Balloon

What it looks like

The Balloon is an Epic card that is unlocked from the Royal Arena (Arena 7). It spawns a single-target, building-targeting, melee, air troop with high hitpoints and very high damage. When defeated, it drops a bomb which explodes after 3 seconds, dealing moderate damage. It is a hot air balloon with a team-colored envelope and a wooden basket with sacks held together by patches and ropes, and is piloted by a Bomber. A Balloon card costs 5 Elixir to deploy.

Trivia

• The first use of hot air balloons in warfare was in 1849, where the Austrian imperial forces besieging Venice attempted to float some 200 paper hot air balloons each carrying an 11–14 kg bomb that was to be dropped from the balloon with a time fuse over the besieged city. Before that, Balloons were used in wars exclusive for reconnaissance purposes, the first instance being in the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, used by the French against the Austrians. In the Italian, Finnish, and Vietnamese language settings of the game, the Balloon's name translates to "Hot Air Balloon". In the Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language settings of the game, the Balloon's name translates to "Bombastic Balloon", "Air Balloon", "Skull Airship", and "Balloon Soldier" respectively.
• The Balloon is 1 of 19 troops which first existed in Clash of Clans, the others being Minions, Archers, Goblins, Skeletons, Barbarians, Giant, Valkyrie, Wizard, Hog Rider, Witch, P.E.K.K.A, Golem, Wall Breakers, Bowler, Cannon Cart, Phoenix, Lava Hound, and the Archer Queen. The Balloon resemble the Level 1-2 Balloon from Clash of Clans. Its Star Level 3 skin resembles the Level 3-4 Balloon in Clash of Clans, only without its crown. Its card image and render are identical to the old render of the Balloon in Clash of Clans, except for the re-skinned envelope and color change. Unlike its counterpart in Clash of Clans, the Balloon in Clash Royale does not deal area damage. In Clash of Clans, the Balloon's death damage will only affect ground troops and buildings, while in Clash Royale, the Balloon's Clash Royale will affect air troops. Visually, the Balloon in Clash of Clans will crash down, dealing damage upon impact when defeated, while in Clash Royale, it will disappear completely, only dropping a bomb which will deal damage. According to Clash of Clans, Balloons are "promoted" Wall Breakers. The Skeleton riding the Balloon is visually identical to a Level 1 Wall Breaker in Clash of Clans.
• The Balloon is 1 of 15 cards associated with Skeletons, with the others being Bomber, Skeleton Dragons, Skeleton Barrel, Tombstone, Bomb Tower, Guards, Skeleton Army, Witch, Giant Skeleton, Wall Breakers, Super Witch, Graveyard, Skeleton King, and of course, Skeletons. The Balloon, along with Skeleton Dragons and Skeleton Barrel are the only Skeleton-cards to fly. The bombs in the Balloon and Bomber's card renders are identical.
• The Balloon has the shortest range of all troops, with a range of 0.1 tiles.
• The Balloon is one of the first troop cards to be featured in a Trainer's deck, alongside the Minions, Archers, Knight, Spear Goblins, Goblins, Bomber, Skeletons, Barbarians, Minion Horde, Mini P.E.K.K.A, Musketeer, Giant, Valkyrie, Wizard, Hog Rider, Baby Dragon, Skeleton Army, Witch, P.E.K.K.A, and Prince.
• The Balloon is one of the first troop cards to receive a card render, alongside the Archers, Knight, Goblins, Bomber, Skeletons, Barbarians, Bats, Royal Recruits, Skeleton Barrel, Rascals, Musketeer, Giant, Valkyrie, Wizard, Flying Machine, Hog Rider, Royal Hogs, Dart Goblin, Zappies, Elixir Golem, Baby Dragon, Skeleton Army, Witch, P.E.K.K.A, Prince, Giant Skeleton, Goblin Giant, Hunter, Electro Dragon, Wall Breakers, Bowler, Cannon Cart, Mega Knight, Ram Rider, Miner, Royal Ghost, Ice Wizard, Magic Archer, Bandit, Lava Hound, Night Witch, and Fisherman.
• The Balloon has been featured in multiple special game modes outside of the card. More specifically: The Balloon is 1 of 23 troops that has been featured in the Troop Rush game mode, the others being Skeletons, Skeleton Dragons, Fire Spirit, Bats, Elite Barbarians, Firecracker, Rascal Girls, Royal Hogs, Heal Spirit, Elixir Golem, Guards, Prince, Golem, Wall Breakers, Ram Rider, Sparky, Phoenix, Royal Ghost, Bandit, Lumberjack, Santa Hog Rider, and the Monk. The Balloon is 1 of 2 troops that has been featured with a Death Spawn buff, the other being Giant Skeleton.
• Its description is based on the Clash of Clans Balloon Parade commercial.
• The Balloon's design strongly resembles that of the Kirov Airship from the Command and Conquer games. They are both airships that deal massive damage to things right under them, both are very slow and can only target ground units.
• The Balloon's basket looks similar to the hull of the Rocket.
• In Touchdown, if a Balloon is still on the Arena after a touchdown has been scored (unless it scored it itself), will have its dropped bomb cleared.
• Unlike other troops, the Balloon does not disintegrate into Elixir when defeated.