Evolution Card Tier List & Calculator

What Is the Evolution Tier List & Synergy Calculator?

This tool ranks the 17 ladder-relevant Clash Royale evolutions (of the 40+ in the game) from S to C, re-checked every balance patch, and adds a Synergy Calculator that scores any two-evolution combo so you know which pair to run together. Filter the tier list by archetype and win rate, then test combos like Knight + Skeletons before you spend a single Wild Shard.

Why evolution ranking matters

Wild Shards are one of the scarcest resources in the game, and a fully-unlocked evolution can swing whole matchups — so picking the wrong one to unlock is an expensive, slow-to-fix mistake. Evolutions also get nerfed and buffed almost every patch, which reshuffles the rankings; an S-tier evo this season can fall to C after one balance update. A tier list that updates per patch keeps your shard spending pointed at the evolutions that still pay off.

How to use it

Start with the S-tier picks for your archetype, run your two best candidates through the Synergy Calculator, then build around them with the deck building guide and the best Arena 9 decks for slot-by-slot recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which evolutions are S-tier in August 2026?

Knight Evolution, Skeletons Evolution, and Royal Giant Evolution are the 3 S-tier evolutions in August 2026. All three survived the August 3, 2026 balance patch untouched and slot into multiple meta archetypes, making them the safest Wild Shard investments in Season 86. Valkyrie Evolution dropped to A-tier after its tornado damage was halved (84 to 42).

Did the August 3, 2026 patch nerf any evolutions?

Yes — the August 3, 2026 patch nerfed 6 evolutions: Mega Knight (uppercut every other attack instead of every attack), Valkyrie (tornado damage -50%), Archers (Power Shot -17%), Giant Snowball (roll range -11%), Goblin Barrel (decoy Goblin damage -26%), and Goblin Cage (1 to 2 cycles). Supercell said these Evolutions had been dominant for over a year.

How does the Evo Synergy Calculator work?

The Evo Synergy Calculator scores two evolutions out of a maximum of 230 points. It adds each evolution’s tier score (S=100, A=80, B=60, C=40), an archetype-match bonus of up to 30, and a paired-evolution bonus of up to 25 for known strong combos like Knight + Skeletons or Cannon + Skeletons. Scores of 195 or higher are excellent, 155 to 194 are good, and below 155 are average.

Should I use both evolution slots at Arena 10?

Yes — at Arena 10 and above both evolution slots should always be filled. Even a C-tier evolution like Goblin Drill Evolution (post-August 3 nerf) gives you more value over a 5-minute match than an empty slot, because the cycle still triggers the evo charge passively.

How should I spend Wild Shards in Season 86?

In Season 86 (August 2026), spend Wild Shards on Knight, Skeletons, or Royal Giant first. All 3 sit in S-tier, were untouched by the August 3, 2026 patch, and slot into multiple meta archetypes — meaning your shard investment keeps paying off across deck changes. Hold shards on Mega Knight, Valkyrie, Archers, Goblin Barrel, and Goblin Cage until their post-nerf win rates settle.

How accurate are the win rates shown?

The win rates are measured from the TrophyCoach battle sample at 6000-7000 trophies and refresh as the aggregation pipeline runs (typically daily). They count every deck that includes the card — evolved or not — because the TrophyCoach aggregate is card-level rather than evolution-slot-level, so treat them as the card’s deck win rate. Tier ranking remains the primary decision input; when no fresh sample is available the win-rate column is hidden rather than estimated.

Can I filter the tier list by archetype?

Yes — the tier list supports filtering by deck archetype (control, cycle, beatdown, bait, siege, bridge spam) and by minimum win rate. Filters update both the tier grid and any compatible recommendations in the Synergy Calculator below it.