
Introduction
Welcome to the ultimate Clash Royale Arena 17 Guide for conquering Arena 17 (Royal Crypt) in Clash Royale! Reaching Arena 17 is a significant milestone, as it is one of the last arenas to unlock new cards. This arena marks your approach to the top of the game, requiring more powerful decks and strategies to compete effectively. This guide provides the best deck options, strategic insights, and essential tips to help you dominate the Royal Crypt and continue advancing in your Clash Royale journey.
In Arena 17, you’ll unlock two new Champion cards: the Archer Queen and the Mighty Miner. Both of these cards are incredibly strong and can form the foundation of many successful decks. Champions are the most powerful tier of cards in Clash Royale, with only a few evolutions and some exceptionally strong cards surpassing them. While neither Archer Queen nor Mighty Miner is a win condition on their own, they can complement various win conditions, forming the core of highly effective decks. This guide will explore several powerful decks that integrate these champions and offer strategies to give you the edge you need in Arena 17.
New Cards in Arena 17
In Arena 17, also known as the Royal Crypt, you’ll unlock two new Champion cards: the Archer Queen and the Mighty Miner. These two Champions are incredibly powerful and can significantly enhance your deck strategies.
The Archer Queen excels at both defense and offense. She is particularly effective at defending against and quickly defeating high-hitpoint troops. When used correctly, her ability allows her to do significant damage to towers. For just 1 Elixir, the Archer Queen can activate her ability, making her go invisible (untargetable) and drastically increasing her attack speed. This makes her an excellent counter to many tanks, while also protecting her from being targeted.
The Mighty Miner is a strong defender, but his unique ability allows him to counter-push effectively and avoid counters to himself. His versatility makes him a valuable addition to many decks, offering both defensive and offensive advantages.
Both the Archer Queen and Mighty Miner are worth obtaining as they can form the basis of many effective decks. Although neither is a win condition on its own, you can build decks around them by selecting win conditions that complement their strengths. Champions are the most powerful tier of cards in Clash Royale, with only some evolutions and occasional broken cards being stronger.
Best Deck Options for Arena 17
In Arena 17, decks often feature Champion cards and Evolutions, making them more powerful and versatile. Here are five of the best deck options for Arena 17, in no particular order:
Royal Giant + Archer Queen
Cards in this deck: Royal Giant (Evolution optional), Archer Queen, Lightning, Fireball, Battle Healer, Tombstone, Bats, Log.
The Royal Giant serves as a strong win condition, and his evolution improves his self-defense with AoE damage after every shot. The Archer Queen excels at both defense and offense, with her ability to go invisible and increase her attack speed for just 1 Elixir, making her a counter to many tanks. Lightning and Fireball are used to protect the Royal Giant and deal with specific threats. Battle Healer helps keep the Royal Giant alive for longer pushes. For air threat defense, consider replacing the Champion with Phoenix, Hunter, or any support troop.
Mighty Miner + Hog Rider
Cards in this deck: Firecracker (Evolution optional), Mighty Miner, Hog Rider, Freeze, Bomb Tower, Spear Goblins, Skeletons, Log.
The Hog Rider is a reliable win condition due to its high tower damage, while the Mighty Miner provides solid defense and synergy with the Hog Rider. Firecracker serves as air defense, and Bomb Tower deals with ground swarms. Spear Goblins and Skeletons offer distraction, while Freeze can help the Hog Rider reach the tower by freezing defenses. You can replace the Champion with Mini P.E.K.K.A., Inferno Tower, or other medium-Elixir cards that handle tanks.
Giant Skeleton + Archer Queen
Cards in this deck: Skeletons (Evolution optional), Giant Skeleton, Royal Hogs, Archer Queen, Bomb Tower, Hunter, Bats, Snowball.
Giant Skeleton is a top-tier defensive card with high HP, strong damage, and a bomb that explodes after death, dealing significant damage to nearby troops and towers. Royal Hogs serve as the primary win condition, often used in counter-pushes with the Giant Skeleton. Archer Queen helps with air defense, and Bomb Tower is a reliable defensive card. This deck relies on solid synergy between defensive units and offensive pushes. For Champion replacement, choose a defensive or support troop, preferably costing around 4 Elixir.
Evolved Mortar + Mighty Miner
Cards in this deck: Mortar (Evolved), Mighty Miner, Phoenix, Royal Hogs, Baby Dragon, Tombstone, Electro Spirit, Log.
This deck revolves around the evolved Mortar, which leaves behind a Goblin that increases its damage output. The Mortar can target enemy towers from a distance, much like the X-Bow. Mighty Miner, Phoenix, and Baby Dragon provide support for Mortar, countering tanks and dealing with air threats. Tombstone and Electro Spirit offer additional defense. Royal Hogs serve as a secondary win condition when Mortar is countered. You can replace the Champion with Mini P.E.K.K.A. or any medium-Elixir card that handles tanks.
Lumberloon
Cards in this deck: Knight (Evolution optional), Lumberjack, Balloon, Inferno Tower, Flying Machine, Ice Wizard, Wall Breakers, Lightning.
This deck does not use any Champions but is still a powerful option. The Lumberjack initiates a fast push, dropping a rage spell to accelerate the Balloon’s attack. Knight is a cheap tank, while Flying Machine and Ice Wizard provide support and air defense. Lightning helps clear out Balloon counters like Musketeer or Archer Queen and can also deal with defensive buildings.
These decks are some of the best options for Arena 17. While other viable decks exist, these strategies offer strong starting points to help you dominate in the Royal Crypt.
Other Deck Options for Arena 17
In Arena 17, players have access to a wide variety of deck options, each catering to different playstyles and strategies. These decks often feature powerful Champion cards and Evolutions, offering more versatility and strength than previous arenas. Here are some additional deck options to consider for Arena 17:
The Mighty Miner Firecracker Hog Cycle deck focuses on fast-paced, offensive gameplay, utilizing the Mighty Miner for defense and the Hog Rider to pressure the opponent’s towers. The Firecracker adds long-range support to help deal with both air and ground threats. Another solid option is the Mighty Miner Mortar Hog deck, which combines siege tactics with direct attacks. The Mighty Miner pairs well with the Mortar, allowing you to control the battlefield while the Hog Rider deals chip damage.
For a more tank-heavy deck, the Ram Rider Archer Queen Mega Knight deck offers powerful pushes and defensive capabilities. The Archer Queen and Mega Knight work well together, with the Ram Rider providing a strong offensive presence. Similarly, the Archer Queen Mega Knight Wall Breakers deck combines defense and aggressive offense, using the Mega Knight and Archer Queen to control the map and Wall Breakers to apply pressure.
If you’re looking for a swarm and lane control strategy, the Evo Royal Recruits Wall Breakers Skarrel deck is a strong option, using evolved Royal Recruits and Wall Breakers to dominate the lanes while Skarrel provides additional support. On the other hand, the Snow Balloons deck focuses on using the Balloon as the win condition, supported by cards that slow or freeze enemy troops to ensure the Balloon can reach its target.
For direct damage and spell cycling, the Party Rocket Hog Firecracker deck is a great choice, combining the Hog Rider with the Rocket spell for targeted damage, while Firecracker helps with support. The Ram Rider Musk Cycle deck offers a fast cycle, focusing on offensive pressure with the Ram Rider and Musketeer.
Decks like VIVA LA SPARKY or Goblin Giant Sparky Rage emphasize the use of Sparky as the win condition, backed up by tanks and spells like Rage to increase damage. Miner Rocket Hut Exe Control focuses on control and chip damage, using the Miner and Rocket to pressure the opponent while the Executioner provides support.
There are also decks that feature Golem, such as the Golem Prince Beatdown deck, combining the Golem and Prince as powerful win conditions for a strong tank-based push. Other decks like the Ghost Graveyard Poison IceWizNado or Inferno Bowler eWiz Poison Graveyard Control offer a control-based approach, using the Ghost or Electro Wizard along with Graveyard and Poison for consistent chip damage.
Finally, some unique strategies like X-Bow Cycle with Tesla and Fireball, Giant Furnace Lumber Ram Beatdown, and Mighty Miner PEKKA Bridge Spam offer various cycle and beatdown tactics, each with its own strengths.
With so many viable options, the best deck for you in Arena 17 will depend on your playstyle, preferred strategies, and card levels. It’s important to experiment with different combinations and adapt to the meta, which can change over time with balance updates. Whether you enjoy control, cycle, or beatdown strategies, there are plenty of ways to succeed in Arena 17.
General Strategies and Tips
In Clash Royale, having a balanced and well-thought-out deck is crucial for success. A strong deck composition typically includes a win condition, support cards, a building, a big spell, and a small spell. This combination ensures that you have a mix of offensive and defensive capabilities. It’s also important to focus on upgrading your cards to ensure they’re at their highest level, as this can make a significant difference in battles. However, maintaining the core structure of your deck while upgrading will give you a better chance of success.
Elixir management is another key aspect of gameplay. Avoid letting your Elixir bar fill up to its maximum, as any Elixir generated beyond that point is wasted. Make sure you’re always spending your Elixir, even if it’s just with small plays. When defending, aim to make positive Elixir trades, like using cheaper cards to counter more expensive ones (e.g., using Skeletons to defend against a Musketeer). It’s also essential to keep track of both your and your opponent’s Elixir to make informed decisions about when to attack.
Strategic placement of cards is vital. For example, placing buildings in the center of the arena helps draw enemy troops toward them, allowing both your Princess Towers to target those troops. Similarly, when using spells, aim to hit both the enemy tower and any supporting troops to maximize their value. Effective defense often involves pulling enemy units into the range of both Princess Towers, helping you manage the pressure on both lanes.
Card cycling is another important element of gameplay. Understanding the order of your cards and how they cycle back to your hand is crucial for responding to your opponent’s plays efficiently. Keep an eye on your opponent’s card cycle as well to predict their next move and plan your counter-attacks accordingly. Knowing when to play defense and when to go on the offense can be a game-changer. For instance, if your opponent places a heavy tank like a Giant in the back, you can take advantage of their lower Elixir and initiate an attack.
Adaptability is key when you face a bad matchup. If your usual strategy isn’t working, try switching things up and finding new ways to get damage on the tower. It might also help to practice against specific decks with friends or clanmates. Additionally, with evolved cards offering special abilities, it’s important to use them strategically to gain the upper hand.
Always apply pressure on your opponent, especially if you have a slight Elixir advantage. This can force them into making difficult decisions that may not work out in their favor. Predictions can also be valuable, but only attempt them when you’re confident in your opponent’s next move. And, if you experience a frustrating loss, it’s okay to take a break. Over-tilting can affect your performance negatively, so returning to the game with a fresh mindset can help.
Having air defense in your deck is essential, as many strong threats in the game are flying units. When you reach higher arenas, like Arena 17, using meta decks is a smart choice since the competition becomes tougher. Champions are a powerful addition to any deck, but remember you can only have one in your deck. These cards come with special abilities and a three-card cycle, which can offer a unique advantage.
If you don’t have access to a particular card or it isn’t leveled up enough, consider looking for card substitutions that can fit the same role. And as you progress through the game, remember that there is always more to learn. Even small improvements can make a big difference as you push toward higher arenas. Stay flexible, adapt to your opponent’s moves, and keep refining your skills.
Conclusion
Reaching Arena 17 in Clash Royale is a significant milestone, marking the point where your understanding of game mechanics and strategies is put to the test. At this level, your approach to deck selection, strategic play, and adaptability become essential to success.
When it comes to deck selection, there are many viable options available in Arena 17. The best deck for you will depend on your play style and the cards you have at your disposal. Common deck archetypes include Hog cycle decks, beatdown decks that utilize tanks like Giant or P.E.K.K.A., and control decks that rely on spells and strategic placements. It’s important to find a deck that is well-rounded, with a clear win condition, support cards, a building, and spells. As the game evolves, you should be prepared to adjust your deck based on the current meta and the cards that are performing well.
Strategic play is another critical element at this stage. You need to master elixir management, card cycling, and strategic placements. Avoid leaking Elixir and focus on making positive Elixir trades to gain an advantage over your opponent. Timing your attacks and knowing when to defend are key. Pay attention to your opponent’s card cycle and Elixir count to anticipate their moves and plan your counterattacks. Evolved cards and Champions offer unique abilities, so understanding how to use them effectively can be a game-changer.
Adaptability is crucial in Arena 17. If you’re facing a challenging matchup, don’t rely on the same strategy repeatedly. Be flexible and try different tactics to find a way to secure the win. Practicing tough matchups can help you improve your game sense and ability to respond to a variety of strategies.
As always, it’s important to keep upgrading your cards to the highest possible level. Having solid air defense in your deck is vital, as many opponents will rely on air units. Applying pressure to your opponent can force them into making mistakes, so learn to create opportunities where they are forced to play defensively. When you can predict your opponent’s moves with confidence, you can gain a significant advantage. Finally, remember that patience is key—try not to get tilted after a loss and always stay focused on improving.
Ultimately, progression in Clash Royale requires a blend of strategic thinking, adaptability, and a willingness to experiment. Staying up-to-date with the meta and adapting to balance changes will help ensure continued success as you advance through the game.