Overview
Three Musketeers Split Lane is a high-risk, high-reward archetype built around the 9-elixir Three Musketeers card. Currently at 56.5% win rate with dedicated players, this deck punishes opponents who can't handle split-lane pressure. The core strategy is simple: survive single elixir, build Elixir Collector advantage, then overwhelm in double elixir with split Musketeers backed by tanks. The deck requires exceptional elixir management and matchup knowledge, but rewards mastery with some of the most dominant wins in the game.
Strategy
Opening Play
Start with Elixir Collector if you have it in starting hand and opponent shows no signs of immediate aggression. If they rush, defend efficiently with Mini P.E.K.K.A or Royal Ghost and place Collector after. If no Collector, cycle Royal Ghost or Heal Spirit at the back to scout. Never open with Three Musketeersâyou'll be down 9 elixir against any pressure.
Single Elixir
Your goal is survival and pump stacking. Defend with Mini P.E.K.K.A (tanks), Royal Ghost (swarms and chip), and Ice Golem (kiting). Every Elixir Collector you protect generates 2 extra elixir over its lifetime. If opponent Fireballs your Collector, that's a Fireball NOT hitting your Musketeers later. Take some tower damage if neededâyou'll heal it in double elixir.
Double Elixir
This is where you dominate. Split Three Musketeers behind your King Towerâtwo go one lane, one goes the other. Send Ice Golem in front of the solo Musketeer and Royal Ghost + Mini P.E.K.K.A with the pair. Opponent must now defend both lanes simultaneously. If they commit hard to one side, the other Musketeer(s) take a tower. Zap their swarm responses; Heal Spirit keeps Musketeers alive through chip damage.
Overtime
With pump advantage, you can cycle Three Musketeers every 30 seconds in triple elixir. Keep splitting, keep pressuring. If they have Fireball, bait it with Collector or clumped Royal Ghost + Mini P.E.K.K.A before splitting Musketeers.
Matchups
Favorable Matchups
- Hog Cycle / 2.6: They lack heavy spells. Mini P.E.K.K.A and Ice Golem shut down Hog; your split pushes overwhelm their single-target defense.
- X-Bow: Pressure prevents X-Bow plants. Royal Ghost snipes undefended X-Bow; split Musketeers force them to choose which side to Tesla.
- Graveyard: Mini P.E.K.K.A destroys Graveyard tanks. Musketeers shred Skeletons. They can't deal with your counter-push.
- Bridge Spam: Ice Golem kites Bandit and Ram; Mini P.E.K.K.A handles P.E.K.K.A. Your double elixir pushes outscale theirs.
Unfavorable Matchups
- Fireball + Tornado decks: Tornado groups your split Musketeers; Fireball + tower damage kills all three. Extremely difficult.
- Lightning Beatdown: Lightning one-shots Musketeers AND your Pump. Hard to build advantage.
- Rocket Cycle: Rocket kills Pump for neutral trade and Musketeers for +3. They'll spell cycle you out.
- Giant Graveyard with Poison: Poison on split Musketeers plus Graveyard pressure on the other lane is brutal.
Tips
Pump placement matters: Place Collector in front of King Tower against non-Miner decks; in the corner against Miner to force bad Miner angles.
Bait Fireball before splitting: If they have Fireball, clump Royal Ghost + Mini P.E.K.K.A to bait it, THEN split Musketeers. A Fireball on your push means safe Musketeers.
Learn the split timing: Split Musketeers 4 tiles behind King Tower. This gives them time to separate before crossing the bridgeâFireball can't hit all three.
Golden Knight dash value: Golden Knight's dash chains through grouped defenders. Use him on the 2-Musketeer side to dash through their defensive troops.
Ice Golem death damage: Ice Golem's frost nova kills Skeletons, Bats, and slows everything. Time his death for maximum value against swarm defenses.
Heal Spirit on prediction: If opponent always defends Musketeers with chip damage (Princess, Magic Archer), send Heal Spirit preemptively to keep them alive.
Count their spells: Track when they use Fireball/Poison. If they just Fireballed your Collector, you have a 3-4 card window to safely split Musketeers.
Common Mistakes
Splitting Musketeers too close together: If you split at the bridge, Fireball or Poison hits all three. Always split behind King Tower for separation.
Pumping against aggro without defenders: Placing Collector while opponent has full elixir and you're at 5 loses the game. Defend first, pump second.
Ignoring pump damage: Every 2 damage to your Collector is elixir you don't generate. Use Ice Golem or Royal Ghost to distract Miners attacking pump.
Over-defending in single elixir: Taking 1000 tower damage is fine if you've stacked 2 pumps. Don't burn 6 elixir defending chipâsave for double elixir domination.
Committing Golden Knight to defense: Golden Knight is your cleanup on offense. Using his dash defensively leaves your push without a finisher.