Quick answer: The most reliable way to counter Log Bait is to save The Log for Goblin Barrel — its 269 damage kills all three 202-HP Goblins at Level 11 — and to answer Princess, Goblin Gang and Dart Goblin with splash troops instead, such as Valkyrie (4 elixir), whose 266-damage spin kills each Goblin in one hit.
Goblin Barrel Bait holds 11.79% popularity under 5,000 trophies and 6.38% at 9,000+ in TrophyCoach's October 12, 2026 snapshot, and the Classic Log Bait list — Goblin Barrel, Princess, Goblin Gang, Rocket, Inferno Tower, Knight, The Log, Ice Spirit — cycles 26 elixir at a 3.25 average. Season 88 (October 5 – November 2, 2026) made the Barrel faster: the October 6 patch cut its Goblins' first hit from 0.4 s to 0.3 s. The bait family spans five archetype labels — Log Bait, Goblin Barrel Bait, Skeleton Barrel, Skeleton Barrel Bait and Spell Bait — and every Barrel version loses to the same habit: one answer reserved for the win condition, troops for everything else.
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Which cards counter Goblin Barrel?
The Log (2 elixir) is the best direct answer to the Barrel itself; Valkyrie, Skeleton Army and Firecracker clear the bait around it. Each table lists a selection of measured counters, most-played first (battles October 6–12, 2026; win-rate and impact figures withheld); at 9,000+ it lists The Log and Barbarian Barrel (5,700 and 5,152 battles). A listing says nothing about how well a card counters the Barrel: Mega Knight's and Wizard's battles likely reflect the Goblin Gang and Skeleton Army they clear around it.
Under 5,000
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Wizard | 14,815 |
| 2 |  Skeleton Army | 13,487 |
| 3 |  Mini P.E.K.K.A | 12,190 |
| 4 |  Valkyrie | 12,029 |
| 5 |  Mega Knight | 4,897 |
| 6 |  Princess | 4,227 |
| 7 |  Electro Wizard | 3,676 |
| 8 |  Firecracker | 2,692 |
| 9 |  Executioner | 532 |
| 10 |  Goblin Demolisher | 235 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Goblin Barrel results.
5,000–6,000
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skeleton Army | 10,120 |
| 2 | Wizard | 9,623 |
| 3 | Valkyrie | 8,812 |
| 4 | Mini P.E.K.K.A | 8,784 |
| 5 | Mega Knight | 7,037 |
| 6 | Electro Wizard | 4,906 |
| 7 |  Dart Goblin | 3,937 |
| 8 | Firecracker | 3,901 |
| 9 |  Zap | 3,729 |
| 10 |  Archers | 3,357 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Goblin Barrel results.
6,000–7,000
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Log | 9,861 |
| 2 | Skeleton Army | 9,786 |
| 3 | Valkyrie | 8,918 |
| 4 | Mini P.E.K.K.A | 8,663 |
| 5 | Mega Knight | 7,376 |
| 6 |  Arrows | 6,029 |
| 7 | Electro Wizard | 5,694 |
| 8 | Firecracker | 4,496 |
| 9 | Dart Goblin | 4,403 |
| 10 | Zap | 3,865 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Goblin Barrel results.
7,000–8,000
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Log | 10,772 |
| 2 | Skeleton Army | 9,755 |
| 3 | Valkyrie | 9,192 |
| 4 | Mini P.E.K.K.A | 8,023 |
| 5 | Mega Knight | 7,965 |
| 6 | Electro Wizard | 6,407 |
| 7 | Firecracker | 5,505 |
| 8 | Dart Goblin | 4,602 |
| 9 |  Goblin Gang | 4,028 |
| 10 | Zap | 3,947 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Goblin Barrel results.
8,000–9,000
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valkyrie | 8,663 |
| 2 | Skeleton Army | 8,007 |
| 3 | Mega Knight | 7,353 |
| 4 | Wizard | 7,296 |
| 5 | Mini P.E.K.K.A | 7,204 |
| 6 |  Knight | 6,837 |
| 7 | Arrows | 6,803 |
| 8 | Firecracker | 6,002 |
| 9 | Dart Goblin | 4,542 |
| 10 | Zap | 4,043 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Goblin Barrel results.
9,000+
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Log | 5,700 |
| 2 |  Barbarian Barrel | 5,152 |
| 3 | Knight | 3,684 |
| 4 | Skeleton Army | 3,092 |
| 5 |  Tesla | 2,728 |
| 6 | Firecracker | 2,539 |
| 7 | Goblin Gang | 2,237 |
| 8 |  Mother Witch | 1,349 |
| 9 |  Zappies | 985 |
| 10 |  Skeleton Dragons | 571 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Goblin Barrel results.
What does each Goblin Barrel counter actually do?
Goblin Barrel counters kill the Goblins or clear the bait around them. Damage is Level 11, with Barbarian Barrel's October 6, 2026 value; each Barrel Goblin has 202 HP.
| Card | Elixir | Damage per hit (Lvl 11) | Kills a Barrel Goblin in one hit? | Job against the bait family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Log | 2 | 269 | Yes | Barrel answer; also kills Princess (261 HP) and Dart Goblin (261 HP) |
| Barbarian Barrel | 2 | 215 | Yes | Barrel answer; does not kill Princess or Dart Goblin |
| Zap | 2 | 192 | No — leaves 10 HP | Stuns the Barrel; your Crown Tower finishes each Goblin |
| Arrows | 3 | 369 | Yes | Covers Barrel, Princess and Goblin Gang; the only spell here that kills Wall Breakers (330 HP) |
| Valkyrie | 4 | 266 | Yes | Spins through Goblin Gang and Skeleton Army; tanks Princess shots |
| Wizard | 5 | 304 | Yes | Splash from 5.5 tiles over swarms |
| Electro Wizard | 4 | 118 per bolt | No | Two-target zaps reset Inferno Tower and pick off Spear Goblins |
| Firecracker | 3 | 64 | No | Long-range splash on Skeleton Army and Skeleton Barrel drops |
Which cards counter Skeleton Barrel?
Skeleton Barrel has a different counter set at the two bands where a Skeleton Barrel label reaches the 30 most-played archetypes: Valkyrie and Firecracker are listed at 8,000–9,000 (2,502 and 1,674 battles), and Earthquake, Cannon and Mother Witch at 9,000+ (828, 2,400 and 1,238 battles). Earthquake cannot hit the flying 532-HP barrel, so the direct answer is any air-targeting card, then a splash troop or Zap for the Skeletons it drops.
8,000–9,000
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valkyrie | 2,502 |
| 2 | Skeleton Army | 2,259 |
| 3 | Mega Knight | 2,057 |
| 4 | Mini P.E.K.K.A | 1,959 |
| 5 | Knight | 1,852 |
| 6 | Firecracker | 1,674 |
| 7 | Tesla | 1,290 |
| 8 | Zap | 1,072 |
| 9 |  Tombstone | 409 |
| 10 | Mother Witch | 308 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Skeleton Barrel results.
9,000+
| # | Counter card | Battles with counter |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbarian Barrel | 5,131 |
| 2 | The Log | 4,188 |
| 3 | Zap | 3,687 |
| 4 |  Cannon | 2,400 |
| 5 | Firecracker | 1,768 |
| 6 |  Golem | 1,294 |
| 7 | Mother Witch | 1,238 |
| 8 |  Goblin Cage | 1,079 |
| 9 |  Earthquake | 828 |
| 10 | Skeleton Dragons | 498 |
Listed most-played first (by battles with the counter) on Skeleton Barrel results.
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Where do you meet Log Bait and the other bait decks?
Log Bait as a whole family is a fixture in every band: Goblin Barrel Bait sits between 10.07% and 11.79% popularity in every band from under 5,000 to 8,000–9,000, then 6.38% at 9,000+. The strict Log Bait label (Goblin Barrel + Princess + Inferno Tower) is far rarer, from 0.99% at 6,000–7,000 to 1.79% at 9,000+. Skeleton Barrel shows up at 8,000–9,000 (0.93%) and Skeleton Barrel Bait at 9,000+ (1.62%); Spell Bait is outside the top 30 everywhere.
| Trophy band | Archetype | Popularity | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5,000 | Goblin Barrel Bait | 11.79% | 21,941 |
| Under 5,000 | Log Bait | 1.19% | 2,213 |
| Under 5,000 | Skeleton Barrel Bait | — | — |
| Under 5,000 |  Skeleton Barrel | — | — |
| Under 5,000 | Spell Bait | — | — |
| 5,000–6,000 | Goblin Barrel Bait | 10.07% | 17,251 |
| 5,000–6,000 | Log Bait | 1.60% | 2,744 |
| 5,000–6,000 | Skeleton Barrel Bait | — | — |
| 5,000–6,000 | Skeleton Barrel | — | — |
| 5,000–6,000 | Spell Bait | — | — |
| 6,000–7,000 | Goblin Barrel Bait | 10.70% | 17,952 |
| 6,000–7,000 | Log Bait | 0.99% | 1,657 |
| 6,000–7,000 | Skeleton Barrel Bait | — | — |
| 6,000–7,000 | Skeleton Barrel | — | — |
| 6,000–7,000 | Spell Bait | — | — |
| 7,000–8,000 | Goblin Barrel Bait | 10.42% | 17,247 |
| 7,000–8,000 | Log Bait | 1.07% | 1,774 |
| 7,000–8,000 | Skeleton Barrel Bait | — | — |
| 7,000–8,000 | Skeleton Barrel | — | — |
| 7,000–8,000 | Spell Bait | — | — |
| 8,000–9,000 | Goblin Barrel Bait | 10.31% | 17,411 |
| 8,000–9,000 | Log Bait | 1.30% | 2,189 |
| 8,000–9,000 | Skeleton Barrel Bait | — | — |
| 8,000–9,000 | Skeleton Barrel | 0.93% | 1,578 |
| 8,000–9,000 | Spell Bait | — | — |
| 9,000+ | Goblin Barrel Bait | 6.38% | 13,763 |
| 9,000+ | Log Bait | 1.79% | 3,860 |
| 9,000+ | Skeleton Barrel Bait | 1.62% | 3,498 |
| 9,000+ | Skeleton Barrel | — | — |
| 9,000+ | Spell Bait | — | — |
— = not among that band's 30 most-played archetypes in the latest snapshot (not zero; meta_trends stores the top 30 only).
What is Log Bait and why does it win?
Log Bait is a 3-elixir-win-condition control deck that wins by making your one small spell useless: it carries three or more cards that die to The Log — Goblin Barrel, Princess, Goblin Gang, Dart Goblin — and you carry one Log. Spend it on Princess and the next Barrel connects; hold it and Princess chips from 9 tiles, outranging your Tower Princess (7.5 tiles) and hitting for 168 every 3 seconds at Level 11.
Log Bait's second plan is Rocket. Rocket deals 342 Crown Tower damage at Level 11 for 6 elixir, so a tower that Princess and stray Goblins chipped low can be finished from across the arena. Funding all eight Classic cards once (26 elixir) takes 72.8 seconds of single elixir (1 per 2.8 s) or 36.4 of double (1 per 1.4 s); the Barrel itself returns after any four other plays.
Which decks belong to the Goblin Barrel bait family?
The Goblin Barrel bait family is five TrophyCoach archetype labels, each set by a classifier rule; every list is a tracked deck from October 12, 2026.
| Label | Classifier rule | Example list | Total / average elixir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log Bait | Goblin Barrel + Princess + Inferno Tower |     Goblin Barrel, Princess, Goblin Gang, Rocket, Inferno Tower, Knight, The Log, Ice Spirit | 26 / 3.25 |
| Goblin Barrel Bait | Any Goblin Barrel deck no earlier win-condition rule claims (Hog, Golem, Giant, Balloon, Mega Knight, Miner, Graveyard decks and others are labelled first) |  Goblin Barrel, Valkyrie, Skeleton Army, Wall Breakers, Princess, Dart Goblin, Ice Spirit, Cannon | 22 / 2.75 |
| Skeleton Barrel Bait | Skeleton Barrel + 2 or more bait cards |     Skeleton Barrel, Dart Goblin, Royal Ghost, Wall Breakers, Barbarian Barrel, Rascals, Vines, Bomb Tower | 25 / 3.125 |
| Skeleton Barrel | Skeleton Barrel with fewer than 2 bait cards |     Valkyrie, Skeleton Army, Ice Wizard, Poison, Mother Witch, Bandit, Skeleton Barrel, Clone | 27 / 3.375 |
| Spell Bait | No win condition + 3 or more bait cards |       Dart Goblin, Goblins, Spear Goblins, Goblin Curse, Suspicious Bush, Goblin Hut, Goblin Gang, Goblin Machine | 23 / 2.875 |
The bait cards the classifier counts are Goblin Barrel, Princess, Goblin Gang, Dart Goblin, Skeleton Army, Bats, Wall Breakers, Rascals and Goblin Hut. A Goblin Barrel deck with Mega Knight and two bait cards is labelled Mega Knight Bait (Mega Knight counter guide); with Mortar and two bait cards it is Mortar Bait (Mortar counter guide).
How do you place The Log against Goblin Barrel?
The Log beats Goblin Barrel when you throw it after the Barrel is airborne and roll it through the landing spot. It travels forward 10.1 tiles, so start the roll just behind where the Goblins will land. Since the October 6, 2026 buff the Goblins swing 0.3 s after landing, not 0.4 s, so a late Log now costs a hit.
When should you Log the Barrel and when should you hold it?
The Log goes on Goblin Barrel whenever it is in hand and the Barrel is airborne. The exception is a lone Barrel against a healthy tower: Skeletons (1 elixir) on the landing spot soak the first swings while your tower shoots, and the Log waits for a Barrel that arrives behind a Princess. Against the Evolved Goblin Barrel, Log the real Barrel: its decoy releases 81-HP Goblins (66 damage) that one Tower Princess shot (109) kills each.
How do you defend Goblin Barrel without a small spell?
Goblin Barrel without a spell is a placement problem: drop a splash troop where it lands — Valkyrie's 266-damage spin kills each 202-HP Goblin in one hit. The Barrel cannot return until four other cards are played.
Should you use Zap, Arrows or Barbarian Barrel on the Barrel instead?
Barbarian Barrel kills Barrel Goblins outright (215 against 202 HP) but rolls only 4.5 tiles. Zap (192) leaves each Goblin on 10 HP for your tower, which fails when the tower is busy with Dart Goblin or Goblin Gang. Arrows (369) kill the whole bait package for 3 elixir — use them when Goblin Gang or Princess shares the Barrel's radius.
How do you defend each version of Log Bait?
Log Bait comes in five shapes; identify yours by its building and spell: Inferno Tower + Rocket, Tesla, no spell, Skeleton Barrel, or Goblin Hut.
How do you beat Classic Log Bait (Princess, Inferno Tower, Rocket)?
Classic Log Bait is the slowest version (26 elixir per cycle). Hold The Log for the Barrel, kill Princess with a troop or a bigger spell (Fireball's 689 damage kills her outright), and split your pushes so Inferno Tower can lock only one lane. Never stack your support troops in one 2-tile Rocket radius.
How do you beat Goblin Barrel Bait with Tesla or Wall Breakers?
Goblin Barrel Bait's Tesla list (Goblin Barrel, Knight, Tesla, Ice Spirit, Goblin Gang, Rocket, Princess, The Log) plays like Classic Log Bait — defend it the same way. The Wall Breakers list (2.75 average) carries no spell except the Barrel itself: Valkyrie and Princess are its only splash, so a Skeleton Army or Goblin Gang counter-push forces their Valkyrie. Wall Breakers have 330 HP and deal 302 damage per breaker since October 6 — The Log will not kill them, so answer with a troop or Arrows.
How do you beat the Giant Skeleton, Sparky and Clone Goblin Barrel deck?
The Giant Skeleton list — Skeleton Army, Giant Skeleton, Minion Horde, Goblin Barrel, Tesla, Sparky, Clone, Arrows — carries the Goblin Barrel Bait label because the Barrel rule fires first, but it plays as 4.125-elixir beatdown. Keep Arrows or Zap for the cloned Horde, reset Sparky (1,331 damage per shot) with Zap or Electro Wizard, and punish the opposite lane whenever they spend 6 on Giant Skeleton or Sparky. The Giant Skeleton counter guide covers the bomb and Clone defence in full.
How do you beat Skeleton Barrel and Skeleton Barrel Bait?
Skeleton Barrel is a flying win condition: the barrel has 532 HP at Level 11 and drops Skeletons on your tower when it pops. Shoot it with an air-targeting troop or building before it arrives, then Zap or a splash troop clears the Skeletons. Skeleton Barrel Bait adds Royal Ghost, Rascals, Vines and Bomb Tower; its Rocket variant (Skeleton Barrel, Goblins, Royal Ghost, Suspicious Bush, Rocket, Dart Goblin, Rascals, The Log) chips like Classic Log Bait, so space your troops the same way.
How do you beat Spell Bait decks with no win condition?
Spell Bait has no Barrel at all; the tracked list (2.875 average) wins by volume, so play it lane by lane:
- Goblin Hut (4 elixir) is the engine. Push the opposite lane with your tank the moment it is placed, or Earthquake it together with whatever stands beside it.
- Goblin Machine (5 elixir) is its biggest card. Kill it with heavy single-target damage such as Mini P.E.K.K.A (755 per hit) and counter-push.
- Keep one splash troop per lane. Valkyrie, Wizard or Firecracker clears three cheap units for one card.
- Spend small spells on two units at once. Bush Goblins have 337 HP since August 3, 2026, so The Log (269) does not kill them — save it for Goblin Gang plus Dart Goblin.
How is Hyperbait different from Log Bait?
Hyperbait is the bait list stretched to two barrels: five or more bait cards (counting Skeleton Barrel), at least two of them barrels (Goblin Barrel, Skeleton Barrel or Wall Breakers); see the Hyperbait counter guide.
How do you punish Log Bait on offense?
Log Bait is punished by pressure that costs less than the answer it forces: a push that draws Inferno Tower plus Knight (8 elixir) often leaves too little for Barrel plus bait.
- Push the lane opposite their Princess. She outranges your Tower Princess by 1.5 tiles (9 against 7.5) and is the card they least want to spend on defence.
- Answer Inferno Tower once, at the right moment. Zap or Electro Wizard resets its ramp — it climbs from 43 to 158 to 847 damage in 1.5-second steps at Level 11 — so reset it on the third tier, not the first.
- Spend big spells on two cards at once. Fireball on Princess plus Dart Goblin, or Earthquake on Inferno Tower plus the tower behind it, is a positive trade; Fireball on Goblin Gang alone is not.
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Which decks beat Log Bait?
Electro Giant, Mega Knight Bait, Hog Cycle and Mega Knight are the four tracked decks whose cards interact best with Log Bait, as an editorial judgment from card interactions: Trophy Road matchup results are withheld, and only the 9,000+ verdicts below are TrophyCoach's measured archetype-matchup results for the strict Log Bait label and for Goblin Barrel Bait. The Hyperbait counter guide and the Mega Knight counter guide print the same 9,000+ words for the pairs they share; each list is one tracked October 12 deck of that archetype.
| Deck (archetype) | Cards | Average elixir | Why it works | 9,000+ vs Log Bait | 9,000+ vs Goblin Barrel Bait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Electro Giant |    Electro Giant, Sparky, Electro Wizard, Zappies, Tesla, Electro Spirit, Zap, Electro Dragon | 4.125 | Electro Wizard, Zap and Zappies reset Inferno Tower | No result | Hard |
| Mega Knight Bait |  Mega Knight, Goblin Barrel, Skeleton Barrel, Goblin Gang, Dart Goblin, Bats, Zap, Goblin Cage | 3.375 | Mega Knight's jump clears Goblin Gang and Skeleton Army | No result | Roughly even |
| Hog Cycle |   Hog Rider, Executioner, Valkyrie, Goblins, Ice Spirit, Rocket, Tornado, The Log | 3.375 | Valkyrie and The Log answer the bait; Hog punishes the other lane | Slightly unfavourable | Slightly unfavourable |
| Mega Knight |   Mega Knight, Valkyrie, Wizard, Mini P.E.K.K.A, Musketeer, Archers, Bomber, Goblin Barrel | 4.0 | Valkyrie, Wizard and Mega Knight splash the bait | Slightly unfavourable | Unfavourable |
None of the four is ahead of Goblin Barrel Bait at 9,000+.
Why does Electro Giant beat Log Bait?
Electro Giant suits Log Bait because its list resets Inferno Tower three ways — Electro Wizard, Zap and Zappies — before the ramp reaches 847 damage (Electro Giant guide). Against Goblin Barrel Bait the deck is hard at 9,000+.
Why does Mega Knight Bait win the bait mirror?
Mega Knight Bait is a Goblin Barrel deck itself: Mega Knight's 268-damage jump clears Goblin Gang and Skeleton Army, and its Goblin Barrel and Goblin Gang draw your Log first. Mega Knight (7 elixir) lands on the Goblin Gang that baits your Log, so the bait buys little.
Why do Hog Cycle and Mega Knight hold up?
Hog Cycle's list carries Valkyrie and The Log, two direct Goblin Barrel answers, plus Executioner. The Mega Knight list stacks Valkyrie, Wizard, Mini P.E.K.K.A and Mega Knight but has no small spell, so every Barrel needs a troop placement. Both fall behind Goblin Barrel Bait at 9,000+: Hog Cycle slightly unfavourable, Mega Knight unfavourable.
What changed for Log Bait in Season 88?
Log Bait's core cards changed once in Season 88: the October 6, 2026 balance patch buffed Goblin Barrel and nerfed Barbarian Barrel, while Princess, Inferno Tower, Rocket, Goblin Gang, The Log and Skeleton Barrel were untouched.
| Card | Change | Old | New | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goblin Barrel | First hit speed | 0.4 s | 0.3 s | -25% |
| Barbarian Barrel | Damage | 232 | 215 | -8% |
| Wall Breakers | Damage | 281 | 302 | +7% |
 Skeletons | Spawn spread | — | Tighter | — |
| Royal Ghost | Hitpoints | 1,210 | 1,152 | -5% |
| Cannon (Evolution) | Barrage damage | 281 | 261 | -7% |
Did Goblin Barrel get buffed in October 2026?
Impact: significant. Goblin Barrel's Goblins now hit 0.3 s after landing instead of 0.4 s, a 25% faster first swing. A Log that arrived just in time in September now arrives a hit late, so throw it as soon as the Barrel is airborne.
Did Barbarian Barrel get nerfed in October 2026?
Impact: small. Barbarian Barrel dropped from 232 to 215 damage (-8%), which still kills each 202-HP Barrel Goblin. Supercell's stated aim is that it no longer fully counters Wall Breakers, so against the Wall Breakers list keep a troop or Arrows for the Breakers.
What other Season 88 changes touch bait decks?
Impact: small. Wall Breakers rose from 281 to 302 damage (+7%); Skeletons spawn in a tighter spread; Royal Ghost lost 5% HP (1,210 → 1,152); and the Cannon Evolution barrage dropped from 281 to 261. Earlier, August 3 cut Evolved Goblin Barrel decoy damage from 89 to 66 and Ice Spirit HP from 230 to 215 (it no longer connects to Crown Towers solo), and September 8 raised Wizard's damage from 281 to 304.
What are the most common mistakes against Log Bait?
Log Bait punishes five mistakes more than any card choice.
Mistake 1 — Logging Princess: The Log kills her (269 against 261 HP), but the next Goblin Barrel then lands free. Kill Princess with a troop, Fireball or Arrows, or let her chip while your Log waits.
Mistake 2 — Logging Goblin Gang: It is bait built to absorb your Log; Valkyrie, Wizard or Knight clears it instead.
Mistake 3 — Logging a flying Skeleton Barrel: The Log only hits ground troops; shoot the 532-HP barrel with an air-targeting card.
Mistake 4 — Stacking troops in Rocket range: Rocket's 2-tile radius rewards a tank and support placed together; spread them apart.
Mistake 5 — Defending without counter-pushing: A Log Bait player who never defends funds a full 26-elixir cycle, Rocket included, every 36.4 seconds of double elixir. Push after every positive trade.
Which guides cover the rest of the bait matchup?
- How to Counter Hyperbait — the two-barrel variant (two of Goblin Barrel, Skeleton Barrel and Wall Breakers).
- How to Counter Mega Knight — Goblin Barrel decks labelled Mega Knight Bait.
- Clash Royale Spell Cycling Guide — when to Fireball, Log and Rocket for value.
- Goblin Barrel Bait in August 2026 — the pilot's view.
- Is Log Bait Still Good After the Spirit Nerf? — the August 3 Ice Spirit change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best card to counter Goblin Barrel?
The Log is the best direct Goblin Barrel answer: for 2 elixir it deals 269 damage and kills all three 202-HP Goblins at Level 11 in one roll. Valkyrie (4 elixir) and Electro Wizard (4) also handle the Goblin Gang, Princess and Skeleton Army around the Barrel.
Does Zap kill Goblin Barrel Goblins?
Zap does not kill Goblin Barrel Goblins at equal level: it deals 192 damage against 202 HP, leaving each Goblin on 10 HP for your Crown Tower to finish. It still stuns them for 0.5 s; add a troop when your tower is busy with Dart Goblin or Goblin Gang.
Did Goblin Barrel get buffed in Season 88?
Goblin Barrel was buffed in the October 6, 2026 Season 88 patch: its Goblins' first hit speed dropped from 0.4 s to 0.3 s (-25%). Damage and hitpoints did not change.
Should I use The Log on Princess?
The Log kills Princess (269 damage against 261 HP), but against Log Bait you should not spend it there. Princess deals 168 per shot every 3 seconds; one unanswered Goblin Barrel puts three Goblins on your tower at once.
How do I stop Skeleton Barrel?
Skeleton Barrel flies, so ground spells cannot hit the 532-HP barrel before it pops. Shoot it down with an air-targeting troop or building, then clear the Skeletons with Zap or a splash troop; the 8,000–9,000 Skeleton Barrel table lists Valkyrie and Firecracker (2,502 and 1,674 battles).
Is Log Bait still popular in October 2026?
Log Bait, counted as the whole Goblin Barrel family, is still widely played in October 2026: Goblin Barrel Bait sits at 11.79% popularity under 5,000 trophies and 10.42% at 7,000–8,000 in the October 12 snapshot. The strict Log Bait label, with Princess and Inferno Tower, is between 0.99% and 1.79% in every band.