Quick answer: Hog EQ wins by pairing Hog Rider (4 elixir, 317 damage per hit) with a 3-elixir Earthquake on the opponent's defensive building, so the building dies or weakens and the Hog connects. The most-played list in October 2026 is Hog Rider, Earthquake, Mighty Miner, Tesla, Firecracker, Electro Spirit, Skeletons and Barbarian Barrel at 2.75 average elixir. It defends with Tesla and Mighty Miner and can return to Hog Rider every 15.4 seconds in double elixir.
Hog EQ was the #4 deck at 9000+ trophies in TrophyCoach's October 22, 2026 snapshot, and its Mighty Miner list was the most-played Hog-plus-Earthquake deck in our October 15–21 sample at 23,468 battles. The list costs 22 elixir across 8 cards (2.75 average). Hog Rider returns on an 11-elixir loop: 15.4 seconds in double elixir, 1.4 seconds slower than Hog 2.6's 14.0 seconds. It trades that time for a spell that breaks buildings. Season 88 nerfed two of its common cards. On October 6, Barbarian Barrel fell from 232 to 215 damage. On October 19, Skeletons' spawn spread widened from 0.4 to 0.5 tiles.
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What Is Hog EQ in Clash Royale?
Hog EQ is a Hog Rider cycle deck that carries Earthquake as its main spell. Hog Rider costs 4 elixir and has 1,697 HP at Level 11. It deals 317 damage every 1.6 seconds and only targets buildings. Most anti-Hog decks stop it with a building: Cannon, Tesla, Inferno Tower, Bomb Tower or Goblin Cage. Earthquake is a 3-elixir ground spell that lasts 3 seconds and deals extra damage to buildings. Cast on that building as the Hog arrives, it either destroys the building or leaves it too weak to stop the Hog.
Hog EQ also covers the Earthquake version of Hog 2.6 (Hog Rider, Earthquake, Ice Golem, Ice Spirit, Skeletons, Musketeer, Fireball, The Log), which TrophyCoach's classifier labels "Hog EQ" too. If that is your list, the offense half of this guide is yours: when to Earthquake the building, counting the opponent's building cycle, and the siege matchups (X-Bow and Mortar). Its defense is different, because it defends with Musketeer, Ice Golem and Fireball instead of Mighty Miner and Tesla, so read the defense sections of our How to Play Hog 2.6 Cycle guide. The most-played Hog EQ lists in October 2026 are built around Mighty Miner and Tesla on defense, Firecracker and Electro Spirit as support, and Barbarian Barrel or The Log as the small spell.
The most-played list in October 2026 is:
| Card | Elixir | Job in the deck | Key number (Level 11) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hog Rider | 4 | Win condition | 1,697 HP, 317 damage per hit |
 Earthquake | 3 | Building breaker | Lasts 3 seconds, extra damage to buildings |
 Mighty Miner | 4 | Champion mini-tank, tank killer | 2,250 HP, damage ramps the longer he hits |
 Tesla | 4 | Defensive building, hits air and ground | 1,182 HP, 220 damage, 25-second lifetime |
 Firecracker | 3 | Ranged splash support | 6-tile range |
 Electro Spirit | 1 | Chain stun and cycle | 0.5-second stun, 215 HP |
 Skeletons | 1 | Distraction and cycle | 3 Skeletons, 81 HP each |
 Barbarian Barrel | 2 | Ground swarm answer | 215 damage since Oct 6 |
Average elixir is 22 ÷ 8 = 2.75.
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Which Hog EQ Lists Are Played in October 2026?
Hog EQ has two families in October 2026: the Mighty Miner lists and the older Valkyrie and Knight lists. TrophyCoach's classifier labels all of them "Hog EQ".
| Variant | Cards | Avg Elixir | Battles (Oct 15–21) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mighty Miner, Tesla, Barbarian Barrel | Hog Rider, Earthquake, Mighty Miner, Tesla, Firecracker, Electro Spirit, Skeletons, Barbarian Barrel | 2.75 | 23,468 |
 Mighty Miner, Tesla, The Log | Hog Rider, Earthquake, Mighty Miner, Tesla, Firecracker, Electro Spirit, Skeletons, The Log | 2.75 | 11,235 |
 Mighty Miner, Cannon, Barbarian Barrel | Hog Rider, Earthquake, Mighty Miner, Cannon, Firecracker, Electro Spirit, Skeletons, Barbarian Barrel | 2.63 | 10,088 |
| Valkyrie and Tesla |   Hog Rider, Earthquake, Valkyrie, Tesla, Firecracker, Ice Spirit, Skeletons, The Log | 2.75 | 3,886 |
Counts are 8-card decks seen in TrophyCoach's battle sample from October 15 to 21, 2026, across all tracked trophy ranges. They show what is played, not how often it wins. The top three lists differ in just one or two cards: Tesla or Cannon as the building, and Barbarian Barrel or The Log as the small spell.
Tesla or Cannon in Hog EQ?
Tesla is the default because it hits air. With 1,182 HP and 220 damage per shot, it is the only building in these lists that answers Balloon, Minions and Bats. It also hides underground when nothing is in range, so troops can't target it until it pops up. Cannon (3 elixir, 824 HP) is 1 elixir cheaper and drops the average to 2.63, but it can't shoot air. Its Evolution barrage was cut from 281 to 261 on October 6. Pick Tesla if your ladder has Balloon or Lava Hound, and Cannon if it's mostly ground decks.
Barbarian Barrel or The Log?
Barbarian Barrel and The Log both cost 2 elixir and both clear ground swarms. Barbarian Barrel leaves a Barbarian behind that keeps fighting. The Log (269 damage) hits harder than Barbarian Barrel (215 since October 6) and reaches farther: 10.1 tiles against 4.5. The Log also kills Princess (261 HP), which Barbarian Barrel can't. Pick The Log if Log Bait and Princess are common at your trophy range.
What Is the Hog EQ Game Plan?
Hog EQ has one repeating play: Hog Rider plus Earthquake on their building, defended in between by Tesla and Mighty Miner.
Single elixir (0:00–2:00): find their building. You regenerate 1 elixir every 2.8 seconds. The Hog loop is 11 elixir, which is 30.8 seconds in single elixir. Send a Hog alone early to see how they defend. If they use a building, Earthquake comes with the next Hog. If they use troops (Valkyrie, Mini P.E.K.K.A, a swarm), you will need Electro Spirit, Firecracker or Barbarian Barrel with the Hog instead.
Double elixir (2:00–4:00): Hog plus Earthquake every loop. At 1 elixir every 1.4 seconds, the loop drops to 15.4 seconds. Hog plus Earthquake costs 7 elixir. The Hog is back in hand 9.8 seconds after you play it, because the 4 cheapest other cards (Skeletons, Electro Spirit, Barbarian Barrel and one 3-elixir card) cost 7 elixir.
Overtime and triple elixir (4:00+): chain Hogs. In triple elixir the loop drops to 10.3 seconds. Earthquake also deals damage to Crown Towers, so in overtime Earthquake on the tower plus a Hog that connects is often how the game ends.
What Are the Best Opening Plays With Hog EQ?
The best opening play is a cheap card at the back or a lone Hog Rider at the bridge. A lone Hog in the first 20 seconds tells you their answer without costing much.
Good openers:
- Hog Rider at the bridge with Skeletons or Electro Spirit in hand to defend the counter-push.
- Firecracker at the back if your hand is Tesla, Mighty Miner, Earthquake and Firecracker. She walks slowly and makes the opponent react.
- Skeletons or Electro Spirit at the back to cycle toward Hog plus Earthquake.
Never open with Earthquake. It is your answer to their building, and the opponent may not even play a building until they see the Hog.
When Should You Earthquake the Building?
Earthquake the building when the Hog is 1–2 seconds from reaching it, so the 3-second spell is still running when the Hog starts hitting. Earthquake too early and the building recovers its shots before the Hog arrives. Earthquake too late and the Hog is already dead.
Cast it so it also covers the opponent's Princess Tower whenever the building is placed close enough. Earthquake deals damage to Crown Towers too, so one cast chips the tower and breaks the building.
How Does the Hog EQ Cycle Work?
Hog Rider comes back after 4 more plays, not after all 8 cards. A played card goes to the back of your 4-card queue, so the fastest way back to the Hog is to play your 4 cheapest other cards. In the Mighty Miner list that is Skeletons (1), Electro Spirit (1), Barbarian Barrel (2) and one 3-elixir card (Earthquake or Firecracker), for 7 elixir. Add the Hog's 4 and the loop costs 11.
These are ceilings that assume no other elixir is spent. Every Tesla or Mighty Miner you place on defense pushes the next Hog back. The Hog 2.6 Cycle Lab computes the same loop for any card swap.
What Should You Save Each Spell For?
Hog EQ carries two spells, and Earthquake is the one that decides games.
Earthquake (3 elixir): save it for their building, or their building plus tower. Its targets, in priority order:
- Inferno Tower, which melts Hog Rider fastest
- Tesla and Cannon
- Bomb Tower and Goblin Cage
- X-Bow and Mortar, which you also want dead for their own sake
- Goblin Hut and other spawners
Earthquake only hits ground and does modest damage to troops. Don't spend it on a swarm that Barbarian Barrel or Electro Spirit can clear. An Earthquake spent on Goblins leaves their next Cannon untouched.
Barbarian Barrel (2 elixir): save it for the ground swarm that would stop your Hog. Since October 6, Barbarian Barrel deals 215 damage (down from 232). That still kills Goblin Barrel's Goblins (202 HP), Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang and Spear Goblins. It no longer fully counters Wall Breakers (330 HP each). The Barbarian it drops helps defend too. Barbarian Barrel can't hit air, so it does nothing to Bats or Minions.
In the Log list, The Log (269 damage) also kills Princess (261 HP) and Dart Goblin, and its knockback resets Sparky's charge.
How Do You Defend Common Threats With Hog EQ?
Hog EQ defends with Tesla, Mighty Miner and cheap stuns. Keep Mighty Miner for tanks and Tesla for building-targeters.
How Do You Stop Hog Rider and Royal Hogs?
Place Tesla in the center, about 3 tiles in front of your King Tower, so it pulls Hog Rider (1,697 HP) away from both Princess Towers. Add Skeletons on top to stack damage, or Electro Spirit to stun it. Against Royal Hogs (four 837-HP Hogs), Tesla pulls the nearest pair and Firecracker's splash hits several Hogs. Mighty Miner handles the pair that splits to the other lane.
How Do You Stop Giant, Golem and P.E.K.K.A?
Mighty Miner is the answer: his damage ramps up the longer he keeps hitting one target, so he melts tanks that stand still to fight him. Place him in front of the tank once it crosses the river, and use Tesla to pull a Giant or Golem. Against P.E.K.K.A (3,760 HP, 842 damage per hit), stun her with Electro Spirit and distract her with Skeletons, so Mighty Miner keeps ramping. Then punish the other lane with Hog plus Earthquake while their 7–8 elixir is on your side.
How Do You Stop Mega Knight?
Mega Knight (3,993 HP) jumps for 537 damage onto anything grouped. Let it jump onto Skeletons first, not onto Firecracker. Then pull it with Tesla and place Mighty Miner on it. Mighty Miner's ramping damage and 2,250 HP make him the best Mega Knight answer in the deck.
How Do You Stop Balloon and Lava Hound?
Tesla is your main air defense: place it early so Balloon (1,676 HP) flies to it, and stun the Balloon with Electro Spirit when it arrives. Firecracker also shoots air from 6 tiles. Against Lava Hound, put Tesla under the Hound and let Firecracker splash the Lava Pups when it pops. The Cannon list has much less anti-air, so play Tesla if air decks are common.
How Do You Stop Log Bait?
Log Bait sends Goblin Barrel, Princess and Goblin Gang, each answered by a small spell. Barbarian Barrel kills the Barrel Goblins (215 > 202). Firecracker and Electro Spirit handle Goblin Gang and Princess, so you don't need a spell for them. Earthquake their Inferno Tower when you send Hog. Inferno Tower is their main Hog answer.
How Do You Stop X-Bow and Mortar?
Siege decks are where Earthquake shines. Send Hog Rider at the X-Bow or Mortar and Earthquake it, so the building dies and the Hog keeps going to the tower. Defend their Tesla with Earthquake the same way. Mighty Miner placed at the bridge in front of an X-Bow also breaks the lock.
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How Do You Manage Elixir With Hog EQ?
Hog EQ is a cycle deck, so it wins by many small trades. Use these rules:
- Hog plus Earthquake (7 elixir) only into a building. Into troop defense, send Hog plus Electro Spirit or Firecracker instead.
- Don't leak elixir. At 10 elixir with nothing to defend, play Skeletons or Electro Spirit at the back. Each 2.8 seconds at full elixir in single elixir wastes 1.
- Mighty Miner is a defender first. At 4 elixir, he wins fights against tanks. Sent to the bridge alone, he dies to a cheap swarm. His 1-elixir lane-switch ability is single-use since August 3, so save it for a defense or a split push that matters.
- Count their building. A building returns 4 plays after the opponent places it. If they placed it 2 plays ago, your Earthquake is the only way the Hog connects.
- Don't spend Tesla on a single Hog in double elixir if Skeletons and the tower will do. Tesla lasts 25 seconds. Placed too early, it expires before the real push arrives.
What Evolutions and Heroes Fit Hog EQ?
Hog Rider has no Evolution, so both Evolution slots go to support cards. The cards in these lists that have an Evolution:
- Tesla, whose Evolution adds a 1.5-second stun pulse
- Firecracker and Skeletons
- Cannon in the Cannon list, whose barrage was cut from 281 to 261 on October 6
- Valkyrie and Ice Spirit in the older list
Two cards have Hero forms: Barbarian Barrel (ability costs 1 elixir) and Valkyrie (ability costs 3 elixir). Mighty Miner is a Champion. Since August 3, 2026, his base damage is 43 (up from 40), so he two-shots Skeletons at every level. His lane-switch ability is single-use, like every Hero and Champion ability except Boss Bandit's.
A practical rule: evolve Tesla, your most-played defensive card, and Skeletons, your cheapest cycle card. The deck works with base cards too, and Earthquake timing matters more than any single Evolution.
What Are the Hardest and Easiest Matchups for Hog EQ?
These verdicts are an editorial read of card interactions with the Mighty Miner and Tesla list, not measured win rates.
| Opponent archetype | Verdict | How to play it |
|---|---|---|
| Hog 2.6 | Even | Tesla center for their Hog. Earthquake their Cannon as your Hog lands. Their Fireball can't kill your Tesla in one hit. |
| Log Bait | Even | Barbarian Barrel the Goblin Barrel. Firecracker and Electro Spirit for Goblin Gang. Earthquake their Inferno Tower with every Hog. |
| X-Bow Siege | Favorable | Hog plus Earthquake on the X-Bow every loop. Mighty Miner at the bridge breaks the lock. |
| Mortar Cycle | Favorable | Earthquake the Mortar as your Hog arrives. Tesla pulls their Skeleton Barrel. |
 Royal Hogs | Even | Tesla plus Firecracker on their Hogs. Earthquake their Cannon on your push. |
| Giant Beatdown | Favorable | Tesla and Mighty Miner on the Giant. Hog the other lane every 15.4 seconds in double elixir. |
| Mega Knight Bait | Even | Let Mega Knight jump onto Skeletons, then Mighty Miner. Never group Firecracker with your swarms. |
| P.E.K.K.A Bridge Spam | Even | Mighty Miner plus Electro Spirit on P.E.K.K.A. Tesla for Battle Ram. Punish while their 7 elixir is on your side. |
What Are the Most Common Hog EQ Mistakes?
Mistake 1 — Earthquake with no Hog. Earthquake alone on a building does chip damage but rarely kills it. It is a 3-elixir card that only works with the Hog.
Mistake 2 — Earthquake too early. If the spell ends before the Hog arrives, the building finishes the Hog. Cast it 1–2 seconds before the Hog reaches the building.
Mistake 3 — Grouping your troops for Mega Knight. Mega Knight's jump deals 537 damage to everything it lands on. Keep Firecracker apart from Skeletons and Electro Spirit, so one jump can't kill all three.
Mistake 4 — Spending Mighty Miner's ability early. It is single-use since August 3. Save the lane switch for a defense or a split that wins a tower.
Mistake 5 — Sending Hog into troop defense. Against Valkyrie, Mini P.E.K.K.A or a swarm, Earthquake doesn't help. Send Hog with Electro Spirit or Firecracker instead.
Mistake 6 — Expecting Electro Spirit to chip the tower alone. Since August 3, Electro Spirit (215 HP) no longer connects with Crown Towers on its own. Use it on troops.
How Did the 2026 Balance Changes Affect Hog EQ?
Four changes since August 2026 touch Hog EQ lists:
| Card | Change | Old | New | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electro Spirit | Hitpoints (Aug 3) | 230 | 215 | −6% |
| Mighty Miner | Base damage (Aug 3) | 40 | 43 | +6% |
| Barbarian Barrel | Damage (Oct 6) | 232 | 215 | −8% |
 Cannon Evolution | Barrage damage (Oct 6) | 281 | 261 | −7% |
Impact: small. The Electro Spirit change stops it from connecting with Crown Towers solo, which matters little because it is a defensive card here. Impact: small. Barbarian Barrel still kills the swarms it is used for. Separately, on October 19, Skeletons' spawn spread widened from 0.4 to 0.5 tiles. The October 6 list is in our Shocktober Season 88 guide.
Recommended Next Reads
- How to Play Hog 2.6 Cycle: the classic Hog deck, with its own Earthquake variant.
- How to Counter Hog Cycle: what opponents do against Hog decks, and how to play the mirror.
- How to Counter X-Bow: the siege matchup where Hog EQ is strongest.
- Deck Doctor: grade your exact Hog EQ list and see which card to swap first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hog EQ good in October 2026?
Hog EQ is the #4 deck at 9000+ trophies in TrophyCoach's October 22, 2026 snapshot, and its Mighty Miner list appeared in 23,468 battles in our October 15–21 sample. Its October changes were small: Barbarian Barrel lost 8% damage (232 → 215).
What is the difference between Hog EQ and Hog 2.6?
Hog EQ's Mighty Miner list and classic Hog 2.6 share Hog Rider and cycle speed, but Hog EQ carries Earthquake to break buildings, plus Mighty Miner and Tesla, while classic Hog 2.6 carries Fireball, Musketeer and Cannon. Hog EQ loops Hog Rider in 15.4 seconds in double elixir (11 elixir), against 14.0 seconds (10 elixir) for Hog 2.6. Hog 2.6 with Earthquake in place of Cannon counts as Hog EQ.
When should I use Earthquake with Hog Rider?
Earthquake goes on the opponent's building 1–2 seconds before Hog Rider reaches it, so the 3-second spell is still running when the Hog hits. Hog plus Earthquake costs 7 elixir, and it is the deck's main play in double elixir.
Should I play Tesla or Cannon in Hog EQ?
Hog EQ should play Tesla if air decks are common. Tesla has 1,182 HP, shoots air and hides underground between targets. Cannon is 1 elixir cheaper (3 against 4) and drops the deck to 2.63 elixir, but it can't hit Balloon or Minions.
How do I beat Mega Knight with Hog EQ?
Hog EQ beats Mega Knight by letting it jump onto Skeletons first, then pulling it with Tesla and placing Mighty Miner on it. Mighty Miner has 2,250 HP, and his damage ramps up the longer he hits one target. Mega Knight's 537-damage jump kills Firecracker, so keep her away from the landing spot.
Does Earthquake damage towers?
Earthquake damages Crown Towers as well as buildings and ground troops, over its 3-second duration. In overtime, an Earthquake on the tower plus a Hog Rider that connects (317 damage per hit) is a common way to finish the game.
Is Hog EQ free-to-play friendly?
Hog EQ's Mighty Miner list needs one Champion (Mighty Miner) and one Epic (Barbarian Barrel). The other six cards are Commons and Rares. Swapping Mighty Miner for Valkyrie gives the older list, which needs no Champion.