Introduction: The Devastating Charger

What separates good Prince players from great ones is understanding the charge mechanic and knowing exactly when to deploy him. The Prince excels in surprise attacks, punishing overcommitments, and steamrolling through unprepared defenses. However, he's equally vulnerable to proper counters, making timing and support crucial to success.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn everything about maximizing the Prince's potential - from charge mechanics to optimal placements, devastating synergies to overcoming hard counters. Whether you're using him in bridge spam, beatdown, or control decks, mastering the Prince transforms him from a predictable threat into an unstoppable force.

Understanding the Charge Mechanic

The Prince's charge is what makes him special, but many players don't fully understand how it works. Here's the complete breakdown:

How Charging Works

• ▸Charge Distance: Prince needs 3.5 tiles of uninterrupted movement to begin charging
• ▸Charge Damage: When charging, his first hit deals double damage (640 at tournament standard)
• ▸Charge Reset: Any attack, push effect, or stun resets the charge immediately
• ▸Speed Boost: While charging, Prince moves at "Fast" speed instead of "Medium"

Maximizing Charge Value

To get maximum value from Prince's charge:

• Deploy from the back - Place Prince behind your King Tower (at least 4 tiles back) to guarantee a full charge by the time he reaches the bridge
• Clear the path - Use spells or support troops to eliminate swarms and distraction units before they reset the charge
• Bridge spam - Sometimes deploying directly at the bridge catches opponents off-guard, though you sacrifice the charge
• Dual lane pressure - If they defend one Prince with everything, pressure the opposite lane immediately

Card Stats and Damage Breakdown

At Tournament Standard (Level 11), the Prince's stats are exceptional for a 5-elixir card:

• Hitpoints: 1,615 HP - Decent health, but not a true tank
• Damage (Normal): 320 per hit - Already respectable single-target damage
• Damage (Charge): 640 per hit - Devastating first strike that one-shots many troops
• DPS: 213 - Solid sustained damage after the initial charge
• Hit Speed: 1.5 seconds - Moderate attack speed

Critical Interactions to Know

This one-shot potential is why Prince is so dangerous - he eliminates defensive troops before they can provide value, creating massive elixir advantages when protected properly.

Optimal Placement Strategies

Offensive Placements

Where and when you deploy Prince determines success or failure:

1. Back Deployment (Beatdown Style)

Deploy Prince 5-6 tiles behind your King Tower during regular elixir. This gives you time to build elixir and add support troops before he reaches the bridge. The full charge is guaranteed, and opponents have time to see the threat coming.

Best used when: You have elixir advantage, it's early game, or you want to build a massive push

2. Bridge Deployment (Punish/Surprise)

Deploy Prince directly at the bridge when opponents overcommit elixir or deploy pump/heavy tank in back. You sacrifice the charge but apply immediate pressure they must answer. This works best in double elixir when you can quickly follow up.

Best used when: Opponent just spent 7+ elixir, they have no elixir for defense, or you're making a desperate push

3. Defensive Deployment

Place Prince in the center to pull building-targeting troops or on the side to quickly eliminate support units. His charge can one-shot Musketeer, Wizard, or other glass cannons before they deal significant damage. After defending, the surviving Prince becomes a deadly counter-push.

Defensive Placements

• Center plant against tanks: Pull Golem, Giant, or Royal Giant to the middle, allowing both towers to damage them while Prince charges into them
• Anti-support: Drop Prince on top of enemy support troops (Musketeer, Wizard) to instantly eliminate them with the charge
• Bridge plant defense: Against Hog Rider or Ram Rider, Prince can kite them if placed correctly, though timing is tight

Best Synergies and Combinations

Prince shines brightest when properly supported. Here are the most devastating combinations:

Tank Pairings (Beatdown)

Giant + Prince

Classic combo where Giant tanks while Prince charges behind. Giant absorbs all damage, allowing Prince to demolish defenders and then crush the tower. Add Dark Prince for "Double Prince" or Electro Wizard for spell/swarm protection.

Golem + Prince

Ultimate beatdown push. Golem's massive HP and death damage create chaos while Prince charges through everything. Extremely expensive (13 elixir) but nearly unstoppable when supported with Night Witch or Baby Dragon.

Bridge Spam Pairings

Prince + Dark Prince

The famous "Double Prince" strategy. Both princes charge together, overwhelming single-target defenses. Dark Prince's splash damage protects against swarms while both deal massive damage. Extremely effective when opponents lack proper area damage.

Prince + Battle Ram

Dual charging threats that force awkward defensive trades. Battle Ram's Barbarians distract while Prince demolishes the tower. Common in bridge spam decks with Bandit and Ghost.

Support Card Synergies

• Zap/Log: Essential for clearing swarms (Skeleton Army, Goblin Gang) that reset Prince's charge
• Dark Prince: Provides splash damage to protect Prince from swarms while both charge together
• Electro Wizard: Stuns and resets enemy defensive units, keeping Prince's path clear
• Tornado: Pulls defenders away from Prince or groups them for spell value
• Rage: Amplifies Prince's already high damage and speed for overwhelming pushes
• Clone: Cloning a charged Prince creates devastating double damage potential

Countering Prince and Counter-Playing

Common Prince Counters

Understanding how opponents will counter your Prince helps you overcome their defenses:

• Skeleton Army: Surrounds and melts Prince instantly (counter: predict with Zap/Log)
• Goblin Gang: Same principle, swarms Prince for positive trade (counter: spell or splash support)
• Mini P.E.K.K.A: Out-damages Prince in direct combat (counter: avoid direct confrontation, use spell on support)
• P.E.K.K.A: Hard counter, destroys Prince easily (counter: bait it to opposite lane first)
• Buildings: Cannon, Tesla, Tombstone pull Prince away from tower (counter: spell the building or overwhelm with dual lane)
• Knight: Cheap distraction that tanks charge hit (counter: combine Prince with Dark Prince or other DPS)
• Skarmy + Bats: Ground and air swarm combo (counter: requires two spells or splash support)

Overcoming Counters

Against Swarms

• Hold Zap or Log until swarm deploys, then instantly spell it
• Pair Prince with Dark Prince or Valkyrie for splash protection
• Use prediction spells if opponent always plays swarm in same spot
• Deploy Baby Dragon or Electro Dragon ahead of Prince to preemptively clear path

Against Buildings

• Spell the building (Fireball on Tesla, Log on Goblin Cage)
• Ignore the building and pressure opposite lane
• Tank the building with Knight or another cheap troop while Prince continues to tower
• Overwhelm with dual threat (Prince one lane, Battle Ram other lane)

Against Tank Killers

• Never let Prince face Mini P.E.K.K.A or P.E.K.K.A alone
• Use Prince defensively first to eliminate these threats
• Bait them to opposite lane before committing Prince
• Surround with support troops (Electro Wizard stuns, Bats distract)

Deck Archetypes Featuring Prince

1. Bridge Spam Prince

Core cards: Prince, Dark Prince, Battle Ram, Bandit, Electro Wizard, Poison/Fireball, Zap/Log

Playstyle: Relentless aggression with charging units. Apply constant pressure, forcing opponents into awkward defensive positions. Punish any elixir disadvantage with immediate bridge spam.

Win condition: Overwhelming opponent with multiple charging threats simultaneously

2. Giant Prince Beatdown

Core cards: Giant, Prince, Dark Prince, Musketeer, Mega Minion, Zap, Fireball, Elixir Collector

Playstyle: Build elixir advantages, then create massive pushes with Giant tanking for Prince. Play defensively until double elixir, then overwhelm with 15+ elixir pushes.

Win condition: Unstoppable beatdown pushes in double elixir

3. Prince Bait Control

Core cards: Prince, Goblin Barrel, Princess, Goblin Gang, Skeleton Army, Inferno Tower, Rocket, Log

Playstyle: Bait opponent's spells with swarms, then capitalize with Prince charges or Goblin Barrel. Use Inferno Tower for defense, converting to Prince counter-pushes.

Win condition: Spell cycling and punishing overcommitments with Prince

Advanced Prince Techniques

The Prediction Spell

Good Prince players react to swarms. Great Prince players predict them. If your opponent always drops Skeleton Army in the same spot, throw a prediction Log 1 second before Prince arrives. This catches them completely off-guard and guarantees your Prince connects.

Opposite Lane Punish

When opponents commit heavily to one lane (Golem in back, 8+ elixir push), immediately drop Prince at the opposite lane bridge. They're forced to choose: defend your Prince (losing their investment) or commit fully to their push (giving up tower). Either way, you gain massive advantages.

Kiting Enemy Troops

Use Prince defensively to kite tanks away from support. Place Prince at river on opposite lane from tank - he pulls it across the arena while your towers shred the separated support troops. Then counter-push with the surviving Prince.

The Fake Push

Deploy Prince in one lane to bait out their counters (swarms, buildings). Once they commit 3-4 elixir to stop Prince, immediately pressure the opposite lane with your real win condition. They're now low on elixir and defensive options.

Matchup-Specific Strategies

Vs. Bait Decks

Bait decks rely on Skeleton Army and Goblin Gang to counter Prince. Hold both spells if possible, forcing them to guess which you have. Never commit Prince without spell backup. Use him defensively to eliminate Princess and build counter-pushes.

Vs. Beatdown

Prince is excellent defensively against beatdown. Drop him on support troops (Night Witch, Musketeer) to one-shot them with charge. Use the surviving Prince to pressure opposite lane, forcing them to split elixir or lose a tower.

Vs. Cycle Decks

Cycle decks have multiple cheap counters (Cannon, Skeletons, Ice Spirit). Don't overcommit. Use Prince for defense and chip damage. In double elixir, build massive pushes they can't outcycle. Spell their defensive buildings to open paths.

Vs. Siege

Prince destroys X-Bow and Mortar quickly, making him excellent against siege. Rush the building with Prince when placed. They're forced to defend Prince or lose their siege weapon. Perfect matchup for aggressive Prince play.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ✗
  Playing Prince without spell backup: Never deploy Prince if your spell is out of cycle. Swarms will shut you down instantly.
• ✗
  Overcommitting when countered: If they hard counter your Prince, don't throw more elixir at it. Cut losses and defend.
• ✗
  Ignoring their counter cards: Track their counters. If they just used Skeleton Army, THAT'S when you push.
• ✗
  Predictable placement: Vary your Prince deployment (back, bridge, defensive). Predictability = easy counters.
• ✗
  Not protecting the charge: The charge IS the value. If reset by skeletons, you've wasted elixir.

Level-Dependent Interactions

Prince is level-dependent because his one-shot potential changes with levels:

Conclusion: The Unstoppable Force

The Prince embodies high-risk, high-reward gameplay. When protected and supported properly, his devastating charge can single-handedly win games. When countered effectively, he becomes a liability. This creates a dynamic playstyle where timing, prediction, and support matter more than raw stats.

Mastering Prince means understanding charge mechanics, reading opponents, and knowing exactly when to commit. It means holding spells for critical moments, varying your deployment patterns, and never falling into predictable routines. It means turning every successful defense into a charging counter-push that threatens towers.

Whether you're running bridge spam, beatdown, or even control, Prince provides immediate win condition pressure that opponents must respect. His presence forces specific counters, opening opportunities for your other threats. Start incorporating these Prince strategies today - practice the charge timing, experiment with different synergies, and watch as this 5-elixir Epic transforms from a straightforward card into your most feared weapon.