In 2026 Clash of Clans has remained even more about the equipment than before. With five heroes and lot of gear options, ore management is one of the key aspects. Ores are limited and upgrades take time, so upgrading the wrong item can slow your progress. This guide explains, in simple terms, which equipment you should upgrade first for each hero and why.
Simple rule: Do not upgrade everything. Rather, focus on upgrading equipment that is good at supporting various strategies, still provides value for mid-level players and helps in supporting the most popular types of attacks.
If you’re looking to get more information about Clash of Clans, feel free to check out the related guides below:
These guides can help you boost your progress and enhance your overall gameplay experience.
By the way, if you’re already eager to play Clash of Clans, we highly recommend playing Clash of Clans on PC and Mac with MuMuPlayer for a smoother gameplay experience. MuMuPlayer is the top Android emulator that offers optimal gaming performance with smooth keyboard and mouse controls, high FPS, and multi-instance support.
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Barbarian King - Best Equipment to Upgrade First
The Barbarian King is no longer used as a tank. In 2026, he would be mostly deployed in base outside clearing or central opening assists.
Spiky Ball is the most critical tool for the King. It’s one of the safest upgrades for Ore in the game. It allows the King to destroy lots of buildings without going too deep, which is ideal for creating a funnel. Use it in conjunction with the Snake Bracelet when the King moves around the perimeter to live longer and remove buildings faster.
If you want to send King inside the base, you can use the combination of Spiky Ball and Earthquake Boots. Earthquake Boots destroy walls and damage buildings nearby, and then the function of the Spiky Ball removes important defenses. Older options such as Rage Vial and Giant Gauntlet still work, but they are no longer the optimal choice compared to Spiky Ball setups.
Ore priority:
Spiky Ball - Snake Bracelet or Earthquake Boots
Archer Queen - Most Reliable Equipment Choice
The Archer Queen can have very simple and reliable equipment choices. One setup works in almost any kind of attack.
Your first upgrade should be to the Action Figure. It increases her damage and keeps her alive longer, which is great for queen charges and normal attacks. Use this with the Magic Mirror upgrade that creates a copy of the queen when her ability is used. This copy takes damage and adds extra shots often saving the real queen.
Other items like Giant Arrow or Healer Puppet can be used for fun or special attacks, but in war or when pushing, Action Figure and Magic Mirror are safe and optimal upgrade options.
Ore priority:
Action Figure = Magic Mirror
Royal Champion - Highest Value New Equipment
The Royal Champion has undergone significant changes in the year 2026 due to the availability of new gears. Currently, she assists the army and also inflicts good damage.
The most critical equipment to improve is Electro Boots. These provide healing and speed boosts, enabling the Royal Champion to live longer battles. Most ground smash attacks require the use of Electro Boots with Rocket Spear so that she can attack the defense systems from a distance while remaining at the back of tank soldiers.
If you use Super Bowlers, Throwers, or Warden Charge attacks, replace Rocket Spear with Frost Flake. Frost Flake freezes strong defenses and keeps fragile troops safe. Indeed, some professionals even use both Rocket Spear and Frost Flake together in dragon attacks, letting the Royal Champion support from the side without taking too much damage. Older items like Haste Vial are now less important and mostly useful only at lower Town Hall levels.
Ore priority:
Electro Boots - Rocket Spear + Frost Flake (if needed)
Grand Warden - Strategy Based Investment
The Grand Warden’s value depends on your army type, so your upgrades should match your play style.
For air attacks like Dragons or Balloons, Eternal Tome is the best investment. It gives temporary invincibility, which is critical against Town Hall weapons. Pair it with the Healing Tome to keep troops alive through heavy damage.
For ground smash or Warden Charge strategies, better choice is Fireball and Rage Gem. Fireball can destroy an entire section of the base, but only if upgraded enough. Fireball is weak at low levels. You should not use it seriously until Level 24. Rage Gem should be at least Level 15 to be effective with healers.
Ore priority (Air):
Eternal Tome - Healing Tome
Ore priority (Ground):
Fireball - Rage Gem
Minion Prince - Best Raw Stats Investment
The Minion Prince scales over time, so survival will always be more important than early game damage.
Dark Crown and Dark Orb are an ideal set of equipment to use in the match, since Dark Crown gives much more hit points and damage than a Meteor Staff. Since Prince becomes stronger the longer he lives, these stats make a big difference in the back end of attacks.
Some pro players use the Meteor staff for certain air techniques. However, for most players, Darker Crown is the safer and superior Ore investment. If you are going all out on the prince for late game support roles in hero dives, Metal Pants may be worth looking into.
Ore priority:
Dark Crown - Dark Orb
Smart Ore Upgrade Rules for 2026
- Upgrade usable sets first: Get one full setup for each hero instead of maxing one item alone.
- Respect level breakpoints: Some gear only works after certain levels. Fireball (24) and Rage Gem (15) are the best examples.
- Do not chase every new item: Wait to see if new equipment stays strong before spending Ores.
- Match gear to your army: Air attackers should focus on Warden healing gear. Ground attackers should prioritize King and RC.
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Conclusion
For the best value from your investment in 2026, you should begin with Spiky Ball, Action Figure, Electro Boots, Magic Mirror and Dark Crown. These items work well in a variety of strategies and remain useful even when the Clash of Clans game is changing. Fireball and Frost Flake are both good options, but they are better used with the attack style you currently use. Spend wisely and upgrade slowly; this way, your heroes will continue to thrive for the entire year.
