The Bandit in Clash Royale is a dynamic and versatile troop with two distinct versions, each offering unique strategic value. The original Bandit, released on March 24th, is a Legendary card known for her fast movement and powerful dash ability. This dash allows her to quickly close the distance between targets, making her briefly invulnerable during the dash and enabling her to deal double damage upon impact. Her speed and ability to bypass distractions make her especially effective at targeting support troops and pressuring the backline. The Clash Royale Bandit is a staple in many control and pressure-based decks, valued for her elusiveness and burst potential.
In contrast, the Boss Bandit, introduced as a Champion card in Season 70 on April 7, 2025, expands on the original concept with enhanced abilities. Costing six elixir, she brings significantly higher health and remains an agile pressure and counter unit. Her dash ability is retained but enhanced with a secondary effect called Getaway Grenade, adding area damage and disruption upon activation. This makes the Boss Bandit a formidable presence on the battlefield, capable of initiating pushes or turning the tide during defense. She functions well in decks that benefit from versatile, high-impact Champions who can apply pressure while also soaking up damage.
Card Attributes
Bandit Attributes Default Slowing Effect Rage Effect Cost Hit Speed First Hit Speed Speed Deploy Time Range Target Count Transport Type Rarity 3 1 sec 0.4 sec Fast (90) 1 sec Melee: Short (0.75) Ground x1 Ground Troop Legendary Dash Attributes Dash Time Dash Speed Dash Range Target Transport 0.8 sec 500 3.5-6 Ground Ground Card Statistics Level Hitpoints Damage Dash Damage Damage per secondCard Mastery
Type Level/Tier Objective RewardDamage Dealer 1 Deal a total of 160,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 2 Bandit cards
100 2 Deal a total of 475,000 Damage to enemy y
Troops or buildings 8,000
100 3 Deal a total of 790,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 150
100
Charge!!! 1 Hit a total of 280 Troops or buildings with the Charge ability 12,000
150 2 Hit a total of 800 Troops or buildings with the Charge ability 2
150 3 Hit a total of 1,400 Troops or buildings with the Charge ability 18,000
150
Best Bandit Decks
The Bandit fits seamlessly into a variety of decks thanks to her versatility, speed, and dash mechanic. For the original Bandit, control and cycle decks are where she thrives. A classic example is the 3.0 Mortar Cycle deck, which includes Mortar, Log, Rocket, Princess, Skeletons, Ice Spirit, Electro Wizard, and Bandit. This deck focuses on defending the Mortar while cycling efficiently and making positive elixir trades. Another effective build is the 3.5 Bandit Burn Deck, featuring Bandit, Electro Wizard, Poison, Knight, Miner, Minions, Inferno Tower, and Arrows.
It plays like a traditional Miner Poison deck, applying dual-lane pressure by sending Miner + Poison to one lane while pressuring the other with Bandit. Other viable options include decks combining Hog Rider, Firecracker, Mega Knight, and Little Prince for a mix of defense and counter-push potential. Bandit also synergizes well in Miner-based control setups that include units like Lumberjack, Archers, and Inferno Tower, allowing her to play a key role in chip strategies.
Mortar
Log
Rocket
Princess
Skeletons
Ice Spirit
Electro Wizard
Bandit
For the Boss Bandit, deck compositions in Season 70 focus on leveraging her high-impact dash and Getaway Grenade ability. A popular choice is the Evo Cannon Miner Poison Cycle, which includes Evo Cannon, Evo Ice Spirit, Miner, Poison, Spear Goblins, Skeletons, The Log, and Boss Bandit. With an average elixir cost of 2.8, this deck excels in fast-paced, high-pressure gameplay. Another powerful option is the Evo Ram Ghost Cart deck, featuring Boss Bandit alongside Evo Battle Ram, Royal Ghost, Cannon Cart, Mother Witch, and support units like Ice Spirit and Arrows. This combination balances bridge pressure with defensive stability.
Decks like Evo Valk Witch Rage and Evo MK Ghost Nado offer mid-to-heavyweight options, pairing Boss Bandit with splash support (e.g., Valkyrie, Witch, Executioner) and heavy spells like Lightning or Tornado. These decks are built to support her in cluttered battles where her dash and grenade can shine. For players seeking a strong control option, the RHogs Evo Lumberjack Control deck combines Boss Bandit with Royal Hogs, Poison, and Inferno Tower for dual-lane threats and solid defense.
Another effective archetype includes Boss Bandit with P.E.K.K.A, Electro Wizard, and Royal Ghost, which focuses on maximizing her survivability and chain dash potential. Additionally, pairing Boss Bandit with Electro Giant creates a strong offensive combo that forces opponents to choose between two high-threat units, often leading to overwhelming pressure. These deck variations showcase the flexibility of both Bandit versions and how they can be tailored to different strategies and playstyles
How to Use the Bandit
The original Bandit is a 3-elixir Legendary card known for her high mobility and impactful dash ability, which makes her invulnerable during the dash and allows her to deal double damage upon impact within a range of 4 to 6 tiles. She excels in both offense and defense, making her a flexible pick in various deck archetypes. Offensively, the Bandit is ideal for applying lane pressure and punishing opponents who overcommit elixir.
She can quickly eliminate support troops and then transition into tower damage if left unchecked. In some strategies, she pairs effectively with Hog Rider to help clear defending units and reach buildings faster. Advanced tactics include placing her using a “pig push” technique to bypass defensive buildings or using her in dual-lane pressure decks like Miner-Poison combinations, where she can strike the opposite lane while the opponent is preoccupied.
Hog Rider
Wizard
Musketeer
Defensively, the Bandit is effective against single-target troops such as Hog Rider, Wizard, and Musketeer. Her dash can interrupt charges from units like Prince and Dark Prince, and in certain situations, she can even nullify Sparky’s charge. While she doesn’t replace tankier cards like the Knight, she offers a fast-paced alternative with high pressure potential. In general, the Bandit fits well in control and cycle decks due to her low elixir cost and speed. She can also serve as bait for enemy spells or troops, enabling other stronger units to survive longer. Although easy to use, mastering her placement and timing—especially to chain dashes or hit key targets—adds depth to her playstyle.
The Boss Bandit, a 6-elixir Champion card introduced in Season 70, brings an enhanced version of the Bandit’s dash along with a unique Getaway Grenade ability. This grenade allows her to evade damage and reposition, making her a strong tool for both offense and defense. Offensively, her dash inflicts significant damage and can chain between targets, especially when paired with the grenade for resets. She can act as a primary win condition in decks that focus on pressure and control, with synergy potential alongside troops that support her survivability and mobility. She is particularly effective in pushes that involve distraction tanks or control elements, using her abilities to weave through defenses and target high-value troops or buildings.
Defensively, the Boss Bandit stands out as a high-health counter unit capable of handling heavy threats like Mega Knight and P.E.K.K.A. Using Getaway Grenade mid-combat lets her dodge key hits and set up additional dashes, turning defense into a counterattack. In broader strategy, she sits between medium and heavy troops, offering bulk and impact without sacrificing mobility. She performs well in synergy-based decks that focus on layered pressure and calculated elixir trades. Some players find her difficult to use effectively, particularly due to her timing-based abilities, but with the right support and practice, she can become a formidable tool for both offense and defense.
Counters to the Bandit
The original Bandit, while quick and capable of dealing high burst damage with her dash, can be effectively countered with a variety of cards and strategies. Swarm units such as Skeleton Army and Goblin Gang are especially strong, as they can overwhelm her before she completes her dash. Because her dash targets single units or buildings, she struggles when faced with multiple low-health troops that can surround her. Additionally, mid-range splash attackers like the Executioner are effective due to their ability to hit multiple targets in a line, preventing her from reaching her intended target. High-health defenders can also absorb her dash and survive long enough to eliminate her, especially if she fails to chain dashes between units.
The Boss Bandit, despite being a Champion with more health and enhanced abilities, has a number of reliable counters as well. Heavy troops such as P.E.K.K.A, Mega Knight, and Giant Skeleton are particularly effective, as they can absorb her dash damage and eliminate her before she has the chance to reset or escape. Mini P.E.K.K.A combined with distraction troops like Skeletons can also trade favorably, especially if timed to avoid her dash. Buildings serve as consistent counters, pulling her away from the tower and forcing her to engage non-threatening targets.
Since her dash requires 3.5 to 6 tiles to activate, placing troops within 3 tiles of her causes her to walk instead, which makes her easier to shut down. She is vulnerable between dashes, and while her Getaway Grenade allows her to teleport back after a delay, this ability can be predicted and exploited with proper troop repositioning. Fast cycle cards, quick attackers, and area-damage spells or units can effectively limit her value, particularly if her grenade is baited out or wasted defensively. Proper placement, spacing, and timing are key to consistently countering both versions of the Bandit.
Bandit Synergies
The original Bandit, with her low elixir cost and fast dash mechanic, fits naturally into a variety of offensive and control strategies. Offensively, she pairs well with high-pressure units like Hog Rider, where her ability to target support troops or reach the tower complements the Hog’s building-targeting behavior. She also works effectively with Dark Prince or Mega Knight, forming a threatening frontline that combines charge and splash damage.
In Miner Poison decks, Bandit serves as a dual-lane threat—while Miner and Poison pressure one side, the Bandit can force a response on the opposite lane. Fire Spirits can further enhance this synergy by clearing defending swarms, paving the way for her dash to connect with the tower. Bandit’s ability to force elixir commitment from the opponent makes her particularly dangerous in split-lane pressure tactics.
On defense and in general deck synergy, Bandit is a valuable piece in control and cycle decks thanks to her speed, quick response time, and moderate durability. She functions well as distraction bait, drawing out responses that can be exploited by heavier threats like P.E.K.K.A in bridge spam archetypes. She is commonly included in decks featuring Hog Rider, Mega Knight, Firecracker, and other units that apply consistent pressure while maintaining elixir efficiency. Her versatility is also evident in popular builds such as Evo Wizard Void bridge spam, Golem Bandit eWiz Pump beatdown, 3M Bandit Pump decks, and fast-paced cycle variants like 2.6 Hog Bandit.
P.E.K.K.A
Royal Ghost
The Boss Bandit, with her higher elixir cost and enhanced abilities including the Getaway Grenade, benefits from synergies that support her extended presence on the battlefield. She fits well alongside P.E.K.K.A, Electro Wizard, and Royal Ghost—units that offer both protection and offensive coverage, allowing her to chain dashes safely. In fast cycle decks like the EvoCannon Miner Poison 2.8 Cycle, she complements the core by adding burst pressure while other cards handle chip damage and area control. Decks built around Evo Battle Ram, Cannon Cart, and Mother Witch allow her to act as a primary offensive unit while other troops fill defensive or anti-swarm roles.
Boss Bandit also works well in mid- to heavy-elixir control decks that include cards like Valkyrie, Witch, and Rage for tempo swings, or Executioner and Tornado for crowd control and synergy with her dashing movement. In combinations such as Royal Hogs with Lumberjack Rage or Poison-based control setups, she creates dual-lane pressure and forces split defenses. Cards like Electro Giant offer strong synergy by tanking hits while Boss Bandit applies flank pressure, and spells like Zap or Bomber support her by clearing swarm counters that could otherwise neutralize her dash.
She also pairs with aerial threats like Balloon or Skeleton Barrel, capitalizing on opponents’ lack of air-targeting troops when they focus on ground-based defenses. Additionally, utility troops like Fire Spirit, Flying Machine, and Hunter help cover weaknesses in Boss Bandit strategies by clearing swarms, sniping defenders, or providing backline support, further extending her value across a wide range of decks.
Conclusion
The Bandit, in her original 3-elixir Legendary form, is a unique and well-balanced card in Clash Royale, known for her fast dash ability that grants brief invulnerability and deals double damage upon impact. She plays a flexible role in many deck types, especially excelling in control and cycle decks due to her speed, elixir efficiency, and ability to target support troops or towers quickly.
Offensively, the Bandit is often paired with cards like Hog Rider, Miner, and Dark Prince to exert dual-lane pressure or support pushes. Defensively, she can counter units such as Prince, Dark Prince, and even Mega Knight when timed properly, using her dash to interrupt their charges or eliminate them before they deal damage. However, she is not a substitute for high-health defenders like the Knight, and she struggles against swarms or very tanky units that can absorb her dash and retaliate.
With the release of the Boss Bandit as a 6-elixir Champion in Season 70, the card pool gained a more robust and complex version of the original. The Boss Bandit retains the signature dash mechanic but adds the Getaway Grenade—a reactive ability that activates when she drops below half health, teleporting her backward and potentially setting up another dash.
With high HP and powerful offensive potential, she functions as a mid-to-heavy elixir threat that thrives when supported by cards capable of clearing distractions or tanking damage. Common synergies include Miner Poison cycle variants for chip and lane control, and heavier control builds featuring Battle Ram, Mega Knight, and Royal Hogs. She also pairs well with Electro Giant or P.E.K.K.A in combinations that overwhelm defenses and force difficult elixir decisions from the opponent.
Strategically, the Boss Bandit can dominate when used correctly, but she is not without counters. Buildings can effectively redirect her dash, while heavy-hitting ground units like P.E.K.K.A and Giant Skeleton can eliminate her before she capitalizes on her abilities. She is vulnerable between dashes, and smart troop placement—especially within her minimum dash range—can force her to walk instead of dash, making her easier to control.
The community response to the Boss Bandit has been mixed: some view her as overpowered due to her burst potential and grenade escape, while others find her manageable with proper defense. Both the original Bandit and the Boss Bandit offer significant strategic depth, rewarding players who can capitalize on their mobility and timing to disrupt opponents and apply pressure across the battlefield.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
What is the Bandit’s dash ability?
The Bandit’s dash allows her to move quickly towards her target, becoming briefly invulnerable during the dash and dealing double damage upon impact. This makes her great for targeting squishy troops or reaching towers quickly.
Can the Bandit be used both offensively and defensively?
Yes, the Bandit is versatile. Offensively, she applies pressure and targets support troops. Defensively, she can counter high-damage single-target units, like Hog Rider or Prince, and disrupt enemy charges.
Can the Boss Bandit work in heavy decks?
Yes, the Boss Bandit synergizes well with heavy-hitting units like P.E.K.K.A. and Electro Giant, creating pressure and forcing the opponent to make tough decisions on defense.
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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
