Quick answer: The Clash Royale July 2026 balance update (Season 85, live July 6, 2026) changes 11 cards — 6 nerfs, 4 buffs, and a Hero Tombstone rework. Every hero card was nerfed: Hero Magic Archer lost 57% of his dummy's hitpoints (627→271) and 1.5 tiles of teleport range, Hero Knight's shield dropped 33% (768→512), and Hero Balloon's Skeletrooper damage fell 20% (256→204). Evolution Executioner's Close Quarters range was cut from 3.5 to 2.5 tiles (−29%), Miner's Crown Tower damage dropped from 49 to 39, and Hero Tombstone no longer spawns Skeletons at all — in exchange for +20% HP (3,379→4,044) and a cheaper 5-elixir ability.
The July 2026 balance update contains 11 individual card changes — 6 nerfs, 4 buffs, and 1 full rework — and went live with the Honor & Exile season (Season 85) on July 6, 2026. The headline: all five hero cards in the update's crosshairs got hit, Evolution Executioner lost 29% of his Close Quarters range, Miner chips Crown Towers for 20% less, and Hero Tombstone was rebuilt from a spawner into a pure tank whose Tomb Queen spawns nothing.
Complete Changes Table
| Card | Change | Old | New | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Magic Archer | Dummy hitpoints | 627 | 271 | −57% |
| Hero Magic Archer | Teleport range | 5 tiles | 3.5 tiles | −30% |
| Hero Magic Archer | Triple Shot range | 15.5 tiles | 13.5 tiles | −13% |
| Hero Knight | Shield hitpoints | 768 | 512 | −33% |
| Hero Balloon | Skeletrooper damage | 256 | 204 | −20% |
| Hero Balloon | Skeletrooper hit speed | 0.9 s | 1.1 s | −18% slower |
| Hero Goblins | Deploy time | 1.0 s | 1.3 s | +30% slower |
| Evo Executioner | Close Quarters range | 3.5 tiles | 2.5 tiles | −29% |
| Evo Executioner | Close Quarters damage | 268 | 240 | −10% |
 Miner | Crown Tower damage | 49 | 39 | −20% |
| Hero Tombstone | Skeleton spawning | Spawns Skeletons | No spawns | Removed |
| Hero Tombstone | Tomb Queen hitpoints | 3,379 | 4,044 | +20% |
| Hero Tombstone | Ability cost | 6 elixir | 5 elixir | −17% |
 Ram Rider | Hitpoints | 1,697 | 1,766 | +4% |
 Baby Dragon | Damage | 161 | 168 | +4% |
 P.E.K.K.A | Damage | 816 | 842 | +3% |
 Electro Giant | Hitpoints | 3,855 | 3,952 | +3% |
All values are Level 11 tournament-standard numbers from Supercell's official July 6, 2026 release notes; percentages are computed from the official old/new values.
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Which Hero Cards Were Nerfed in July 2026?
Hero cards took every single nerf slot except Evo Executioner and Miner — five hero kits were pulled back in one patch, the broadest coordinated hero nerf since the April 2026 hero mode roundup. If you run any hero card, read its entry before your next ladder session, and see the hero cards guide for how each kit works post-patch.
Did Hero Magic Archer Get Nerfed in July 2026?
Impact: massive. Hero Magic Archer ate the hardest triple-nerf in the update: his decoy dummy lost 57% of its hitpoints (627→271), his teleport range dropped from 5 to 3.5 tiles (−30%), and Triple Shot's range fell from 15.5 to 13.5 tiles (−13%). The dummy now dies to a single Fireball-class spell plus a small connection, which guts the free defensive value that made him the most banned hero in competitive play. Expect his ladder usage to fall sharply — the teleport can no longer cross the full width of the bridge area, so escape plays that were guaranteed in June now fail against fast singles like Mini P.E.K.K.A.
Did Hero Knight Get Nerfed in July 2026?
Impact: significant. Hero Knight's shield lost a third of its hitpoints (768→512). The shield now breaks to one Musketeer volley cycle sooner, meaning Hero Knight no longer trades positively into two consecutive medium hits. His core role as a 3-elixir-value mini-tank survives, but stacking him behind a win condition is noticeably worse against ranged chip.
Did Hero Balloon Get Nerfed in July 2026?
Impact: significant. Hero Balloon's Skeletrooper passengers were double-nerfed: 20% less damage per hit (256→204) and a slower 1.1-second hit speed (from 0.9 s). Combined, Skeletrooper DPS fell roughly 35%, so a Hero Balloon that reaches the tower with troopers alive no longer deletes it on its own. The Balloon's death damage and bomb are untouched — the nerf targets the escort value, not the win condition itself.
Did Hero Goblins Get Nerfed in July 2026?
Impact: small. Hero Goblins deploy 0.3 seconds slower (1.0 s→1.3 s). That widens the counter window for spells like Log and Arrows to catch them before they spread, but changes no damage or hitpoint numbers. Defensive placements against bridge pushes are the main loser.
What Happened to Evolution Executioner in July 2026?
Impact: massive. Evo Executioner's Close Quarters mechanic was double-nerfed: range cut from 3.5 to 2.5 tiles (−29%) and damage from 268 to 240 (−10%). The final numbers are harsher than the work-in-progress plan Supercell floated in late June — the WIP had range going to 3.0, and the live patch pushed it to 2.5. Close Quarters now only triggers at nearly melee distance, so the evolution stops shredding mid-range support troops for free. He remains a top-tier splash defender; he is no longer an auto-include. Check the evolution cards guide for where he now ranks.
Did Miner Get Nerfed in July 2026?
Impact: significant. Miner's Crown Tower damage fell from 49 to 39 (−20%) at Level 11. His troop interactions are untouched — he tanks, digs, and trades exactly as before — but pure Miner chip decks now need roughly five extra connections to close out a tower. Miner Poison control archetypes lose the most; Miner as a Goblin Barrel tank or cycle utility card barely notices.
What Is the Hero Tombstone Rework in July 2026?
Impact: massive. Hero Tombstone no longer spawns Skeletons at all — the Tomb Queen's spawn rate went to zero. In exchange, her hitpoints rose 20% (3,379→4,044) and her ability now costs 5 elixir instead of 6. The card changes identity completely: from a value spawner that feeds Graveyard-style pressure into a durable defensive anchor with a cheaper activation. Skarmy-synergy decks built around Tombstone spawns are dead; building-centric control decks gain a fatter, cheaper wall. Treat it as a new card and re-learn its matchups from scratch.
What Cards Got Buffed in July 2026?
Impact: small, but targeted at tank decks. Four buffs shipped, all between +3% and +4%:
- Ram Rider — hitpoints 1,697→1,766 (+4%). She now survives one extra small-swarm hit on the way to the bridge; her charge and snare are unchanged.
- Baby Dragon — damage 161→168 (+4%). The extra 7 damage lets him one-shot equal-level Fire Spirits cleanly and speeds up his notoriously slow swarm clears.
- P.E.K.K.A — damage 816→842 (+3%). At 842 per swing she shaves a full hit off some tank kill times, which matters in P.E.K.K.A bridge spam mirrors.
- Electro Giant — hitpoints 3,855→3,952 (+3%). Roughly one extra Musketeer shot of survivability on a card that was already meta in C.H.A.O.S mode's doubled-HP format.
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Which Decks Won and Lost in the July 2026 Balance Update?
Big winners
- Ram Rider bridge decks — the only win condition buffed, entering a meta where three rival hero win conditions got nerfed simultaneously.
- P.E.K.K.A control — +3% damage plus the Evo Executioner range nerf means her worst defensive matchup punishes her less.
- Classic (non-hero) beatdown — Electro Giant and Baby Dragon buffs land in the same archetype; both slot into the same push.
Big losers
- Hero Magic Archer control — the triple nerf removes the free dummy value the entire archetype was built on.
- Miner chip control — 20% slower tower kills stretches games past what Miner Poison's defensive shell can hold.
- Tombstone spawner synergies — any deck that used Hero Tombstone as a pressure engine loses the mechanic outright.
Small winners / small losers
- Ronin decks (winner) — the new Legendary from Season 85 enters a field where five hero kits just got weaker.
- Log bait (small loser) — Hero Goblins' slower deploy makes the hero variant's bridge pressure easier to spell down.
What Should I Do After the July 2026 Balance Update?
If you play Hero Magic Archer: drop him or reposition him as a pure support — the dummy no longer buys defensive time, and teleport escapes across 5-tile gaps now fail.
If you play Miner chip: add a second damage source (Wall Breakers, spell cycle) or switch to Miner-as-tank archetypes; pure chip needs ~5 more connections per tower.
If you play Evo Executioner: keep him for splash defense but stop expecting free Close Quarters procs at mid range — it triggers at 2.5 tiles now.
If you play Hero Tombstone: rebuild the deck. The card is a tanky 5-elixir-ability anchor, not a spawner. Pair it with Graveyard alternatives if you relied on skeleton pressure.
If you play Ram Rider, P.E.K.K.A, or Electro Giant: climb now — run your list through the Deck Impact Brief to confirm every change touching your 8 cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards changed in the Clash Royale July 2026 balance update?
The July 2026 update changed 11 cards: 6 nerfs (Hero Magic Archer, Hero Knight, Hero Balloon, Hero Goblins, Evo Executioner, Miner), 4 buffs (Ram Rider, Baby Dragon, P.E.K.K.A, Electro Giant), and 1 rework (Hero Tombstone). It went live July 6, 2026 with Season 85.
Did Hero Magic Archer get nerfed in July 2026?
Hero Magic Archer took the biggest nerf in the patch: dummy hitpoints −57% (627→271), teleport range −30% (5→3.5 tiles), and Triple Shot range −13% (15.5→13.5 tiles).
Is Evo Executioner still good after the July 2026 nerf?
Evo Executioner is still a strong splash defender, but his Close Quarters bonus now only triggers within 2.5 tiles (down from 3.5) and deals 240 damage (down from 268). He drops from must-pick to matchup-dependent.
What is the biggest buff in the July 2026 balance changes?
Hero Tombstone's rework is the biggest single upgrade if you count it as a buff: +20% Tomb Queen hitpoints (3,379→4,044) and a 5-elixir ability (down from 6), traded for losing all Skeleton spawns. Among pure buffs, Ram Rider's +4% HP (1,697→1,766) matters most because she's a win condition.
Did Miner get nerfed in July 2026?
Miner's Crown Tower damage dropped 20% (49→39 at Level 11). His interactions against troops and buildings are unchanged — only tower chip got weaker.
Should I keep playing Hero Balloon after the July 2026 patch?
Hero Balloon is still viable as a win condition, but its Skeletrooper escorts lost about 35% of their DPS (256→204 damage, 0.9 s→1.1 s hit speed), so support the Balloon itself instead of relying on troopers to finish towers.
When did the July 2026 balance changes go live?
The changes went live Monday, July 6, 2026, alongside the Honor & Exile season (Season 85) and the release of Ronin, the first new card since September 2025.