1 Elixir
Overview
Ice Spirit is the highest utility card in Clash Royale at just 1 elixir. This tiny troop jumps onto enemies, dealing 91 damage and freezing for 1 second - enough to reset Inferno, stop charging troops, and give your towers extra shots. Ice Spirit's true power is cycling: in 2.6 Hog and X-Bow decks, Ice Spirit enables you to rotate back to your win condition faster than any opponent. The 1-second freeze also resets attack animations, buying crucial time for your defenses. In competitive play, Ice Spirit represents pure value - one elixir for cycle speed, freeze utility, chip damage, and defensive support. No other card offers this much for so little.
Strategy
When to Play
Deploy Ice Spirit offensively with your win condition - Hog Rider + Ice Spirit for 5 elixir freezes defenders and guarantees extra tower hits. The 1-second freeze buys Hog 1-2 additional swings worth 400+ damage. Against Inferno Tower/Dragon, Ice Spirit's freeze resets the damage ramp, potentially saving your tank.
Defensively, use Ice Spirit to freeze incoming troops while your tower or support kills them. Against charging Prince, Ice Spirit freeze stops the charge and lets your Skeletons surround him. In cycle wars, spam Ice Spirit to rotate faster - if opponent is waiting for a specific card, you'll get to yours first.
Placement
For offensive support, deploy Ice Spirit at the bridge behind Hog Rider or Battle Ram. The spirit catches up and freezes whatever your push is targeting - tower or defenders. Against Inferno Tower, send Ice Spirit slightly ahead of your tank so it freezes the Inferno before ramp-up damage kills your push.
Defensively, place Ice Spirit in the path of incoming troops so it jumps on multiple enemies - freezing 3+ troops is massive value. Against swarms (Skeleton Army, Minion Horde), Ice Spirit freeze buys tower time to kill 2-3 units. For Mega Knight, place Ice Spirit behind your Knight so MK doesn't kill it with his jump - Ice Spirit then freezes MK for extra damage.
Synergies
Ice Spirit is essential in 2.6 Hog Cycle - it's the fastest cycling card combined with Skeletons, enabling Hog pushes every 10-15 seconds. Pair Ice Spirit with X-Bow to freeze defenders attacking your siege weapon - one second freeze equals 200+ extra X-Bow damage.
Ice Spirit + Ice Golem + Hog creates the classic Hog push: Ice Golem tanks, Ice Spirit freezes, Hog deals 800+ damage. Against Inferno decks, Ice Spirit reset combined with Zap means your tank survives long enough to kill the Inferno. Use Ice Spirit to chain-freeze with Freeze spell for 5+ seconds of lockdown.
Matchups
Strong Against
Inferno Tower/Dragon - Ice Spirit freeze resets ramp-up damage. Essential for tank survival against Inferno decks.
Prince/Dark Prince - Freeze stops charge damage and lets your troops surround safely. Huge value for 1 elixir.
Swarms - Ice Spirit jumps into groups and freezes all of them while dealing chip damage. Tower cleans up during freeze.
Mini P.E.K.K.A/P.E.K.K.A - Freeze buys tower extra shots and lets your counters position. Turns close defenses into clean stops.
Musketeer/Wizard - Freeze + tower shots kills glass cannons before they deal significant damage.
Countered By
Prediction spells - Zap or Log on your Ice Spirit before it jumps wastes your elixir. Good opponents predict Ice Spirit timing.
Air troops - Ice Spirit can't reach high-flying troops like Baby Dragon or Lava Hound. Limited air utility.
Spread formations - If troops are spread out, Ice Spirit only freezes one. Opponents who don't clump reduce Ice Spirit value.
Fisherman - Hooks Ice Spirit away from its target, wasting the freeze entirely.
Ranged splash - Executioner, Wizard kill Ice Spirit before it reaches them if they're far enough back.
Tips
Inferno reset: Send Ice Spirit ahead of your tank against Inferno. The freeze resets damage ramp and saves your push.
Hog push: Hog + Ice Spirit for 5 elixir guarantees 2+ extra Hog hits. The freeze stops whatever would defend.
Charge stopping: Ice Spirit freeze stops Prince and Dark Prince charges. For 1 elixir, you nullify 5 elixir threats.
Cycle advantage: Use Ice Spirit to rotate faster than opponent. If they're waiting for a card, you'll outcycle them.
Multi-freeze: Place Ice Spirit where it jumps into multiple troops. Freezing 3+ units is exponential value.
Mega Knight support: Place Ice Spirit behind your Knight vs MK. After Knight tanks the jump, Ice Spirit freezes MK for extra damage.
Common Mistakes
Early deployment: Placing Ice Spirit too early lets opponent spell it before it jumps. Time it with your push.
Single target freeze: Throwing Ice Spirit at one Skeleton wastes value. Wait for groups or high-value targets.
Forgetting to cycle: Holding Ice Spirit 'for the right moment' instead of cycling it slows your rotation. Use it constantly.
Bad Inferno timing: Sending Ice Spirit after Inferno has already melted your tank is too late. Reset BEFORE death.
Ignoring air threats: Ice Spirit can't stop Balloon alone. Don't rely on it for primary air defense.
Placement behind tank: Ice Spirit behind slow tanks (Golem, Giant) might not catch up. Place alongside or slightly ahead.