In the magical faraway realm of Clash Royale, action-packed real-time battles collide head-on with card-based gameplay.

It’s up to you to marshal your army of fantastical creatures in skirmishes against players from around the world. Your success ultimately depends on collecting and deploying the right cards at the right time, but there’s plenty more to consider if you’re going to capture your opponents’ castles. These top tips from our editors could help you rule the game this summer.

You can’t attack, defend, or do much of anything without Elixir, the lifeblood of Clash Royale. You’re vulnerable if your bar is empty and potentially wasting opportunities if it’s full, so always base your next move on your Elixir levels.

Also, if your opponent seems suspiciously passive, be aware that they’re probably building up their reserves in preparation for an assault of their own.

As well as keeping your game deck varied (it’s wise to give your Troop lineup an eclectic mix of speed, melee, and range abilities), Card Evolution—available from Arena 3—is an essential addition to your arsenal.

With the help of Shards (available via Lucky Chests, challenges, and events), you can power-up various character types with special abilities. Your opponents won’t know what’s hit them.

This year, the XP-based King’s Journey endgame was replaced by the new, simplified Collection Level system. The straightforward arithmetic is based on the levels of the cards in your collection, as well as any Evolution and Hero forms you own, and should make it easier to keep track of your status in the game.

The new system also offers milestones as you unlock and upgrade your cards—hit them for enticing rewards such as Wild Cards, Gems, and exclusive banners.