If you’ve ever grinded for weeks to upgrade a core champion card only to hit a wall of missing wild cards, you’ve probably wondered what does a Book of Books do in Clash Royale. This ultra-rare consumable is one of the most coveted items in the entire game, but lots of players waste it on low-value upgrades that don’t move the needle for their ladder rank. I’ve been playing Clash Royale since its global launch, and I’ve only gotten three Book of Books items across my main and mini accounts, so I’ve tested every possible use case to figure out the best way to make it count. This guide breaks down exactly how it works, where to get it, and what mistakes to avoid so you don’t waste your first (or only) copy on something you’ll regret later.
Core Function: What Does a Book of Books Do in Clash Royale Exactly?
If you’re still confused about what does a Book of Books do in Clash Royale compared to regular rarity-specific books, the key difference is its universal usability. Unlike common, rare, epic, or legendary books that only work for their matching card rarity, the Book of Books works for every single card type in the game, from common all the way up to champion.
When you use it on a card you want to upgrade, it immediately fills all missing card copies required to unlock the next level for that card. It works for every card rarity from Common up to Champion, which makes it the only consumable that can help you skip the months of grinding usually needed to get enough champion copies for an upgrade. That’s a huge deal for mid-ladder players who struggle to get consistent champion drops from chests or clan donations.
There’s one key catch most new players miss, though. It does not cover the gold cost of the upgrade. You’ll still need to have the full amount of gold required for the level jump after you use the book, or you won’t be able to complete the upgrade even with all the required copies. I’ve seen too many players use their only Book of Books on a champion, only to realize they’re 50k gold short and have to wait months to earn enough to actually use the upgrade.
You also can’t use the Book of Books on a card that already has all required copies for its next upgrade, or on a card that’s already at the maximum possible level for your current king level. If you try, the game will gray out the option to use it, so you don’t have to worry about accidental waste in that case.
Legitimate Ways to Earn a Book of Books in Clash Royale
Book of Books items are extremely rare, and there are only a handful of legitimate ways to get them in the game. You won’t find them in regular free chests, crown chests, or silver/gold chests no matter how much you grind. The actual ways to earn one are listed below:
- Paid season pass premium tracks, usually as the final tier reward for paid pass holders
- Special limited-time event challenges, including global tournament top 10k rewards
- Clan war league top 3 placement rewards for higher-tier clans (master and above)
- Special holiday or anniversary in-game gift bundles, both free and paid options
- Rare drops from super magical or champion chests, though drop rates are below 1%
You can never get a Book of Books from regular free chests or crown chests, so don’t waste time grinding those hoping for a free copy. Most free-to-play players will only get 1 or 2 copies a year at most, usually from holiday giveaways or high-rank tournament rewards. Paid players who buy the season pass every month can usually get 3 to 4 copies a year, depending on event offerings.
Avoid any third-party sites promising free Book of Books codes – they are all scams designed to steal your account login info, personal data, or payment details. Supercell never gives out item codes through external sites, so any offer that seems too good to be true definitely is.
I got my first Book of Books from a 20-win challenge back when champions first launched, and the other two from paid season passes I bought during months when the extra rewards aligned with my deck building goals. I’ve never gotten one from a chest drop, even after opening hundreds of super magical chests over the years.
Smartest Uses for Your Book of Books to Boost Ladder Rank
The biggest mistake most players make is using their Book of Books as soon as they get it, without thinking through the long-term value. The best use for almost every player is upgrading a champion card that is core to your main ladder deck. Champion wild cards are the hardest to earn in the game, and you can only get them from premium pass rewards, high-tier clan war rewards, or extremely rare chest drops.
For example, if you main a Monk Royal Giant deck that you use to climb from 5k to 6.5k trophies, and you’re missing 4 Monk copies to get it to level 14, using the Book of Books here will instantly make your deck viable for 7k+ ladder play. That level jump for your champion will win you way more matches than upgrading a common or rare card ever could.
Never use your Book of Books on a common, rare, or even epic card – these copies are extremely easy to farm from chests, clan donations, and regular wild cards. Even legendary cards are easier to get than champions now, so only use it on a legendary if all of your champions are already maxed, and you’re pushing for top 1000 ladder rank.
Always check if you have enough gold to cover the upgrade before you use the Book of Books. I’ve seen a friend waste his only copy on a level 13 Mighty Miner, only to realize he was 75k gold short of actually upgrading it to level 14. He had to wait 3 months to earn enough gold to finish the upgrade, so he got zero value from the book during that entire time. If you’re short on gold, hold off on using the book until you’ve saved enough to cover the upgrade cost.
If you play multiple meta decks, pick the card that is used in the most of your decks to get the maximum value out of the upgrade. For example, if you use the Phoenix in 3 of your main ladder decks, upgrading that card will benefit you way more than upgrading a champion you only use in one niche deck.
Common Book of Books Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
Even players who know what the Book of Books does often make easily avoidable mistakes that waste its value. The first and most common mistake is using it on a low-rarity card just because you can. I’ve seen a new player use his first ever Book of Books on a level 12 Knight, which he could have maxed out in 2 weeks just from clan donations and regular chest drops. That’s a waste of an item that could have gotten him a 2-level jump on his champion card.
Another mistake is using it on a card you only use for fun casual decks, not your main ladder deck. It’s fine to have fun decks for friendly battles with friends, but the Book of Books is too rare to waste on cards you only use once a month. Save it for cards you use every single day to climb the ladder, or you’ll regret it later when you’re stuck on a champion upgrade grind.
Never use a Book of Books on a card that is rumored to be nerfed in an upcoming patch. I made this mistake a couple of years ago, when I used my second Book of Books on a level 13 Phoenix right before it got a 20% damage nerf. I haven’t used the card in a deck since, so that was a total waste of a rare item. If there’s a balance update scheduled in the next 7 days, hold off on using your book until after the patch notes drop, so you know the card you’re upgrading won’t get hit with a heavy nerf.
Don't use it just because you have it in your inventory. It’s better to hold onto it for 6 months until you find the perfect card to use it on, than to waste it on something that doesn’t help you climb. I held onto my third Book of Books for 8 months before I decided to use it on my Monk, and that single upgrade helped me climb from 6.2k to 7.4k trophies in just 2 weeks. The wait was 100% worth it.
At the end of the day, understanding what does a Book of Books do in Clash Royale is only half the battle – the other half is using it strategically to get the most value for your playstyle. You don’t have to follow every tip on this list to a tee, but if you avoid the common mistakes and prioritize cards that you use every day for ladder climbing, you’ll get way more out of this rare item than most players. If you’re still unsure what to use yours on, drop a comment with your main deck and king level, and I can help you pick the best option for your goals.
