If you’ve logged back into Clash Royale after a few months away, or even just noticed you’re earning fewer rewards than usual after matches, you’ve probably asked one big question: did clash royale remove chests? I’ve been an active Clash Royale player since its 2016 launch, and I test every new update within hours of it dropping, so I’m breaking down exactly what changed to the loot system, what chests are still available, and how you can adjust your grind to get the most rare cards and gold possible.
Did Clash Royale Remove Chests? The Short Answer First
No, Clash Royale has not removed all chests from the game, but they did phase out two popular chest types and overhaul the entire loot earning system in a 2022 update that caused a lot of confusion for casual and dedicated players alike. Free Chests and Crown Chests, the two daily reward chests that were a core part of the game for its first six years, were officially removed in this rework. That’s the biggest reason so many players search for this question, especially if they’re returning after a long break and can’t find the chests they used to claim every few hours. If you’re only looking for a quick answer to did clash royale remove chests, you can stop here, but I recommend reading the rest of the guide to understand how the changes affect your personal play style. I was just as frustrated when the update dropped, since I’d built my daily routine around grabbing a free chest every time I took a work break for years.
What Changes Were Made to the Clash Royale Chest System?
If you’ve been searching for did clash royale remove chests because you can’t find your old daily free chests, this 2022 rework is exactly what you’re noticing. The update replaced the old free and crown chest system with a new Daily Bonus system that rewards you for winning three matches per day, instead of logging in on a strict schedule. Crowns you earn from winning matches no longer go towards a separate crown chest, and instead count towards your Pass Royale progress and seasonal event challenges. You now only earn standard chests from 1v1 battle wins, event completions, or Pass Royale track progress, not from losses or simple log-ins. As of the latest game update, these are the only chest types you can earn in regular gameplay:
- Silver Chests: The most common drop from 1v1 wins, take 3 hours to unlock, contain common and rare cards plus small gold amounts
- Gold Chests: Drop more often after winning streaks, take 8 hours to unlock, guarantee at least two rare cards with a small chance of epic or legendary drops
- Magical, Legendary, and Champion Chests: Rare random drops from 1v1 wins, or guaranteed rewards for high placement in challenges and tournaments, contain large gold pools and high-rarity card drops
- Event-exclusive Chests: Themed chests from seasonal events, holiday challenges, and Path of Legends climbs, often contain exclusive cosmetic items or guaranteed copies of newly released cards
Developers said they made these changes to reduce the “chore” feeling of the game, where players felt forced to log on every four hours just to claim a free chest and avoid wasting reward opportunities. They also adjusted chest drop rates to make higher-tier chests more common for players climbing through higher arenas, so you’re more likely to get a magical or legendary chest as you get closer to the Champion arena. That means you don’t have to grind hundreds of matches just to get a shot at a legendary card anymore, which is a big win for players who don’t have 10+ hours a week to play.
How Does the Current Loot System Compare to the Old Chest Setup?
Player feedback on the new chest system is split, depending on how often they play and how competitive they are. For players who only log on a few times a week for 20 or 30 minute sessions, the new system is usually a big improvement. You don’t have to worry about missing free chests when you don’t log on, and the daily bonus rewards you get for three wins are almost always more valuable than the two free chests you would have earned in the same amount of play time in the old system. If you’re still confused about did clash royale remove chests after hearing about the rework, think of it this way: the core chest slot system that has always been part of the game is still 100% intact, they just removed the extra free chests you got for logging in regularly. Casual players who struggle to win matches regularly will see the biggest drop in earned chests compared to the old system, though. Before the rework, you could earn a silver chest even if you lost a match, and the crown chest only required 10 crowns from any match, win or lose, so you could get guaranteed rewards even if you weren’t very good at the game. I’ve noticed this most with my younger cousin who plays once a week and mostly uses silly meme decks; he earns about half as much gold and cards as he did before the rework, since he only wins one or two matches per session.
Tips to Earn More Chests and Rare Loot in the Current Game
Whether you’re a new player just starting out or a returning player adjusting to the new chest system, there are simple tricks to maximize the number of chests and rare rewards you earn every week. A lot of players who ask did clash royale remove chests are just frustrated that they’re not earning as many rewards as they used to, but these small tweaks to your play routine will make a huge difference in how much loot you bring in every week. If you came here wondering did clash royale remove chests because you weren’t earning any after a string of losses, that’s because only wins give you standard chest drops, so prioritizing consistent wins is the easiest way to earn more. First, always go for your three daily bonus wins first when you log on. The daily bonus gives you extra gold, extra cards, and a guaranteed chance at a higher-tier chest if you win three in a row, so it’s the most efficient way to get loot for a short play session. Starting an 8 or 12 hour chest unlock before you go to bed is the easiest way to make sure you never waste a chest slot. If all four of your chest slots are full, you won’t earn any new chests from wins, so keeping one slot unlocking at all times means you’ll always have space for a new drop when you win a match. You can also play low-stakes 1-win or 3-win challenges even if you don’t think you can take home the grand prize; most challenges give you a chest reward even for a small number of wins, which is better than earning nothing from regular 1v1 losses. If you spend money on the Pass Royale, prioritize unlocking the chest rewards on the premium track first, as they have a much higher drop rate for champion and legendary cards than standard chests you earn from regular matches. Don’t waste your hard-earned gems on unlocking silver or gold chests early; save them for legendary chests in the shop or special event entries that give you far more value for your premium currency.
At the end of the day, the answer to did clash royale remove chests is no, they just reworked the system to cut out the least popular parts of the old grind and reward consistent play more evenly. It takes most returning players a week or two to get used to the new system, but the majority of regular players I talk to prefer it once they adjust to the new routine. If you’ve been playing since before the 2022 rework, drop a comment below letting me know if you prefer the old chest system or the new updated version.
