If you’ve ever scrolled through your card collection after hitting higher King Levels, or spotted glowing golden borders around an opponent’s troops mid-match, you’ve probably wondered what are star levels in Clash Royale. I remember being confused the first time I saw them too, especially since the game never serves up a full tutorial explaining how they work once you move past the early beginner ranks. Many players write them off as just a fancy cosmetic flex for sweats, but they actually come with a few small, unexpected perks that make them worth considering if you’ve got extra resources lying around. We’re breaking down everything you need to know, from unlocking requirements to whether they actually give you any kind of edge in matches.
What Are Star Levels in Clash Royale, Exactly?
Star levels are optional, post-upgrade cosmetic enhancements you can apply to cards once they hit a certain minimum level for their rarity. Unlike regular card upgrades that boost stats like damage, hit points or attack speed, star levels don’t change how your cards perform in matches at all. Star levels never impact card stats like damage, hit points, or elixir cost, so you never have to worry about them creating an unfair pay-to-win gap. Each card can have up to 3 star levels, with each tier adding more noticeable visual changes. You might see golden borders around the card art, custom particle effects when the card is played, or even small tweaks to the unit’s design, like a golden helmet on your Prince or glowing golden spikes on your Goblin Barrel. I still get a kick out of my 3-star Hog Rider’s golden snout and trail of sparkles every time I drop him on the board.
How to Unlock Star Levels for Your Cards
Before you can start slapping golden effects on your favorite cards, you’ll need to meet a few basic prerequisites. First, your account has to be at least King Level 7 to start earning star points, the currency used to unlock star levels. Next, each individual card has to hit a minimum level based on its rarity to be eligible for star upgrades: Common cards need to be level 13, Rare cards level 11, Epic cards level 8, Legendary cards level 5, and Champion cards level 3. Once you meet those requirements, you can unlock star levels by spending star points. The first star for any card costs 5,000 star points, the second costs 10,000, and the third costs 25,000. You can check your current star point balance at the top of your card collection screen, right next to your gold and gem counts. If you’re looking to rack up star points fast, you can earn them from these common sources:
- Claim excess XP from upgrading cards once they hit their maximum level for their rarity
- Complete seasonal battle pass tiers, both free and paid tracks offer stacks of star points
- Win challenges and global tournament matches, especially high-rank finishes
- Trade in duplicate cards you don’t need once your copy of that card is maxed out
- Claim daily and weekly reward chests once you hit King Level 10
Key Perks of Unlocking Star Levels
While star levels don’t give you a gameplay advantage, they come with a few nice perks that make them worth chasing for many players. The most obvious one is the cosmetic flex. Golden card borders and custom particle effects make your cards stand out in matches and on your profile, so other players can see you’ve put time into maxing out your favorite decks. I’ve had multiple opponents message me after matches asking how I got the golden effect on my Electro Wizard, and it’s a fun little conversation starter with other fans of the game. Another small but useful perk is that the bright golden effects make it easier to track your troops during chaotic matches, especially during 3x Elixir events or sudden death overtime when the board is flooded with units. It’s much easier to spot your golden Pekka cutting through a swarm of minions than it is to pick her out from a pile of identical default units. If you’re part of a competitive clan that participates in clan wars, you might also get a leg up during recruitment. Many clan leaders look for high star level counts when recruiting for competitive war rosters, as it signals you’re a dedicated, experienced player who invests time into their card collection. It’s not a requirement by any means, but it can help you stand out from other applicants when you’re applying to top clans.
Are Star Levels Worth Investing Your Star Points Into?
Whether star levels are worth your time and star points depends entirely on your playstyle and goals for the game. If you’re a new player still working on leveling up your core deck, skip star levels entirely for now. Star points are only earned from excess resources once your cards are maxed, so spending them before your main deck is fully upgraded will just slow down your progress. If you’re a casual player who only logs in for a few matches a week and doesn’t care about showing off your collection, you probably won’t get much out of star levels either. They’re purely a bonus, not a requirement to have fun or win matches. Never spend star points on cards you don’t use regularly, as you can’t refund the points once you apply a star level. On the other hand, if you’re a long-time player with a fully maxed main deck, or you’re a collector who wants to fill out your entire card gallery, star levels are a fun, low-stakes endgame goal to work towards. They add a personal touch to your favorite decks, and if you stream or post Clash Royale content online, the flashy effects make your gameplay footage look more polished for viewers. I only unlock star levels for cards I use in my main ladder deck first, and that’s worked out great for me so far.
At the end of the day, asking what are star levels in Clash Royale usually leads to the same answer for most players: a fun, low-stakes endgame reward for putting time into the game. You don’t need them to climb ranks or win tournaments, but they add a nice personal touch to your favorite cards and show off your dedication to other players. If you’ve got extra star points lying around and your main deck is fully maxed, there’s no harm in splurging on a few star levels for the cards you use most. If you’re still working on building up your collection, hold off on them until you’ve got all your core cards up to the level you need for your preferred playstyle.
