Clash Royale
What Is an Elixir Trade in Clash Royale?
Comparing how much elixir you spent with how much your opponent lost in an interaction: positive, even or negative.
What is a positive elixir trade?
An elixir trade compares the elixir you spend to deal with a card against the elixir your opponent spent on it. If you use The Log (2 elixir) to destroy a Goblin Barrel (3 elixir), you win the trade by 1: a positive elixir trade. Over a match, small positive trades add up to an elixir advantage that lets you attack with more than your opponent can defend.
How elixir works
- Every card costs elixir, from 1 to 9 or more, and you can store up to 10.
- Elixir regenerates constantly for both players at the same rate, so the only way to get ahead is to spend it more efficiently.
- Double elixir starts in the last minute of regular time, and overtime speeds generation up even more, which changes which trades matter.
- Leaking elixir means sitting at 10 without playing: every second at the cap is elixir thrown away.
Examples of trades
| Interaction | Elixir | Result |
|---|---|---|
| The Log destroys a Goblin Barrel | 2 vs. 3 | +1 for the defender |
| Arrows destroy a Minion Horde | 3 vs. 5 | +2 for the defender |
| Zap kills a Skeleton Army | 2 vs. 3 | +1 for the defender |
| Fireball on a Musketeer that survives | 4 vs. 4 | −4 for the defender: wasted spell |
How to win more trades
- Defend with cheap cards and buildings, using placement to pull troops into your towers, the Clash Royale version of kiting.
- Hit several cards with one spell when your opponent clumps troops together.
- Let towers do part of the work: a tower that finishes a troop is free elixir.
- Punish an elixir advantage by attacking with your win condition in the opposite lane right after a good defense.
Example
Your opponent sends a Hog Rider (4) supported by Skeletons (1). You defend with a Cannon (3) and your towers finish the job. You are up by 2 elixir, so you immediately counterpush in the other lane while they cannot afford to defend properly.
Trades matter more in fast decks
In a cycle deck, every card is cheap, so even a 1-elixir advantage lets you play your win condition again before the opponent has their counter back in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is tower damage part of an elixir trade?
Players usually count it separately. A negative trade can still be worth it if it deals enough tower damage, especially late in the match.
What does it mean to be “behind in elixir”?
It means you spent more elixir than your opponent recently, so for a while they can play cards you cannot answer.