Quick answer: Mortar Cycle wins by placing a 4-elixir Mortar on your side of the river, where its 11.5-tile range reaches the opponent's Princess Tower, then defending it with cheap swarms so it keeps firing 266-damage shells. The most-played list in October 2026 is Mortar, Skeleton Barrel, Rascals, Cannon Cart, Goblins, Minions, Barbarian Barrel and Fireball at 3.5 average elixir. Use the same Mortar as a defensive building against Hog Rider and Giant.
Mortar Cycle was a top-8 deck in 4 of TrophyCoach's 6 tracked trophy bands on October 22, 2026, from #4 at 6,000–7,000 to #8 at 5,000–6,000. Its Rascals list was the most-played Mortar deck in our October 15–21 sample at 26,366 battles. The list costs 28 elixir across 8 cards (3.5 average), and the Mortar returns on a 14-elixir loop: 19.6 seconds in double elixir. Supercell aimed the October 19, 2026 balance update straight at it. Cannon Cart lost 5% damage (212 → 202) and doubled its mass (3 → 6), because Mortar decks were "often impossible to break through." Skeleton Barrel's death damage rose from 145 to 163 the same day.
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What Is Mortar Cycle in Clash Royale?
Mortar Cycle is a siege deck: its win condition is a building that attacks the opponent's tower from your own side of the arena. Mortar costs 4 elixir and has 1,369 HP at Level 11. It fires a 266-damage shell every 4.7 seconds, has an 11.5-tile range, and lasts 30 seconds. It takes 3.5 seconds to deploy and only targets ground. Placed just behind the river in front of your Princess Tower, it reaches the opponent's Princess Tower, so every shell that lands is tower damage you didn't have to cross the bridge for.
Mortar is also a building, which gives it a second job. Hog Rider, Giant, Royal Giant, Battle Ram and Ram Rider all walk to the nearest building. A Mortar in your center pulls them away from your towers while your troops finish them.
The most-played list in October 2026 is:
| Card | Elixir | Job in the deck | Key number (Level 11) |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mortar | 4 | Siege win condition and defensive building | 266 damage per shell, 11.5-tile range |
 Skeleton Barrel | 3 | Second win condition, flies to buildings | 532 HP; death damage 163 since Oct 19 |
 Rascals | 5 | Tank (Rascal Boy) plus two ranged Rascal Girls | Rascal Boy 1,832 HP |
 Cannon Cart | 5 | Ground defender and counter-push | 1,809 HP; 202 damage since Oct 19 |
 Goblins | 2 | Cheap DPS, bait and cycle | 4 Goblins, 125 damage each |
 Minions | 3 | Air DPS, bait | 3 Minions, 230 HP each |
 Barbarian Barrel | 2 | Ground swarm answer | 215 damage since Oct 6 |
 Fireball | 4 | Medium spell and tower finisher | 689 damage, 159 to Crown Towers |
Average elixir is 28 ÷ 8 = 3.5. It has no Legendary or Champion: five Commons, one Rare (Fireball) and two Epics (Cannon Cart and Barbarian Barrel). That makes it one of the cheapest top-8 decks to level.
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Which Mortar Decks Are Played in October 2026?
Mortar has four common lists in October 2026. TrophyCoach's classifier calls three of them "Mortar Cycle". It calls the Goblin Gang plus Ice Wizard list "Mortar Bait".
| Variant | Cards | Avg Elixir | Battles (Oct 15–21) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortar Rascals | Mortar, Skeleton Barrel, Rascals, Cannon Cart, Goblins, Minions, Barbarian Barrel, Fireball | 3.50 | 26,366 |
| Mortar Goblinstein |     Mortar, Goblinstein, Mother Witch, Minion Horde, Goblin Gang, Cannon Cart, Barbarian Barrel, Fireball | 4.00 | 23,171 |
| Mortar Ice Wizard |  Mortar, Ice Wizard, Rascals, Cannon Cart, Skeleton Barrel, Minions, Barbarian Barrel, Fireball | 3.63 | 21,587 |
| Mortar Bait | Mortar, Ice Wizard, Goblin Gang, Rascals, Cannon Cart, Skeleton Barrel, Barbarian Barrel, Fireball | 3.63 | 16,370 |
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. Every list shares Mortar, Cannon Cart, Barbarian Barrel and Fireball. The differences are the tank (Rascals or Goblinstein) and the slow (Ice Wizard).
Should I Play the Goblinstein Version?
The Goblinstein version is a heavier 4.0-elixir list built around a Champion. Goblinstein is a Season 88 boosted card, and its ability costs 2 elixir. Since August 3, that ability is single-use, and on September 16 its duration was cut from 4 to 3.5 seconds. Mother Witch turns troops she kills into Cursed Hogs that run at your opponent. The list trades the cheap Goblins and Minions for a bigger counter-push. Its Mortar loop is 17 elixir (23.8 seconds in double elixir) against 14 for the Rascals list. Pick it if you own Goblinstein at a good level. Otherwise the Rascals list is the cheaper and faster default.
What Is the Mortar Cycle Game Plan?
Mortar Cycle has a simple plan: get Mortar shells onto the opponent's tower, make them pay elixir to stop it, and defend everything else cheaply.
Single elixir (0:00–2:00): defensive Mortars and chip. You regenerate 1 elixir every 2.8 seconds. The Mortar loop is 14 elixir, which is 39.2 seconds in single elixir. Use your first Mortar defensively if the opponent sends a Hog Rider or Giant. Use Skeleton Barrel and Goblins to test their small spells. A Skeleton Barrel that draws Arrows or a Log tells you what your Goblins and Minions will face later.
Double elixir (2:00–4:00): bridge Mortar plus protection. At 1 elixir every 1.4 seconds, the loop drops to 19.6 seconds. Place the Mortar at the bridge and protect it with Cannon Cart or Rascals in front. Keep Goblins and Minions for whatever the opponent sends at it.
Overtime and triple elixir (4:00+): two threats at once. A bridge Mortar plus a Skeleton Barrel in the other lane splits the opponent's defense. Use Fireball on the tower when its HP is within 159.
What Are the Best Opening Plays With Mortar?
The best opening play is a defensive one: hold the Mortar, cycle Goblins or Barbarian Barrel at the back, and wait to see the opponent's win condition. A bridge Mortar in the first 20 seconds runs into a full elixir bar and a full hand, so it is the easiest Mortar to stop.
Good openers:
- Goblins at the back of one lane. They cost 2 elixir, reach the bridge slowly, and show you whether the opponent answers with a spell or a troop.
- Skeleton Barrel at the bridge if your hand is heavy. It costs 3 elixir and forces an air answer, and its Skeletons chip the tower if nobody responds.
- Rascals at the back if your hand is Mortar, Cannon Cart, Fireball and Rascals. Rascal Boy walks forward as a tank for your first Mortar.
Never open with Fireball. It is your answer to their Musketeer, Wizard or Princess, and your finisher.
Where Should You Place the Mortar?
Mortar placement decides whether it hits the tower, defends, or gets ignored. There are two placements to learn.
What Is the Bridge Mortar Placement?
The bridge Mortar goes on your side of the river, directly in front of your Princess Tower and close to the bridge. From there, its 11.5-tile range reaches the opponent's Princess Tower in that lane. Place it when the opponent is low on elixir, or right after they spend their building-breaker. Earthquake, Royal Hogs and Hog Rider all go straight for buildings, so watch for them. A bridge Mortar is also in range of troops crossing that bridge, so it doubles as defense in that lane.
What Is the Defensive Mortar Placement?
The defensive Mortar goes in the center of your side, about 3–4 tiles in front of your King Tower. From there it pulls Hog Rider (1,697 HP), Giant (3,968 HP) and Royal Giant (3,164 HP) away from both Princess Towers. Mortar has a blind spot right next to it, so it can't hit a troop that reaches it. Its job here is to be the target while Goblins, Rascals and Cannon Cart do the damage.
How Do You Protect the Mortar?
Protect the Mortar by placing your defender in front of it, between the Mortar and the river. Cannon Cart and Rascal Boy are the two best shields. Keep Minions for air attackers (Minions, Bats, Balloon) and Goblins for ground troops that run past your shield. A Mortar that survives its full 30 seconds fires 5 to 6 shells.
How Does the Mortar Cycle Work?
Mortar 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 Mortar is to play your 4 cheapest other cards. In the Rascals list that is Goblins (2), Barbarian Barrel (2), Skeleton Barrel (3) and Minions (3), for 10 elixir. Add the Mortar's 4 elixir and the full loop costs 14.
These are ceilings that assume no other elixir is spent. Every Cannon Cart or Rascals you play pushes the next Mortar back. Because the Mortar lasts 30 seconds, a new Mortar is usually ready before the old one expires in double elixir. That means you can keep one firing for most of the third minute.
What Should You Save Each Spell For?
The Rascals list carries two spells, plus Skeleton Barrel, which plays like a third.
Fireball (4 elixir): save it for the troop that would kill your Mortar or your swarms. Fireball deals 689 damage at Level 11, which kills:
- Musketeer (721 HP) once your Princess Tower has hit her once
- Wizard (755 HP) after a tower shot, Electro Wizard (714 HP) after a tower shot
- Princess, Dart Goblin, Firecracker and Magic Archer
- Minion Horde and Barbarians with tower support
Since September 8, Fireball deals 159 to Crown Towers (it was 172). Fireball the tower only when it is below 159 HP or the cast also hits a valuable troop.
Barbarian Barrel (2 elixir): save it for the ground swarm that would kill your Mortar. Since October 6, Barbarian Barrel deals 215 damage (down from 232). That still kills Goblin Barrel's Goblins (202 HP), Goblin Gang and Skeleton Army. It no longer fully counters Wall Breakers (330 HP each), so against Wall Breakers add Goblins behind it. Barbarian Barrel only hits ground, so it does nothing to Minions or Bats.
Skeleton Barrel (3 elixir): save it for when the opponent's air answer is spent. Skeleton Barrel flies to the nearest building with 532 HP and drops Skeletons when it pops. Its death damage is 163 since October 19 (up from 145). Send it when the opponent has just used their Arrows, Minions or Musketeer. It also baits the same spells your Goblins and Minions die to.
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How Do You Defend Common Threats With Mortar Cycle?
Mortar Cycle defends with Cannon Cart, Rascals and swarms, and uses the Mortar itself as a building whenever a building-targeter crosses.
How Do You Stop Hog Rider?
Place the Mortar in the center as a defensive building, or Cannon Cart in front of your tower in the Hog's lane. Add Goblins on top of the Hog as it hits the building. Four Goblins deal 125 damage each per hit, so they melt a 1,697-HP Hog in a few swings. Against Hog 2.6, expect their Log or Fireball on your Goblins, which leaves your next Skeleton Barrel or Minions safe.
How Do You Stop Giant and Golem?
Use a defensive Mortar or Cannon Cart to pull the tank, and Minions to shoot it from the air, because Giant and Golem can't hit back. Rascal Girls also shoot over the tank. Kill the support troops first: Barbarian Barrel on the ground support, Fireball on a Musketeer or Wizard behind the tank. Against an 8-elixir Golem, the best defense is a bridge Mortar in the other lane, because the opponent can't pay for both.
How Do You Stop Mega Knight?
Mega Knight (3,993 HP) jumps on your ground swarms for 537 damage, so don't place Goblins in its path before it jumps. Let it jump onto Rascal Boy or Cannon Cart. Then add Minions, which Mega Knight can't hit, and Goblins behind it once it has landed. Mega Knight walks past a bridge Mortar and destroys it, so place the Mortar in the lane it is not in.
How Do You Stop Balloon and Lava Hound?
Air is Mortar's weak side: Mortar, Goblins, Cannon Cart and Rascal Boy can't hit air. Your air defense is Minions, the two Rascal Girls and Fireball. Against Balloon (1,676 HP), place a Mortar or Cannon Cart early so the Balloon flies to it, then add Minions and let the Princess Tower help. Against Lava Hound, shoot the Hound with Minions and Rascal Girls, and Fireball the Lava Pups. If air is common at your trophy range, the Goblinstein list with Minion Horde has more anti-air.
How Do You Stop PEKKA and Bridge Spam?
PEKKA (3,760 HP) can't hit air, so Minions are your best PEKKA defense. Add Goblins once PEKKA swings at another target, and pull it with Cannon Cart. Bridge Spam sends Battle Ram, Bandit and Royal Ghost fast. Answer Battle Ram with Cannon Cart or Goblins at the river, and Bandit with Goblins. Don't place a bridge Mortar while Royal Ghost is alive in that lane, because Royal Ghost walks invisibly to it.
How Do You Stop Earthquake and Royal Hogs?
Earthquake decks are Mortar's hardest common matchup. Earthquake deals extra damage to buildings and breaks a Mortar fast, and Royal Hogs run straight at it. Against Royal Hogs, place your Mortar defensively in the center so the Hogs split their target, and surround them with Goblins. Against Hog Rider plus Earthquake, play the Mortar only when Earthquake is out of cycle. Earthquake returns 4 plays after they use it.
How Do You Manage Elixir With Mortar Cycle?
Mortar Cycle trades small and lands damage slowly, so elixir discipline decides it. Use these rules:
- A Mortar trade is good if the opponent spends 4+ elixir to stop it. A 4-elixir Mortar answered by a 4-elixir Hog Rider is even. Answered by a 3-elixir Earthquake plus their tower, it is −1.
- Don't leak elixir. At 10 elixir with nothing to defend, play Goblins or Barbarian Barrel at the back. Each 2.8 seconds at full elixir in single elixir wastes 1.
- Keep 2–3 elixir after a bridge Mortar for Goblins or Minions. A bridge Mortar with no follow-up loses to one troop.
- Cannon Cart is a defender first. At 5 elixir, it is your most expensive defensive card. Use it to stop a push, then let it roll forward as a counter-push. Since October 19 its mass is 6 (from 3), so troops can't shove it around as easily.
- Don't double-commit in single elixir. Mortar plus Rascals plus Cannon Cart is 14 elixir and leaves the other lane open for a whole loop.
What Evolutions and Heroes Fit Mortar Cycle?
Mortar, Skeleton Barrel and Minion Horde (Goblinstein list) are the cards in these lists with an Evolution. Evolved Mortar adds Goblins to its attacks. Since the August 3 rework, it fires at the same 4.7-second rate as the base Mortar (it was 4 seconds before). The October 19 patch set Skeleton Barrel's death damage to 163 for both forms: the base rose from 145 and the Evolution fell from 192. The Evolution's extra value is no longer a bigger blast.
Three cards in these lists have Hero forms: Goblins (ability 1 elixir), Barbarian Barrel (1 elixir) and Ice Wizard (2 elixir). Hero Ice Wizard was nerfed twice this season. On September 16 its freeze duration fell from 7 to 5 seconds. On October 6 its freeze damage fell from 89 to 46, so it no longer kills Skeletons or Bats. Since August 3, every Hero and Champion ability except Boss Bandit's is single-use.
A practical rule: evolve the Mortar first, because it is the card you play most. If you don't own its Evolution, the deck works with base cards; Mortar placement matters more than any single Evolution.
What Are the Hardest and Easiest Matchups for Mortar Cycle?
These verdicts are an editorial read of card interactions with the Rascals list, not measured win rates.
| Opponent archetype | Verdict | How to play it |
|---|---|---|
| Hog 2.6 | Even | Defensive Mortar or Cannon Cart for their Hog, Goblins on top. Bait their Log with Goblins before sending Skeleton Barrel. |
| Giant Beatdown | Favorable | Defensive Mortar pulls the Giant. Minions shoot it. Bridge Mortar in the other lane while they build the push. |
| Golem Beatdown | Favorable | Bridge Mortar every time they drop the Golem. They can't pay for the Golem and an answer. |
| Log Bait | Even | Minions and Rascal Girls stop Goblin Barrel's escort. Barbarian Barrel kills the Barrel Goblins (215 > 202). |
| X-Bow Siege | Even | Siege mirror. Place your Mortar where it can also hit their X-Bow, and defend with Cannon Cart in front. |
 Royal Hogs | Hard | Earthquake breaks your Mortar and the Hogs split. Defensive Mortar center plus Goblins. |
| Mega Knight Bait | Hard | Never swarm an unjumped Mega Knight. Minions plus Rascal Girls on it, and Mortar the other lane. |
| LavaLoon and air beatdown | Hard | Only Minions, Rascal Girls and Fireball hit air. Pull Balloon with an early Mortar. |
What Are the Most Common Mortar Mistakes?
Mistake 1 — Bridge Mortar on a full opponent elixir bar. The opponent answers with a troop and a spell and comes out ahead. Wait until they spend 4+ elixir elsewhere.
Mistake 2 — Leaving the Mortar unprotected. A Mortar with nothing in front dies to one Knight or Valkyrie. Place Cannon Cart or Rascals between it and the river.
Mistake 3 — Placing Mortar too close to the troop it should hit. Mortar can't hit troops right next to it. A defensive Mortar placed on top of a Hog Rider does nothing.
Mistake 4 — Spending Fireball on a single 3-elixir troop in single elixir. Fireball is your Musketeer and Wizard answer and your finisher. A Fireball on Goblins is −2 elixir.
Mistake 5 — Playing Mortar into an Earthquake that is in hand. If the opponent hasn't used Earthquake in their last 4 plays, assume it is ready.
Mistake 6 — Playing Cannon Cart like it is still September. Since October 19 it deals 5% less damage (202), and with double mass (6) troops no longer shove it around the way they did. Plan Cannon Cart as a defender first and a counter-push second.
How Did the 2026 Balance Changes Affect Mortar Cycle?
Season 88's two balance waves (October 6 and October 19) and the August 3 rework all touch Mortar decks:
| Card | Change | Old | New | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortar | Hit speed (Aug 3) | 5 s | 4.7 s | −6% |
 Mortar Evolution | Hit speed (Aug 3) | 4 s | 4.7 s | +18% |
| Fireball | Crown Tower damage (Sep 8) | 172 | 159 | −8% |
| Barbarian Barrel | Damage (Oct 6) | 232 | 215 | −8% |
| Cannon Cart | Damage (Oct 19) | 212 | 202 | −5% |
| Cannon Cart | Mass (Oct 19) | 3 | 6 | +100% |
| Skeleton Barrel | Death damage (Oct 19) | 145 | 163 | +12% |
 Skeleton Barrel Evolution | Death damage (Oct 19) | 192 | 163 | −15% |
Impact: significant. The Cannon Cart nerf is the change Supercell made for Mortar on purpose. Expect your defense to leak about 5% more damage per Cannon Cart shot. Impact: small. The base Skeleton Barrel buff partly offsets it. The Evolution nerf removes the reason to spend an Evolution slot on Skeleton Barrel instead of the Mortar. The October 6 changes are in our Shocktober Season 88 guide. The August context is in Is Mortar Cycle Still Viable?.
Recommended Next Reads
- How to Counter Mortar Cycle: what opponents do against you, and how to play the mirror.
- How to Counter X-Bow: the other siege deck, useful for the siege mirror.
- Elixir Management Mastery: the trade rules behind the elixir section above.
- Deck Doctor: grade your exact Mortar list and see which card to swap first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mortar Cycle still good after the October 19, 2026 nerf?
Mortar Cycle is still a top-8 deck in 4 of 6 trophy bands in TrophyCoach's October 22, 2026 snapshot. The October 19 Cannon Cart nerf (212 → 202 damage, mass 3 → 6) weakens its defense, and the Skeleton Barrel buff (145 → 163 death damage) offsets part of it.
What is the best Mortar deck right now?
Mortar's most-played list from October 15 to 21, 2026 was Mortar, Skeleton Barrel, Rascals, Cannon Cart, Goblins, Minions, Barbarian Barrel and Fireball (3.5 elixir), seen in 26,366 battles in our sample. The Goblinstein list was second at 23,171.
Where do I place Mortar to hit the tower?
Mortar goes on your side of the river, directly in front of your Princess Tower and close to the bridge. Its 11.5-tile range reaches the opponent's Princess Tower in that lane from there. Place it when the opponent is low on elixir, and protect it with Cannon Cart or Rascals in front.
Can Mortar defend against Hog Rider?
Mortar defends Hog Rider as a building, not as a damage dealer. Placed in the center 3–4 tiles in front of your King Tower, it pulls the 1,697-HP Hog away from your Princess Towers while Goblins finish it. Mortar can't hit troops standing right next to it.
How do I beat Royal Hogs with Mortar?
Mortar beats Royal Hogs by placing the Mortar in the center so the four Hogs split their target, then surrounding them with Goblins. Each Hog has 837 HP, and four Goblins deal 125 damage each per hit. Don't place a bridge Mortar while their Earthquake is in hand, because Earthquake deals extra damage to buildings.
Is Mortar Cycle good for free-to-play players?
Mortar Cycle's Rascals list has no Legendary and no Champion: five Commons, one Rare and two Epics. That makes it one of the cheapest top-8 decks in October 2026 to level.
How long does a Mortar last?
A Mortar lasts 30 seconds after it is placed and takes 3.5 seconds to deploy. It fires a 266-damage shell every 4.7 seconds at Level 11, so a Mortar left alone fires 5 to 6 shells.