Updated November 3, 2026 · Season 89 (King vs. King), which started November 2. Win rates come from RoyaleTracker's Hero tier list, updated November 2. Hero balance last changed in the October 19 balance update, and Supercell says it won't add balance changes at the start of the November season, though it may adjust after the World Finals (November 6–8).
Quick answer: The best Hero in Clash Royale right now is Hero Goblins, the only S-tier Hero at 52.1% in Ranked, followed by Hero Barbarian Barrel (51.9%) and Hero Giant (51.2%). The best Hero to unlock first is a different question. If you have reached Arena 12, take Hero Ice Wizard, the most-played A-tier Hero at 50.8% over 884,313 battles. Below Arena 12, take Hero Giant. And if your current deck already holds a card with a Hero form, that Hero beats anything on this list.
Your first Hero is a slow unlock to replace. The free track pays up to 75 Hero Coins a season against a 200-coin price, so a bad pick costs you about three months. This guide ranks all 18 Heroes on real battles, then turns the ranking into a decision.
What is the best Hero in Clash Royale right now?
Hero Goblins, with Hero Barbarian Barrel just behind. RoyaleTracker ranks all 18 Heroes against each other in Ranked over the last three weeks, on 11,972,088 battles with a 49.93% baseline. S tier means 2 or more points above that baseline, A means +0.5 to +2, B within 0.5, C −0.5 to −2. No Hero landed in D.
| Tier | Hero | Win rate | Use | Card + ability Elixir | Base card arena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Hero Goblins | 52.1% | 2.0% | 2 + 1 | Arena 1 |
| A | Hero Barbarian Barrel | 51.9% | 3.5% | 2 + 1 | Arena 9 |
| A | Hero Giant | 51.2% | 2.8% | 5 + 2 | Training Camp |
| A | Hero Mega Minion | 51.1% | 3.3% | 3 + 2 | Arena 3 |
| A | Hero Balloon | 51.1% | 4.0% | 5 + 2 | Arena 7 |
| A | Hero Bowler | 51.1% | 5.8% | 5 + 2 | Arena 13 |
| A | Hero Ice Wizard | 50.8% | 7.4% | 3 + 2 | Arena 12 |
| A | Hero Berserker | 50.6% | 2.6% | 2 + 3 | Arena 9 |
| A | Hero Electro Wizard | 50.5% | 4.1% | 4 + 2 | Arena 11 |
| B | Hero Dark Prince | 50.4% | 3.2% | 4 + 3 | Arena 7 |
| B | Hero Tombstone | 50.0% | 2.5% | 3 + 5 | Arena 2 |
| B | Hero Mini P.E.K.K.A | 49.6% | 8.4% | 4 + 1 | Training Camp |
| C | Hero Ice Golem | 49.2% | 2.0% | 2 + 2 | Arena 8 |
| C | Hero Knight | 49.1% | 9.0% | 3 + 2 | Training Camp |
| C | Hero Musketeer | 48.7% | 3.4% | 4 + 3 | Training Camp |
| C | Hero Valkyrie | 48.4% | 10.5% | 4 + 3 | Arena 2 |
| C | Hero Wizard | 48.1% | 4.1% | 5 + 1 | Arena 4 |
| C | Hero Magic Archer | 48.0% | 1.6% | 4 + 2 | Arena 13 |
Win rate and use are RoyaleTracker's. Ability costs and base-card arenas come from the Clash Royale Wiki.
Three limits before you read too much into it. The spread is tight, with only 4.1 points between first and last. The data is Ranked, a mode that needs 14,000 trophies this month unless you reached Champion league last season (see our Ranked unlock guide), so it describes top-ladder play, not Arena 8. And almost all of the three-week window comes before Season 89, so it doesn't yet show how Evo Giant changes things.
Why do Hero Goblins and Hero Barbarian Barrel top the list?
They are the two cheapest Heroes to use: 3 Elixir in total, card plus ability. Every Hero and Champion ability has been single-use per deployment since the August 4 balance update, when Supercell wrote that "all abilities, except for Boss Bandit—whose ability was designed for rapid consecutive activations—will now be single-use." To use an ability again you have to cycle the card back, and a 2-Elixir card comes back fast. That's our read of the table rather than a Supercell statement. Cheapness alone doesn't do it: Hero Ice Golem costs 4 in total and sits in C.
Hero Goblins survived four nerfs to get here. Their ability, Banner Brigade, has the last Goblin standing drop a banner that calls in reinforcements. Supercell cut the Brigade from 4 Goblins to 3 and the banner from 7 seconds to 5 on February 23, moved the respawn a tile further back on April 6, raised the Brigade's deploy time on July 6, then cut it to 2 Goblins on August 4 while restoring the deploy time and adding 4% damage. The July note called them "the common denominator between some of the strongest decks in the meta." They still lead, at only 2.0% use, so read that 52.1% as what committed players get from them.
Hero Barbarian Barrel rolls a second time with Rowdy Reroll for 1 Elixir. Supercell cut the reroll range from 4 tiles to 3 on May 4 to push it toward defense, so it's a cheap answer to swarms that happens to carry a Barbarian. The base card also lost damage on October 6, 232 to 215.
Why are the most-used Heroes below average?
Hero Valkyrie (10.5% use), Hero Knight (9.0%) and Hero Mini P.E.K.K.A (8.4%) are the three most played, and all three sit under the 49.93% baseline. Our read is that popular cards pull in less tuned lists, and usage this high means opponents expect them. Knight has also taken real nerfs: his shield went from 768 to 512 on July 6, and on April 6 his taunt was limited to units present when he triggers it. Our Hero Knight guide has the full history.
So a C-tier Hero isn't a dead unlock. On r/ClashRoyale this week, one player's answer to "which Hero should I get?" was to pick the Hero you have "the highest likeliness of actually playing". That's the right instinct: a 48.7% Hero in the deck you know beats a 52.1% Hero you can't pilot.
Which Hero should you unlock first?
Pick by where you are on the ladder, because the top of the tier list assumes cards you may not have yet. Hero Ice Wizard's base card unlocks at Arena 12 and Hero Bowler's at Arena 13, so a player who just reached Arena 5 shouldn't plan a deck around either.
| Your situation | First unlock | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your deck already has a card with a Hero form | That Hero | You own the card and know its timing, and the ability is pure upside |
| Arena 12 or higher, no fixed deck | Hero Ice Wizard | A-tier with the largest A-tier sample, and he appears across Mortar, X-Bow and Graveyard lists |
| Below Arena 12 | Hero Giant | Base card from Training Camp, A-tier, and Giant is boosted all season |
| Low-Elixir cycle or bait deck | Hero Goblins | The S-tier pick, and the base card comes from Arena 1 |
| Your deck struggles with backline troops | Hero Mega Minion | Arena 3 card, 51.1%, and his ability warps onto the lowest-HP enemy, then returns |
| Royal Hogs or Royal Giant player | Hero Barbarian Barrel | Most of its high-sample lists run those shells |
Hero Ice Wizard remains our default, with one change from September: he's weaker than he was. His Frosty Fella freeze dropped from 7 seconds to 5 on September 16, and on October 6 Supercell cut its damage from 89 to 46 so it no longer kills Skeletons and Bats. He's still A tier after both. Season 89 also fixed a bug, so he now refunds Elixir if he's defeated before his projectile hits. More in our Hero Ice Wizard breakdown.
Hero Giant is the low-ladder answer. Heroic Hurl costs 2 Elixir and throws the highest-HP enemy troop within 2 tiles of him, which clears the tank blocking your push. Supercell's Season 89 notes say Giant will be boosted for the full season as part of King of Cards, though they don't define the boost or say whether it reaches the Hero form.
Skip Hero Electro Wizard as a first pick unless you already run the base card. At 50.5% he's fine, but he's the newest Hero and his numbers can still move. His own guide covers the Surging Strikes ability.
What are the best decks for the top Heroes?
These are RoyaleTracker's strongest lists with at least 1,000 battles, checked November 3. Its deck pages publish no date window, and the best tuned lists sit well above the Hero-wide average, so compare them with each other rather than with the tier table.
| Hero | Deck | Avg Elixir | Win rate | Battles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Goblins | Evo Royal Ghost, Evo Skeleton Barrel, Dark Prince, Dart Goblin, Rascals, Suspicious Bush, The Log | 3.0 | 58.7% | 1.7K |
| Hero Barbarian Barrel | Evo Royal Recruits, Evo Royal Hogs, Zappies, Flying Machine, Goblin Cage, Fireball, Arrows | 4.1 | 62.9% | 1.0K |
| Hero Giant | Evo Witch, Evo Elite Barbarians, Mini P.E.K.K.A, Elixir Collector, Arrows, Rage, Heal Spirit | 4.0 | 65.0% | 1.3K |
| Hero Ice Wizard | Evo Skeleton Barrel, Evo Mortar, Minions, Rascals, Cannon Cart, Fireball, Barbarian Barrel | 3.6 | 65.7% | 2.5K |
| Hero Bowler | Evo Witch, Evo Giant Snowball, Giant, Minions, Zappies, Arrows, Graveyard | 4.0 | 70.4% | 1.4K |
The Bowler list is our Giant Graveyard deck. For the wider meta, see the best Clash Royale decks for November.
How long does it take to get 200 Hero Coins?
About three seasons on the free track, so roughly three months per Hero. Supercell's mid-March update says you can earn up to 75 Hero Coins a season through the Pass Royale free track. Three seasons pays 225, which clears the 200 price with 25 to spare. Your first one is free: "If you're new to the game, you'll receive the 200 Hero Coins upon reaching Arena 5."
- The cap is 200. Supercell's wording: "Going forward, Hero Coins will be capped at 200, so summon your next Hero as soon as you've got enough!" Anything past the cap converts to Gems, 1 coin to 1 Gem.
- Holding coins for a future Hero is cheap. New Heroes are unlockable the moment they release, so sitting at 200 keeps that option open. Further coins just turn into Gems.
- Season 89 names no new Hero. Its headline unlocks are Evo Giant and Evo Mirror, and the roster stays at 18 for now.
- The paid route is the Pass. Season 88's Upgraded Pass offered Hero Electro Wizard, and Supercell lists Hero unlocks as a choice reward on the Pass. Season 89's notes attach Evo Giant to the Pass and name no Hero, so check the rewards screen before buying. Our Pass Royale value guide covers the math.
To unlock, open the Magic Items tab, find the Heroes section, tap Unlock and choose. Nothing in Supercell's notes mentions a refund, so treat the choice as final.
How many Heroes can you run in one deck?
Up to two, from Arena 10. Since the mid-March update, decks have one Evolution slot, one Hero slot and one Wild slot. The Hero slot takes Heroes and Champions, so a Champion like Golden Knight uses it too. The Wild slot takes an Evolution, a Hero or a Champion and opens at Arena 10, while the Hero slot opens at Arena 5.
That makes two Evolutions plus one Hero the standard shape at the top of the ladder, which is what every list in the table above uses. Cards with both forms get a bonus, because in the Wild slot you can tap the switch button and change which form is active. Hero Knight, Hero Musketeer, Hero Valkyrie, Hero Wizard and Hero Giant all qualify. Our Evolution tier list covers the other half of that decision.
FAQ
What is the best Hero in Clash Royale in November 2026? Hero Goblins, at 52.1% in Ranked over the last three weeks and the only S-tier Hero on RoyaleTracker's list. Hero Barbarian Barrel (51.9%) and Hero Giant (51.2%) are next.
What is the best Hero to unlock first in Clash Royale? Hero Ice Wizard if you're at Arena 12 or higher, Hero Giant if you're below it. If your deck already has a card with a Hero form, take that Hero instead.
Which Hero should I get if I'm stuck around 12,000 trophies? Build around a list rather than a Hero. Hero Ice Wizard in the Evo Mortar shell has the largest sample in the deck table above, at 65.7% over 2.5K battles.
Is Hero Ice Wizard still broken? No, though players still call him that. He's A tier at 50.8% after two nerfs, a strong pick rather than a must-have.
Is Hero Knight worth unlocking? Only if you'll play him. He's C tier at 49.1% with 9.0% use, and his shield dropped to 512 in July.
How many Hero Coins do you get per season for free? Up to 75 through the Pass Royale free track, so about three seasons per Hero. Events sometimes add a few, like the 10 Hero Coins reported on Day 1 of Keep the Lights On.
Can you use a Hero ability twice? Not without redeploying. Abilities have been single-use per deployment since August 4, 2026, and Boss Bandit is the only exception.
The bottom line
The best Hero on paper this month is Hero Goblins, but the best one for you is the one that fits a deck you'll actually play. Take Hero Ice Wizard from Arena 12, Hero Giant before that, and let the tier list break ties. Then recheck after the World Finals on November 8, when Supercell may adjust balance and Evo Giant data starts to show.
Want more Clash Royale guides? Start here for the rest of our Hero coverage.
