Guards

What it looks like

The Guards is an Epic card that is unlocked from the P.E.K.K.A's Playhouse (Arena 6). It spawns three fast single-target, ground-targeting, melee, ground troops with low hitpoints and low damage with shields in addition to their normal hitpoints. Their deployment is in a triangle formation. They appear to be Skeletons, but are somewhat taller, wear black helmets with team-colored feathers, and carry spears and wooden shields with a crown emblem on them. A Guards card costs 3 Elixir to deploy.

Trivia

• Shields were first developed during the Bronze Age, as a protection device, designed to block attacks by hand weapons, such as swords, axes and maces, or ranged weapons like sling-stones and arrows. Shields have varied greatly in construction over time and place. Sometimes shields were made of metal, but wood or animal hide construction was much more common; wicker and even turtle shells have been used. Shields were retired in warfare, but are still used to this day for police enforcement. The Guards are 1 of 3 troops to have a shield, along with the Royal Recruits and Dark Prince. In the Dutch and Russian language settings of the game, the Guards' name translates to "Guardians". In the Turkish, Japanese, and Malaysian language settings of the game, the Guards' name translates to "Protectors", "Shield Warriors", and "Controllers" respectively.
• While not available as a troop in Clash of Clans, the Guards are similar to the Skeletons spawned from a Skeleton Spell.
• The Guards are 1 of 15 cards associated with Skeletons, with the others being Bomber, Skeleton Dragons, Skeleton Barrel, Tombstone, Bomb Tower, Skeleton Army, Witch, Balloon, Giant Skeleton, Wall Breakers, Super Witch, Graveyard, Skeleton King, and of course, Skeletons. In the Chinese language settings of the game, the Guards' name translates to "Skeleton Guards".
• The Guards are tied with Skeletons, Bats, and Suspicious Bush for the lowest hitpoints of all troops in the game, with 118 hitpoints at Level 15. However, unlike the other two, they also come with a shield.
• The Guards have been featured in multiple special game modes outside of the card. More specifically: The Guards are 1 of 23 troops that have 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, Prince, Balloon, Golem, Wall Breakers, Ram Rider, Sparky, Phoenix, Royal Ghost, Bandit, Lumberjack, Santa Hog Rider, and the Monk. The Guards are 1 of 14 troops that has been featured with a Rage buff, the others being Electro Spirit, Giant, Zappies, Giant Skeleton, Goblin Giant, Electro Dragon, Wall Breakers, Electro Giant, Mega Knight, Ram Rider, Electro Wizard, Sparky, and Royal Ghost.
• They appear to have an underbite, similar to the Minions, Giant Skeleton, Lava Hound, and Super Lava Hound.
• The Guards, along with the Minions, Bomber, Skeletons, Skeleton Dragons, Ice Spirit, Mini P.E.K.K.A, Mega Minion, Ice Golem, Dart Goblin, Elixir Golem, Goblin Brawler, Baby Dragon, P.E.K.K.A, Giant Skeleton, Golem, Wall Breakers, Bowler, Executioner, Mega Knight, Inferno Dragon, Royal Ghost, and Lava Hound, are featured as a monster in Squad Busters. An ice variant and a lava variant for the Guard are also featured as a monster in Squad Buster. According to their description in Squad Busters, the Guards are the King's bodyguards
• The Card Mastery task "Pain's An Old Friend" is a reference to a quote mentioned by Dr. Strange.
• The Guards are the subject of an Emote. The Guard Crown Emote is a reference to the Clash of Clans Lost & Crowned commercial.
• The Guards were featured in the winning deck of the Clash Royale League 2022 Tournament, by a player called Mohamed Light.
• The initial balance change for Guards on the May 2025 Update was a 6% damage decrease, but it was lowered to 4% last minute.