Quick answer: Knight Evolution is the best Evolution in Clash Royale in November 2026. No balance change has touched it since April, and Knight + Skeletons is still the top 2-evolution pair at 255/255. This edition ranks 22 Evolutions for Season 89 (King vs. King, November 2 – December 7, 2026). Elite Barbarians enters at B-tier after two nerfs, a bug fix and three months of ladder play. The three newest Evolutions, Electro Giant (October 5), Giant and Mirror (both November 2), stay unranked until they have ladder history.
Balance changes have shipped on five dates since the August 2026 edition: the Season 87 patch on September 8, the Season 88 patch on October 6, and mid-season waves on August 26, September 16 and October 19. Between them they changed 9 of the 22 Evolutions ranked here, and none of the changes moved a tier. Supercell also released 3 new Evolutions: Electro Giant (October 5, Season 88), then Giant and Mirror (November 2, Season 89). Giant and Mirror play at Level 16 all season, so you will see both in nearly every Season 89 week. The S-tier is unchanged: Knight, Skeletons and Royal Giant. The one ranking change is a new row: Elite Barbarians Evolution enters at B, three months, two nerfs and a bug fix after its August 3 release.
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The Evolution Card Tier List & Calculator lets you filter by archetype and score any 2-evolution pair out of 255 points. This edition replaces the August 2026 evolution tier list. For the season itself, including the weekly boosted win conditions, see the Season 89 King vs. King guide.
What's the Full November 2026 Evolution Tier Table?
| Evolution | Tier | August Tier | Best Archetypes | Changes Since the August Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Knight | S | S | Control, Cycle, Bait | Untouched |
 Skeletons | S | S | Cycle, Control, Siege | Spawn spread tightened Oct 6, then widened 0.4→0.5 tiles Oct 19 |
 Royal Giant | S | S | Beatdown, Bridge Spam | Untouched |
 Valkyrie | A | A | Control, Beatdown | Untouched |
 Archers | A | A | Control, Bait | Untouched |
 Executioner | A | A | Control, Beatdown | Untouched |
 Cannon | A | A | Cycle, Control | NERFED Oct 6: Evo barrage damage 281→261 (−7%) |
 Bats | A | A | Bridge Spam, Cycle | Untouched |
 Goblin Barrel | A | A | Bait | BUFFED Oct 6: first hit 0.4s→0.3s (−25%) |
 Royal Ghost | B | B | Control, Beatdown | NERFED Oct 6: hitpoints 1,210→1,152 (−5%) |
 Witch | B | B | Beatdown, Control | Untouched |
 Barbarians | B | B | Beatdown, Control | Untouched |
 Skeleton Barrel | B | B | Bait, Bridge Spam | REWORKED Oct 19: Evo death damage 192→163 (−15%) |
 Elite Barbarians | B | — | Bridge Spam, Cycle | NERFED Aug 26 and Sep 8; sight-range bug fix Oct 6 |
 Mega Knight | C | C | Beatdown, Bridge Spam | Untouched |
 Tesla | C | C | Cycle, Siege | Untouched |
 Wall Breakers | C | C | Cycle, Bridge Spam | BUFFED Oct 6: damage 281→302 (+7%) |
 Royal Hogs | C | C | Bridge Spam, Beatdown | Untouched |
 Furnace | C | C | Siege, Control | Untouched |
 Giant Snowball | C | C | Cycle, Control | Untouched |
 Wizard | C | C | Beatdown, Control | REWORKED Sep 8: Evo shield 192→176 (−8%), base damage 281→304 (+8%) |
 Goblin Drill | D | D | Siege, Bait | BUFFED Oct 6: Crown Tower spawn damage 0→20 |
All figures are Level 11 (Tournament Standard), as Supercell publishes them. A base-card change counts for the Evolution too unless Supercell says otherwise; that is how Wall Breakers, Royal Ghost and Goblin Barrel reach this table.
Tier is an editorial ranking based on archetype fit from 4,000 to 9,000+ trophies, how well a Wild Shard spend holds up, and the patch deltas above. This series has no win-rate column. Our battle data groups decks by archetype, not by whether a card was evolved, so a per-Evolution win rate would measure the wrong thing. Where this guide quotes ladder data, it is archetype share, and it is labeled that way.
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What Is the Best Evolution Card in November 2026?
Knight Evolution is the best Evolution card in Clash Royale in November 2026. It costs 3 elixir, charges in 2 cycles, and gains a damage-absorbing shield plus a knockback dash on every evolved play. Supercell has not changed it since before the April 26 patch. Since then there have been 7 seasonal patches (April 26, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 8, October 6) and 3 mid-season waves (August 26, September 16, October 19).
Impact: small. Knight did not move because nothing reached it. Its lead comes from the field around it: Skeletons had two spawn-spread changes, Cannon lost 7% barrage damage, and Valkyrie still carries its August tornado cut (84→42). Knight is the only S-tier Evolution that fits control, cycle and bait shells equally well and has not been touched at all.
That record should drive your Wild Shards. The cards that win balance patches are the ones that are never in them. Knight and Royal Giant have now gone 10 balance updates without a stat change.
Which Evolutions Changed Since the August 2026 Tier List?
Eight Evolutions ranked in August changed between August 5 and November 4, and every one of them held its tier. Five were small trims or buffs to a card that was already placed for its role. Three were reworks that traded one stat for another. Elite Barbarians was nerfed twice and is ranked for the first time.
| Evolution | Date | Change | Tier effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Barbarians | Aug 26 | Evo spear damage 284→220 (−23%); Evo Rage 3.5s→2.5s (−29%) | Unranked in August; enters at B |
| Elite Barbarians | Sep 8 | Spear range 3.5–5→3–4.5 tiles (−10%); Rage 2.5s→2s (−20%) | Same |
| Wizard | Sep 8 | Evo shield 192→176 (−8%); damage 281→304 (+8%); first attack 0.4s→0.5s | Holds C |
| Cannon | Oct 6 | Evo barrage damage 281→261 (−7%) | Holds A |
| Royal Ghost | Oct 6 | Hitpoints 1,210→1,152 (−5%); bug fix damage 261→263 | Holds B |
| Skeletons | Oct 6 | Tighter spawn spread | Holds S |
| Goblin Barrel | Oct 6 | First hit 0.4s→0.3s (−25%) | Holds A |
| Wall Breakers | Oct 6 | Damage 281→302 (+7%) | Holds C |
| Goblin Drill | Oct 6 | Crown Tower spawn damage 0→20 | Holds D |
| Elite Barbarians | Oct 6 | Bug fix: spear sight range 4.5→6 tiles (+33%) | Same |
| Skeleton Barrel | Oct 19 | Evo death damage 192→163 (−15%); base 145→163 (+12%) | Holds B |
| Skeletons | Oct 19 | Spawn spread 0.4→0.5 tiles (+25%) | Holds S |
Did Cannon Evolution Get Nerfed in October 2026?
Cannon Evolution was nerfed on October 6, 2026: its barrage damage fell from 281 to 261 (−7%).
Impact: small. The barrage is the bonus on top of a 3-elixir building that pulls Hog Rider, Royal Hogs and Ram Rider. The pull is untouched, and the pull is why Hog 2.6 and Mortar Cycle run it. A 7% trim to a bonus does not move an A-tier defensive anchor. It does move Cannon below Bats in this edition's Wild Shard order, because Bats came through all three updates untouched.
What Changed for Skeletons Evolution?
Skeletons Evolution had its spawn spread changed twice in October. The October 6 patch tightened it, and the October 19 wave reworked it to 0.4→0.5 tiles (+25%). Neither change touched damage or hitpoints.
Impact: small. The spread decides how many Skeletons one Log, Zap or Valkyrie spin catches, and how many reach a target together. A wider spread makes the swarm a little harder to clear in one hit. Evo Skeletons still costs 1 elixir and evolves at Cycles 1, the cheapest evolved play in the game, so it stays S.
Did Goblin Barrel Evolution Get Buffed in October 2026?
Goblin Barrel Evolution got faster on October 6, 2026: the Goblins' first hit after landing dropped from 0.4 seconds to 0.3 seconds (−25%).
Impact: significant. A faster first hit means the Goblins hit the tower before a late Log or Barbarian Barrel arrives. Barbarian Barrel's own damage fell 232→215 (−8%) the same day. That partly undoes the August decoy nerf (89→66). Goblin Barrel stays A, and the bait core (Knight + Goblin Barrel) is stronger than it was in August. It is also boosted in Season 89 Week 2 (November 9–16), and Evo Mirror copies it for 4 elixir.
What Changed for Skeleton Barrel Evolution?
Skeleton Barrel Evolution's death damage fell from 192 to 163 (−15%) on October 19, while the base card's rose from 145 to 163 (+12%). The two forms now deal the same death damage.
Impact: small. The Evolution's edge is now the second barrel drop, not the damage. It stays B as a bait and bridge-spam piece. It is boosted in Season 89 Week 4 (November 23–30).
Is Goblin Drill Evolution Still D-Tier?
Goblin Drill Evolution is still D-tier. The October 6 patch gave the Drill 20 Crown Tower damage when it surfaces, which ends August's "a fully answered Drill deals zero damage" problem. Its May 4 cut (Evo Goblins on the second submerge 2→1, −50%) is still in place.
Impact: small. 20 damage is a floor, not a threat. A 4-elixir win condition that a single answer still mostly stops does not climb out of D on a 20-damage change. Goblin Drill is boosted in Season 89 Week 5 (November 30 – December 7), which is the week to try it if you want to.
Why Is Elite Barbarians Evolution Ranked B in November 2026?
Elite Barbarians Evolution is ranked B because it now has three months of ladder history, and that history shows a situational card rather than a staple. The August edition left it unranked on its release week and said it would be ranked once Season 86 produced ladder games. Those games now exist.
Impact: significant. Supercell cut it twice in 5 weeks. On August 26 spear damage fell 284→220 (−23%) and Rage 3.5s→2.5s (−29%). On September 8 spear range fell from 3.5–5 tiles to 3–4.5 tiles (−10%) and Rage fell again to 2 seconds (−20%). The October 6 bug fix raised its spear sight range from 4.5 to 6 tiles (+33%), which makes it start throwing spears sooner. It is still the only Evolution that rages the troops around it, and it still evolves at Cycles 1, tied with Skeletons for the fastest in the game.
In the snapshot ending November 3, the Elite Barbarians archetype is the #7 archetype at 7,000–8,000 (2.75%) and 8,000–9,000 (3.05%). Below 7,000 it is down to 1.36–1.72%. In August it was the most-played archetype under 5,000 trophies. A card that fell from the top of one band to the bottom half of every band after two nerfs belongs in B: strong in a bridge-spam shell built around it, and not a default pick. The Evolution Card Tier List tool now shows it at B as well.
What Does Our Ladder Data Say About the Newer Evolutions?
Our ladder data shows archetype share for the decks built around these cards. It does not show how often the Evolution itself was played, and it is not a win rate. The table compares the 7-day snapshot ending November 3, 2026 with the one ending October 27, so it covers October 21 to November 3: the last 12 days of Season 88 and the first 2 days of Season 89.
| Archetype | Trophy Range | Popularity | Change vs. Oct 27 (pp) | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Electro Giant | 7,000–8,000 | 12.59% | −0.02 | 9,456 |
| Electro Giant | 8,000–9,000 | 9.45% | +0.06 | 9,912 |
| Electro Giant | 6,000–7,000 | 9.02% | −0.65 | 6,795 |
| Elite Barbarians | 8,000–9,000 | 3.05% | −0.06 | 3,198 |
| Elite Barbarians | 7,000–8,000 | 2.75% | −0.39 | 2,067 |
| Giant Beatdown | Under 5,000 | 6.83% | +1.10 | 5,126 |
| Giant Beatdown | 5,000–6,000 | 3.26% | +0.85 | 2,449 |
| Giant Beatdown | 9,000+ | 2.35% | +0.40 | 1,757 |
Three readings:
- Electro Giant is the most-played archetype at 7,000–8,000 (12.59%, 9,456 battles) one month after Evo Electro Giant arrived. That is the strongest early signal of the three new Evolutions. It is still archetype share, so it cannot separate Evo Electro Giant from the August 26 base buff (damage 163→184, +13%).
- Giant Beatdown rose in all six trophy bands between the two snapshots, by +0.40 to +1.10 points. That lines up with Giant's Season 89 boost starting November 2. The data shows the timing; it does not show the cause, because only 2 of the 7 days in the newer snapshot are in Season 89.
- Elite Barbarians fell in five of six bands between the two snapshots, after topping the under-5,000 band in August.
How Do Evo Giant and Evo Mirror Work, and Why Aren't They Ranked?
Evo Giant and Evo Mirror are not ranked because they were released on November 2, 2026, two days before this edition, and neither has ladder history. The August edition used the same rule for Elite Barbarians, and that rule is why it can be ranked fairly now. Both are boosted to Level 16 for all of Season 89, so you will see them often whether or not they are good.
What Does Evo Giant Do?
Evo Giant becomes enraged once he has taken enough damage. While enraged he leaves a trail of Rage behind him, and every troop following him gets the Rage boost. Each attack grows the trail. Supercell has not published how much damage triggers the enrage.
Impact: significant. Evo Giant rewards putting your damage directly behind him: Prince, Dark Prince and Musketeer walking behind an enraged Giant gain the most. Giant costs 5 elixir and is boosted all season. Evo Giant comes from Pass Royale (the first-milestone Evolution, confirmed in game on November 3) or Wild Shards. See our Giant guide for full deck lists.
What Does Evo Mirror Do?
Evo Mirror copies the last card you played, evolved and 1 level higher. If that card has no Evolution, it copies the card 1 level higher, the same as base Mirror. Mirror costs 1 more elixir than the card it copies.
Impact: significant, for cheap Evolutions only. Evo Mirror is worth its slot when the copied card is cheap and has an Evolution. A Mirrored Evo Skeletons costs 2 elixir, a Mirrored Evo Goblin Barrel 4 and a Mirrored Evo Wall Breakers 3. A Mirrored Evo Giant costs 6 and gives you a second tank you rarely need. Evo Mirror is in the Shop from November 9, or you can unlock it with Wild Shards. If you plan to buy it from the Shop, keep your shards.
Why Isn't Evo Electro Giant Ranked Yet?
Evo Electro Giant is not ranked because one month of archetype share cannot tell the Evolution apart from the base card's August 26 buff. Its "Level Damper" Zap Pack fires a shockwave every 6 seconds that lowers every enemy troop it hits by 1 level. No other Evolution weakens the opponent's troops instead of strengthening its own card.
Impact: significant. The Electro Giant archetype is #1 at 7,000–8,000 and top-3 from 5,000 to 9,000, so you will face it either way. Electro Giant is boosted in Season 89 Week 4 (November 23–30). Expect it to be ranked in the next edition, with Evo Giant and Evo Mirror, once Season 89 has produced enough games.
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Which Evolutions Should You Spend Wild Shards on in November 2026?
Spend Wild Shards on Knight first, then Royal Giant, then Skeletons. Knight and Royal Giant are the only ranked Evolutions untouched by all 10 balance updates since April, and Skeletons is S-tier with only spawn-spread changes.
What Is the Wild Shard Priority Order in November 2026?
- Knight. S-tier, fits control, cycle and bait. Untouched by 10 balance updates.
- Royal Giant. S-tier, the best win-condition Evolution. Untouched by 10 balance updates, and boosted in Season 89 Week 3 (November 16–23).
- Skeletons. S-tier at 1 elixir. Two spawn-spread changes, no damage or hitpoint change.
- Bats. A-tier. Untouched since it was ranked.
- Goblin Barrel. A-tier, the only A-tier Evolution buffed since August (first hit −25%), and boosted in Week 2.
Two changes from August's order: Royal Giant moves ahead of Skeletons, because Skeletons was changed twice in October and Royal Giant was not. Cannon drops out of the top five after its 7% barrage cut, and Goblin Barrel takes the slot.
Should You Spend Wild Shards on Evo Giant or Evo Mirror?
Spend Wild Shards on Evo Giant only if you will not reach the Pass Royale first milestone, and do not spend them on Evo Mirror before November 9. Evo Giant is the Evolution choice on this season's Pass Royale first milestone (the other choices are 200 Hero Coins, 7,500 Common Wild Cards or 15 Legendary Wild Cards). Evo Mirror goes on sale in the Shop on November 9. Shards are the scarcest resource you have, so do not use them on something you can get another way.
Where Should You Not Spend Wild Shards in November 2026?
Avoid Wild Shards on Mega Knight, Goblin Drill, Royal Hogs, Tesla, Giant Snowball, Wall Breakers, Wizard and Furnace. All eight are C or D-tier.
Do not spend Wild Shards on Mega Knight Evolution in particular. It was given away free, so you likely already own it, and its uppercut still fires only every other attack after the August cut.
What's the Best 2-Evolution Combo in November 2026?
Knight + Skeletons is the best 2-evolution combo in Clash Royale in November 2026, scoring 255/255 in the synergy calculator with the control or cycle archetype: two S-tier scores (200), the pair bonus (25) and an archetype match on both halves (30). It fits Hog 2.6, Mortar Cycle and Knight-based control.
The next-best combos the calculator scores:
- Knight + Royal Giant: 240/255 with the beatdown archetype, the strongest beatdown core
- Cannon + Skeletons: 235/255 with the cycle archetype, the Hog Cycle defensive core
- Valkyrie + Archers: 215/255 with the control archetype, still the strongest pure-control pair
- Royal Giant + Bats: 210/255 with the bridge spam archetype
- Knight + Goblin Barrel: 210/255 with the bait archetype
- Royal Giant + Elite Barbarians: 190/255 with the bridge spam archetype, tied best for this edition's new ranked row with two cycle pairs: Knight + Elite Barbarians (190/255) and Skeletons + Elite Barbarians (190/255)
Evo Giant, Evo Mirror and Evo Electro Giant have no synergy score. The calculator only scores ranked Evolutions, and a score for an unranked card would be a guess.
Which Evolutions Fit Each Archetype in November 2026?
Which Evolutions Fit Control Decks?
Knight, Valkyrie, Archers, Cannon and Executioner fit control. The strongest control core is Valkyrie + Archers (215/255), 5 points ahead of Knight + Cannon (210/255).
Which Evolutions Fit Cycle Decks Like Hog 2.6 and Mortar Cycle?
Skeletons, Cannon and Bats fit cycle, and Elite Barbarians is listed for cycle too. The strongest cycle core for Hog 2.6 is Cannon + Skeletons (235/255). Hog Rider and Mortar are both boosted in Season 89 Week 2 (November 9–16).
Which Evolutions Fit Beatdown Decks Like Golem and Electro Giant?
Royal Giant, Valkyrie, Executioner, Witch and Barbarians fit beatdown. The strongest ranked beatdown core is Knight + Royal Giant (240/255). Evo Electro Giant and Evo Giant are both beatdown Evolutions and both unranked this month. Golem, Electro Giant and Lava Hound are boosted in Week 4 (November 23–30).
Which Evolutions Fit Bait Decks Like Log Bait?
Goblin Barrel, Knight, Archers and Skeleton Barrel fit bait. The strongest bait core is Knight + Goblin Barrel (210/255). The October 6 first-hit buff makes it the bait pair that gained the most since August.
Which Evolutions Fit Siege Decks Like X-Bow 3.0?
Skeletons, Tesla, Furnace and Goblin Drill carry the siege tag in the calculator. Skeletons + Cannon is still the best X-Bow defense pair: it scores 220/255 with the siege archetype, since only Skeletons is tagged siege, and 235/255 if you score it as cycle. X-Bow is boosted in Season 89 Week 5 (November 30 – December 7).
Which Evolutions Fit Bridge Spam Decks?
Royal Giant, Bats and Elite Barbarians fit bridge spam. The strongest bridge spam core is Royal Giant + Bats (210/255). Royal Giant + Elite Barbarians (190/255) is the pick if you want the ally Rage.
Why Does This List Rank 22 Evolutions and Not the Full Roster?
This list ranks the 22 Evolutions that decide ladder games between 4,000 and 9,000+ trophies, not every Evolution in the game. Evolutions that rarely appear in that range, such as Battle Ram, Bomber, Dart Goblin, Goblin Cage, Mortar, Minion Horde and Princess, are left out on purpose. Battle Ram and Mortar are boosted in Week 2, and Battle Ram's Evolution knockback was cut 2.5→2 tiles (−20%) on September 8, so check it before you build around it. For every Evolution's mechanics and how unlocking works, see the evolution cards guide.
Will the Evolution Tier List Change Before December?
The next likely change is the first ranking of Evo Giant, Evo Mirror and Evo Electro Giant, not a tier move. The Season 89 post shipped bug fixes only and no balance changes. This series has missed balance timing before: the July edition predicted no change before September, and the August 3 patch then changed 11 Evolutions. Treat any forecast here as low-confidence.
Watch for three things: whether the Giant boost keeps Giant Beatdown rising once Season 89 is a full week old, whether Evo Mirror makes cheap Evolutions like Skeletons and Goblin Barrel even stronger, and whether a December patch answers the Electro Giant archetype's lead at 7,000–8,000.
Recommended Next Reads
- Clash Royale King vs. King Season 89 Guide: Evo Giant, Evo Mirror and every week's boosted cards
- Giant Guide: Giant decks built for the Evo Giant Rage trail
- Shocktober Season 88 Guide: Evo Electro Giant and the October 6 balance changes
- Evolution Cards Guide: how Evolutions and Wild Shards work
- Evolution Tier List August 2026: the previous edition, superseded by this one
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Evolution in Clash Royale in November 2026?
Knight Evolution is the best Evolution in November 2026. It has gone 10 balance updates since April without a stat change, and it fits control, cycle and bait decks at 3 elixir with a 2-cycle charge.
Is Evo Giant Good in Season 89?
Evo Giant is too new to rank; it was released on November 2, 2026. Its Rage trail makes the troops behind it hit faster once it is enraged, and Giant plays at Level 16 for all 35 days of Season 89, so expect to see it often.
Is Evo Mirror Worth It?
Evo Mirror is worth it in decks with cheap Evolutions: a Mirrored Evo Skeletons costs 2 elixir and a Mirrored Evo Goblin Barrel 4, and both come back evolved. It is in the Shop from November 9, 2026, so save your Wild Shards unless you will not buy it there.
Is Elite Barbarians Evolution Still Good After the Nerfs?
Elite Barbarians Evolution is B-tier in November 2026 after two nerfs: spear damage 284→220 (−23%) on August 26 and spear range −10% on September 8. Its archetype is #7 at 7,000–9,000 trophies but under 2% of games below 7,000.
Did Cannon Evolution Get Nerfed?
Cannon Evolution was nerfed on October 6, 2026: barrage damage fell from 281 to 261 (−7%). It stays A-tier because its pull on Hog Rider and Ram Rider is unchanged.
Which Evolutions Are Worth Wild Shards in November 2026?
Knight, Royal Giant and Skeletons, in that order. Knight and Royal Giant are the only ranked Evolutions untouched by all 10 balance updates since April 2026.
Is Evo Electro Giant Good?
Evo Electro Giant is unranked in November 2026 because it has only one month of ladder history. Its Level Damper lowers nearby enemy troops by 1 level every 6 seconds, and the Electro Giant archetype is the most-played at 7,000–8,000 trophies (12.59% of 9,456 battles).
What Is the Best Evolution Pair in November 2026?
Knight + Skeletons is the best pair at 255/255 in the synergy calculator, with the control or cycle archetype. Knight + Royal Giant (240/255) is the best beatdown pair.