What Does Star Level Do in Clash Royale — And Is It Actually Worth It?

Star Levels in Clash Royale are purely cosmetic upgrades — they change how cards look in battle but do not affect stats, damage, or gameplay in any way. No competitive advantage, no hidden buff. Just a better-looking card.

Quick Answer — What Star Levels Actually Do

Star Levels change a card's visual appearance. That's it.

No extra damage. No faster deployment. No hidden buff. A Level 11 Hog Rider with Star Level 3 and a Level 11 Hog Rider with no Stars perform identically in a match. The only difference is that yours looks considerably more impressive.

What's often overlooked is that Star Levels are visible to your opponent during battle. When you play a starred card, the opponent can see the cosmetic effect. It's a flex as much as anything else — a signal that you've invested time (and Star Points) into that card.

What Are Star Levels in Clash Royale?

Star Levels were introduced as a way to reward players who had already maxed out their cards. According to Wikipedia's Clash Royale entry, the December 2018 update added Star Points to unlock special golden cosmetics for max-level cards — and in the October 2021 update, this was expanded to become accessible from Level 7 onwards. Once a card hits its eligible level, you unlock the ability to spend Star Points to apply cosmetic upgrades — Star Levels — to that card.

There are up to three Star Levels available per card, depending on rarity.

Which Cards Have Star Levels?

Star Levels apply to Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary cards. Each rarity tier has a different maximum Star Level and a different Star Point cost to unlock each tier.

At first glance, this seems like a straightforward unlock system — but in practice, the cost difference between rarities is significant enough that most players star up their favourite Legendary cards long before they work through their Common card collection.

Do Champion Cards or Evolutions Have Star Levels?

Champion cards and Evolution cards do not currently have Star Levels in the same way standard cards do. The Star Level system was built around the original card rarities, and as of the May 2026 update, this has not changed. Star Levels and Star Points remain in the game untouched by the new Collection Level progression system.

Do Star Levels Change Card Stats or Gameplay?

No. This is the most important clarification for anyone who searched this question expecting otherwise.

Star Levels are 100% cosmetic. A starred card deals the same damage, has the same hitpoints, costs the same elixir, and behaves identically to an unstarred version of the same level.

What Opponents See During a Match

When you deploy a card with a Star Level applied, your opponent sees the starred visual version — not the standard one. This is intentional. The cosmetic upgrade is designed to be visible in battle, which is part of its appeal as a prestige signal.

In competitive play, experienced players generally report that seeing starred cards gives no tactical information. Knowing someone has starred a card tells you nothing about their deck strategy or playstyle — only that they've spent Star Points on it.

Star Levels vs. Card Levels — Core Difference

Feature	Star Level	Card Level
Affects damage/HP	No	Yes
Affects gameplay	No	Yes
Currency used	Star Points	Gold + Cards
Visible to opponent	Yes	No (only implied by performance)
Max per card	1–3 (varies by rarity)	Up to Level 15
Unlocked when	Card reaches Level 7, 10, or 13	Any time with resources
Purpose	Cosmetic only	Core progression

What Changes Visually at Each Star Level?

Each Star Level adds a distinct layer of visual change to the card. The changes are cumulative — Star Level 2 builds on Star Level 1, and Star Level 3 is the most visually distinct version.

Star Level 1 — What Changes

At Star Level 1, the card gets a gold colour overlay. The card art in your collection and battle deck display shows a golden tint, and a star icon appears on the card. In battle, the troop or spell takes on a noticeably shinier appearance, plus a unique deploy effect when you place the card on the battlefield.

Star Level 2 — What Changes

Star Level 2 goes further with altered animations and a more pronounced golden sheen. Some troops gain updated attack or movement animations at this tier, making the visual change more obvious during actual gameplay. Golden clothing, armour details, and weapons are common additions here.

Star Level 3 — What Changes

Star Level 3 is the most dramatic. Cards at this tier can have significantly reworked visual effects — different particle effects, colour schemes, and in some cases entirely different battle animations. Cards like the Hog Rider, Musketeer, and Giant are often cited by the player community as having some of the most visually rewarding Star Level 3 transformations.

How to Unlock Star Levels — Step by Step

What Are Star Points and Where to Find Them?

Star Points are a separate in-game currency from Gold. You can find your Star Points balance in the same general area as your other currency. They are earned passively through gameplay and have a dedicated earning path distinct from Gold or Gems.

How to Earn Star Points

Star Points are earned through the following sources:

• Donating max-level cards to clanmates — this is the primary ongoing source
• Card Mastery rewards — completing mastery tasks on individual cards awards Star Points
• Collecting max-level cards from chests — excess copies are automatically converted into Star Points

After the May 2026 update, clan donations of max-level cards continue to give Gold and Star Points directly, so the earning mechanic is preserved even as XP has been removed from the game.

Star Level Unlock Cost by Card Rarity

Card Rarity	Star Level 1 Cost	Star Level 2 Cost	Star Level 3 Cost	Max Star Level
Common	2,000 SP	5,000 SP	15,000 SP	3
Rare	5,000 SP	15,000 SP	35,000 SP	3
Epic	15,000 SP	40,000 SP	100,000 SP	3
Legendary	40,000 SP	100,000 SP	—	2

SP = Star Points. Legendary cards cap at Star Level 2. Costs reflect standard in-game values and may be subject to game updates.

Are Star Levels Worth Unlocking?

This depends entirely on what you want from the game. There is no objective gameplay benefit to Star Levels, so the question is purely one of personal preference.

If You're a Competitive Player

Star Levels offer nothing in ranked or competitive modes beyond aesthetics. Most competitive players focus on maxing card levels first, then consider Star Levels once progression goals are met.

As reported by VentureBeat, Clash Royale operates as a free-to-play title across platforms — meaning cosmetic systems like Star Levels are designed to sit entirely outside the competitive loop, keeping gameplay fair regardless of how much a player has spent or starred.

If You're a Casual or Collector Player

Star Levels are genuinely enjoyable for players who like the look and feel of a polished collection. There's a real satisfaction in seeing your favourite deck shine in battle. Players who have been in the game for a long time and have multiple maxed cards often find Star Levels to be a natural next goal once the core progression pressure eases.

Which Cards Are Most Visually Rewarding to Star Up?

In practice, most players report the highest visual payoff from starring up high-deployment cards — ones you actually see moving and attacking frequently. Troops like the Hog Rider, Electro Giant, and Musketeer tend to show off Star Level animations more prominently than spells or buildings, which spend most of their time static on screen.

Star Levels After the May 2026 Progression Update

The May 2026 update made significant changes to Clash Royale's progression system — King's Journey was removed, XP was retired, and a new Collection Level system was introduced. For anyone worried about their Star Level investments: nothing changed.

Confirmed — Star Levels and Star Points Are Not Changing

Supercell explicitly confirmed in the official update announcement that Star Levels remain unchanged and Star Points are staying in the game. The update's FAQ directly states: "Star Levels remain unchanged as well, keeping your troops as shiny as ever."

How the New Collection Level System Interacts With Star Points

The new Collection Level system tracks your overall card collection progress based on card levels — not Star Levels. Star Levels do not contribute to your Collection Level score. They remain a separate, parallel cosmetic system.

What XP Removal Means for Star Point Earning

XP has been removed from card upgrades and clan donations. However, max-level card donations now give Gold and Star Points directly, which actually preserves — and in some cases streamlines — the Star Point earning flow for active players.

Conclusion

Star Levels in Clash Royale are cosmetic upgrades that change how cards look in battle. They cost Star Points, do not affect gameplay, and are purely a visual prestige feature. The May 2026 update left them completely intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Star Levels make your cards stronger in battle?

No. Star Levels are purely cosmetic. A starred card deals the same damage and has the same hitpoints as an unstarred card of the same level. There is no gameplay advantage whatsoever.

Can you remove or undo a Star Level once applied?

No. Once a Star Level is applied to a card, it cannot be reversed or refunded. Star Points spent are permanent, so it's worth being intentional about which cards you choose to star up first.

What is the highest Star Level in Clash Royale?

Most cards can reach Star Level 3. Legendary cards are capped at Star Level 2. Champion and Evolution cards do not currently use the same Star Level system as standard rarities.

Are Star Levels visible to your opponent in a match?

Yes. When you deploy a starred card, your opponent sees the starred visual version in battle. The cosmetic change is visible during gameplay, which is part of the intended prestige appeal.

Do Star Levels count toward Collection Level?

No. The Collection Level system introduced in May 2026 is based on card levels only — not Star Levels. Starring a card has no effect on your Collection Level score.