2 Elixir
Overview
Goblins are the most efficient defensive swarm in Clash Royale right now. At just 2 elixir, you get 4 Very Fast melee attackers with a combined DPS that shreds tanks and glass cannons alike. In the February 2026 meta, Goblins sit at a staggering 29.41% usage rate and 80.2% win rate on ladder - a +13.5% usage surge from last week that made them the #2 most played card behind only The Log. They anchor the top-performing Royal Hogs Goblin Hut deck (75.1% WR) and slot into cycle, bait, and control archetypes with equal ease. Their 0.6-second first attack and staggered deploy make them deceptively lethal on defense.
Strategy
When to Play
Goblins excel as a reactive defensive play. Drop them on top of lone support troops like Musketeer, Wizard, or Witch - the four Goblins surround and melt them before they get a second shot. Against mini-tanks like Valkyrie or Knight, place Goblins slightly to the side so they spread around the target, maximizing DPS uptime. On offense, Goblins work best as a counterpush supplement behind a surviving tank, not as a standalone push.
In the current meta, Goblins are the go-to cycle card. At 2 elixir, they rotate you to your win condition faster than almost anything else while providing genuine defensive value - unlike Ice Spirit or Skeletons, Goblins survive most interactions and deal meaningful chip.
Placement
For defensive surround, place Goblins directly on top of the enemy troop so all four lock on instantly - the 0.6-second first attack punishes slow hitters immediately. Against Hog Rider, plant Goblins 3 tiles from the river in the center to pull and kill him before he reaches your tower. Against bridge spam, reactive Goblins on top of Bandit or Battle Ram shut them down for a +1 to +2 elixir trade. On offense, deploy behind a tank - the staggered 0.2-second spawn means quick spells may miss the fourth Goblin.
Synergies
Goblin Hut provides continuous pressure that baits out spells, leaving your hand Goblins safe. Royal Hogs split-push while Goblins defend the opposite lane cheaply. In bait decks, Goblins work alongside Goblin Barrel and Dart Goblin - opponents burn their small spell on one and get punished by the others.
Matchups
Strong Against
Hog Rider - Goblins placed in the center kill Hog for a clean -2 elixir trade. He gets one hit at most.
Musketeer/Wizard - Surround placement melts glass cannons before they can kill more than one Goblin. Positive trade with counterpush.
Mini P.E.K.K.A - Four Goblins distract and surround him. He kills one per swing while the other three deal massive DPS.
Bandit - Goblins absorb the dash and surround her instantly. Clean 2-for-3 elixir trade.
Countered By
The Log - Kills all four Goblins for a neutral 2-for-2 trade. The most common counter in the meta.
Arrows - Full Goblin wipe with no survivors. Devastating in bait matchups.
Valkyrie - Her splash hits all four Goblins simultaneously. Never commit Goblins alone into Valkyrie.
Zap - Does not kill at equal levels, but resets DPS and lets the tower clean up. Watch for Zap + tower combos.
Tips
Surround placement: Drop Goblins directly on top of enemy troops to get all four attacking instantly - the 0.6s first attack makes this devastating against glass cannons.
Spell bait rotation: Track your opponent's small spell cycle. Deploy Goblins right after they use The Log or Zap on another target for guaranteed damage.
Split defense: In double elixir, split Goblins in the back to apply light pressure on both lanes while cycling back to your win condition.
Stagger exploit: The 0.2-second stagger between each Goblin spawning means quick-landing spells like Zap may miss the last one. Deploy slightly offset from predictable spots.
Hog pull: Place Goblins 3 tiles from the river in the center lane to pull Hog Rider into both towers' range - he dies before connecting.
Chip damage: A single surviving Goblin gets 2-3 tower hits thanks to Very Fast speed. That 200+ chip adds up across a match.
Common Mistakes
Predictable placement: Always dropping Goblins in the same spot lets opponents pre-aim The Log or Arrows. Vary placement between center, bridge, and offset positions.
Offensive overcommit: Sending Goblins at the bridge alone is 2 elixir donated to any splash troop or spell. Only push Goblins behind a tank or when their spell is out of cycle.
Ignoring spell cycle: Playing Goblins into an opponent who just cycled back to The Log wastes 2 elixir. Track their spell rotation before committing.
Late reactive placement: Dropping Goblins behind a troop instead of on top means they chase instead of surround - cutting their effective DPS in half.
Wasting on tanks: Using Goblins alone against Golem or Giant gives the opponent time to spell them. Pair Goblins with a mini-tank or building against heavy beatdown.