The Clash Royale Minion Horde is a Common card available from Arena 4 that summons six flying minions for 5 Elixir. They deal strong damage quickly, especially when ignored, but are vulnerable to spells. Use them to support pushes, defend against slow troops, or pressure your opponent when their spells are out of cycle.
Minion Horde Statistics
Card Attributes CostHit Speed
First Hit
Speed
Deploy Time
Range
Projectile Speed
Target
Count
Transport
Type
Rarity
5 1 sec 0.5 sec Fast (90) 1 sec Melee: Long (1.6) 1000 Air & Ground x6 Air Troop Common Level Statistics Level
Hitpoints
Damage
Damage
per second
Card Mastery
Type Level/Tier Objective RewardDamage Dealer 1 Deal a total of 140,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 200 Minion Horde Cards
25 2 Deal a total of 420,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 2,000
25 3 Deal a total of 700,000 Damage to enemy
Troops or buildings 150
25
Troop Destroyer 1 Destroy 420 enemy Troop 3,000
100 2 Destroy 1,200 enemy Troops 200
100 3 Destroy 2,100 enemy Troops 5,000
100
Deck Recommendations
Spell Bait Decks:
Minion Horde performs exceptionally well in spell bait decks like the Evo Wall Breakers Miner Horde Bait. These decks are designed to draw out the opponent’s key spells such as Arrows, Fireball, or Zap, allowing the Minion Horde to punish their elixir investment. Paired with cards like Miner, Wall Breakers, and Skeleton Army, this strategy creates constant pressure and opens opportunities for the Horde to deal massive damage when left unchecked.
Giant Sparky Horde
Giant Sparky Horde
Beatdown Decks:
In beatdown decks such as Giant Sparky Horde or Golem Sparky Horde, the Minion Horde adds excellent support by clearing defensive troops while the tank—like Giant or Golem—absorbs damage. This synergy allows for powerful pushes that are difficult to stop, especially when the opponent’s splash or spell counters are out of rotation. The Horde helps protect high-damage units like Sparky, increasing the chances of landing a heavy blow on towers.
Clone Decks:
Clone-based decks, like the GS Sparky Horde Clone, maximize the Minion Horde’s swarming power. When cloned, the Minion Horde can quickly overwhelm defenses if the opponent lacks reliable splash damage or their counters are already used. This high-risk, high-reward approach thrives on surprise and timing, often leading to explosive tower takedowns when executed correctly.
Dual-Lane Pressure Decks:
Decks such as Giant 3M Horde Pump and Minion Horde paired with Three Musketeers and Battle Ram use the Horde to apply pressure on both lanes. These setups force the opponent to split their defenses while punishing them for overcommitting on one side. The Minion Horde supports both offense and defense in these decks, helping maintain tempo and punishing any misplays with fast aerial damage.
Each of these deck types demonstrates the Minion Horde’s versatility—whether it’s overwhelming opponents through bait, supporting heavy tanks in beatdown strategies, multiplying damage with Clone, or pressuring both lanes. Choosing the right combination depends on your preferred tactics and how you want to control the battlefield.
Strengths
The Clash Royale Minion Horde is a versatile and high-damage card that excels in both offense and defense. Known for its exceptional damage per second (DPS), the Minion Horde can quickly eliminate enemy troops, tanks, and even buildings when used effectively. At Level 13, it delivers an impressive 738 DPS, making it one of the strongest swarm units in the game.
Defensively, it can shut down heavy pushes and turn into a deadly counter-push, especially when paired with a Miner to tank damage. The Horde is particularly effective against high-health units like Giant, Golem, Lava Hound, and Royal Hogs, quickly shredding through them before they reach your tower. Its ability to overwhelm unprepared opponents makes it a reliable choice when you have an Elixir lead or when enemy counters are out of rotation.
The Minion Horde also synergizes well with support troops or surviving defenders, allowing for fast, high-pressure transitions from defense to offense. With proper placement and timing, it can control the battlefield and punish opponents who lack strong air counters.
Weaknesses
The Clash Royale Minion Horde is a high-damage card, but it comes with several clear weaknesses that can be easily exploited by prepared opponents. One of its biggest drawbacks is its vulnerability to spells and area damage. Common counter cards like Arrows, Fireball, and splash-damage troops such as the Wizard, Witch, and Baby Dragon can eliminate the entire Minion Horde quickly, often leading to a positive Elixir trade for the defender. Because of its low hitpoints, the Minion Horde is fragile and easily wiped out by even low-cost spells like Zap, especially when supported by the Crown Tower.
While powerful spells like Rocket can remove the Horde, they are generally inefficient due to their high Elixir cost, small area of effect, and slow cast time. In contrast, Arrows are considered one of the most effective counters, offering a cheap and reliable way to clear all six Minions at once. On the troop side, splash-damage units are especially dangerous to the Horde. The Wizard’s high DPS, the Executioner’s long-range splash, and the Witch’s ability to summon skeletons while dealing area damage make them excellent counters.
Because so many cards can neutralize the Minion Horde efficiently, using it without baiting out enemy spells can lead to a major Elixir disadvantage. This makes the card high-risk and dependent on proper support or timing to deliver value in a match.
Strategy
The Minion Horde is a high-risk, high-reward card that can be incredibly powerful when used correctly. It serves as a strong defensive tool that can quickly be turned into a counter-push, overwhelming opponents with a swarm of damage. However, it is not recommended to place the Minion Horde at the bridge alone for an attack, as this makes it highly vulnerable to spells. Instead, it’s best used to support high HP troops like the Giant or Giant Skeleton, who can tank damage while the Minions deal their significant damage.
For offensive strategies, combining the Minion Horde with a Freeze spell can catch opponents off guard and allow the Horde to deal substantial damage to the Crown Tower. Pairing it with a Miner allows you to tank damage while the Minions focus on dealing damage. If your opponent has already used their counter spells, consider cloning the Minion Horde for overwhelming pressure. The Horde can also be used for a fast and lethal push, especially when you have an Elixir advantage or know that your opponent doesn’t have their counter cards ready. A Minion Horde rage push can be devastating when properly timed.
Defensively, the Minion Horde is effective against heavy-hitting troops like P.E.K.K.A. and Giant, and you can place it strategically to target support troops that accompany tanks. It also serves as a good distraction against the Inferno Tower, allowing you to neutralize its damage. The hexagonal formation is useful for countering troops like the Executioner and Witch, as it can minimize the effectiveness of their splash damage.
The Minion Horde can also be used strategically as bait in bait decks. You can use it to draw out spells like Fireball, Arrows, and Zap, then follow up with other troops. Hiding a Mini P.E.K.K.A. underneath the Minion Horde can surprise your opponent, giving you additional offensive power.
Additional tactics to consider include using the Minion Horde to punish your opponent when they have used their Arrows late in the game, especially if they have no hard counters left. Against the Executioner, using the hexagonal formation with a small gap in the middle can help you sacrifice one half of the Horde while the other half focuses on dealing damage.
The Minion Horde is also effective for counter-pushes; its high DPS makes it a strong choice when defending, and pairing it with a low-cost offensive card like the Lumberjack can allow for a powerful counter-push. When dealing with spawners, the Minion Horde is great for taking down structures like the Goblin Hut, though it struggles against Furnace due to the Fire Spirits. If the spawner is placed behind a tower or near the King, it’s better to use spells or the Miner to handle it. Finally, the Minion Horde is effective in baiting out defenses like the Inferno Tower or Tesla, as its aerial nature allows it to cross the river and overwhelm these defenses with its swarm.
Counters
To counter the Minion Horde effectively in Clash Royale, several strategies involving spells, troops, and buildings can be employed, each with unique advantages based on the situation.
Spells offer fast and reliable counters. Arrows stand out as the best hard counter due to their large area of effect, fast travel time, and low cost. Fireball is another solid choice for quickly wiping out the Minion Horde, though it covers a smaller radius. Poison deals damage over time, ensuring that the Minions are gradually eliminated. Zap is the cheapest counter, but it may require the Crown Tower to finish off the remaining Minions. Giant Snowball can be used to knock back and damage Minions, while The Log offers a similar utility with a longer reach. Lastly, Royal Delivery provides an effective option by dropping a unit that deals damage to the Horde.
When it comes to troops, a variety of splash damage units can efficiently counter Minions. Wizard can one-shot Minions, providing excellent value for the cost. Executioner is another strong counter, thanks to his ability to hit multiple units with his area denial attack. The Witch delivers solid DPS, killing Minions in three shots while also distracting them with her spawned skeletons. Baby Dragon, Ice Wizard, and Electro Wizard also work well, with the latter’s spawn mechanic allowing it to control the swarm. Hunter can deal massive damage in just two shots, wiping out the Minion Horde. Other viable troops include Magic Archer, Firecracker, Archers, Spear Goblins, Dart Goblin, and Mega Knight, all offering varying forms of support against Minions.
Buildings can also serve as great counters. The Cannon and Tesla are both solid options for stopping Minions, as they deal consistent damage to them. The Furnace generates Fire Spirits that can chip away at Minions, while the Cannoneer is a tower troop that can eliminate every Minion with a single shot, making him one of the most effective choices.
For combined tactics, Zap can be paired with Ice Golem or Spirit cards to control the Minion Horde, providing both distraction and damage. Additionally, using cheap ranged cards like Archers, Spear Goblins, and Dart Goblin in conjunction with Spirit cards or Zap can create a cost-efficient defense. The ice berry combo, which uses a combination of freeze effects and ranged troops, is another way to halt the Minion Horde’s progress while maintaining pressure on your opponent.
Synergies
The Minion Horde in Clash Royale can be a powerful tool when paired with the right synergy cards, offering a combination of offensive pressure and defensive power. Tank units such as the Giant, P.E.K.K.A, Golem, and Lava Hound are excellent partners for the Minion Horde, as they can absorb damage while the Minions take down enemy troops and buildings. The Giant Skeleton also works well, as its explosion can provide additional value when the Minion Horde is used for support. Additionally, pairing the Minion Horde with the Hog Rider offers a fast-paced, aggressive push, where the Hog Rider targets buildings while the Minions handle enemy defenses.
Supporting troops further enhance the Minion Horde’s effectiveness. Cards like Ice Spirit, Knight, and Lumberjack provide valuable distractions and support, allowing the Minions to survive longer and deal more damage. The Princess is another great synergy, as her long-range attack can clear out any enemy troops that might threaten the Minions, giving them more freedom to focus on the enemy’s Crown Tower. Combining the Minion Horde with Three Musketeers creates a devastating push, overwhelming the opponent with multiple threats from different angles.
Spells can provide additional support to the Minion Horde. The Heal spell helps keep the Minions alive longer in battle, making it harder for opponents to counter them effectively. The Freeze spell is a great tool to stop enemy troops from targeting the Minion Horde, buying them more time to do damage. The Rage spell, on the other hand, increases the Minions’ attack speed, allowing them to shred through enemy defenses more quickly.
Other synergies and deck archetypes also work well with the Minion Horde. Miner can be used to create dual threats, applying pressure by attacking a different part of the arena while the Minions focus on the primary target. The Minion Horde fits well into Fireball and Zap bait decks, where its high potential for baiting out spells can leave your opponent vulnerable to other threats. Sparky decks often feature combinations of the Giant, Sparky, and Minion Horde, leveraging the Minions to clear out enemy troops while Sparky deals devastating damage.
In Mortar decks, the Minion Horde can be used to distract and eliminate enemy troops trying to counter the Mortar. The Giant and Three Musketeers combo with the Minion Horde can create overwhelming pressure, while the Clone spell further increases the Horde’s potential, duplicating the Minions for even more damage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Minion Horde is a high-risk, high-reward card in Clash Royale, known for its significant damage output and versatility in both offensive and defensive strategies. While it can quickly overwhelm opponents and deal substantial damage, it is vulnerable to spells and area damage.
The strengths of the Minion Horde lie in its high damage per second, effectiveness against tanks, and potential for aggressive counter-pushes when properly supported. However, its weaknesses include its susceptibility to spells like Arrows and Fireball, as well as splash damage from troops like the Wizard and Executioner, which can clear the Horde quickly.
When utilizing the Minion Horde, it has great synergies with tank units like the Giant and Miner, as well as being effective in bait decks to draw out opponent spells. It can also be used to support high-HP troops or to create surprise attacks that force the opponent to react quickly.
To use the Minion Horde effectively, it is crucial to employ it in combination with tanks or other distractions, strategically place it to avoid splash damage, and bait out spells from your opponent. Effective elixir management is key, ensuring that you can respond to enemy counters while maintaining pressure. By carefully considering placement, timing, and synergy, the Minion Horde can be a devastating tool in your deck.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
❓ What is the Minion Horde in Clash Royale?
The Minion Horde is a Common card that summons six fast, flying Minions for 5 Elixir. It deals high damage but has very low health, making it vulnerable to spells and splash damage.
❓ What cards does the Minion Horde work well with?
Minion Horde pairs well with Miner, Giant, Sparky, Golem, Clone, and Three Musketeers, especially in spell bait, beatdown, or dual-lane pressure decks.
❓ Is the Minion Horde good on defense or offense?
It’s excellent for both. Defensively, it melts tanks and heavy pushes. Offensively, it becomes lethal on a counter-push, especially if the opponent has no spell in cycle.
❓ Can the Minion Horde be used in high-level or competitive decks?
Yes, but with caution. In higher-level play, many players carry reliable splash damage, so it’s often used in bait or Clone strategies to punish poor spell management.
❓ Is Clone a good combo with Minion Horde?
Yes, Clone can double the Horde’s threat, especially when the opponent’s spells are out of rotation. It’s a risky strategy but can be devastating when timed right.
❓ What’s the best time to use Minion Horde?
Use it defensively against tanks, then counter-push when your opponent is low on Elixir or has no spell ready. Timing and placement are crucial to avoid giving away a free Elixir trade.
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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
