Tombstone Elixir Cost 3 Rarity Rare Type Building ArenaBone Pit Release Date4 January 2016

Clash Royale Tombstone is a 3-elixir Rare building card unlocked in Bone Pit (Arena 2). It spawns Skeletons over time and releases more upon destruction, making it a reliable defensive tool. Thanks to its low cost and versatility, Clash Royale Tombstone fits well into many decks, offering effective troop distraction and counter-push potential.

Tombstone Statistics

Tombstone Attributes Cost
Spawn Speed
Deploy Time
Lifetime
Type
Rarity
3 4 sec 1 sec 30 sec Buildings Rare Skeleton Attributes Hit Speed
First Hit
Speed
Range
Target
Transport
1 sec 0.5 sec Fast (90) Melee: Short (0.5) Ground Ground Level Statistics Level
Tombstone Hitpoints
Tombstone Hitpoints lost per second
Skeleton Hitpoints
Skeleton Damage
Damage per second

Card Mastery

Type Level/Tier Objective Reward
Spawner 1 Spawn a total of 1,700 Troops 100 Tombstone Cards
50 2 Spawn a total of 5,100 Troops 4,000
50 3 Spawn a total of 8,500 Troops 150
50
Damage Dealer 1 Deal a total of 97,500 Damage to enemy Troops or buildings with spawned Skeletons 6,000
125 2 Deal a total of 275,000 Damage to enemy Troops or buildings with spawned Skeletons 100
125 3 Deal a total of 485,000 Damage to enemy Troops or buildings with spawned Skeletons 9,000
125

Deck

LavaLoon Tombstone Deck
The LavaLoon deck is a classic air beatdown strategy that remains strong in the current meta. This deck includes Lava Hound, Balloon, Mega Minion, Baby Dragon, Tombstone, Guards, Fireball, and Arrows. Tombstone plays a critical defensive role by distracting high-damage ground troops and providing Skeletons to stall pushes. While the Lava Hound tanks for the Balloon, support troops and spells clear the path. The Tombstone ensures ground defense is handled while you prepare a devastating aerial counter-push.

LavaLoon Double Dragon Valkyrie Evolution Deck
This modern twist on the LavaLoon archetype combines air superiority with ground stability. With Lava Hound, Balloon, Inferno Dragon, Skeleton Dragons, Valkyrie Evolution, Fireball, Zap Evolution, and Tower Princess, the deck is a hybrid powerhouse. Tombstone, while not always directly named, complements the deck’s defense by slowing down fast ground threats. The Valkyrie Evolution handles swarms and bridges gaps in defense, while Inferno Dragon melts tanks. The aerial pressure is relentless, making this one of the strongest push decks in the meta.

Bowler Graveyard Freeze Control Deck
This control deck revolves around timing and precision. It uses Bowler, Graveyard, Freeze, Tombstone, Musketeer, Minions, Ice Golem, and Zap. Tombstone is essential for slowing enemy advances and generating Skeletons to distract and chip away. The Bowler clears ground swarms, and Freeze enables a surprise Graveyard push that can quickly overwhelm towers. This deck punishes overcommitment and is ideal for players who like calculated, reactive gameplay with explosive counterattack potential.

Skeleton King Graveyard Control Deck
This deck is built around the synergy between Skeleton King and Graveyard, making it a top-tier control option. It includes Skeleton King, Graveyard, Tombstone, Poison, Tornado, Valkyrie, and Barbarian Barrel. Tombstone fuels the Skeleton King’s ability while also providing strong defense against hogs and rams. Once the Skeleton King is charged, a Poison-Graveyard combo can deal massive tower damage. It’s a deck that thrives on defense-to-offense transitions, punishing mistakes with swarm-heavy counter-pushes.

Giant Executioner Electro Wizard Beatdown Deck
This beatdown deck mixes heavy offense with solid control. The card lineup features Giant, Executioner, Electro Wizard, Ram Rider, Mini P.E.K.K.A., Tombstone, Log, and Zap. Tombstone plays a pivotal role in defending against cycle decks and swarm troops while your Giant builds pressure. Executioner and Electro Wizard clear air and ground threats, ensuring the Giant and Ram Rider reach their targets. With Mini P.E.K.K.A. for single-target damage and spells to clean up small troops, this deck is well-rounded and hard to counter once it gains momentum.

These decks highlight the Tombstone’s flexibility as both a stalling mechanism and a defensive swarm generator. Whether you’re playing beatdown, control, or hybrid archetypes, the Clash Royale Tombstone fits seamlessly into top-tier strategies in the current meta.

Tombstone Strategies

Tombstone is one of the most reliable defensive buildings in Clash Royale, offering constant value through distraction and swarm control. Its strength lies in its ability to delay and disrupt enemy pushes by spawning Skeletons both passively and upon destruction. When used strategically, Tombstone can shut down major threats and create opportunities for counterattacks.

Against win conditions like Hog Rider, Tombstone excels by pulling and stalling them long enough for your Crown Tower and spawned Skeletons to deal significant damage. Proper placement—such as early deployment near the middle—ensures the Hog Rider is intercepted before reaching your tower. A 4-2 tile placement (middle and two tiles from the river) is a standard positioning that effectively pulls building-targeting units while keeping both towers engaged.

Tombstone is also strong against tanks like Giant and Golem. Placing it in the center of your side pulls these troops into the middle, allowing both towers to lock on. This strategy not only deals more damage but also disrupts the pathing of any supporting troops, like Mini P.E.K.K.A. or Mega Minion. Tombstone Skeletons can chip away at these threats or distract them long enough for your defenses to clean up.

For single-target, slow attackers like Prince, P.E.K.K.A., and Mini P.E.K.K.A., Tombstone serves as a stalling mechanism. The swarm of Skeletons prevents charge attacks and buys time for your troops and towers to respond. Similarly, it’s effective against Barbarians, forcing them to split up and waste time on individual Skeletons rather than forming a concentrated push.

Tombstone can also deal with ranged units and support troops. Against Princess, the constant Skeletons can block her shots. Against Furnace, Tombstone can absorb Fire Spirits and prevent direct tower damage. It also helps re-aggro heavy hitters like Royal Giant and Giant when placed directly in their path, shifting their focus away from your towers.

Against Bandit, Tombstone can interrupt her dash if timed correctly, causing her to target Skeletons instead of reaching your tower. Strategic Skeleton spawns can stop her from charging, neutralizing her damage potential.

However, Tombstone has its weaknesses. It struggles against splash damage troops like Bowler and Executioner, who can destroy both the building and the spawned Skeletons in a single lane-clearing attack. It’s also vulnerable to spells like Arrows, Fireball, and Lightning, especially when used with other support troops nearby. Tombstone should not be played offensively unless you’re trying to cycle or bait a spell—it provides minimal pressure on its own.

In summary, Tombstone is best used as a reactive card—placed defensively to control enemy pushes, stall key threats, and provide skeleton support for counterattacks. Smart placement and timing are essential to maximizing its utility in every matchup.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Tombstone is a versatile and effective Rare building card in Clash Royale, unlocked in Arena 2 for a cost of 3 Elixir. Its primary function is to spawn Skeletons that help defend against a variety of threats, making it a valuable asset in many decks. When the Tombstone is destroyed, it spawns additional Skeletons, allowing it to provide extra defense in key moments.

The Tombstone excels at distracting troops that target buildings, such as Hog Riders, Giants, and Golems, allowing your towers to deal damage to these heavy tanks. Its proper placement is crucial for maximizing effectiveness, particularly against fast-moving units like the Hog Rider, where timing and positioning can prevent it from reaching your tower. While the Tombstone is effective against many ground units, it is vulnerable to spells like The Log, Arrows, and splash damage troops such as Bowlers and Executioners, which can quickly clear out both the Tombstone and its spawned Skeletons.

The Tombstone can be integrated into various deck archetypes, including Giant Beatdown and Graveyard Control decks, providing both defensive value and supporting offensive strategies. Due to its low Elixir cost, it is a solid defensive choice that can help you control the tempo of the match and disrupt enemy pushes. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses, as well as mastering its placement, will allow you to effectively use the Tombstone to bolster your gameplay and create valuable advantages in Clash Royale.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)

❓ What is the Tombstone in Clash Royale?

Tombstone is a 3-elixir rare building card that spawns Skeletons both periodically and upon destruction. It is primarily used for defense by distracting and stalling enemy troops.

❓ How should I place Tombstone for defense?

The optimal placement is in the center of your side of the arena—typically a 4-2 or 5-2 tile placement. This draws enemy win conditions like Hog Rider or Giant into range of both towers.

❓ Which cards does Tombstone counter effectively?

Tombstone is effective against Hog Rider, Giant, P.E.K.K.A., Mini P.E.K.K.A., Prince, Bandit, Barbarians, and other single-target or melee ground units. It stalls and distracts them long enough for your tower and support troops to react.

❓ What are Tombstone’s weaknesses?

Tombstone is weak against splash damage units like Bowler, Executioner, and Baby Dragon, as well as spells like Arrows, Fireball, and Poison that can eliminate the Skeletons quickly. It also doesn’t help much against flying troops.

❓ Can Tombstone be used offensively?

Not effectively. Tombstone is a defensive card. While it can help cycle or bait spells, playing it offensively usually gives your opponent free elixir unless it’s part of a bigger strategy.

❓ Is Tombstone good in high-level play?

Yes, Tombstone remains a staple in many top-tier decks due to its reliability, low cost, and synergy with swarm or control strategies. It scales well with smart placement and timing.

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Nel B

Nel has been passionate about playing games since childhood. His love for gaming started with the PlayStation. Over the years, he has enjoyed a variety of games, but some of Nel's all-time favorites include Dota, Monster Hunter, and MMORPGs. Gaming has not only shaped his skills but also helped him build lasting connections with friends. 0 0 votes Rating Login Please login to comment 0 Comments Inline Feedbacks View all comments