Introduction: Merge Tactics is Clash Royale's strategic seasonal game mode where you combine units to create powerful armies. With the October 2025 update making it fully seasonal with monthly resets, understanding the fundamentals is crucial to climbing the Starsteel leaderboards each month!
Quick Summary: Merge identical units to create stronger versions, activate Traits by grouping unit types, and climb the Starsteel ladder each season. Monthly resets mean everyone starts fresh!
What is Merge Tactics?
Merge Tactics is a strategic auto-battler mode in Clash Royale where you:
- Purchase units from a rotating shop
- Merge identical units to upgrade them (3 copies = 1 upgraded unit)
- Position units strategically on your battlefield
- Activate powerful Traits by fielding multiple units of the same type
- Battle against other players' armies automatically
- Earn Starsteel (trophies) to climb seasonal leaderboards
Seasonal Resets (October 2025 Update)
Starting with the October 2025 update, Merge Tactics now resets monthly:
- Starsteel resets - Everyone starts at 0 each season
- Road progress resets - Fresh rewards to earn
- Seasonal rewards - Exclusive items each month
- Fair competition - No permanent advantages from previous seasons
Core Mechanics
Merging Units
The fundamental mechanic of Merge Tactics is combining units:
- 3 Level 1 units = 1 Level 2 unit
- 3 Level 2 units = 1 Level 3 unit
- Continue merging up to Level 6+ for maximum power
- Higher level units deal more damage and have more health
- Positioning merged units strategically is key to victory
Common Mistake: Don't merge too quickly! Sometimes having three Level 2 units is better than one Level 3 unit because you can spread damage across multiple targets.
Understanding Blasters (New in October 2025)
Blasters replace the old Thrower unit type with improved mechanics:
- Area Damage: Blasters excel at hitting multiple enemies
- Safe Positioning: Can attack from the backline
- Strategic Value: Perfect for dealing with swarm strategies
- Synergy: Pair with tanks to protect your Blasters
The New Trait System
Traits are powerful bonuses activated by fielding multiple units of the same type. The October 2025 update completely reworked Traits to activate at 2, 4, and 6 units instead of the old system.
| Units | Trait Level | Bonus Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Units | Trait Level 1 | Small bonus (10-15% improvement) |
| 4 Units | Trait Level 2 | Medium bonus (25-35% improvement) |
| 6 Units | Trait Level 3 | Large bonus (50%+ improvement) |
Popular Traits to Build Around
Tank Trait
Increases health of all tank units. Excellent for frontline dominance and protecting your backline damage dealers.
Blaster Trait
Boosts Blaster attack speed and damage. Perfect for area damage strategies against swarm comps.
Flying Trait
Increases flying unit speed and evasion. Great for avoiding ground-based counters.
Spawner Trait
Reduces spawn cooldown and increases spawn health. Overwhelming opponents with numbers.
Beginner Strategy Tips
Early Game (Rounds 1-5)
- Economy First: Save gold early to afford better units later
- Pick a Direction: Start building toward one Trait activation
- Don't Over-Merge: Multiple low-level units can be better than one high-level unit
- Scout Opponents: See what strategies are popular and adapt
Mid Game (Rounds 6-12)
- Activate Traits: You should have at least one Level 2 Trait (4 units) active
- Start Merging: Combine units to Level 3-4 for power spikes
- Position Strategically: Tanks front, damage dealers back, Blasters protected
- Adapt Your Build: Pivot if you're getting countered
Late Game (Rounds 13+)
- Max Traits: Push for Level 3 Traits (6 units) in your main composition
- High-Level Units: Merge to Level 5-6 for your carry units
- Perfect Positioning: Fine-tune unit placement to maximize efficiency
- Tech Cards: Add specific counters to popular strategies
Pro Tip: Watch the top players on the leaderboard to see what builds are working. Since the mode resets monthly, the meta changes frequently!
Advanced Strategies
Positioning Tactics
- Tank Wall: Place tanks in the front two rows to protect your entire army
- Blaster Triangle: Position Blasters in a triangle formation to maximize area coverage
- Split Formation: Divide your army to counter splash damage
- Corner Protection: Place valuable units in corners away from enemy reach
Economy Management
- Save gold for crucial power spikes (Levels 5, 7, 9)
- Reroll the shop when you need specific units for Trait activation
- Don't overspend early - you need gold reserves for late-game merges
- Know when to "all-in" if you're on a losing streak
When to Pivot Your Strategy
Sometimes you need to abandon your initial plan:
- If the shop gives you three copies of a strong unit early
- When multiple players are forcing the same Trait (too much competition)
- If you're getting hard countered by the lobby meta
- When you hit a natural pivot point (getting 6 units of a different Trait)
Warning: Pivoting too late (after Round 10) is extremely risky. You'll likely waste resources and fall behind. Commit to your strategy by mid-game!
Starsteel Climbing Tips
Maximizing Your Monthly Climb
- Play Early: The first week is easiest as everyone is at similar Starsteel levels
- Learn One Build: Master a single strategy before trying others
- Consistency Over Highrolls: Aim for consistent top-4 finishes rather than risky top-1 strategies
- Study Your Losses: Review replays to understand why you lost
- Track the Meta: What works Week 1 might not work Week 4
Road Rewards Optimization
The seasonal road has exclusive rewards each month:
- Focus on hitting all major reward milestones
- Seasonal cosmetics are only available during their month
- Don't worry about absolute top ranks - rewards taper off quickly
- Completing the road is more important than ultra-high Starsteel
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-Merging Early: Keep multiple units early for flexibility
- Ignoring Traits: Traits are ESSENTIAL for late-game power
- Poor Positioning: Units in wrong positions lose to identical armies positioned correctly
- Forcing Trait 3: Sometimes Trait 2 is enough - don't force bad units
- Tunnel Vision: Adapt to opponents instead of blindly following one build
- Tilting: Take breaks between losses - emotional play = more losses
Next Steps: Now that you understand the fundamentals, check out our Best Merge Tactics Builds and Rewards Guide to maximize your seasonal progression!