The Dark Prince is an Epic card in Clash Royale, unlocked at Royal Arena (Arena 7). This card summons a melee unit that targets ground enemies and delivers area damage with a spiked club. Boasting high hit points and a shield, the Dark Prince offers extra protection. His standout feature is his charging ability, dealing double damage to targets when he charges.
The Dark Prince costs 4 Elixir to deploy and serves as a versatile rusher, push supporter, and pressure unit. Known for dealing with swarms due to his area damage, he is effective in multiple roles but vulnerable to high-damage units. In this Clash Royale Dark Prince Guide, you’ll learn how to maximize his potential in both offense and defense, making him a valuable asset in many decks.
Dark Prince Stats
Dark Prince Attributes CostHit Speed
First Hit
Speed
Deploy Time
Range
Splash Radius
Target
Count
Transport
Type
Rarity
4 1.3 sec 0.4 sec Medium (60) 1 sec Melee: Medium (1.2) 1.1 Ground x1 Ground Troop Epic Charge Attributes Speed
Charge Range
Splash Radius
Target
Transport
Very Fast (120) 3 1.1 Ground Ground Level Statistics Level
Hitpoints
Shield Hitpoints
Area Damage
Charge Damage
Damage per second
Card Mastery
Type Level/Tier Objective RewardDamage Dealer 1 Deal a total of 165,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 20 Dark Prince cards
75 2 Deal a total of 490,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 6,000
75 3 Deal a total of 820,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 150
75
CHARGE!!! 1 Hit a total of 280 Troops or buildings with the Charge ability 9,000
125 2 Hit a total of 800 Troops or buildings with the Charge ability 20
125 3 Hit a total of 1,400 Troops or buildings with the Charge ability 15,000
125
Dark Prince Overview
The Dark Prince is a versatile and strategic Epic card in Clash Royale, offering a unique mix of stats, strengths, weaknesses, and roles that can significantly influence gameplay. This card costs 4 Elixir to deploy. At level 11, it has 1200 hitpoints, a 240-hitpoint shield, and deals 248 area damage per hit. With a hit speed of 1.3 seconds, his DPS is 119. He moves at medium speed, has melee range, and features a charge ability that deals double damage in a 360-degree radius after a short buildup.
The Dark Prince excels as a splash damage dealer, mini-tank, and pressure unit. His area damage is effective against swarms like Goblins, Skeletons, and Archers. The shield gives him resistance to spells and high-damage hits, while his charge makes him a strong offensive threat. When paired with other troops, his shield can absorb early damage, allowing him to deal more hits.
However, the Dark Prince struggles against high-damage, single-target units like the Mini P.E.K.K.A. or Lumberjack, which can eliminate him quickly. Some players consider other cards, such as the Valkyrie or Prince, to be more effective, leading to a decline in his usage. His longer charge time, lower health, and average DPS also contribute to this perception.
Despite these drawbacks, the Dark Prince remains a flexible card. He can be used offensively to pressure towers or defensively to clear swarms and support pushes. His presence often forces opponents to react, making him a useful asset in many strategies. Overall, he’s capable of addressing both offensive and defensive challenges with smart placement and timing.
Decks
The Dark Prince can be utilized in a variety of decks in Clash Royale, taking advantage of his splash damage, charge mechanic, and shield to create powerful strategies for both offense and defense.
Common Pair CardP.E.K.K.A
In P.E.K.K.A. decks, the Dark Prince is commonly paired with the P.E.K.K.A. to provide a formidable combination of high hitpoints and splash damage. A popular choice is the P.E.K.K.A. Bandit Dark Prince Miner control deck, where the Dark Prince can help deal with swarms and provide offensive pressure while the P.E.K.K.A. focuses on tanking damage. The Dark Prince can also assist in speeding up the P.E.K.K.A.’s movement, increasing the overall offensive threat. Another option is the Pekka Double Prince Miner deck, which focuses on powerful charging units.
Bridge Spam PairedRam Rider
Bandit
Bridge Spam decks are another effective strategy for utilizing the Dark Prince. These decks aim to apply constant pressure by sending troops to the bridge to overwhelm the opponent. The Dark Prince fits perfectly into this strategy, where he can be paired with units like the Ram Rider or Bandit in a Ram Dark Prince Bandit Bridge Spam deck. In these decks, the key is to create a positive elixir advantage and then execute a strong push during double elixir time.
Golem DeckGolem
The Golem decks also benefit from the Dark Prince, as the Golem serves as the primary tank, allowing the Dark Prince to freely deal damage and clear the battlefield. When the opponent is low on elixir or lacks counters, the Dark Prince can make a significant impact, especially when paired with the Golem.
In Giant decks, the Dark Prince can serve as a support unit, either in Giant Double Prince decks or Giant Miner Phoenix decks. The Dark Prince helps control swarms and provides additional damage, complementing the Giant’s role as a tank.
For Graveyard decks, the Dark Prince can help protect the Graveyard while also dealing with defensive units that the opponent deploys. Decks like 3x P.E.K.K.A. Graveyard and Giant Witch Graveyard often feature the Dark Prince to ensure that both the tank and the Graveyard can operate efficiently.
Other deck types that work well with the Dark Prince include RG Fisherman Mother Witch, Golem Goblin Cage, Balloon Festival decks, and Miner Hunter Double Prince. He is also effective in Bridge Spam 3 Spells and Dark Prince Rocket Bait, where his splash damage helps clear the way for other units to deal damage. The Golem Double Prince Beatdown and Sparky Duo Rocket Lightning decks can benefit from his ability to disrupt enemy formations and apply pressure.
Ultimately, the Dark Prince’s versatility allows him to fit into many different deck types, and the best deck choice will depend on your preferred playstyle. Experimenting with various decks will help you discover which strategies work best for you and align with the current meta.
How the Dark Prince Works
To effectively utilize the Dark Prince in Clash Royale, it’s essential to understand the mechanics that make him unique, including his charging ability, shield, and overall versatility.
The Dark Prince’s charging mechanic significantly boosts his offensive potential. After moving for a short time without interruption, he activates his charge, which increases his movement speed to “very fast” and causes his next attack to deal double damage to all enemies within a 360-degree radius. Unlike some other charging units, the Dark Prince’s charge attack is immediate once he connects with a target. This mechanic encourages players to use him as a rusher, a push supporter, and a threat card, requiring opponents to respond quickly to his presence on the battlefield.
The Dark Prince also has a shield that provides an extra layer of protection. This shield absorbs damage from enemy attacks and spells, and its hitpoints are separate from the Dark Prince’s own health. This means that excess damage inflicted on the shield does not carry over to his health. The shield allows the Dark Prince to act as a mini-tank, absorbing significant damage before he takes any hits to his health, making him a durable card in various situations. The shield also protects him from spells like Rocket, Lightning, and Fireball, which would otherwise deal substantial damage.
In terms of versatility, the Dark Prince is capable of fulfilling multiple roles within a deck. With moderate-high hitpoints, a strong splash damage attack, and his shield, he can perform well on both offense and defense. Offensively, he can clear swarms, support tanks, or rush toward enemy towers. Defensively, he can absorb damage from large units and counter pushes effectively. The Dark Prince can even counter unsupported Elite Barbarians with the help of a Crown Tower, providing a positive Elixir trade. His overall flexibility makes him a valuable addition to many decks, as he can provide both offensive pressure and defensive resilience.
Strategic Deployment and Synergies
To use the Dark Prince effectively, it’s important to consider strategic deployment and synergies with other cards to maximize his impact in various combat situations. A key approach is pairing the Dark Prince with units that can target both air and ground, as well as timing his deployment when the opponent’s crowd-control cards are out of rotation.
One effective strategy is to deploy the Dark Prince behind tankier units, such as a Giant or Golem. This allows the Dark Prince to build up his charge and deal significant damage without taking initial hits. When paired with a Golem, for example, the Dark Prince can help eliminate swarms, a weakness of the Golem. Additionally, the Dark Prince can push the P.E.K.K.A. to move faster, supporting the overall push. Another useful synergy involves combining the Dark Prince with spells like Zap or Fireball to clear the path for his charge, ensuring he can deal damage without interference from smaller troops or distractions.
The Dark Prince is also effective in bridge spam strategies, where he acts as both an offensive support card and a punishment card. Pairing him with another charging unit, such as the Prince, creates a powerful Double Prince strategy. In larger pushes, swarms become irrelevant, and the combined force of two charging units can overwhelm opponents. The Dark Prince can also support the Electro Giant, adding more damage and protection while the Electro Giant targets enemy defenses.
For fast-paced strategies, the Dark Prince pairs well with the Hog Rider, a fast-moving troop that targets buildings. The Dark Prince’s quick charge speed will keep him aligned with the Hog Rider, allowing him to eliminate swarms while the Hog Rider focuses on attacking the tower.
However, this combo is vulnerable to air swarms like the Minion Horde, so it’s important to be mindful of air threats. Another strong synergy is with the Bandit in bridge spam decks. The Dark Prince’s splash damage can clear swarms like Goblin Gang, while the Bandit’s dash can take out glass cannon units like the Lumberjack. Just be cautious of air units, like the Minion Horde, which can target both the Dark Prince and Bandit if left unchecked.
By combining the Dark Prince with the right cards and deploying him strategically, he can be a powerful and flexible unit, effective in both offensive pushes and defensive situations.
Conclusion
The Dark Prince is a versatile card in Clash Royale, offering a unique combination of splash damage, a charge mechanic, and a shield, making him valuable in a variety of situations. His ability to deal splash damage and survive some attacks with his shield allows him to counter swarms and support larger pushes. However, the community’s perception of the Dark Prince is mixed, as many players feel that he has been overshadowed by other cards and that his competitive viability could be improved.
The Dark Prince’s versatility allows him to be used in multiple roles, such as a rusher, a push supporter, and a defensive unit. His splash damage and ability to absorb damage with his shield make him effective in countering swarms and providing support to tanks like the Giant or Golem. However, despite these strengths, there is a strong desire within the community for buffs or potential evolutions to help him reclaim his competitive edge. Some players have suggested reducing his charge time, extending his splash damage radius, or introducing a unique evolution mechanic to refresh his gameplay.
A proposed evolution for the Dark Prince involves a 3-stage mechanic. In the first stage, he would retain his shield and charge ability, dealing double damage. In the second stage, he would lose his shield but have reduced health, and in the final stage, he would transition into a ground unit with area damage similar to the Skeleton King. While this evolution could introduce additional depth and strategic options, it also comes with trade-offs, such as the loss of tanking ability and charge damage.
Effectively using the Dark Prince requires a solid understanding of his strengths and weaknesses. Players should focus on pairing him with tanks like the Giant or Golem to maximize his offensive capabilities while protecting him from early damage. Additionally, anticipating enemy deployments and using his shield effectively can make a significant difference in his performance. His unique abilities, such as his immunity to the Executioner’s interruption effect, can be leveraged strategically for favorable matchups.
Overall, while the Dark Prince may not be a top-tier card in the current meta, his versatility and potential for improvement make him a viable option for players willing to experiment with different deck compositions and strategies. The community’s enthusiasm for his character and ideas for potential evolutions suggest that the Dark Prince may still have a bright future in Clash Royale.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
❓ What is the Dark Prince’s main strength?
The Dark Prince’s main strength is area splash damage combined with a shield that protects the Dark Prince from an initial hit, making the card effective against swarm troops.
❓ What does the Dark Prince’s charge ability do?
After traveling a short distance, the Dark Prince charges, dealing double damage in a 360-degree radius, affecting all nearby enemies.
❓ Is the Dark Prince good on defense or offense?
Dark Prince is a versatile card that can be used both offensively (as a bridge spam or support unit) and defensively (to clear swarms and tank hits).
❓ What role does the Dark Prince play in a deck?
The Dark Prince acts as a mini-tank, splash damage dealer, and support unit for heavier pushes. The card is especially strong when combined with troops like the Prince or Royal Ghost.
❓ Can spells like Fireball or Lightning kill the Dark Prince?
These spells can remove the Dark Prince’s shield, but will not eliminate the card unless it has low HP. The shield gives the Dark Prince added protection from many spell-based eliminations.
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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. Login Please login to comment 0 Comments Inline Feedbacks View all comments
