Star Levels & Star Points
What Star Levels do in Clash Royale, how Star Points work, and whether the golden upgrade is worth it — the honest version.
Short answer
Star Levels are purely cosmetic.They add a golden shine to a card's troops, buildings, or spell effect when you deploy it, but they do not change any stat. You pay for them with Star Points, a currency earned by upgrading cards that are already maxed and from King Level rewards.
What is a Star Level?
A Star Level is a cosmetic upgrade you can apply to a maxed-out card. Once applied, the card's units gain a distinctive golden tint and a small sparkle when they spawn on the arena. It is a way to show off the cards you have invested in most — think of it as a gold trim rather than a stat boost.
The effect is visible to both players in a match, so a starred deck reads as a “flex” on your opponent. Higher Star Levels make the golden effect more elaborate, but the underlying card art and animations stay the same.
Do Star Levels affect gameplay?
Do Star Levels affect gameplay in Clash Royale?
No. Star Levels are purely cosmetic. They give a card's troop, building, or spell a golden visual effect when deployed, but they do not change hitpoints, damage, range, hit speed, or any other stat. A Star Level 3 card and a Star Level 0 card of the same level are mechanically identical.
The common misconception
Many players assume a “Level 3 star” card is somehow stronger. It is not. Star Levels sit entirely outside the stat system — a Star Level 3 Musketeer and a plain max-level Musketeer deal identical damage and have identical hitpoints. If a card's numbers changed, that would be Evolutions or a balance patch, not stars.
What are Star Points?
What are Star Points in Clash Royale?
Star Points are the cosmetic currency you spend to apply Star Levels. You earn them automatically when you upgrade a card that is already at its maximum level, and from King Level rewards as your account levels up. You cannot buy Star Points directly with gems.
How you earn Star Points
- Upgrading maxed cards. Once a card is at its max level, extra cards and gold you would have spent leveling it convert into Star Points instead.
- King Level rewards. Leveling up your account (King Level) grants Star Points among the rewards.
- Not purchasable directly. There is no button to buy Star Points with gems — they come from progression.
How to unlock and apply a Star Level
Applying a Star Level is a two-condition process: the card has to be maxed, and you have to have enough Star Points saved up.
- 1
Max the card
A Star Level can only be applied once the card has reached its maximum level. Cards below max show no star option.
- 2
Save Star Points
Accumulate Star Points from maxed-card upgrades and King Level rewards until you can afford the next tier.
- 3
Apply the star
Open the card and spend Star Points to activate Star Level 1, then 2, then 3 — each unlocked in order.
Star Point cost by rarity
Star Levels cost more the rarer the card, and each successive tier (1 → 2 → 3) costs more than the previous one. Supercell tunes the exact numbers over time, so treat the relative ordering below as the reliable part.
| Rarity | First Star Level | Trend across tiers 1 → 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Common | lowest cost | Cost increases each tier |
| Rare | low cost | Cost increases each tier |
| Epic | higher cost | Cost increases each tier |
| Legendary | highest cost | Cost increases each tier |
Note: exact Star Point prices are set in-game and can shift with updates. We show the rarity ordering and per-tier trend rather than fixed numbers so this stays accurate — check the in-game card screen for the live cost of your specific card.
Are Star Levels worth it?
Are Star Levels worth it in Clash Royale?
That depends on what you value. Because Star Levels are cosmetic only, they give you no competitive advantage — a starred card wins no more often than an unstarred one. They are worth it if you enjoy the golden prestige look on your favorite cards, and not worth it if you are optimizing purely for ladder performance.
Our honest take
If you are chasing trophies or climbing the ranked ladder, Star Points are the lowest-priority thing to spend on — they buy prestige, not power. Save them for the cards you play most and enjoy the gold look. If you want an upgrade that actually moves win rates, look at Evolutions instead.
Star Levels FAQ
Do Star Levels affect gameplay in Clash Royale?
No. Star Levels are purely cosmetic. They give a card's troop, building, or spell a golden visual effect when deployed, but they do not change hitpoints, damage, range, hit speed, or any other stat. A Star Level 3 card and a Star Level 0 card of the same level are mechanically identical.
What are Star Points in Clash Royale?
Star Points are the cosmetic currency you spend to apply Star Levels. You earn them automatically when you upgrade a card that is already at its maximum level, and from King Level rewards as your account levels up. You cannot buy Star Points directly with gems.
How many Star Levels can a card have?
Each card can reach up to 3 Star Levels. You unlock them one at a time in order — Star Level 1, then 2, then 3 — and each tier costs more Star Points than the last. The golden effect becomes more pronounced at higher tiers.
How do I unlock a Star Level on a card?
The card must first be at its maximum level. Once it is maxed, an option to apply a Star Level appears on the card, and you spend Star Points to activate it. Cards that are not yet maxed cannot receive a Star Level.
Are Star Levels worth it in Clash Royale?
That depends on what you value. Because Star Levels are cosmetic only, they give you no competitive advantage — a starred card wins no more often than an unstarred one. They are worth it if you enjoy the golden prestige look on your favorite cards, and not worth it if you are optimizing purely for ladder performance.
Are Star Levels the same as Evolutions?
No. Evolutions genuinely change how a card behaves in battle and can shift matchups, while Star Levels only change appearance. If you are looking for an upgrade that affects gameplay, that is Evolutions, not Star Levels.