Clash Royale Introduces Major Progression and Gameplay Changes for 2026

Progression systems, Heroes, duplicate cards, and rewards have been major discussion points within the Clash Royale community in recent months. In response, Supercell is implementing significant structural changes throughout 2026. Some updates will go live on February 23, while additional adjustments will arrive with the March 2026 update and future patches.

February 23 Update: Key Changes

Removal of Max-Level Duplicate Cards

One of the most frustrating aspects of progression has been receiving duplicate cards that are already maxed out, particularly at Level 16. Opening rewards only to obtain unusable duplicates has long been a pain point for players.

Beginning February 23, this system will change substantially. Players with fewer than 60 Max Level cards will no longer receive duplicates of Max Level cards. For those who already own more than 60 Max Level cards, the drop rate weight for Max Level duplicates will be reduced by 90%.

Earlier Hero Unlock at Arena 5

Hero accessibility is also being shifted earlier in the game. The Hero unlock slot will now become available at Arena 5, rather than being a late-game milestone.

This change is expected to make early progression more engaging, allowing players to interact with Heroes sooner and integrate them into their strategies without extended grinding.

March 2026 Update and Beyond

Reduction of Special Deck Slots

A major gameplay adjustment will reduce special deck slots from four to three. The new structure will consist of:

• One Evolution slot
• One Hero slot
• One Wild slot (which can contain either a Hero or an Evolution)

This change will apply across Trophy Road, Ranked, and Challenges. The goal appears to be tightening gameplay balance, especially as the increasing number of Evolutions and Heroes has significantly impacted deck variety.

Removal of Random Hero Unlocks

One of the most impactful changes involves Hero acquisition. Hero unlocks will no longer rely on random drops. Instead, players will collect Hero Fragments, which can be used to unlock a chosen Hero directly.

To support this system, the Free Pass will include 75 guaranteed Hero Fragments per season starting in March 2026.

Additionally, players who have already passed the Arena 5 Hero unlock stage will receive 200 Hero Fragments, claimable for three months beginning in mid-March.

Content Rotation and Future Releases

A new Evolution has been confirmed for April, but no Evolution will release in May. Beginning in June, content releases will rotate between Heroes, Evolutions, and new cards, signaling a shift away from the recent focus primarily on Heroes.

Supercell has also acknowledged feedback regarding the 5-Star Lucky Chest, which many players felt lacked excitement. While specific reward adjustments have not yet been revealed, improvements have been confirmed.

With progression reworks, structural deck changes, and a revamped Hero system, Clash Royale’s 2026 roadmap signals one of the most significant gameplay overhauls in recent years.