent while maintaining an elixir lead when defending. The primary objective of a cycle deck is to outmaneuver the opponent by cycling through low-cost cards efficiently, allowing for frequent deployments and relentless attacks.

Cycle decks are built around low-cost troops that can be rapidly cycled, such as Skeletons, Ice Spirit, and cheap cycle spells, like the Log and Snowball. These decks aim to constantly keep the opponent on their toes and prevent them from building large pushes by consistently disrupting their strategy with rapid deployments. Cycle decks often need aggressive win conditions supported by secondary win conditions which either includes big spells like Lightning and Fireball or supporting damage dealers like Musketeer and Magic Archer in order to effectively inflict tower damage. The term "Cycle" is generally coined for decks that are around the 3 elixir average, so there might be some Control and Siege decks that can also be considered as Cycle decks. Examples include Hog Cycle, Royal Giant Cycle, and X-Bow Cycle which are all cycle decks despite playstyles still being varied.

The key to success with a cycle deck is elixir management and card rotation. Players must carefully time their card deployments and ensure they have enough elixir to defend against the opponent's attacks while maintaining a constant flow of offensive pressure. Quick cycling through the deck allows for the ability to respond rapidly to the opponent's moves and keep them off-balance. Cycle decks require precise tile placements, predictive timings of plays, and the ability to quickly adapt to the opponent's strategies to consistently maintain control and chip away at the opponent's towers over time. Playing a cycle deck effectively requires a deep understanding of card interactions and elixir trades. Players must make smart decisions on when to commit elixir for defense or offense, often relying on quick and efficient troop placements to counter enemy units. The goal is to create small advantages throughout the game by exploiting the opponent's elixir inefficiencies and capitalizing on their mistakes. Cycle decks thrive on their ability to consistently pressure the opponent, disrupt their game plan, and ultimately chip away at their towers until victory is achieved.

Spellbait

Spellbait decks, also known as bait decks, revolve around the strategic use of certain cards to force the opponent to expend their spells or counters, creating openings for a powerful counter-attack. One notable thing that makes this archetype so distinct is its ability to lure out specific spells or responses from the opponent, allowing the player to safely deploy their high-value troops or win conditions without the threat of immediate counters.

Bait decks typically include cards that are highly spell-susceptible, such as Goblin Barrel, Royal Hogs, or Three Musketeers. These decks are designed to overwhelm the opponent with a constant stream of bait-worthy units, forcing them to either waste their spells on less significant targets or risk taking damage from the baited units. By pressuring the opponent into using their spells inefficiently or prematurely, bait decks create opportunities for devastating counter-attacks. A lot of cards of different spell counters can be considered a bait card when accompanied by other cards with the same degree which allows different kinds of spellbait decks to form. Decks such as Logbait (Goblin Barrel plus Princess), Fireball Bait (Royal Hogs plus Flying Machine), and Lightning Bait (Three Musketeers plus Elixir Collector) are able to be called as Spellbait despite all of them having different playstyles.

The key to success with a bait deck lies in careful timing, being aware of the opponent's card cycle, and capitalizing on it the moment their key counters are out of rotation. Players must anticipate when the opponent is likely to use their spells or counters and strategically deploy their bait units accordingly. By presenting multiple tempting targets, bait decks exploit the opponent's hesitation or limited spell options, gaining an advantage in elixir or positional control. Effective bait deck players are skilled at reading the opponent's moves, baiting out spells, and capitalizing on the openings created. Its users often rely on a strong defensive game, utilizing swarm troops or defensive structures to defend against enemy attacks while setting up counter-attacks. Skillful troop placement and clever baiting strategies are crucial to outmaneuvering the opponent and overwhelming them with unexpected threats.

Mastering a bait deck involves a deep understanding of card interactions, elixir management, and the ability to read and predict the opponent's moves. Players must carefully plan their baiting sequences, timing their deployments to maximize the effectiveness of their counter-attacks. Bait decks can be highly rewarding for players who can successfully bait and outsmart their opponents, offering a unique and strategic playstyle that keeps opponents guessing and on their toes.

Chip Damage

The Chip Damage archetype is a unique deck style that revolves around the elements of Cycle and Control which allows players to deal consistent, incremental damage to the opponent's towers over time. Unlike other archetypes that mainly rely on hard hitting win conditions or heavy pushes, the Chip Damage deck focuses on utilizing spells as the primary win condition. It requires a highly defensive playstyle and careful resource management to gradually wear down the opponent's towers.

In a Chip Damage deck, spells such as Miner, Barbarian Barrel, Log, Rocket, or Poison take center stage as the main source of tower damage. These spells are strategically deployed to chip away at the opponent's tower health throughout the match. The goal is to consistently inflict damage on the opponent's towers; a repetitive cycle of offensive spells, defensive buildings, and other counterplays to execute.

To excel with a Chip Damage deck, players must adopt an extremely defensive mindset. The deck is designed to defend and counter the opponent's pushes efficiently, preserving elixir and never overcommitting in offense. Every elixir spent must be carefully considered to maximize defensive value and maintain control of the game. This defensive playstyle allows the player to use their spells properly by not only damaging enemy towers but by also weakening clumped up pushes. After all that, the defensive building is used as clean-up to weed out the remaining troops.

Mastering the Chip Damage archetype requires exceptional reflexes, precise tile placements, and perfect strategic timing. Players must possess a deep understanding of the opponent's deck and be able to anticipate their moves to maximize spell damage and exploit vulnerabilities. The defensive mindset must be coupled with an ability to recognize critical moments to switch from defense to offense and unleash a decisive spell-based assault on the opponent's towers. The Chip Damage archetype offers a unique and challenging playstyle that rewards patient and tactical players. It requires meticulous planning, precise execution, and the ability to keep up to the pressure of defending perfectly. With careful resource management and a strong knowledge of micro-interactions, players can chip away at their opponent's towers.

Bridge Spam

Bridge Spam is an aggressive deck archetype that focuses on quickly deploying troops idly or clumped to either bait out counters or create a positive elixir trade from the opponent's blunders. This archetype is characterized by its ability to change the tempo of the game and catch opponents off guard with sudden, relentless attacks.

In a Bridge Spam deck, the emphasis is on deploying troops at the bridge, right on the opponent's doorstep when necessary. Fast and hard-hitting troops such as Bandit, Battle Ram, Elite Barbarians or Royal Ghost are commonly used to rapidly cross the bridge and initiate offensive assaults. Supporting them are ranged damage dealers like Archer Queen, Magic Archer, or Electro Wizard that are able to help eliminate troops that can easily neutralize melee cards. These troops are also coupled with spells; light or heavy like Zap or Poison to clear any defensive obstacles, creating a wave of pressure that puts the opponent's towers under constant threat.

The key strength of the Bridge Spam archetype lies in its ability to disrupt the opponent's offenses by either placing lone troops as a way to bait elixir or by playing passive to build up a counterpush. When opponents tend to make a mistake by not managing their elixir correctly, Bridge Spam decks can catch them off guard and create chaos on the battlefield. This aggressive playstyle often leads to quick tower damage and can easily shift the momentum of the game in the user's favor.

Notably, a majority of decks in the Bridge Spam archetype tend to have a difficult time against Control archetypes. Decks such as PEKKA Bridge Spam, Mega Knight Ram, and other variants usually are the ones being beaten by skilled Control deck players. Control decks are adept at countering and neutralizing aggressive pushes, making it challenging for Bridge Spam players to break through their defenses. Control players often rely on defensive structures, well-placed troops, and efficient elixir management to thwart Bridge Spam assaults and turn them into counter-attacks.

Mastering the Bridge Spam archetype involves finding the right balance between aggression and tactical awareness. Players must be able to identify vulnerable moments in the opponent's defense, exploit openings, and launch calculated bridge attacks to overwhelm their opponents. With proper troop deployment, clever spell usage, ability to quickly punish, and a deep understanding of the game's tempo, Bridge Spam players can unleash devastating onslaughts that leave their opponents struggling to keep up.

Split/Dual Lane

The Split/Dual Lane archetype is a unique deck style that revolves around dividing your offensive forces between both lanes of the arena simultaneously. This archetype commonly revolves around cards such as Royal Recruits, Royal Hogs, and Three Musketeers, which excel when split up and placed on separate lanes.

In a Split/Dual Lane deck, the goal is to create a constant threat on multiple fronts, putting pressure on the opponent's defenses in order to overwhelm them completely. By timing your cards correctly, you can disrupt the opponent's rhythm, control the game's pace, and potentially overwhelm them with multiple simultaneous attacks.

One aspect that sets the Split/Dual Lane archetype's familiarity is its coherence to other archetypes such as Beatdown and Bridge Spam. While Beatdown emphasizes heavy pushes and Bridge Spam focuses on quick, aggressive troop deployments, the Split/Dual Lane archetype combines elements of both. It often features a mix of heavy and medium-cost cards in order to synergize well with the deck's win conditions.

It's worth noting that Split/Dual Lane decks tend to have a relatively high elixir average due to the presence of powerful split-lane cards. This requires careful elixir management and efficient cycling of cards to maintain a steady flow of troops. Balancing your elixir expenditure is crucial to prevent being punished by opponents who excel at elixir trades and quick counter-attacks. While the Split/Dual Lane archetype offers intimidating offenses, it does have a lot of weaknesses and can be outplayed effectively. One downside to playing Dual Lane decks is its card composition are too big of an elixir investment and most enemy decks tend to abuse these by punishing, outcycling, and defending. To overcome this, Split/Dual Lane players must remain patient, adapt playstyles, and analyze carefully on how to invest their elixir properly. Just like most Beatdown decks, there are moments when Tower HP can be used as a resource in order to build a bigger push.

Spawner

The Spawner archetype is a unique and strategic deck style that revolves around utilizing spawner buildings as win conditions or elixir investments. This archetype prominently features spawner buildings such as Goblin Hut, Furnace, and Barbarian Hut, which continuously generate troops over time. In a Spawner deck, the goal is to create a constant stream of units by deploying spawner buildings and capitalizing on their spawned troops' offensive potential. These buildings provide consistent pressure on the opponent's side of the arena and force them to divert their attention and resources to deal with the incoming troops.

The Spawner archetype shares similarities with the spellbait archetype. In addition to the spawner buildings, Spawner decks often include cards that are easily neutralized with spells, acting as bait to lure out the opponent's spells and throw off the opponent. By baiting out spells, Spawner players can protect their valuable spawner buildings or other support cards in order to disrupt the opponent's spell rotations. One key aspect of the Spawner archetype is its reliance on a defensive playstyle while being able to chip down the enemy towers slowly. Since spawners require time to generate troops, it is crucial to be vigilant against opponents' counterplays by establishing a strong defensive foundation while efficiently building up a massive elixir advantage. By effectively defending and countering, Spawner decks can create opportunities to allow its cards to massively deal damage when opponents manage their elixir incorrectly.

While the Spawner archetype can be formidable, it does have weaknesses. Opponents who possess effective spell management and can efficiently deal with the spawned troops can disrupt the Spawner player's strategy. Additionally, heavy beatdown decks that can overpower the spawned troops with massive pushes pose a significant challenge. To overcome these obstacles, Spawner players must adapt their defensive strategies, anticipate opponent's moves, and capitalize on elixir advantages.

DougieD has explained very clearly the major and impactful archetypes in the game, and how they work:

Remember, these deck archetypes provide a framework for deck building, but they can be customized based on your playstyle and card collection. Experimentation, understanding card synergies, and adapting to the current meta are key aspects of constructing a successful deck. Take the time to analyze your preferred playstyle and card combinations to create a deck that suits your strengths and preferences.

Also keep in mind that deck archetypes can evolve over time as the game's meta shifts and new cards are introduced. Stay updated with the latest balance changes and popular strategies to fine-tune your deck and stay competitive in the ever-changing Clash Royale landscape.

????????????????