As someone who’s been playing Clash Royale casually for over 6 years, I spent most of that time ignoring the tournament tab entirely. I assumed tournaments were only for pro players with maxed cards and 6000+ trophy counts, so I never bothered clicking in to check what was available. That all changed when a clanmate sent me a link to a free casual tournament that gave out 300 gems to every player who completed at least 3 matches, no win requirement. If you’ve been curious about branching out from ladder matches but don’t know where to start, learning how to join a tournament clash royale is way simpler than you might think, even if you’re only at King Level 10 with a half-upgraded main deck.
How to Join a Tournament in Clash Royale: Official In-Game Steps
The entire entry process for official in-game tournaments takes less than a minute once you know where to look. First, open your Clash Royale app and tap the calendar-shaped events icon on the right side of your main screen, right below the battle pass tab. Scroll past the daily and seasonal challenges until you see the dedicated Tournaments section, which will show you a list of all open global tournaments you qualify for. Make sure you’re connected to a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection before opening the tournament menu – I’ve had my game crash mid-entry three separate times, losing my spot in limited-slot tournaments before I could even confirm my entry.
If you’re looking for a private tournament hosted by a content creator, clan, or third-party partner, tap the “Enter Code” button in the top right corner of the tournament menu and type in the unique 6-digit code shared by the host. Before you hit the join button for any tournament, take 10 seconds to read the full rules listed on the event page. Always check the tournament rules first before confirming your entry – many events ban specific cards, enforce card level caps, or restrict entry to players from specific regions, and you won’t get a refund for your entry fee if you accidentally join an event you don’t qualify for. Once you confirm you meet all requirements, tap join, pay any required entry fee, and you’re officially registered.
How to Pick the Right Tournament for Your Skill Level
One of the biggest mistakes new players make is joining the highest-stakes tournament they can find, just because it has a big gem prize pool. You’re far better off starting small and working your way up, so you can get used to the faster pace of competitive play without wasting your hard-earned gems on events you’re not ready for. There are three main types of tournaments you’ll see in the menu, each suited for different skill levels: casual free-entry events, semi-competitive low-entry events, and pro high-stakes events.
When you’re browsing available events, there are three key factors you should always check before signing up:
- King Level and card level caps: If a tournament has a level cap of 11, all of your cards will be scaled down to that maximum level, so you don’t have to worry about facing opponents with a Hog Rider 3 levels higher than yours. Level-capped events are the best choice for new players, as they level the playing field almost entirely.
- Entry fee vs prize pool: If you’re brand new to competitive play, stick to free entry tournaments first until you get a feel for the format. Even if the prizes are only gold and common cards, you’ll get valuable practice without risking any of your gems.
- Tournament duration: Some tournaments run for 24 full hours, while others only last for 1 hour. Make sure you have enough free time to play all of your required matches before you sign up, or you’ll waste your entry fee and miss out on prizes.
I learned that last lesson the hard way last year, when I signed up for a 1-hour 20 gem entry tournament without checking the duration. I only had time to play 1 out of 5 required matches before the event ended, and I walked away with no prizes and 20 fewer gems. I never skip the duration check now, no matter how good the prize pool looks.
Common Entry Mistakes to Avoid When Joining Clash Royale Tournaments
Even if you follow all the official entry steps, there are a few common mistakes that can ruin your tournament experience before you even play your first match. The biggest one by far is falling for fake third-party tournament scams. You’ll see these posted all over social media, promising thousands of free gems or exclusive skins for anyone who clicks the link and enters their account details. Never share your Clash Royale account login details with anyone claiming to host a third-party tournament – Supercell will never ask for your password, and all official in-game tournaments don’t require any information beyond your existing account details.
Another common mistake is not adjusting your deck before joining an event. Many tournaments ban specific cards, or have rules that only allow certain card types, like all legendary decks or no-spell decks. If your main deck relies on a card that’s banned in the tournament you joined, you’ll be stuck playing with a random deck you don’t know how to use, which will almost guarantee you lose most of your matches. Take 2 minutes to adjust your deck to fit the event rules before you join, so you don’t get caught off guard.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming you have to win first place to get prizes, either. Most tournaments give out rewards to every player who completes a minimum number of matches, even if you only win one or two games. I once got a free epic chest just for playing 4 matches in a free casual tournament, even though I only won 1 of them. You don’t have to be a pro to get value out of joining tournaments.
What to Do After You Successfully Join a Clash Royale Tournament
Once you’re registered for an event, there are a few quick steps you can take to set yourself up for success, even if you’re just playing for fun. First, check the match schedule for the event. Some tournaments have fixed match times where you have to log on at a specific hour to play, while others let you queue for matches whenever you want during the event duration. Mark the times on your phone if you need to, so you don’t miss your matches.
Test your deck against practice battles or friendly clan matches before joining your first tournament game. Even if you use your deck every day on ladder, competitive tournament play has a very different pace, and players tend to use much more meta decks than you’ll face in casual ladder matches. Warming up for 10 minutes before you play your first tournament match will help you get used to the faster play style and avoid silly mistakes in your first few games.
If you’re joining a clan or community tournament, don’t be afraid to ask other players for deck suggestions or tips for the specific event rules. Most casual tournament communities are very welcoming to new players, and many will be happy to share advice to help you have a better experience. Even if you don’t win any matches, you’ll still walk away with new skills and a better understanding of how competitive Clash Royale works, which will help you do better in future events.
At the end of the day, Clash Royale tournaments don’t have to be intimidating for casual players. Whether you’re looking to earn extra gems, test your skills against other players, or just have a fun change of pace from regular ladder matches, knowing how to join a tournament clash royale opens up a whole new side of the game. Start with free casual tournaments first, take your time learning the rules, and don’t stress about winning every match. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy the competitive side of the game, even if you never make it to the top of the leaderboard.
