“Three fast, very weak melee fighters. Surround your enemies with this pile of bones!”
The Skeletons card is unlocked from the Bone Pit (Arena 2). It spawns three single-target, melee Skeletons with very low hitpoints and damage. A Skeletons card costs 1 Elixir to deploy. They are the same as those spawned by the Witch, Tombstone, Skeleton Barrel, Skeleton Army, and the Graveyard.
Strategy
- The Skeletons are most effectively used to distract and/or swarm slow-targeting and/or single-target, medium to high-hitpoint units, such as Giants and Princes.
- Although they are an amazing counter against single target troops, players usually back up these troops with an area damage troop or spell like the Valkyrie or Zap, so be careful.
- Despite this, the Skeletons will not be able to defeat most threats by themselves, unless the enemy troops are already distracted or have very low health left.
- The Skeletons can be used to counter a lone Princess. If played just after the Princess fires, the Skeletons will eliminate her quickly. Be careful, as if they are played with bad timing, the Princess will easily eliminate the Skeletons with one hit.
- Skeletons can be used to distract Sparky, but be careful, as she is almost always supported with area damage cards and also deals area damage herself. This can be remedied by deploying the Skeletons directly on top of her, which surrounds her.
- They can be used as kamikaze troops, providing an effective distraction while another card is played or the Crown Tower destroys them.
- If the opponent places an Inferno Tower to counter a tank, Skeletons can stall the Inferno Tower for a short time, giving you time to place another card to counter it or reset its damage ramp-up.
- For just one Elixir, the Skeletons card can cycle the player's deck quickly and add a significant boost to an attack. Better yet, not many players are willing to do anything to a pack of Skeletons, so they will have to address the combo before the Skeletons themselves.
- Skeletons can be used along with certain other cards like Knight or Mini P.E.K.K.A. to easily counter Elite Barbarians. Use the Skeletons to pull the Elite Barbarians into the center then place down Knight or Mini P.E.K.K.A. to finish them off. This can then assist in a counter-attack.
- The Skeletons are easily eliminated by an opposing troop, building, or Crown Tower, especially area damage cards, so it is recommended to use them only for defending against and/or distracting opposing troops. However, they can be a small boost to a push if they're well protected and away from splash defense.
- They can also be used to help cycle through the player's Battle Deck to a desired card faster, as they have a very low 1 Elixir cost. This can be used to create powerful attacks such as two Giants or two Witches.
- They are very similar to Goblins, but Goblins have slightly better stats in almost every way for 1 extra Elixir.
History
- Skeletons was released with Clash Royale's soft launch on 4/1/16.
- On 19/2/16, the Balance Update increased the Skeletons' hitpoints and damage by 11%.
- On 18/5/16, a Balance Update increased the Skeletons' hitpoints and damage by 5%.
- On 21/6/16, a Balance Update decreased the number of Skeletons spawned to 3 (from 4).
- This also changed the numeral "Four" to "Three" in the description and replaced "swarm" with "surround" due to the lower number of Skeletons.
- The balance changes to the Skeleton Army (in the Tournaments Update) tell us that the 4th Skeleton from this card moved to the Skeleton Army.
- However, the Skeleton Army only has 16 skeletons and not 21 as of the 20/10/16 Balance Update.
- On 13/2/17, a Balance Update increased the number of Skeletons spawned to 4 (from 3). This also changed the numeral "Three" to "Four" in the description.
- On 12/6/17, a Balance Update decreased the number of Skeletons spawned to 3 (from 4). This changed the numeral "Four" to "Three" in the description.
Trivia
- The Skeletons are one of the 12 cards associated with Skeletons, including the Bomber, Skeleton Army, Witch, Tombstone, Bomb Tower, Giant Skeleton, Balloon, Guards, Skeleton Barrel, Graveyard, and the Wall Breakers.
- The Skeletons, the Ice Spirit and the Heal are the only cards in the game that cost 1 Elixir, currently making them the cheapest cards in the game.
- Skeletons are tied with Bats as the weakest units in Clash Royale, with only 98 hitpoints and damage per hit at level 13, and 32 hitpoints and damage per hit at level 1. However, unlike the Bats, they only cost 1 Elixir.
- Skeletons deal the same damage as their health. Therefore, if 2 Skeletons of the same level duel, then they would defeat each other in one hit. This property is also shared by the Bats.
- They are the only troops that can be spawned by a troop, a spell, and a building.
- The Skeletons are the subject of a set of Emotes.
