Quick answer: The November 24, 2025 Clash Royale update nerfed Mighty Miner and Evolved Firecracker, buffed Tesla Evolution and Mother Witch, and made Giant Skeleton significantly weaker. Hog 2.6 and Log Bait gained from these changes and remain the strongest ladder archetypes heading into early 2026.
Clash Royale November 2025 Update: Balance Changes, New Content & Meta Impact
The November 24, 2025 balance patch was one of the more impactful mid-season updates Clash Royale has released. It touched six cards across buffs and nerfs, disrupted two previously dominant archetypes, and opened the door for several decks that had been sitting just below top tier. This guide breaks down every change, its reasoning, and what it means for your climb right now.
What Changed: The Full Balance List
The November 24 patch altered six cards. Here is what happened and why each change matters.
Buffs
Tesla Evolution received a hit point increase of 8% and a lifetime extension of one second. The Tesla Evolution was already a staple in X-Bow 3.0 and control decks, but its relatively fragile health pool made it vulnerable to Rocket cycling. The HP buff allows it to survive an additional Rocket or Fireball hit in many scenarios, significantly increasing its defensive value. The extra second of lifetime means it stays on the field long enough to absorb one more wave of attackers, tightening the defensive shell for any deck running it.
Mother Witch had her spawn speed reduced by one second, meaning the cursed Hog she produces from fallen troops arrives faster. This change directly rewards skilled players who land Witch into clustered enemy pushes. A faster spawn makes the trade economics even more favorable — a single well-placed Mother Witch against a Goblin Gang or Skeleton Army now punishes harder than before.
Royal Recruits gained 6% increased damage across all three unit types. This lifts them back into relevance after months of sitting just below the threshold where their elixir cost felt justified. The damage buff makes them a credible counter to medium-health win conditions and gives bridge-spam decks another option.
Nerfs
Giant Skeleton absorbed a 12% reduction to its death damage — the core mechanic that defines the card's defensive value. At 5 elixir, Giant Skeleton was already a situational pick, but the death bomb was its defining trait against heavy pushes. The nerf drops the bomb from threatening lethal to merely inconvenient against most ladder pushes. Giant Skeleton decks dropped significantly in win rate immediately after the patch.
Evolved Firecracker lost 0.5 tiles of range. The Evolved Firecracker had been dominating mid-ladder for several months due to her ability to hit from safely behind the river while also covering both lanes on defense. The range nerf forces her forward, into positions where she can be sniped by Miner, reached by Goblin Barrel, or traded away more easily by spells. This is a meaningful nerf that reduced her defensive dominance.
Mighty Miner had her dig time increased by 0.3 seconds. This does not sound significant, but in Clash Royale, 0.3 seconds is enough time for opponents to react with a troop or building before she surfaces. The dig time nerf removes the most frustrating aspect of Mighty Miner — the feeling that she arrived before you could respond. She remains a playable card but is no longer a forced pick.
Meta Winners After November 24
Hog 2.6 Cycle
Hog 2.6 benefits from every change in this patch. The Giant Skeleton nerf removes one of its cleanest defensive answers. The Evolved Firecracker range reduction weakens one of the only cards that could reliably cover the Hog Rider from range. The Mighty Miner nerf reduces the threat of hybrid Miner decks that previously matched up well against Hog 2.6. The result is that Hog 2.6 is now the consensus top ladder deck in the 4000 to 8000 trophy range as of February 2026.
The standard Hog 2.6 deck running Hog Rider, Musketeer, Ice Golem, Cannon, Evolved Skeletons, Ice Spirit, Earthquake, and The Log has remained largely unchanged because it did not need to change. If you are looking for one deck to grind ladder with right now, this is it.
Log Bait
Log Bait gained from the Evolved Firecracker nerf most directly. One of its primary weaknesses was facing a defensive Evolved Firecracker who could cover the Goblin Barrel from mid-range without risk. With the range reduction, Log Bait's Goblin Barrel and Princess become harder to answer simultaneously. Log Bait win rates climbed roughly 3-4 percentage points in the two weeks following the patch based on community tracking data.
Graveyard Poison
The Mother Witch buff indirectly helps Graveyard Poison by making the archetype's defensive answer to hog-type pushes more reliable. When a Hog Rider walks through a Mother Witch, the resulting cursed Hog becomes a significant threat that forces the opponent to deal with the counter-push. Graveyard Poison already runs well against the field, and the improved Mother Witch gives it a sharper edge in the Hog matchup.
Meta Losers After November 24
Giant Skeleton Beatdown
Giant Skeleton beatdown decks collapsed almost immediately. The death bomb was the card's primary reason for inclusion — it punished opponents who stacked troops to kill the Giant Skeleton, and it threatened one-shot kills against towers when properly escorted. At 12% less damage, the bomb no longer threatens the same outcomes, and opponents can now defend more aggressively without fear of catastrophic punishment.
Mighty Miner Hybrid Decks
Mighty Miner had carved out a niche in hybrid cycle decks where her fast dig time made her difficult to answer cleanly. The 0.3-second dig increase removes that advantage. She remains usable but is no longer a meta-defining pick.
Evolved Firecracker Control
Any deck that relied on Evolved Firecracker as its primary defensive backbone weakened after this patch. She still functions, but the 0.5-tile range reduction means she cannot safely sit as far back as before. Decks that ran her specifically to deal with Hog Rider from maximum range now need to position her more aggressively, increasing her exposure to counter-pushes.
What to Run Right Now
If you are actively pushing trophies in February 2026, these are the strongest choices by trophy range:
4000-6000 trophies: Hog 2.6 is the most reliable option. Log Bait is a strong second choice. Both reward skill and punish opponents who do not understand the matchup. Graveyard Poison is viable but requires more game knowledge to execute correctly at this range.
6000-8000 trophies: The same three archetypes remain dominant, but execution margins tighten. At this range, cycle counting and building placement matter more than card selection. Hog 2.6 remains the top pick, but opponents will know the counter-plays — which means perfect execution is required rather than just the right deck.
8000+ trophies: X-Bow 3.0 picks up additional value here because the Tesla Evolution buff makes the defensive shell harder to crack. Graveyard Poison is also strong because opponents at this level have more diverse counters, but also make more exploitable mistakes.
What to Avoid Right Now
Giant Skeleton in any role is difficult to justify until the card receives a compensatory buff. Evolved Firecracker as a primary defensive card is significantly weaker than it was before November 24. Mighty Miner in aggressive dig-timing builds is less reliable and requires more conservative play to work around the increased dig time.
Upgrade Priorities Going Forward
If you are allocating Wild Cards or upgrade resources, prioritize the cards in your primary deck first — particularly your win condition, main defensive building, and primary spell. The Hog Rider, Goblin Barrel, and Graveyard are all strong upgrade targets with lasting meta relevance. Avoid over-investing in Giant Skeleton or Mighty Miner until the meta settles further or Supercell adjusts them again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hog 2.6 the best deck after the November 2025 update?
Yes, as of February 2026, Hog 2.6 is the most consistent ladder deck across the 4000-8000 trophy range. The November patch removed two of its primary soft counters — Giant Skeleton and Evolved Firecracker range — making it stronger than it has been in several months.
Did the Evolved Firecracker nerf ruin the card?
Not entirely. Evolved Firecracker is still a playable card with strong DPS and chip damage output. The 0.5-tile range reduction mainly hurts her defensive dominance — she can no longer safely cover both lanes from maximum range. She is weaker but not unplayable.
Why was Mother Witch buffed?
Mother Witch had strong mechanics but was considered too slow to be reliable at higher trophy levels. The 1-second faster spawn speed makes her cursed Hog arrive before opponents have finished dealing with the rest of the push, improving her overall value as a defensive troop.
Is the Tesla Evolution buff significant for casual players?
The Tesla Evolution HP buff matters most in the 6000+ range where Rocket cycling is common. Below 6000 trophies, the difference is minor. If you run X-Bow 3.0 or any Tesla-based control deck, the buff is meaningful. For most casual players, it is a quality-of-life improvement rather than a game-changer.
Should I drop Giant Skeleton from my deck after this patch?
If Giant Skeleton was a core card in your deck, yes — replace it with a more reliable defensive option like Tombstone, Bomb Tower, or Cannon Cart depending on your archetype. The 12% death damage reduction fundamentally changes what the card accomplishes and makes it difficult to justify at 5 elixir.