Hog 2.6 still centers on a cheap rotation back to Hog Rider. In the RoyaleTracker snapshot checked October 12, 2026, the most-used 2.6 build paired Hero Musketeer, Evolution Skeletons, and Evolution Cannon with Hog Rider, Ice Spirit, Ice Golem, Fireball, and The Log. Its displayed win rate was 58.5% across 16,131 recorded uses. RoyaleTracker does not show a sample window or rank range beside those figures, so use them as a dated snapshot rather than a prediction for your matches.
Hog Cycle asks you to track your opponent’s Hog answer while you defend. Count the cards they play after spending it, then check the cycle and elixir before sending another Hog. The October balance update also changed Evolution Cannon and Skeletons, so check those interactions as you practice.
The current 2.6 Hog Cycle list
This is the most-used current 2.6 build on the tracker. It uses Hero Musketeer and two Evolutions in place of the classic card versions.
| Card | Slot in the tracked build | What to track while playing |
|---|---|---|
| Hog Rider | Main tower-pressure card | Note the opponent’s building or troop response and when it returns to hand |
| Hero Musketeer | Ranged support and defense | Keep her available when the opponent’s air or support cards are still unaccounted for |
| Evolution Skeletons | Low-cost defense and cycle | Count the Evolution cycle separately from the card’s return to hand |
| Evolution Cannon | Building defense | Place it for the threat in front of you; the October update reduced its barrage damage |
| Ice Spirit | Cheap cycle and support | Spend it when its pause or low-cost cycle helps your current defense |
| Ice Golem | Low-cost support and distraction | Use its placement to redirect a threat or support a Hog push |
| Fireball | Spell for grouped targets and tower damage | Check whether a defensive answer is more valuable than tower chip |
| The Log | Spell for ground pressure | Keep it in mind when the opponent’s small ground units are their Hog answer |
RoyaleTracker labels this composition at 2.6 average elixir. The classic list uses Hog Rider, Musketeer, Ice Spirit, Skeletons, Ice Golem, Fireball, The Log, and Cannon. Copying the cards is quick; learning what you can spend and still defend the next push takes more attention.
What 2.6 means when you cycle
The 2.6 label is the deck’s average elixir cost. A four-card rotation uses whichever cards you choose, so its elixir cost varies. Count the plays and the elixir separately.
Supercell’s 1v1 guide says a played card returns to hand after four more cards are played. When your opponent uses a building on Hog, count four later plays before expecting that building again. Check their elixir and the other cards still in hand before you attack.
| Moment | What to count | Decision to make |
|---|---|---|
| You play Hog Rider | Your next four card plays before Hog returns | Choose a rotation that keeps a needed defensive card in hand |
| The opponent spends a building | Their next four card plays before that building returns | Look for a Hog window, then check their elixir and other counters |
| You spend Cannon on defense | Your own next four plays | Plan for the gap before Cannon returns; do not assume it is ready for the next push |
At the start of a match, use a low-cost card only if it does not leave you without a response to an obvious threat. A single Hog can reveal how the opponent answers, but the information is useful only if you can handle the counter-push. Once you have seen a building, spell, or support troop, write it into your mental rotation. Repeating the same Hog push into a card that is already back in hand gives up the main advantage of cycle tracking.
What the current deck snapshot shows
When checked on October 12, 2026, RoyaleTracker showed these three Hog builds. The page did not state a sample window or player range beside the figures, so treat them as a dated snapshot of the tracker’s recorded uses, not an official all-ladder measurement.
| Build shown on the page | Average cost | Win rate | Recorded uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero Musketeer, Evolution Skeletons, Evolution Cannon, Hog Rider, Ice Spirit, Ice Golem, Fireball, The Log | 2.6 | 58.5% | 16,131 |
| Evolution Firecracker, Evolution Cannon, Mighty Miner, Skeletons, Hog Rider, Electro Spirit, The Log, Earthquake | 2.6 | 60.1% | 3,599 |
| Evolution Valkyrie, Evolution Firecracker, Skeletons, Hog Rider, Ice Spirit, Tesla, The Log, Earthquake | 2.8 | 62.9% | 2,366 |
The two 2.6 lists share the average cost and Hog Rider plan, but use different support and Evolution cards. The 2.8 list has a higher displayed percentage than the first 2.6 build and a smaller recorded-use count. None of these figures establishes which version will perform better for you. Compare the cards and sample sizes before copying a percentage from a deck page.
The classic list remains a reference if you do not have the listed Hero or Evolutions: Hog Rider, Musketeer, Ice Spirit, Skeletons, Ice Golem, Fireball, The Log, and Cannon. If you test a substitute, write down the problem you want it to solve and change one slot at a time. After a small run of matches, review whether that card helped in the situations you picked it for. A win-rate display for a different eight-card list cannot answer that question for your collection.
If you are weighing different ways to work toward a trophy goal, our Clash Royale service page outlines the available assistance.
Account for the October balance changes
In its October 6, 2026 balance update, Supercell reduced Evolution Cannon’s barrage damage from 281 to 261, a 7% change. The notes say it still defeats Dart Goblin and is less effective against big pushes. Skeletons received a tighter spawn spread, which makes them more vulnerable to splash damage.
Use the patch notes to check two interactions in your own matches: what Evolution Cannon clears against the pushes you face, and whether splash damage catches your Skeletons together. RoyaleTracker’s figures were visible six days after the balance update, but the page does not show when those matches took place.
A current r/ClashRoyale discussion compares Little Prince with Musketeer in Hog 2.6. The replies reflect player opinions, not measured matchup results. In your own matches, note which card stopped Hog and whether it returned before your next push. For a different format, our Clash Royale 2v2 deck guide covers partner pairings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hog Cycle still good in 2026?
RoyaleTracker’s October 12 snapshot showed its most-used 2.6 build at 58.5% over 16,131 recorded uses. The page does not show a sample window or rank range alongside that figure, so use it as a tracker snapshot rather than a promise about your own matches.
What cards are in the current 2.6 build?
The tracked 2.6 build shown here uses Hero Musketeer, Evolution Skeletons, Evolution Cannon, Hog Rider, Ice Spirit, Ice Golem, Fireball, and The Log. The classic card versions are Musketeer, Skeletons, Cannon, Hog Rider, Ice Spirit, Ice Golem, Fireball, and The Log.
How many cards do I play before Hog Rider returns?
Supercell’s 1v1 guide says a played card returns after four more cards are played. Count those plays, and remember that your elixir cost depends on which cards you use.
What changed for Hog 2.6 in the October balance update?
On October 6, Supercell reduced Evolution Cannon’s barrage damage from 281 to 261 and tightened Skeletons’ spawn spread. Its notes say Evolution Cannon still defeats Dart Goblin but is less effective against big pushes; the tighter Skeletons spread makes them more vulnerable to splash damage.
Is the 2.8 Hog deck the same as Hog 2.6?
No. The 2.8 build shown in the tracker uses Evolution Valkyrie, Evolution Firecracker, Skeletons, Hog Rider, Ice Spirit, Tesla, The Log, and Earthquake. It has different defensive cards and a different average cost.
How should I respond when an opponent stops my Hog?
Remember the card they used and count four more plays before it returns to hand. Then check their elixir and the rest of their hand before choosing your next Hog push. The rotation creates an opportunity to consider; it does not guarantee a connection.
Keep the opponent’s Hog answer in view and use the four-card count to plan around it. Review your own matches after the October changes and adjust the list only when you can name the problem a new card should solve.
If you want to review assistance options for a Clash Royale climb, see the Clash Royale service page.
