If you've spent any amount of time playing Clash Royale, you've almost certainly seen clan wars mentioned in your clan chat or on the main menu, but you might have hesitated to join in because you're not sure how it works. It's easy to write off clan wars as something only top-tier, competitive players do, but that's not the case at all. This guide breaks down exactly how to do clan wars in Clash Royale, from the pre-requirements to join, to tips for winning more battles, to getting the most rewards out of every cycle. I've been leading a top 200 local clan for over two years, so all the tips here come from real experience running and participating in dozens of war cycles.
How to Do Clan Wars in Clash Royale: First Steps to Get Started
Before you can jump into a clan war, you need to check a few basic boxes first. The first non-negotiable requirement is that your account is at least King Level 8. If you're below that level, you won't even see the clan war tab pop up on your menu, so focus on leveling up your king tower first if you're still new. You also need to be part of a clan that's at least Clan Level 2, and has a leader or co-leader who opts the clan into war cycles regularly.
Not all clans prioritize wars, so if your current clan only runs friendly battles or never mentions wars, you might want to look for a new one if you want to participate. I always recommend checking a clan's war log before sending a join request; if they've completed at least 3 wars in the last 7 days, they're consistent enough that you'll get regular playtime. Once you're in an active clan, make sure your war participation toggle is set to "opt in" if you want to be included in the next cycle. You can toggle this off any time if you have a busy week and don't have time to complete your attacks, so you don't let your clan down.
Breaking Down the Clan War Cycle Phases
Every clan war follows a set 7-day cycle, split into three distinct phases. A lot of new players only show up for the battle phase, but skipping the other two phases will hurt both your clan's score and your personal rewards. Let's walk through each phase so you know exactly what to expect.
The first two days of the cycle are the preparation phase. This is your chance to test out different war decks, fight practice battles against AI versions of enemy clan decks, and donate cards to your clanmates to help them build their own war builds. You also earn small amounts of clan points during this phase for every practice win and every card donation, which add to your clan's total war score at the end of the cycle. You cannot edit your war decks once the battle phase begins, so test them thoroughly during preparation. I can't tell you how many new players I've seen complain that they accidentally saved a troll deck for war and couldn't change it once battles started.
The next three days are the battle phase. Every opted-in player gets 3 attacks per day during this phase, and each win adds points to your clan's total, while losses still give you partial points. You'll be matched against players from opposing clans in your war group, which is made up of 5 clans of similar skill level. The clan with the most points at the end of the battle phase takes the top rank. The final two days of the cycle are the results phase, where you can collect your rewards based on your clan's rank and your individual participation.
If you're still confused about how to do clan wars in Clash Royale at this point, don't worry, it only takes one full cycle to get the hang of all the rules, and most clans are happy to walk new members through the process.
Pro Tips to Win More Clan War Battles
You don't need to be a top 1000 ladder player to pull your weight in clan wars. Small, consistent choices will help you win more battles than just spamming your regular ladder deck every time. Over the years, I've narrowed down the most important rules to follow for every war battle, no matter your skill level:
- Always match your deck to the current war game mode: Clan wars use rotating game modes, from Draft to Giant Double Elixir to Sudden Death. If the mode is focused on heavy pushes, don't bring a cheap cycle deck that only does chip damage, you'll get overrun in the final minute of the match. Take 30 seconds to check the mode rules before you lock in your deck.
- Coordinate attack targets with your clanmates: Most clans have a group chat or dedicated war channel where members post which enemy players are easy targets, or which ones have already beaten three of your teammates. Don't waste an attack on a player who's already shut down half your clan, pick an opponent with a similar king level and deck type to yours for the best chance of a win.
- Save your best deck for the final day of battle phase: Almost every clan holds their strongest players and best decks for the last 24 hours of the battle phase, when the score gaps are the tightest. If you burn your most polished, high-win-rate deck on the first day, you'll be stuck using a weaker build when your clan needs you most.
One of the biggest mistakes I see new players make is tilting after a single loss. If you lose two battles in a row, step away from the game for 10 minutes. I've seen players burn through all 9 of their war attacks in a fit of frustration, only to end up with 1 win total, which hurts the whole clan. Even if your clan is losing by a wide margin, finish all your attacks because you still get full individual rewards for completing every attack, regardless of your clan's final rank. You also still get partial points for losses, so every attack counts even if you don't win.
How to Maximize Clan War Rewards
Clan wars give out way better rewards than regular ladder play, from thousands of gold to magic items to legendary cards, so it's worth putting in the effort to get as many as possible. The first rule of getting maximum rewards is simple: complete all your attacks every cycle. You get a 500 gold bonus and an extra rare chest for finishing 100% of your attacks, even if you only win half of them. That bonus alone is worth the 15 minutes it takes to play all your attacks each cycle.
Your clan's final rank also plays a big role in your rewards. If your clan finishes in the top 3 of your war group, every participant gets a chance at a legendary chest, and the top-ranked clan gets a guaranteed legendary for all players who completed all their attacks. I've gotten 4 legendary cards from war rewards in the last year, which is way more than I've gotten from free ladder chests in the same time. Prioritize wars that have bonus reward events, which Supercell runs about once a month. During these events, all war rewards are doubled, so you can get twice the gold, twice the chests, and twice the magic items for the same amount of effort.
If you're a clan leader or co-leader, setting clear participation rules will help your clan rank higher and get better rewards for everyone. My clan has a rule that members need to complete at least 70% of their war attacks per cycle, or they get kicked. It sounds strict, but it means we don't have 10 members opting into wars and never playing their attacks, which drags the whole clan down. Don't forget to collect your rewards within 48 hours of the war ending, unclaimed rewards disappear after that window. I learned that the hard way a few years ago, when I went on a weekend trip and forgot to log in, and lost a magic coin that would have let me upgrade my favorite card to max level immediately.
Once you get the hang of how to do clan wars in Clash Royale, it quickly becomes one of the most fun parts of the game. It's a great way to connect with other players, break up the monotony of grinding ladder ranks, and earn way better rewards than you can get from solo play. You don't need to be a pro player to be a valuable member of a war clan, either; just showing up, completing all your attacks, and following the basic tips we covered here will make you a huge asset to any team. Next time your clan signs up for a war cycle, don't hesitate to opt in — you might be surprised how much you enjoy it.
