Clash Royale Season 88 Balance Preview: Buffs for Win Conditions
By Michael Pras 28 September 2026, 10:00 WIB
A work-in-progress balance list for Clash Royale's October 2026 season landed on September 27, and its message is easy to read: every buff goes to a win condition, while the nerfs land on cycle and defensive tools. Eleven cards are on the draft list, with six buffs, four nerfs, and one rework. The list isn't final, so treat everything below as a preview of direction rather than a confirmed patch.
What "Work-in-Progress" Means Here
A work-in-progress (WIP) list is a draft. The community has been invited to vote on each change, and those results are passed to Supercell to weigh before the final list is published. Cards can be added, dropped, or tweaked between now and then. Season 88 is expected to begin on October 5, 2026, but that date hasn't been confirmed, so watch for Supercell's own announcement.
The Buffs: Six Win Conditions Get a Boost
A win condition is a card whose main job is to damage towers, and all six buffed cards fit that description:
- Ram Rider — damage from 250 to 266 (+6%)
- Goblin Barrel — first hit time from 0.4 to 0.3 seconds (-25%), so it lands its damage faster
- Lava Hound — damage from 53 to 61 (+15%), the largest raw increase on the list
- X-Bow — damage from 58 to 61 (+5%)
- Wall Breakers — damage from 281 to 302 (+7%)
- Goblin Drill — tower damage from 0 to 20
Most of these are small numerical nudges rather than reworks. The Goblin Barrel change is the one that alters feel rather than raw numbers, because a faster first hit gives defenders less time to react to the spell landing. The Goblin Drill change gives it a small amount of damage against towers where it previously had none.
The Nerfs: Cycle and Defense Take the Hit
Four cards are being reined in:
- Skeletons — spawn radius from 0.74 to 0.53 tiles (-29%)
- Evolved Cannon — barrage damage from 281 to 261 (-7%)
- Barbarian Barrel — damage from 232 to 215 (-7%)
- Hero Ice Wizard — ability damage from 89 to 46 (-48%)
The Skeletons change is the biggest shift in feel. A tighter spawn radius means the Skeletons bunch closer together, which likely makes them easier to punish with area damage and less effective as a spread-out distraction. Because Skeletons are a staple of fast-cycle decks, and Evolved Cannon is a common defensive anchor in those same builds, this pair is the most likely to be felt at the ladder level.
Hero Ice Wizard's ability damage is nearly halved, the steepest cut on the list in percentage terms. The card's headline ability, the snowman that freezes troops until it's destroyed, isn't described as changing, only its damage. For how the Hero works, see Clash Royale Reveals Hero Ice Wizard and New Minion Giant Card.
Golden Knight Gets a Trade-Off Rework
The one rework on the list is a two-sided change to Golden Knight: damage rises from 161 to 168 (+4%), while dash distance shrinks from 5.5 to 5.0 tiles (-9%). He hits slightly harder but covers less ground per dash, a shift that favors close-range pressure over surprise reach.
What to Watch Before the Final List
- Whether the draft changes after community voting
- Whether more cards are added, since the draft list can differ from the final one
- Whether Supercell confirms the Season 88 start date and its accompanying content
For how Supercell handled the last full balance cycle, including the healing and Hero ability changes, see Clash Royale August Balance Changes: Spirits Nerfed, Void Reworked. And if you're playing through the end of the current season, Clash Royale Royale Shuffle Guide: All 12 Modes Explained covers the limited-time mode running until October 5.
Buffs to six win conditions reward players who already have those cards at a competitive level, and getting a collection to that point is the slow half of Clash Royale. Browse verified Clash Royale accounts if you'd rather start from a developed card collection, push trophies through Clash Royale boosting, or stock up on Gold and Gems with a Clash Royale top up before the new season starts.
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