Arena 6 in Clash Royale is where things start getting real. You’re facing tougher opponents, unlocking powerful new cards, and probably getting wrecked by players who know exactly what they’re doing. The good news? This arena also gives you access to some seriously strong cards that can carry you all the way to higher arenas.
Building the right deck is crucial here. With so many new cards unlocked and evolutions to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to the best Arena 6 decks that actually work. Whether you’re a beatdown player who loves slow, unstoppable pushes or prefer fast cycle decks, there’s something here for you.
Why Arena 6 Deck Building Matters
At this stage of the game, you can’t just throw random cards together and expect to win. Your opponents are getting smarter, and the card pool is expanding fast. The decks you build now will teach you fundamental strategies that work in higher arenas too.
Plus, many Arena 6 cards have evolutions now, which adds another layer of strategy. Picking the right cards to evolve can make or break your climb.
Top Arena 6 Decks to Try Right Now
1. Hog Bait (Average Elixir: 3.3)
This deck is all about mind games and misdirection. Your main win condition is the Goblin Barrel, but you’re using the Hog Rider to distract and bait out your opponent’s responses.
Deck List:
- Hog Rider (4 elixir)
- Goblin Barrel (3 elixir)
- Musketeer (4 elixir)
- Fire Spirit (1 elixir)
- Skeleton Army (3 elixir)
- Inferno Tower (5 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
- Zap (2 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Skeleton Army and Goblin Barrel
How to Play: The strategy is simple but effective. Force your opponent to use their Zap or Arrows on your Skeleton Army or Inferno Tower, then punish them with the Goblin Barrel when they’re out of answers. The Hog Rider puts constant pressure on their tower while your Musketeer and Fire Spirit handle swarms.
Here’s the key insight: in Arena 6, most players only have Fireball or Arrows to counter Goblin Barrel. Both are either equal trades or actually cost them more elixir than you spent. Use the Inferno Tower defensively against tanks like Giant or PEKKA—don’t waste it on small troops.
2. Giant Beatdown (Average Elixir: 3.3)
If you love building massive, unstoppable pushes, this is your deck. The goal is simple: create a push so big that your opponent can’t defend it.
Deck List:
- Giant (5 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
- Goblins (2 elixir)
- Spear Goblins (2 elixir)
- Archers (3 elixir)
- Musketeer (4 elixir)
- Bomber (2 elixir)
- Mini PEKKA (4 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Musketeer and Archers
Pro Strategy: Don’t just throw your Giant at the bridge. The best beatdown players wait for their opponent to push first, then defend with units like Mini PEKKA or Musketeer. The longer your defensive units survive, the bigger your counterpush becomes.
One major weakness: this deck struggles against Skeleton Army. Your only real answers are a well-timed Fireball or having your Bomber in the right position. Always try to have Bomber in your rotation when pushing.
3. Giant Tombstone (Average Elixir: 3.8)
This deck is a defensive fortress that transitions into powerful offense. It’s got answers for almost everything opponents can throw at you.
Deck List:
- Giant (5 elixir)
- Mini PEKKA (4 elixir)
- Musketeer (4 elixir)
- Baby Dragon (4 elixir)
- Skeleton Army (3 elixir)
- Tombstone (3 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
- Arrows (3 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Baby Dragon and Musketeer
Key Tip: Always pair your Giant with Baby Dragon. This combination shuts down the two biggest threats to your Giant: Skeleton Army and Minions. Without air support, your Giant will get melted before reaching the tower.
The Tombstone is your defensive MVP. With proper placement, it buys crucial time for your other troops to clean up threats. Save your Mini PEKKA for high-value defensive plays against tank killers.
4. PEKKA Ram (Average Elixir: 3.4)
PEKKA unlocks in Arena 6, and she’s a game-changer. This deck is all about playing reactively and defending until you can create an overwhelming counterpush.
Deck List:
- PEKKA (7 elixir)
- Battle Ram (4 elixir)
- Zap (2 elixir)
- Bats (2 elixir)
- Witch (5 elixir)
- Cannon (3 elixir)
- Knight (3 elixir)
- Skeletons (1 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Battle Ram and Witch
Important: PEKKA is not a win condition on her own. She’s a defensive powerhouse that counters Hog Rider, Giant, Valkyrie, and Knight. Use her to defend, then drop Battle Ram behind her as she crosses the bridge so she tanks the tower damage.
Stay defensive until double elixir kicks in, then unleash your full power. Zap is your lifeline against Skeleton Army and Inferno Tower—both hard counters to PEKKA. Once you take one tower, play defensively and run out the clock.
5. Battle Ram Cycle (Average Elixir: 2.9)
This is the fastest deck on the list and perfect for aggressive players who like to maintain constant pressure.
Deck List:
- Battle Ram (4 elixir)
- Minions (3 elixir)
- Fire Spirit (1 elixir)
- Knight (3 elixir)
- Electro Spirit (1 elixir)
- Goblin Cage (4 elixir)
- Arrows (3 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Goblin Cage and Battle Ram
Cycle Strategy: Spam those 1-elixir spirits constantly. By double elixir, you’ll be able to stack multiple Knights and Minions behind your Battle Ram, creating an overwhelming force that can demolish towers in seconds.
The Goblin Cage is excellent defense against building-targeting troops, and the Goblin that spawns from it can support your counterpush.
6. Inferno Valkyrie Bait (Average Elixir: 3.4)
Another bait deck, but this one uses Valkyrie for tankier plays and has incredible defensive potential.
Deck List:
- Goblin Barrel (3 elixir)
- Valkyrie (4 elixir)
- Musketeer (4 elixir)
- Fire Spirit (1 elixir)
- Inferno Tower (5 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
- Arrows (3 elixir)
- Skeleton Army (3 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Valkyrie and Skeleton Army
Smart Play: Use Valkyrie to tank tower shots while throwing your Goblin Barrel at the edge of the arena—not directly on the tower. This positioning forces your opponent to waste their spell or watch the Goblins chip away at their tower.
Your Skeleton Army and Fire Spirit exist mainly to bait out spells. Once those are gone, your Goblin Barrel becomes much harder to stop.
7. Giant Baby Dragon (Average Elixir: 3.0)
This pseudo-beatdown deck focuses on defense early, then creates a devastating double Giant push during double elixir.
Deck List:
- Giant (5 elixir)
- Arrows (3 elixir)
- Skeleton Army (3 elixir)
- Archers (3 elixir)
- Baby Dragon (4 elixir)
- Knight (3 elixir)
- Ice Spirit (1 elixir)
- Zap (2 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Archers and Knight
Advanced Tactic: During the first minute, play purely defensive. Protect your Archers by using Skeleton Army as bait for enemy Arrows. Knight is your defensive anchor—keep him alive to shield weaker units.
Once double elixir hits, drop a Giant behind your tower and quickly cycle through Baby Dragon, Archers, and Skeleton Army. Then drop a second Giant at the bridge for a double Giant push that’s nearly impossible to defend against.
If your opponent has Mini PEKKA or other tank killers, split your Giants to opposite lanes and create a split push they can’t handle.
8. Mortar Knight Evo Archers (Average Elixir: 2.8)
Mortar unlocks in Arena 5 but really shines in Arena 6. This siege deck lets you damage towers from a safe distance.
Deck List:
- Mortar (4 elixir)
- Knight (3 elixir)
- Archers (3 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
- Tombstone (3 elixir)
- Bats (2 elixir)
- Electro Spirit (1 elixir)
- Zap (2 elixir)
Evolution Picks: Mortar and Archers
Protection is Key: Mortar can’t defend itself, so you need Knight and Electro Spirit to protect it while it chips away at towers. The cheap cards let you maintain pressure and cycle quickly.
Tombstone provides extra defense when you need it most.
9. PEKKA Battle Ram (Alternative) (Average Elixir: 3.6)
A slightly heavier PEKKA deck with more defensive versatility.
Deck List:
- PEKKA (7 elixir)
- Battle Ram (4 elixir)
- Minions (3 elixir)
- Musketeer (4 elixir)
- Guards (3 elixir)
- Goblins (2 elixir)
- Zap (2 elixir)
- Fireball (4 elixir)
Evolution Picks: PEKKA and Battle Ram
Double Lane Pressure: This version has better answers to air units and swarms. Once double elixir starts, you can afford to drop PEKKA more frequently and turn up the pressure.
If your opponent keeps defending your PEKKA Battle Ram combo on one lane, split them across different lanes. Most Arena 6 players can’t handle defending both sides simultaneously.
General Tips for Arena 6 Success
Master Elixir Management: Notice how most of these decks have low average elixir costs (2.8-3.6)? That’s intentional. Being able to cycle through your cards quickly and defend efficiently is crucial.
Learn Positive Elixir Trades: If you spend 3 elixir to defend their 5-elixir push, that’s a positive trade. Those small advantages add up to devastating double elixir pushes.
Don’t Overcommit Early: Many of these decks emphasize defense first, then counterpushing. Throwing everything at your opponent in the first minute usually backfires.
Know Your Win Condition: Every deck has one main card for taking towers (Goblin Barrel, Battle Ram, Giant, etc.). Everything else should support that card or defend until you can use it.
FAQ: Arena 6 Decks in Clash Royale
What’s the best Arena 6 deck for beginners?
The Giant Beatdown deck is probably your best bet as a beginner. It has a straightforward strategy—build big pushes behind your Giant—and teaches you fundamental concepts like counterpushing and elixir management. The average 3.3 elixir cost also means you won’t run out of elixir as easily while learning.
Should I focus on evolutions in Arena 6?
Absolutely, but be strategic about it. Evolutions can significantly boost your deck’s power, but you’re limited in how many you can use. Focus on evolving your win condition first (like Battle Ram or Goblin Barrel), then evolve key defensive or support cards like Musketeer or Skeleton Army. Each deck in this guide includes specific evolution recommendations.
How do I counter Skeleton Army in Arena 6?
Skeleton Army is one of the most common and frustrating cards in this arena. Your best counters are spells like Zap, Arrows, or Fireball, or splash damage troops like Baby Dragon, Bomber, or Valkyrie. If you’re running a deck that lacks these answers (like the basic Giant Beatdown), you’ll need to bait it out with other units first or rely on perfect Fireball timing.
What should I do if I’m stuck in Arena 6?
First, make sure you’re using a complete, synergistic deck rather than random cards you like. Try each of these decks for at least 10-15 matches to understand their playstyle. Watch how you lose—are you getting outcycled? Overpowered by beatdown? Then pick a deck that counters your weaknesses. Also, don’t neglect card upgrades. Even the best deck struggles with underleveled cards. And if you’re still having trouble, check out guides for other game modes to build your skills, like our Marvel Rivals error fixes or Baldur’s Gate 3 puzzle solutions.
Arena 6 is a turning point in Clash Royale. You’re not just unlocking new cards—you’re learning strategies that will carry you through the rest of the game. Whether you prefer the sneaky plays of Hog Bait, the overwhelming force of Giant Beatdown, or the defensive mastery of PEKKA decks, there’s a playstyle here that’ll click for you.
The key is patience. Don’t get frustrated by losses. Each match teaches you something about timing, placement, and reading your opponent. Pick a deck, commit to learning it, and you’ll be climbing out of Arena 6 before you know it.
Good luck, and may your Goblin Barrels always connect!
