Why Is Hog Rider So Balanced In Clash Royale?

The Hog Rider has only received 3 balance changes in Clash Royale history, which is hardly any for a Day 1 card. Despite the lack of changes, it's in a pretty healthy spot, as it almost always has been. This is very rare, even for balanced cards. This video will go over the meta shifts and history that has allowed the hog rider to stay relevant and healthy for six years without a change.
Music List:
The Olmakhan - Guild Wars 2
Rosalina in the Observatory 3 - Super Mario Galaxy
Dreiton - C418
Forest - The Last Guardian
Nalbina Dungeons - FFXII: The Zodiac Age
Peril - Halo 2
Wicked Wings (Shrunk 2) - Gareth Coker
Temple of Tolerance - Guild Wars
German Dances No 5 for Orchestra in F Major, K 536 - Mozart

[@fl4re163]

The history of hog is basically like "Oh shit a new card is broken, throw it in a hog deck"

[@imalegendofsomething6838]

He needs a nerf. He’s too fast and in many situations does a hit.

[@yaboifle]

@@imalegendofsomething6838that’s a skill issue

[@Sans_The_Skeleton]

@@imalegendofsomething6838L skill issue

[@rogermrogerm]

@@imalegendofsomething6838You’re just bad. It gets countered so easily but if you don’t have the right cards or don’t know the right placements it’s a bit tough to counter.

[@splur1239]

​@@rogermrogerm Shut up he's just saying his own oppinion and you might disagree, but that doesn't mean you have to "prove" that he is wrong. Just say something like "I think it's pretty easy to counter" instead. Why does everybody on the internet feel like they need to prove that their opinion is the right one? smh

[@Diveraaa]

Hogrider is actually a W card, it's easy to counter if it's not on the tower yet. BUT if it is connected on the tower it's hard to kill

[@army1057]

Me with tombstone and tornado in the deck be chilling at the back

[@emanuel4570]

counting with pekka or mini pekka is so hard . and using a building is a free earthquake that damages the tower. 1 or 2 single hits of hog rider are rentable and its a only 4 elixir card, so most hog riders decks are almost just the hog rider doing damage and the rest of cards defending the cheapest way posible. i hate those stall decks

[@army1057]

@@emanuel4570 skill issue

[@emanuel4570]

@@army1057most hog riders decks have no skill , they always throw the hog rider alone or with a spell or circle card. stall is no skill

[@fildafernandes4366]

​@@emanuel4570skill issue

[@jamesflameson]

It's worth mentioning that with the release of Little Prince people have started substituting the musketeer to make a Hog 2.5 deck.

[@historyhub9211]

Only time will tell if that replacement will last.

[@The1andOnlyDuck]

Also giving a 3 card cycle if you have little prince on the field

[@supremerage3328]

It didn't because most people don't have a maxed out prince

[@bigfloridapimp]

Does it actually count as 2.5 technically though? More like 2.8 since you pay 3 elixir for the guardian

[@kidabear782]

​​@@bigfloridapimp you're not forced to use the guardian to cycle lol, infact due to the way champions work it's easier to cycle with them

[@danielsolyarikov7908]

I remember the sale that allowed you to get 300 of them for only £2. Truly the moment of all the Clash Royale history

[@Ananas-280]

I know what you talking about 😂😂

[@humanfrommars882]

300 BLACK MEN FOR ONLY 2 POUNDS! YES SIR

[@alptugraakan7490]

@@humanfrommars882 truly a crusher 21 moment

[@gabriel_0260]

You should make a video about the skeleton troop and how it is balanced even inside a lot of cards

[@vctmmhendra]

it the same reason as the original trio skeleton we love and hate... they counter-able by 70% of card but counter hog and defense oriented troops to some extent... that if you have hog you must have counter to skeleton or goblin or spirit it just it is and it the standard to use hog ....

[@cannoncartthecommenter8871]

Skeletons are not balanced in the Skeletons card. For 1 elixir, you can counter tons of unsupported but much more expensive units, even Baby Dragon. In general, they easily distract stuff better than any spirit. Their overall dps is actually nuts for the cost, and using any spell to kill them, even predicting, is a negative trade. On top of this, they're great for cycling and in general I see them way too much and they're so stupidly boring. They're basically impossible to nerf because of the balanced cards that have the troop in them. Reducing the count to 2 would be make it too weak.

[@jacksonwesel4670]

Is the solution to remove the card from the game? Like, what would be ideal?@@cannoncartthecommenter8871

[@ryanamburgy2791]

@@cannoncartthecommenter8871skeletons are balanced. All 1 elixir cards are very versatile

[@xtra_1807]

@@cannoncartthecommenter8871greatest take ever

[@biguzivertt]

my issue with big rider is the enormous amount of support troops that they have released over the years that make hog so frustrating. this last summer was the worst if ur with evo firecracker taking 0skill

[@1Kai11]

Yeah that was crazy… I’m a former hogquake player but I never got the evo… but the challenges and gameplay was insane

[@vctmmhendra]

welp that life mate i also sick to see log bait with hog, miner hog, ice golem hog, and some crazy hog ice wiz because ice wiz make hog almost useless when i use bait....

[@gilwaa]

Evo cracker nowadays isn’t that hard to counter

[@pug8714]

This is the only game where ive seen people complain about skill so much

[@lavalampa2020]

​@@pug8714cause mfs with hog rider dont wanna admit how op the fckin card is but when they lose its them having no skill

[@IsTheMeep]

The main problem with hog is that the only way to easily counter Hog is with a building, which Cr doesn’t really like buildings. If you don’t use buildings the odds are going to get at least one hog hit for each hog rider, unless you have perfect placement or spend too much elixir (assuming there is nothing with the hog)

[@deadgunner3625]

So run a building, they’re essential in mid/top ladder for Royal giants even

[@thomasdevlin5825]

My problem is that you *have* to use a building in order to effectively counter him, same problem with the ram rider except that card is even more aids. If your defense card is out of rotation your only option is to deal so much damage at once that the hog rider dies instantly, which becomes more complicated if the other guy does something like shield him with something that you have to deal with before the hog rider

[@ItsMagician_]

You can counter hog with a mini pekka, or any card with a snowball, or a tornado or a building, it is so easy to counter

[@Star-um9cz]

@@ItsMagician_You have to react fast to the rider, your cards take time to deploy as well (aside from tornado) Most of the time you’re eating a hammer swing

[@ItsMagician_]

@@Star-um9cz bro it is so easy i can counter him every time without a building, if you are good enough it will be so rare to get a hit from a hog rider

[@ParkorStillIsPirate-ev3sk]

I found your channel cause my kids recommend this channel to me and they say they love your work. My kids say you fill them with joy glad they enjoy your channel

[@ParkorStillIsPirate-ev3sk]

@@Kelvin_Rey lmao

[@1-NeO-1]

Why is there so many comments like this? Can some1 explain?

[@massimosk8]

​@@1-NeO-1I would say these are bot comments

[@CoringavsDuendeVerde]

No...​@@massimosk8

[@AlessandroPioltelli]

I’m interested in a video on the Elixir golem Although it’s pretty new, it’s been changed and reworked a bunch I also wouldn’t mind one on mortar!

[@3br1ce7]

its doesnt deserve one 😤

[@AlessandroPioltelli]

@@3br1ce7 😂 agreed tbh

[@Testiclopps]

i reckon elixir golem should be 4 elixir instead of 3 especially because the elixir it drops adds up to 4

[@Greggorto]

@@Testicloppsliterally any amount larger than 3 would be better lmao

[@thenohacksandmoneyspending2210]

@@3br1ce7welp! I have some news for you

[@notthisguy_71]

Gratz never fails to fill my kids with joy

[@Hanter_fr]

💀

[@WakandaMan99]

[@bear6901]

Bro no please

[@destroyerswin8537]

he never fails in giving happiness to kids

[@dimsthedimwit600]

💀

[@jackmeikle8017]

Just wanted to say at 25:20 the firecracker “buff” was actually a nerf, increasing its first attack speed. There was a weird interaction where it would occasionally get a hit at 1HP and sometime wouldn’t. So that random chance was eliminated

[@0broop0]

That 1hp hit was very useful, firecracker decks activated king tower anyway so it was just potential for free damage

[@gabrielrangel956]

Hog Rider is like the Knight, it's a "1" of the balancing system, everything is balanced around it

[@azophi]

Until they released knight evolution, which made it broken 😢

[@bruh_bruh_the_bruhest_bruh]

that's the definition of broken

[@Sillimant_]

@@bruh_bruh_the_bruhest_bruh that's like saying tf2's stock weapons are broken because they're the calibration for the other weapons. you should be laughed out of the room

[@cd7677]

​@@Sillimant_ i think hes talking about evos, which is more as if the minigun ubered yourself

[@thegoldenbucketstudios9896]

Built in medigun every 3rd death

[@kuroshiba1903]

I still use my 2017 Hog Rider deck every now and then when I hop back into the game. It looks exactly like a deck made by a 14 year old would look like, 4 legendaries with no sinergy and a Bowler to counter hut decks.

[@jalan5368]

Arena?

[@sailakakap1032]

can you spill your deck please

[@kuroshiba1903]

@@jalan5368 Can't remember, I think I haven't changed the deck since 3k trophies, that's midladder nowadays right?

[@kuroshiba1903]

@@sailakakap1032 iirc it's Hog Rider, Lumberjack, Ice Wizard, Princess, Bandit, Zap, Bowler and (can't remember the last card)

[@grandre3464]

@@kuroshiba1903I’m pretty sure midladder is considered to be around 5000 trophies but I’m not sure

[@AidanCuvelier-ty9pg]

Hog 2.6 can’t hurt you Hog 2.6:

[@gaidencastro9706]

Skarmy has to have one of the crazier balance histories.

[@A.mcg.]

It's simply just the definition of a win condition. It attacks buildings and is a ground troop with no real special quirks. So it's insanely easy to use in any deck and to also be countered, its like a 'rock paper scissors' card if you get me so thats why it will always be balanced.

[@mellow6268]

Hog is really interesting because I feel like he has the lowest skill floor to use offensively and counter defensively, but also very high skill ceilings to use at high level and defend against

[@mjuy15]

Gratz, gotta say I found your channel recently and it has become one of my favorites. Despite CR not being as popular, your videos draw me in and keep me interested. The research, editing, and story telling is amazing. Keep it up!!!

[@nkbm3120]

I disagree that it is “not boring to play against.” I absolutely DETEST facing Hog Rider because it is so boring. However, even if I wish it were nerfed into the ground, I still see your point in that it is not an OP card. Though it would be nice to have a Hog Ruder -less meta for once.

[@LeSsintak]

Fr

[@lucasrubi0_0]

Makes the history of Zap too, it was previously considered one of the most broken cards and there was also a lot of balancing changes on the card

[@rytex7382]

He did that already in the log video

[@hadeed4534]

he covers it in the log vid

[@lucasrubi0_0]

​​​@@rytex7382I know, but it was only at the beginning of the zap (despite being the main part) and after the nerfs, the log dominated and the zap was below, he could talk about the zap in recent years and explain how the more specific zap was and show the most used decks with zap

[@IB21066]

I feel like he has already mentioned about zap in many videos so it doesnt really make sense to make a seperate vid

[@harsh1784]

Zap needs to kill goblins

[@hareks5]

Your videos are so relaxing, i love them

[@princemannic]

Right as I came back around to your channel you drop another vid we love to see it

[@asrieldreemurr5298]

i am so happy to see the history of the hog rider! i was so curious about it!

[@homebredprune9980]

a video with tornado and all the troops that pair so well with it and tower activation would be cool

[@Joseph-ch2cl]

Only real problem I have with the card itself is how tanky it feels when it's over leveled since it's speed lets it take advantage of the higher health and damage very effectively

[@federico8744]

Still waiting for the clone spell history Nice vid like always btw

[@theoverseer393]

Hogrider on its own usually gets 1 hit, but most soft counters require more than 1 elixir to defend. (more importantly) if they commit to the offensive, even if they get 1 or more hits, they’re even worse off than before for example: hog+fireball=8, barbarians=5, you’re up 3 elixir, but the hog rider took a lot of damage just to get one or 2 hits

[@That-One-Spy-Main]

Finally a video on the hog rider One of the most interesting cards in the game overall

[@Vimek_Xol]

The new evo ice spirit will undoubtedly impact hog 2.6, espeically considering that by the time the evo is available after cycling to it, that 3x freeze burn is going to be all the difference in the hog pushing through for the last bit of damage

[@imperialimpact4912]

Not many people are going to switch evo skels for evo ice. Evo skels are just a better evolution and ice spirit is already a great card.

[@lolbitmanss_]

​@@imperialimpact4912 uh oh double evos incoming

[@johnny_la_chil4415]

Man that vid on the hog rider w/ the mario galaxy melody just behind is a perfect combo

[@el_bodegon]

This might be Clash Royale's most perfect card to be this long without a balance change and still being a W card

[@jenniferpossum9043]

wouldn't the xbow not being able to hit air troops be a buff considering it's a win condition?

[@richardzheng231]

I played CR very early in the game's history. Pretty much instantly gravitated to the hog rider due to it's speed and how easy it was to level up. I went from trifecta to cycle to hog axe nado. Currently running hog log axe nado ice spirit skeletons lumberjack and ewiz, and the trusty hog still works great

[@Canodiablo]

Its always a good day when Gratz upload

[@jacobgeary5576]

Great vid, giant or pekka next!

[@freshspringroll1610]

Love your videos Gratz, your videos educate me on Clash Royale’s history. Thanks for the content! ❤

[@mailcs06]

I would love to see a History of Sparky. She’s my favorite card.

[@constirofner9571]

Gratz, can you please do the history of elixier golem, I think it'd be very fun to watch

[@jacobczerwiec5924]

Fun fact the skeletons are the card with the longest balance change (not including the evolution)

[@RestingTeaLeaves]

This guys channel is literally my workout mix

[@Thorondor_xD]

As a hog-ex-nado player I can say that hog is really versatile and solid. I even reached UC with it.

[@vctmmhendra]

yup and it pain in the A$$ to deal with to ...

[@Thorondor_xD]

@@vctmmhendra But a lot of people play this miner walis deck with bombtower and nado which is a pain to play against.

[@mattglasgow4383]

Always loved hog-rider, even named my account with the card in mind. Funnily enough, though my name is misleading I’ve mostly always played log bait. I did get a 20 win way back with 2.6 and I still use some hog decks for fun. It’s nice, it has a role and it fills it well. No complaints.

[@calebaden7543]

Hey Gratz when will you make that history of lumberjack video

[@featherskaijay3060]

They need to nerf 2.6 as a whole. It has too much defense that then transforms into an offense giving you no breathing room

[@SenderBender63]

In isolation I think most the cards are fine in terms of balance, except hog rider which I think is the main contributor to the frustration due to the very low commitment of the hog rider, if it was nerfed the deck would still be defensive for the most part but they’d have to commit harder to deal substantial damage to towers

[@featherskaijay3060]

@joshseddon8605 I feel like they should introduce deck balancing where cards will be adjusted depending on the deck their in but that may end up being too confusing

[@davidcardozo290]

2.6 is so aids, many decks have been built around just beating it.

[@Gerboy13]

Gratz could you make a video about pekka i would really appriciate it ❤😃

[@shrimpypotato9564]

I know you may never see this or care, but like seriously I get so excited every time one of your videos gets posted, they’re so incredibly well made, and even though I wouldn’t say I’m as crazy about this game as some people are, they’re really really interesting and in depth. The videos are like perfect to watch while I eat or anything like that and I just wanted to say I really really like them, and I appreciate the work you do! I think you seriously deserve more recognition than you get. There’s clash creators with like more than 1M subs, and your content is so much better than theirs.

[@the_godbodor7026]

If anything, Hog Rider being so well balanced is why it’s so common on ladder. Unlike most other cards who, when a new card releases or the next balancing changes drop, get changed a lot to where they might be complete garbage, Hog has remained unchanged for 6 years with no signs of being changed still.

[@lUseMyBlade]

I despise playing against 2.6 but I have a 3.4 dark prince hog deck that absolutely slams and I love rushing with that combo.

[@gusteen3292]

Classic Gratz W, Tombstone would be an interesting video to see, considering it is easily the weirdest of the three original spawners in terms of viability and mechanics

[@kyan6727]

my favorite card by far, i just got him to level 15 30 mins ago. i use a 2.5 hog cycle with the little prince which can make it a 3 card cycle. it’s INSANE

[@specil-k]

You talking about Trifecta 2.0 felt like namedropping the BBG in passing at the beginning of a DnD campaign

[@DastardlyTea]

Half way through the video currently but I’d say that at this point supercell most likely sees the card as a balanced core card to the game. They use it and how troops stack up to its stats to balance cards around it.

[@runecrafted1670]

2.6 with the little prince and evo skeletons is so fun to play lmao. You just get free counters to every win condition and push.

[@davidh429]

I personally don't use hog rider due to the iconic scream but I do find it pretty good for both being able to be countered and good for damage on towers too.

[@NicoloIorio-ze5lc]

U should make a vid about royal recruits How broken they were How the massive 2+ elixir nerf destroyed them And how their evo is doing

[@eagelwizard290]

I think you missed a relevant "balance change" of the hog. For a time the Hog wouldn't jump over the river if just placed at the very outside. You had to push him just a bit more with another troop to make that jump happen. When interactions of true red/true blue were fixed the current behaviour was implemented. This means it is easier/cheaper to bypass buildings than before.

[@breadodozesa]

whenever i see this guy post it makes my day better

[@darkk4907]

I stopped playing clash royale but still enjoy his video.

[@legromp2357]

Same. And it's insanely satisfying when he mentions something that makes you go "Oh damn I was playing at this time and it was so annoying"

[@PIZZAloverNUMBERS]

Love the videos

[@jerometolentino1678]

an early christmas miracle with gratz saying so much praises to hog cycle!

[@Mecha_Kevin]

My best combos are Prince & Battle Ram, Hog Rider & Dark Prince, and Battle Ram & Hog Rider. Such a W card

[@Tolu]

i got a biochem test in the morning but this is more important

[@ParthaSarathylink]

All you have to do is spend 19 elixir. if you don't want hog rider to connect to tower, if you can't counter its a skill issue. Jk, Nerf that black man already ( as Crusher21 said)

[@ycrhzhangzhong9819]

I love miners

[@artoriassif9458]

Love is a strong word. Do you know them?

[@fadelk_]

If you master this deck you didn't need cannon anymore, back then I was always counter big push with musketeer, ice golem, spirit and skelly. Of course lightning counter it, but it's cycle deck, just throw your hog and cycle into a new card😂

[@susanoomikoto5875]

Finally an upload. Time to get the snacks

[@beboy97]

Anyone old enough to remember when people would play Prince with balloon as a push??

[@adamelbitar9490]

2:46 u said defensive twice btw great work man❤

[@rianmela3825]

Other people: treating hog rider attacking a defense a bad thing Me being joyful at how he killed that annoying mortar instantly:

[@nielsthedarklord7617]

Do Royal Hogs, Royal recruits next (pls)

[@l33b80]

Can you do a history of bowler and current state? Looks like they want to nerf it right now, but why?

[@moamalak8719]

Nice, like always

[@MichalBene]

I love your content❤❤❤

[@dfwuclan7602]

Been running the same hog rider deck for about 4-5 years now. I've been on and off of Clash Royale lately, but just hit 6500 with it

[@PM.115]

Hogrider is not the problem...a single cannon can counter it fir elix value even. The problem is the annoying support you play it with or the cycle. Its not the hogs fault that the game has 4 (1 elix) cards now that make cycle much easier. I wonder how long it takes people to get that in their heads

[@Frisk_Gaming1]

I love your content

[@loading.]

You should do a video on underrated cards

[@Pan5836]

I think Hog is definitely meta. I use off meta decks, so anytime i encounter hog users, i really enjoy killing those sacks of bacon. Such an easy card to use imo, just throw it down and itll go straight for the tower.

[@wishub]

🤓

[@8terboy121]

This man really found the perfect style for clash royale videos. I cant appreciate it enough

[@Slimerror]

A sad day when people say that hog rider is balanced... My favorite part of the card is when it locks onto the building you placed and then changes its mind and goes for the tower instead. No other card does this so its unbelievably annoying and almost feels like an intended feature for an annoying, overused card.

[@goralxd2584]

What do you mean it changes agro? I have played with hog rider since i remember and it never happend to me

[@Tubigboy23]

It happens all the time and I use hog, I love when it does happen 🤣 for me of course....

[@Slimerror]

@@goralxd2584 Basically it has a bug where it will turn and start running towards the building you placed in the middle, then it will just change its mind, it'll look back at the princess tower and run straight at it instead. It's the worst part of hog rider, I honestly don't think he's that strong although I do thin he needs a small nerf but when he ignores your building it basically makes you lose the game because you have to spend even more on defense or take a bunch of damage.

[@chasemaceface3886]

in my opinion it is insanely broken, not on its own, if you pair it with eq it is literally unkillable, the eq takes out buildings and swarms, its a guaranteed hit unless you have mini pekka (which needs the right placement) and minion horde. Quick edit : me personally would say it needs a massive hit speed nerf, and a slight health nerf

[@mewhenyourmom1964]

Can you make a video on the Royal Recruits pls

[@donpablitojuarez4640]

Could you maybe make a video about the history of Pekka bridgespam?

[@danever159]

i sugggest a video about evolutions and their balancing.

[@ramoasutik6770]

In over 39% (70 out of 179 games) of my last games, I played against the Hog. It doesn't matter if he is easy to counter or whatever argument you come with: It has been the most used win condition for years. Sometimes he has a usage rate of over 24%. And that with a total of 22 win condition cards. The biggest problem is that obviously, everyone has a completely different definition of balance.

[@Wario_Guy]

Do a video on all of the metas for the 20 win challenges, please! I think it would be great

[@Nooby_XD]

00:59 he says lets go back to 2019 and the tower's hp is 2019 too (dont know if its intentional or smth)

[@jake0b]

It’s ironic to see that Supercell added one of the most offensive cards to try to make a change to the meta, but it only resorted to becoming a staple in one of the most defensive decks ever.

[@iceagefighter]

I love the fact that I can just return to CR at any point and just know that my hog deck is still good and maybe would need only a small change...

[@C-HH351]

Can you pls make a video on elixir golem back when it was good ?

[@icewalker1185]

I made up my main deck especially to counter 2.6 and logbait... My best ranking was UC and I casually get 10 victoiries on tournaments, this is how frequent those two decks are

[@kauahenrique3176]

Can you say what deck that is ?

[@icewalker1185]

@@kauahenrique3176 Zap, Pekka, Lumberjack, Log, Wizard, Furnace, Mirror, Battle ram (hog rider works too but battle ram kite better and is often underestimated by players unlike hog riders)) log, furnace, zap, mirror (for logbait) furnace, mirror, pekka, lumberjack (for hog rider) also furnace wizard for lumberloon Mirror is a very versatile card, I can use it on log to counter logbait or damaging incoming pushes I can use it on furnace to counter tower seekers and spawner spam I can use it on pekka to counter tank spam On wizard for flying spam and swarming on lumberjack and battle ram for aggressive push Or on zap to tricks inferno dragon/tower and zappy Edit : I would add furnace can be a great defensive building, it can instakill gobarrel, fully counter lone baloon and hog rider, being a great defensive support against big push (like witches or barbs), and it can deal extra damages to the ennemy tower if it survive the push

[@DoggonePlayzYT]

As as hog eq player, I can say you need real skill when the meta goes against you

[@tyceshumway3462]

Do a history video on the pekka!!

[@gamerdogthedog]

Honestly when I first started playing the game, I just figured some cards were made for early game, and others for later game. Sparky being balanced when I am in arena 5 doesn’t affect me

[@TristanJ1984]

Rosalina observatory mentioned 🎉

[@MyHonFreaksTv]

Galaxy soundtrack gave me big boy chills

[@superflash6193]

Could you do the fire spirt? From a good 1 elixir card to one of the worst

[@MarthaCamilaRodriguezZaguero]

Fire spirit is not bad. Is really ok.

[@hsn2805]

The Hog rider isn't a spell or a cheap cycle card to be ok in every meta, it's a win condition that used in many decks, even if the win rate is ok but the use rate isn't

[@lavalampa2020]

Its 4 exilir its is almost guarrented damage every time

[@seeamm1622]

If it is so balanced, why is it in EVERY meta deck?

[@profishhh]

Because its good. Something can be balanced and good

[@AtomicAegis45]

The reason the Mega knight is complained about more is because mid ladder players(including myself) don't know j6ow to cointer it. A tank that counters my tank counters. NANI the ruck?

[@dexorfgamer6127]

Hog rider is my favorite card of clash royale. It is so fun to use, and I'm glad that hog is viable in almost every meta.