Clash Royale Season 87: How to Counter Hog Rider Decks

To handle the heavy presence of Hog Rider decks in Clash Royale Season 87, hold your primary defensive building until your opponent drops their Hog Rider, track their card rotation to strike when their main counter is out of hand, and convert surviving defensive troops into immediate counter-pushes.

Key Tactics for Defending Against Hog Rider Decks

Heavy community focus on the Hog Rider in Season 87 has led to an increase in both Hog-centric cycle decks and hard-counter defensive setups. Adjusting your card placements and cycle management is critical to maintaining high win rates against these match-ups.

Hold your building until the win condition appears: Avoid deploying key defensive structures like the Cannon, Tesla, or Inferno Tower early. Wait until your opponent commits their Hog Rider so you are not caught out of cycle.
Capitalize on counter-pushes: Do not let defensive units go to waste after stopping a push. Pair surviving troops with an offensive unit to force your opponent to spend elixir defensively rather than cycling another Hog Rider.
Track opponent card cycles: Pay attention to when your opponent plays their hard counter to your win condition. Commit your main push only when their primary defensive response is out of rotation.

Defensive Building Options

Choosing the right structure determines how effectively you manage elixir trades against fast-cycle Hog Rider decks.

Building Structure	Elixir Cost	Primary Defensive Role
Cannon	3	Low-cost distraction for fast cycle decks; requires precise placement near the center of the arena.
Tesla	4	Hides underground to avoid spell damage before pulling the Hog Rider into range of both Princess Towers.
Inferno Tower	5	High-damage tank killer that neutralizes the Hog Rider quickly, though vulnerable to reset spells.

Managing Progression and Gold Spends in Season 87

Season 87 resource rotations and shop offers shift priority away from generic spending. When allocating gold and wild cards, invest in stable defensive cards and versatile win conditions that hold up against prevailing meta archetypes. Avoid over-investing in single-trick cycle decks if you encounter heavy anti-Hog tech cards in your trophy range.