Introduction

Bomber Elixir Cost 2 Rarity Common Type Troop Arena Bone Pit Release Date 4 January 2016

The Clash Royale Bomber, a Common rarity troop unlocked at Arena 2, is a low-cost but highly efficient card in Clash Royale. With a cost of just 2 elixir, it delivers exceptional value by providing ground-based splash damage that can eliminate swarms of troops like Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang, or Archers in a single throw. The Bomber targets only ground units and lacks any air defense capability, which means it requires support from other cards to cover aerial threats.

Despite this limitation, its ability to clear out cheap enemy troops makes it an excellent support unit behind higher-health tanks such as the Giant or Knight. When placed correctly, the Bomber can defend effectively against pushes involving multiple low-health units and quickly shift into a counterattack. Its fast throw rate and high damage per hit against grouped enemies make it ideal for controlling the battlefield and maintaining elixir efficiency. To maximize its potential, pair the Bomber with cards that can absorb damage or control air units, allowing it to focus on clearing the ground and providing consistent value throughout the match.

Bomber Basics and Stats

Default Slowing Effect Rage Effect Cost Hit Speed First Hit Speed Speed Deploy Time Range Splash Radius Projectile Speed Target Count Transport Type Rarity 2 1.8 sec 0.2 sec Medium (60) 1 sec 4.5 1.5 400 Ground x1 Ground Troop Common Level Hitpoints Damage Damage per second

The Bomber is a Common troop card in Clash Royale, available once players reach Arena 2. It costs 2 elixir to deploy, making it an affordable and efficient option for dealing with ground swarms. This low elixir cost was introduced through a balance change that reduced its previous cost of 3 elixir. The Bomber delivers area damage, meaning its explosive attacks affect all ground units within a small radius of impact, allowing it to eliminate multiple enemies with a single throw. This splash damage is particularly effective against low-health troops such as Skeletons, Goblins, and Barbarians, providing strong defensive utility for minimal elixir investment.

Card Mastery

Type Level/Tier Objective Reward
Damage Dealer 1 Deal a total of 77,500 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 200 Bomber cards
25 2 Deal a total of 235,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 2,000
25 3 Deal a total of 390,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 150
25
Troop Destroyer 1 Destroy 280 enemy Troops 3,000
100 2 Destroy 800 enemy Troops 200
100 3 Destroy 1,400 enemy Troops 5,000
100

Strengths of the Bomber

The Bomber stands out in Clash Royale as a highly efficient and versatile support troop, especially considering its low elixir cost of just 2. One of its biggest strengths is its powerful splash damage, which makes it exceptionally effective at clearing out swarms of low-health ground units such as Skeleton Army, Goblins, and Barbarians. This allows it to act as a reliable protector for heavier win conditions like Giant, P.E.K.K.A., Golem, Royal Giant, or Hog Rider, clearing the path so these high-health units can reach the enemy tower with less interference.

Its ability to consistently generate positive elixir trades is another major advantage. The Bomber can eliminate multiple troops with a single attack, often taking out more elixir in enemy troops than it costs to deploy. It can one-shot common low-health troops like Archers and handle multiple threats at once, which makes it particularly useful in defending against grouped pushes. It’s also resistant to common cheap spells such as Zap, The Log, and Arrows, which means opponents often have to spend more or combine spells to remove it, giving you an elixir edge.

On offense, if left unchecked, the Bomber can deal considerable damage to Crown Towers thanks to its area damage. Even a single Bomber supported by a distraction or stun card like Ice Spirit can sneak in multiple hits, adding up quickly. It also excels at dealing with buildings that spawn troops, such as Goblin Hut or Barbarian Hut, since it can repeatedly clear the spawned units without much effort.

In certain defensive setups, the Bomber performs surprisingly well against high-pressure threats. For example, when paired with a cheap distraction like Ice Golem, it can effectively counter Elite Barbarians for a strong elixir advantage. Its damage per second is also competitive with much more expensive troops, and due to its low cost, it can be cycled quickly—ideal for baiting out spells or applying bridge pressure when needed. Even after balance changes that adjusted its stats, the Bomber remains a valuable asset in many deck archetypes, offering reliable ground control and swarm cleanup at a bargain elixir cost.

Weaknesses of the Bomber

Despite its low elixir cost and powerful splash damage, the Bomber comes with several notable weaknesses that players must account for when incorporating it into their decks. One of the most critical drawbacks is its low hitpoints, which make it highly vulnerable to spells such as Fireball, Poison, and Lightning. Even Arrows can eliminate it at certain levels, meaning the Bomber can often be removed before it has a chance to deliver meaningful value. Its fragility also makes it susceptible to being taken out quickly by single-target, higher-health ground troops like Musketeer, Knight, and Wizard, which can survive its initial attack and retaliate before it gets off a second throw.

Another major limitation is the Bomber’s inability to target air units. This leaves it completely defenseless against aerial threats such as Minions, Mega Minion, Baby Dragon, and Minion Horde. As a result, any deck that includes the Bomber must include reliable air-targeting troops to avoid being overwhelmed by flying cards. The Bomber’s 4.5-tile range is relatively short for a ranged attacker, meaning it must be positioned carefully behind tankier units. Poor placement can lead to it being eliminated prematurely or re-targeting inefficiently during chaotic skirmishes.

The Bomber’s projectile speed, while improved in past updates, can still feel slow in fast-paced scenarios. Rapid-moving enemies may reach it before the bomb lands, particularly if the Bomber is not well-protected. Additionally, in double or triple elixir stages of the match, opponents are more likely to use area-of-effect spells or splash troops to eliminate the Bomber alongside its support units, reducing its overall value. Against high-health targets like Crown Towers, the Bomber can also become inefficient, as its area damage is best suited for low-health swarms rather than sustained single-target damage.

Lastly, because the Bomber is only effective against ground-based units, it places additional pressure on deck composition. Players must balance their card choices carefully to avoid being vulnerable to air-heavy strategies. These weaknesses underscore the need for thoughtful placement, timing, and support when using the Bomber, ensuring that its strengths are fully leveraged while its vulnerabilities are minimized.

Bomber Usage Strategies and Tips

The Bomber, despite its low hitpoints, can be a powerful and reliable support troop when used with strategy and timing. Its core strength lies in area damage, making it excellent for clearing swarms and supporting pushes. To maximize its impact, one of the most effective strategies is to pair the Bomber with high-health tanks such as Giant, Golem, or Royal Giant. These units draw attention and soak up damage, allowing the Bomber to remain protected while it eliminates enemy defenders. Placing the Bomber behind these tanks gives it the space and time to target and destroy ground-based support troops with ease.


Skeleton Army
Goblin Gang
Barbarians

On defense, the Bomber excels at controlling swarms like Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang, and Barbarians. For maximum coverage, placing it in the middle of your side of the arena enables it to reach both lanes and deal with split pushes. It also pairs well with distraction or control cards like Ice Spirit or Tornado, grouping enemies for its splash damage and creating opportunities for positive elixir trades. This kind of synergy can quickly turn a strong defense into a dangerous counter-push.

Supporting win conditions like Hog Rider or Balloon with the Bomber increases your chances of success by clearing ground troops that might otherwise block your push. Despite its relatively short range of 4.5 tiles, precise placement ensures the Bomber avoids being targeted too early or bumped out of position. Varying its placement during a match can prevent opponents from easily predicting and countering it with spells.

Due to its inability to target air units, it’s essential to include air defense in any deck that features the Bomber. Cards like Minions, Mega Minion, or Baby Dragon can completely shut down a Bomber if it isn’t protected. While the Bomber isn’t effective against high-health single-target troops like Musketeer or Mini P.E.K.K.A., it performs exceptionally well against large groups of low-health enemies. For example, when used alongside Ice Golem, it can help deal with Elite Barbarians for a favorable trade. At equal levels, it can one-shot Archers, making it useful against support backline troops.

When left alone, the Bomber can inflict surprising damage on a Crown Tower. Even a couple of extra hits, especially when supported by a utility card like Ice Spirit, can result in several hundred hitpoints of damage. It’s also very effective against troop-spawning buildings like Goblin Hut, Barbarian Hut, and Tombstone, constantly clearing the units as they appear. Against defensive structures like X-Bow, its high damage output allows it to contribute meaningfully if supported correctly.

The Bomber fits into a wide range of deck archetypes—whether it’s Beatdown, Control, or Cycle—thanks to its low cost and high utility. Its fast cycle potential also allows it to be reused quickly in matches and even bait out spells from opponents. It synergizes well with cards like Knight, Ice Wizard, and Executioner, especially when paired with Tornado, creating lethal area control. A well-supported Bomber can become the cornerstone of an effective push or serve as a cheap but powerful defensive tool.

Overall, understanding the Bomber’s strengths and timing its use carefully will help you gain consistent value from this explosive troop. Whether you’re defending against a push or applying pressure at the bridge, the Bomber’s splash damage and versatility make it a reliable option across many different matchups.

Synergies and Deck Archetypes

The Bomber synergizes exceptionally well with a wide range of cards, enhancing its value in both offensive and defensive scenarios. Its most effective synergies come with tanky units such as Giant, Golem, Electro Giant, Royal Giant, and Hog Rider. These high-health cards can absorb damage while the Bomber follows behind, safely dishing out splash damage to ground troops. This classic setup allows the Bomber to clear defensive swarms that would otherwise stall a push. Similarly, it pairs well with Ice Golem, which can distract and slow enemies, enabling the Bomber to land clean hits and create favorable trades, especially against units like Elite Barbarians.

The Bomber also works effectively with low-cost distraction units such as Ice Spirit, helping to clump enemy troops together for maximum splash damage. When combined with control spells like Tornado, the Bomber becomes even more dangerous—pulling enemies into a tight group allows it to eliminate multiple threats with a single throw. Support spells like The Log and Zap further enhance its ability to control the battlefield, cleaning up remnants that escape the Bomber’s initial blast.

Due to its inability to target air units, the Bomber needs reliable aerial support. Cards like Minions, Mega Minion, Baby Dragon, and Firecracker help cover its blind spots, ensuring it can focus on ground control while its allies handle threats from above. This balance of ground and air defense is key to maintaining control in a match.

Specific card combinations amplify the Bomber’s utility even further. In Miner cycle decks, it adds splash support for chip damage and helps protect the Miner from swarms. With Goblin Drill, it clears defending troops, opening the path for the spawned Goblins. In Electro Giant decks, it clears out ground units that might otherwise overwhelm the Giant. It’s also found success in Lava Hound decks, where it supports ground control while Lava Pups pressure from the air. In Golem strategies, the Bomber is often used with Baby Dragon and Tornado for a reliable splash-heavy backline. The Bomber also complements Knight for sturdy ground defense and has even been used with Wall Breakers in pressure-oriented strategies.

The Bomber fits seamlessly into multiple deck archetypes. In beatdown decks, it clears out defending troops so the main tank can reach the tower, making it a common choice in Giant, Golem, and Electro Giant setups. Its 2-elixir cost makes it ideal for cycle decks, providing quick ground control and allowing fast rotations. Control decks benefit from its splash damage for defending against swarms and supporting area-denial strategies, especially when paired with Tornado. While not a traditional bridge spam card, the Bomber can pressure opponents at the bridge, especially when paired with units like Wall Breakers or Goblin Drill, forcing immediate responses.

Its low cost and high value also make it suitable for anti-meta decks, particularly those built to counter swarm-heavy strategies and Zap Bait setups. The Bomber has even appeared in Log Bait decks as an alternative splash option when the actual Log is absent. The change to its elixir cost has significantly improved its flexibility, enabling it to fit into faster-paced decks and allowing players to cycle it quickly for repeat use. Thanks to its splash damage, synergy with popular cards, and adaptability across archetypes, the Bomber remains a highly effective and versatile option in the current meta.

Conclusion

The Bomber is a card with a compelling and dynamic history in Clash Royale, evolving from a low-use support troop into a valuable component of many competitive decks. Its defining strength is its powerful area damage, allowing it to efficiently clear swarms of ground troops such as Skeletons, Goblins, and Barbarians. This makes it particularly effective when played behind tanky frontline units, where it can operate safely while clearing a path for heavier win conditions to reach the tower.

Over time, the Bomber has proven to be a highly adaptable card, fitting seamlessly into a range of deck archetypes including Beatdown, Cycle, and Control. Its synergy with tank units like Golem, Giant, and Electro Giant, as well as control tools like Tornado, enhances its utility in both offensive pushes and defensive setups. The Tornado spell, in particular, can pull enemy troops into the Bomber’s blast radius, amplifying its effectiveness.

Despite its strengths, the Bomber has faced challenges in remaining consistently viable. Its inability to target air units is a significant limitation, and its low health leaves it vulnerable to direct removal. The card’s success has often been influenced by the broader meta—rising in popularity during swarm-heavy environments and declining when air decks or high-damage threats dominate. The introduction of certain evolutions, such as the Evolved Firecracker, has also affected its usage patterns by shifting the value of ground-based splash support.

Nevertheless, the Bomber has shown a remarkable ability to rebound. With the right balance changes or strategic synergies, it has reasserted itself in competitive play, notably finding roles in decks utilizing cards like Goblin Drill, Evolved Knight, and other splash-centric strategies. Its low elixir cost and cycle potential make it a dependable option for players looking to control the battlefield while maintaining a fast rotation.

In the end, the Bomber is a fragile yet impactful troop that rewards strategic deployment. It excels in decks designed to counter swarms and overwhelm ground-based defenses. While it may not always be a staple in every meta, its long-standing presence and capacity to adapt highlight its enduring value in Clash Royale’s ever-evolving landscape.

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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