Best Clash Royale decks in August 2023: Monk, Phoenix, Hog Rider, more

Clash Royale Season 49 is underway and you must build a powerful deck to survive the competition in Arenas and increase your trophies. From the classic Mortar cycle to the Electro Giant Mirror, we’ve compiled the strongest Clash Royale decks in August 2023.
Over the years, Clash Royale has drastically increased the quantity, quality, and complexity of its cards. Players are expected to make a deck of eight cards to take part in games and it is no surprise that you can try out an endless amount of decks.
To make the perfect deck in Clash Royale, you must consider average Elixir cost, card synergy, card level, and a lot more. Due to the abundance of options, many players feel overwhelmed when they only need to pick eight cards. Luckily, there’s a wide range of decks that have already been tried and tested heavily at the highest levels.
On that note, let’s take a look at the best Clash Royale decks to help you significantly increase your trophies in August 2023.
Top undefeated decks in Clash Royale (August 2023)
Monk Three Musketeers Ice Golem deck
Monk is the newest card to arrive in Clash Royale and naturally, the community has been eager to test this unique and tanky unit. Here are the cards you’ll need to play the Monk Three Musketeers deck:
- Three Musketeers
- Elixir Pump
- Miner
- The Monk
- Minion Horde
- Goblin Gang
- Ice Golem
- Zap

How to use:
The newest card, Monk, helps in evading projectiles with his one-Elixir ability. This means that you can save your Towers, Elixir Pump, and the Three Musketeers from Arrows, Rockets, Fireballs, and other spells. This also applies to situations where the opponent uses Arrows to defeat the Minion Horde or the Goblin Gang.
It is evident that this deck focuses on wasting the spells of the opponent as there are so many targets. Thereafter, with the Monk’s protection, you can lay out a strong attack with the Miner. If you utilize this deck properly, your opponent will end up in a place where they have no effective counters.
Hog 2.6 cycle

The Hog 2.6 cycle deck in Clash Royale includes these cards:
- Cannon
- Fireball
- Hog Rider
- Ice Golem
- Ice Spirit
- Musketeer
- Skeleton
- The Log
How to use
With an average Elixir cost of 2.6, the Hog Rider 2.6 deck is simply based on quick rotations and finding the right time to attack.
Your main line of defense comprises the Cannon and the Musketeer. While the former helps in luring Giants, Inferno Dragons, and other aggressive units, the latter is your only troop that can efficiently deal with aerial attackers like Dragons.
The Ice Golem and Skeletons can be used defensively to lure charging enemies such as Princes. Moreover, you can place the Golem in front of a Hog Rider during an attack to protect the latter from damage.
Similarly, Fireball can be used offensively as well as defensively depending on the situation.
Monk Phoenix Graveyard

The Monk Phoenix Graveyard deck in Clash Royale consists of these cards:
- Barbarian Barrel
- Ice Wizard
- Graveyard
- Monk
- Phoenix
- Poison
- Tornado
- Tombstone
How to use:
The Monk and Phoenix, to be fair, have no synergy. However, both these cards are really strong on their own and somehow work great in this deck. Yet again, the goal is to save your strongest cards from projectiles with the Monk. Defensively, you won’t face any struggles as there’s the Tombstone, the Ice Wizard, and the Tornado.
Phoenix and its high damage output alongside the Graveyard make this deck equally strong for attacks. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll realize how versatile the combination of Monk and Phoenix is.
Mortar Cycle

The best Clash Royale players in the world are using the Mortar cycle deck which includes these cards:
- Archer Queen
- Ice Spirit
- Miner
- Mortar
- Poison
- Skeletons
- Log
- Valkyrie
How to use:
The Mortar can be used as a defensive building but to use it aggressively, place it when the opponent is running out of Elixir. The Mortar will then lock on to one of the opponent’s towers and lure the incoming troops simultaneously.
You can frame another solid attack with the Valkyrie, Miner, and Archer Queen. Valkyrie has decent health and while the opponent’s towers deal with her, your Miner can dish out plenty of damage.
The Log is the best counter in the game to Goblins and Skeletons while Poison grants you immunity from Graveyard decks.
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All in all, defending should be a cakewalk with this deck but for the attack, you must strike the opponent when they’re at their weakest in terms of Elixir.
Archer Queen Hog Rider

Another Archer Queen deck that is being used by the best Clash Royale players in the world comprises these cards:
- Archer Queen
- Cannon
- Earthquake
- Giant Skeleton
- Hog Rider
- Ice Spirit
- Skeletons
- Log
How to use:
The Archer Queen Giant Skeleton deck is quite aggressive. The Hog Rider is all about dealing quick damage when the opponent has less defense and the Giant Skeleton can be the aggressor/defender depending on when you use it.
The Giant Skeleton can also lure the defending troops while your Hog Rider marches to deal damage. The Archer Queen and the Cannon largely take care of your defense while Earthquake is great for reducing the life of enemy buildings.
Ice Spirit, Skeletons, and The Log are three cards that help in reducing the Elixir requirements of this deck and provide you with quick ways to defend.
Golem Beatdown

The Golem Beatdown deck in Clash Royale is one of the most threatening decks ever during the double elixir phase. It consists of these cards:
- Golem
- Barbarian Barrel
- Tornado
- Lightning
- Baby Dragon
- Dark Prince
- Mega Minion
- Lumberjack
How to use
This deck revolves around the Golem and utilizing its massive health points. It is wise to primarily focus on defense during the early stages and when the Elixir production rate increases, concentrate on laying down a perfect attack led by the Golem.
While the placement of other troops is situational, it is really important to have Zap or Lightning ready whenever you release Golem. This is to counter the biggest threat to Golem, the Inferno Dragon, and the Inferno Tower.
Don’t be discouraged if you lose more Tower Health in the early fight because this deck is strong enough to turn the tide with a single push.
The Lumberjack is a great catalyst that not only has a really quick attack speed but also drops a Rage spell when defeated.
Lava Hound Balloon

The Lava Hound Balloon deck is arguably the best for aerial attacks and it comprises these cards:
- Lava Hound
- Fireball
- Mega Minion
- Balloon
- Mini P.E.K.K.A.
- Zap
- Royal Delivery
- Minions
How to use
The main aggressor in this deck is the Lava Hound as it will lure enemy defenses and troops. In the meantime, place Mega Minion/Mini P.E.K.K.A. to take care of the defenders and finally, deploy the Balloon so that it gets at least one or two hits at the tower.
The Lava Hound in this deck works like the Golem in the Golem Beatdown deck mentioned above. Yet again, make sure to have a Zap spell ready in case your opponent has an Inferno defense.
Electro Giant Mirror

The Electro Giant Mirror deck literally broke the Clash Royale meta and you need the following cards to make it:
- Electro Giant
- Golden Knight
- Bomber
- Skeletons
- Cannon
- Mirror
- Tornado
- Rocket
Clash Royale continued the trend of releasing overpowered Giant cards with the Electro Giant. Now, imagine two Electro Giants rushing toward your base and one of them is level 16. This is exactly what the Electro Giant Mirror deck is based on.
The Rocket and Mirror also make a great duo during the end game. With upgraded cards, you can mirror a rocket and deal thousands of damage within seconds.
The Tornado groups enemies together which is exactly what the Bomber wants to deal its massive AoE damage. All in all, this deck offers great defense and offense at the same time but you will have to grind a lot to unlock the Golden Knight.

Do note that is impossible to guarantee a 100% win rate with any deck in Clash Royale. In fact, many of these decks might have Legendary cards that you’re yet to unlock. In such a situation, feel free to make some minor tweaks that do not affect the Elixir efficiency or playstyle of the deck significantly.
Well, this was everything to know about the best decks in Clash Royale during August 2023. This is not to say that any other decks in the game are ineffective. Clash Royale gives players a ton of freedom to make their own decks which explains why its meta is ever-evolving.
For similar content, check out how to get Star Points in Clash Royale, the best multiplayer mobile games, Clash Royale chest cycle explained, and how to add friends in Clash Royale.