If you’ve spent any time climbing the Clash Royale ladder lately, you’ve almost certainly run into at least one evolved card that wiped out your entire push in 10 seconds flat. I still remember the first time I faced an Evo Fireball that took out my support units and burned my tower down for 300 extra damage after the initial hit – I immediately went home to figure out how to get my hands on one. These upgraded, game-changing cards have completely shifted the meta since their launch, adding entirely new layers of strategy to every match, even for players who have been around since the game first launched. A ton of new players and returning veterans alike are asking how many evos in Clash Royale are available right now, and which ones are worth grinding for first. We’ve put together this full breakdown to answer that question, plus cover everything you need to know about unlocking and using evos effectively, no matter your rank or playstyle.
How Many Evos in Clash Royale Are Currently Playable?
Right now, there are 18 fully released, playable evos in Clash Royale, with new ones added roughly every 4 to 6 weeks as part of regular game updates. That number doesn’t include test evos that are only available in limited game modes or dev builds, which you might see pop up in friendly challenges or special event matches from time to time. Supercell usually teases new evos 1 to 2 weeks before their official launch, so you’ll get plenty of heads up before a new one joins the roster, often with a limited event that lets you test the evo for free before it’s available to unlock.
It’s worth noting that evos are only available for common, rare, and epic cards right now – there are no legendary champion evos as of this writing, though Supercell has hinted that they could be added at some point in the future if the community asks for them. You won’t see any evos for seasonal exclusive cards either, as the team only adds evolutions for core cards that have been in the game for at least a year. All evos are tied to existing base cards, so you don’t have to collect entirely new cards to unlock their evolved versions, you just need to level up the base card to level 7 first.
Breakdown of Every Evo Card and Its Core Ability
Each evo comes with a unique perk that completely changes how the base card works, often turning a mid-tier pick into a meta-defining staple. You need to collect a set number of Evo Shards specific to that card, then play a certain number of matches with the base card equipped to activate the evolution. Once activated, you can swap between the base and evolved version of the card any time you edit your deck, so you don’t have to commit to using the evo permanently if you don’t like it. Let’s cover a few of the most popular evos to give you a sense of how they work:
- Evo Fireball: Deals 20% extra damage to buildings and leaves a lingering burn area that deals damage over time to any unit standing in it for 3 seconds. It’s one of the most versatile evos in the game, perfect for both countering pushes and taking down enemy towers slowly over time, even if you don’t land a direct hit on the tower itself.
- Evo Skeletons: Spawns 6 skeletons instead of the base 3, and each skeleton has a 20% chance to dodge a melee attack. For just 1 elixir, this evo can counter entire mid-cost pushes if used correctly, making it a favorite among cycle deck players who want to get maximum value for minimal elixir spend.
- Evo Hog Rider: Gains a 30% speed boost for the first 2 seconds after being deployed, and deals 15% extra damage to towers if it connects unblocked. It’s the go-to evo for fast beatdown players who want to catch their opponents off guard with quick tower hits before they have time to set up a counter.
The rest of the evo roster covers every archetype, from control picks like Evo Wizard and Evo Valkyrie to support options like Evo Heal Spirit and Evo Ice Spirit. You don’t need to unlock every evo to be competitive, but having 2 to 3 strong options that fit your preferred playstyle will make climbing the ladder much easier, especially as you get into higher ranks where evos are almost universally used. You can only use one evo per deck, so you’ll never have to worry about facing an opponent with a full deck of evolved cards that you can’t counter.
How to Unlock Evo Cards Faster
The biggest barrier to unlocking evos for most players is collecting enough Evo Shards for the card you want. Shards are available through a range of in-game rewards, and you don’t have to spend real money to collect them if you’re willing to grind a little each week. First, prioritize completing your daily and weekly quests, as many of them reward Evo Shard crates that give you random shards for cards you already own. You’ll usually get 2 to 5 shards per crate, depending on the rarity of the crate, so consistent daily play will add up fast. If you have duplicate shards for evos you don’t use, you can convert them to universal shards that work for any card at a 4:1 ratio, so don’t just let those extra shards sit unused in your inventory.
You can also earn shards from seasonal reward tracks, clan war rewards, and special event challenges. If you’re in an active clan, you can request extra shards for specific evos once per week, as long as you already have at least one shard of that evo already. Many active clans are happy to share extra shards with members who participate in clan wars regularly, so it’s worth joining a clan with a solid participation rate if you want to unlock evos faster.
Don’t waste your universal shards on low-priority evos, save them for the ones that will make the biggest difference for your go-to decks. It’s also a good idea to hold off on upgrading evos until you’re sure you’ll use them regularly, since the extra match requirement to activate them can take time away from grinding for other rewards. If you’re stuck on what evo to unlock first, look up the current meta for your rank to see which evos are being used most often by top players in your skill bracket.
Which Evos Are Worth Prioritizing for Your Playstyle?
Not all evos are created equal, and some are far more useful for certain playstyles than others. If you prefer fast cycle decks that focus on constant small pushes, your first priority should be Evo Skeletons or Evo Ice Spirit, both of which give you insane value for their low elixir cost. These evos let you cycle through your deck faster, counter enemy pushes for almost no elixir, and build up chip damage on enemy towers without spending a lot of resources. For beatdown players who like to build big pushes, Evo Hog Rider, Evo Giant, and Evo Balloon are all excellent picks that make your main win condition far harder to counter, even if your opponent has the exact right counter card in their deck.
If you’re a control player who likes to counter your opponent’s pushes and hit back with chip damage, Evo Fireball, Evo Wizard, and Evo Valkyrie are all solid options that will make your defense almost unbreakable. These evos let you take out large groups of enemy units for less elixir than you’d spend using base cards, leaving you with extra elixir to launch counter pushes after you shut down your opponent’s attack. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the current meta, as balance updates often buff or nerf evos to keep the game fair, so an evo that’s top tier one month might be barely usable the next.
You don’t have to chase the meta evo every time a new one comes out, but it’s good to have at least one meta-adjacent evo in your collection to avoid getting caught off guard by popular decks. Test out evos in friendly matches first before you spend shards or universal shards on them, to make sure their ability fits how you like to play, even if they’re considered top tier by the wider community. Some evos feel clunky to use for certain players, even if they’re statistically strong, so there’s no point wasting shards on an evo you won’t actually enjoy using.
At the end of the day, the answer to how many evos in Clash Royale are available will keep growing as Supercell adds new cards and updates the game. You don’t need to collect every single one to have fun or climb to high ranks, but picking 2 to 3 that fit your playstyle and unlocking them first will make your experience far more enjoyable. Take time to test different evos in friendly matches and special events before you commit your hard-earned shards, and don’t be afraid to experiment with off-meta picks if they feel fun to use. The best evo for you is always the one that fits your deck and makes you excited to queue up for your next match.
