Upgrade estimate
Dragon Duke: Level 20 → 21
1 upgrade levels within the selected TH18 cap.
Builder Base heroes: base cost and time, no boosts.
Upgrade levels1
Dark Elixir400,000
Upgrade time8d
Boost savingsNone
Upgrade estimate
Dragon Duke: Level 20 → 21
1 upgrade levels within the selected TH18 cap.
Builder Base heroes: base cost and time, no boosts.
The Duke has only 25 levels, so his total cost is far lower than any other Dark Elixir hero's. Maxing him costs less than the Barbarian King or Archer Queen spend on their TH15 to TH18 levels alone.
| Hero | Unlock | Max level | Dark Elixir, 1 to max | Time, 1 to max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Duke | TH15 | 25 | 5,635,000 | 118d 18h |
| Royal Champion | TH13 | 55 | 9,170,000 | 201d 10h |
| Minion Prince | TH9 | 95 | 12,356,500 | 360d 12h |
| Archer Queen | TH8 | 110 | 15,161,500 | 403 days |
| Barbarian King | TH4 | 110 | 15,211,500 | 403 days |
The Grand Warden is left out because he uses Elixir, not Dark Elixir.
He starts with a cap of 10 at TH15, then gains five levels at each Town Hall after that. Each cap also needs the matching Hero Hall level.
Caps: TH15 10 (Hero Hall 9) · TH16 15 (Hero Hall 10) · TH17 20 (Hero Hall 11) · TH18 25 (Hero Hall 12).
| Town Hall | Hero Hall | Max level | Upgrades added | Step cost | Step time | Cumulative cost | Cumulative time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TH15 | Hero Hall 9 | 10 | 9 | 810,000 | 14d 18h | 810,000 | 14d 18h |
| TH16 | Hero Hall 10 | 15 | 5 | 1,000,000 | 26d | 1,810,000 | 40d 18h |
| TH17 | Hero Hall 11 | 20 | 5 | 1,625,000 | 38d | 3,435,000 | 78d 18h |
| TH18 | Hero Hall 12 | 25 | 5 | 2,200,000 | 40d | 5,635,000 | 118d 18h |
TH15 opens nine low-cost levels. After that, each Town Hall adds five levels, and each set of five costs more than the last.
| Town Hall | Levels | Dark Elixir | Time | Average per level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TH15 | 2 to 10 | 810,000 | 14d 18h | 90,000 |
| TH16 | 11 to 15 | 1,000,000 | 26d | 200,000 |
| TH17 | 16 to 20 | 1,625,000 | 38d | 325,000 |
| TH18 | 21 to 25 | 2,200,000 | 40d | 440,000 |
From level 11 to 20 each level costs 25,000 more than the one before it. At TH18 the step drops to 20,000.
His upgrade times rise quickly. Levels 2 and 3 take hours, level 10 takes 3 days, and from level 18 every upgrade takes 8 days.
Three 8-day upgrades at 325,000 to 375,000 Dark Elixir each. That is why TH17 takes 38 days for only five levels.
Five more 8-day upgrades, 400,000 to 480,000 Dark Elixir each, 40 days in total. Level 25 is his most expensive single upgrade.
Together, levels 18 to 25 take 64 days and 3,250,000 Dark Elixir.
Find your Duke's current level to see the Dark Elixir and time left to max, with and without Hammer Jam.
| Current level | Dark Elixir to 25 | Time, no boosts | With Hammer Jam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (TH15 cap) | 4,825,000 | 104 days | 2,412,500 · 52 days |
| 15 (TH16 cap) | 3,825,000 | 78 days | 1,912,500 · 39 days |
| 20 (TH17 cap) | 2,200,000 | 40 days | 1,100,000 · 20 days |
| 22 | 1,380,000 | 24 days | 690,000 · 12 days |
Hammer Jam halves Dark Elixir and time in the calculator. Gold Pass cuts both his cost and time (Supercell: Gold Pass). Try your own level in the calculator above.
The Duke on MoonLight (#9280QPL8G), 31 October 2026: He is at level 17, so levels 18 to 25 are left: 3,250,000 Dark Elixir and 64 days. My Queen and Champion are maxed, the King is four levels short of 110, the Warden one short of 85 and the Prince five short of 95. With the Duke capped at 25 on TH18, I'll upgrade him last, after the other heroes, probably around mid-2027.
Cost, time and the Town Hall and Hero Hall needed for each level, before boosts.
| Level | Dark Elixir cost | Upgrade time | Town Hall required | Hero Hall required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | N/A | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 | |
| Level 2 | 50,000 | 6h | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 3 | 60,000 | 12h | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 4 | 70,000 | 1d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 5 | 80,000 | 1d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 6 | 90,000 | 2d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 7 | 100,000 | 2d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 8 | 110,000 | 2d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 9 | 120,000 | 3d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 10 | 130,000 | 3d | TH15 | Hero Hall 9 |
| Level 11 | 150,000 | 4d | TH16 | Hero Hall 10 |
| Level 12 | 175,000 | 5d | TH16 | Hero Hall 10 |
| Level 13 | 200,000 | 5d | TH16 | Hero Hall 10 |
| Level 14 | 225,000 | 6d | TH16 | Hero Hall 10 |
| Level 15 | 250,000 | 6d | TH16 | Hero Hall 10 |
| Level 16 | 275,000 | 7d | TH17 | Hero Hall 11 |
| Level 17 | 300,000 | 7d | TH17 | Hero Hall 11 |
| Level 18 | 325,000 | 8d | TH17 | Hero Hall 11 |
| Level 19 | 350,000 | 8d | TH17 | Hero Hall 11 |
| Level 20 | 375,000 | 8d | TH17 | Hero Hall 11 |
| Level 21 | 400,000 | 8d | TH18 | Hero Hall 12 |
| Level 22 | 420,000 | 8d | TH18 | Hero Hall 12 |
| Level 23 | 440,000 | 8d | TH18 | Hero Hall 12 |
| Level 24 | 460,000 | 8d | TH18 | Hero Hall 12 |
| Level 25 | 480,000 | 8d | TH18 | Hero Hall 12 |
Level 25, at Town Hall 18 with Hero Hall level 12.
Town Hall 15, with Hero Hall level 9. His cap there is level 10.
TH15 10, TH16 15, TH17 20 and TH18 25.
5,635,000 Dark Elixir and 118 days 18 hours from level 1 to 25, without boosts.
Yes. Among the Dark Elixir heroes he needs the least: 5,635,000, against 9,170,000 for the Royal Champion and 12,356,500 for the Minion Prince.
Level 25: 480,000 Dark Elixir and 8 days.
Yes. Gold Pass cuts both his Dark Elixir and time by 10% or 20%. Levels 20 to 25 cost 1,760,000 Dark Elixir and take 32 days with a 20% Gold Pass, or 880,000 and 16 days with Hammer Jam as well.
Data last updated: October 26, 2026
