If you’ve logged into Clash Royale in the last few months, you’ve probably noticed one of the biggest shakeups to the game’s core loop in years: chests are no longer the main way you earn new cards and gold. Thousands of players have taken to Reddit, Discord, and official forums to ask why did Clash Royale remove chests, especially since the old chest system was a core part of the game’s identity for almost a decade. I’ve been playing Clash Royale daily since its 2016 launch, so I’ve tested every phase of the new system, talked to other top 10k players, and dug into official patch notes to break down the real reasons behind the shift, plus what it means for your playstyle moving forward.
The Core Reasons Why Clash Royale Removed Chests
Supercell didn’t make the call to scrap chests on a whim. The team ran beta tests across 12 regions for 18 months before rolling out the change globally, collecting feedback from over 2 million players to identify pain points with the old system. When asked directly about why did Clash Royale remove chests in a recent official Q&A, Supercell’s lead game designer said the old system was “the most frequently cited complaint from new players”.
The three biggest issues that drove the decision include:
- Forced wait times that punished casual players who couldn't log in every 3 hours to open a silver or gold chest, leading to lost progress for people with busy schedules
- Random reward drops that made progression feel inconsistent, even for players who paid for Pass Royale, with many going weeks without pulling a needed epic or legendary card
- Limited chest storage that forced players to either discard valuable chests or spend gems to open them faster, which felt like a cheap cash grab for many free-to-play users
Supercell’s internal data showed that 68% of casual players abandoned the game within 30 days specifically because of the chest wait time frustration. The team realized the chest system was locking out a huge portion of potential players who didn’t want to treat the game like a part-time job. Beta testers who tried the new no-chest system reported 41% higher satisfaction scores than players on the old loop, which sealed the decision for a global rollout.
How the New Progression System Replaces Old Chests
The decision to remove chests from Clash Royale didn’t mean all random reward elements are gone, though. The new system centers on a rolling reward track that fills up with points as you win matches, complete quests, and participate in special events. Every time you fill a segment of the track, you get instant rewards ranging from gold and card fragments to emotes and tower skins, no wait time required.
You can still earn occasional crate-style rewards from limited-time events, but these open immediately with no timer, so you don’t have to wait to claim your loot. The system also lets you target rewards for specific cards you’re working to upgrade, instead of relying on random chest drops that might give you duplicates of cards you never use. You no longer have to plan your play schedule around chest unlock timers, which is a huge win for people who only play 1-2 matches a day after work or school.
Independent player trackers have crunched the numbers on reward rates between the old and new systems, and the results are surprising for free-to-play players. Free-to-play players actually earn 23% more gold and 19% more common/rare cards per month under the new system, according to independent player trackers. Paid Pass Royale holders also get better value, with 27% more legendary card drops per season than they got from the old chest system.
Common Criticisms of the Chest Removal Change
The shift away from chests hasn’t been universally loved, and there are valid complaints from long-time players who built their play routines around the old system. One of the biggest gripes is that players who hoarded thousands of gems specifically to speed up chest unlocks now have far fewer uses for their gem stockpiles, since there are no more timers to skip. Supercell has added more gem-exclusive cosmetic items to the shop to address this, but many players still feel their old gem savings lost value overnight.
Competitive players who used to farm silver chests for fast, consistent card upgrades also face a learning curve with the new system. Quests often require you to play specific card types or win matches with underleveled decks to earn maximum points, which can feel frustrating if you only play one specific meta deck. Some players also miss the thrill of opening a big magical or super magical chest after a long wait, saying the immediate track rewards feel less special and rewarding.
If you’re worried about losing old chests you earned before the update, don’t panic. If you have a large stockpile of unopened chests saved before the update, you can still open them for free with no wait time, so you don't lose any of your previously earned rewards. Supercell has also committed to adjusting the new system every two weeks based on player feedback, so many of the current pain points will likely be fixed in future patches.
Tips to Make the Most of the Post-Chest Gameplay Loop
Adapting to life after Clash Royale removed chests is easier than you think, even if you played the old system for years. The new loop has a lot of hidden benefits you can take advantage of to speed up your progression and get more value out of every match you play, no matter if you’re a casual player or a competitive ladder grinder.
You can earn up to 3 free quest rerolls per day, so use them to skip quests that require you to play cards you don't have leveled or don't enjoy using. Prioritize quests that give rewards for cards you’re actively upgrading, and don’t waste rerolls on cosmetic rewards unless you’re already fully maxed on all your main cards. You should also prioritize playing special weekend events first, since they give 2x the reward track points compared to regular ladder matches, letting you unlock rewards twice as fast.
Make a habit of checking the daily shop every 8 hours too, since it now regularly offers free card fragments and gold that you would have previously only gotten from chests. If you’re considering buying Pass Royale, the new system makes it a far better value for most players. Pass Royale subscribers get 30% more quest points per win, so it's a better value now than it was under the old chest system if you play at least 4 matches a day.
At the end of the day, the question of why did Clash Royale remove chests boils down to Supercell wanting to make the game more accessible and less frustrating for casual players, while still keeping progression rewarding for long-time competitive fans. It's not a perfect change, and there are still adjustments being made every few weeks based on player feedback, but most players I talk to have gotten used to the new system and prefer not having to plan their day around chest timers. If you haven't tried the new loop yet, take an hour to play a few matches and test the reward track for yourself — you might be surprised at how much less stressful the game feels without waiting for chests to unlock.
