You’ve probably been there. You jump into a match of Knockout, pick your favorite shiny Legendary, and get absolutely dismantled by a Rare brawler that’s been in the game since 2017. It’s frustrating. But honestly, with the roster now hitting 99 brawlers as of early 2026, the game isn't just about who has the coolest Super anymore. It's a massive, complicated mess of "buffies," Hypercharges, and weird hidden mechanics that most casual players totally ignore.
If you’re still trying to play the game like it’s 2022, you're gonna lose. A lot. The meta has shifted so hard that some of the OG icons like Poco or Barley are basically struggling to stay relevant while newer faces like Kaze and Pierce are out here changing the rules of the map.
The 2026 Meta: What’s Actually Happening?
Right now, the game is dominated by what the community calls "buffies." Basically, Supercell has been aggressively tuning newer releases and giving older ones massive stat boosts to keep up with the power creep. If you look at the top tier of competitive play, you’ll see Mortis and Mandy everywhere.
Wait, Mortis in S-tier? Yeah, it sounds like a joke, but with the right Hypercharge and the current map rotations, he’s actually terrifying. It's not just about flashy plays; it's about the fact that his survival rate has skyrocketed.
Then you’ve got the 2025 newcomers. Kaze is the one everyone loves to hate. She’s the first "Ultra-Legendary," and for 5,500 credits, she better be good. She has two different forms—one for getting up close and personal and a "Geisha" form that creates a literal "Fan Storm" where you can’t see anything outside of it. It’s obnoxious to play against, but if you have her, you’re basically playing a different game than everyone else.
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The Breakdown of Classes (and Why They Matter)
You can't just pick three Damage Dealers and hope for the best. Well, you can, but you'll get cooked by a decent Artillery player. Here’s how the classes actually shake out in the current game:
- Assassins: These are your "get in, kill, get out" types. Edgar, Leon, and Crow are the classics, but Kaze has sort of taken the crown here. They have low health, so if you miss your jump, you're dead. Simple as that.
- Tanks: Big, beefy, and loud. El Primo, Bull, and Frank have insane health pools (we’re talking 10,000+ HP). They’re great for soaking up damage, but they’re basically walking Super-chargers for the enemy if you aren't careful.
- Marksmen: The snipers. Piper, Belle, and Angelo. These brawlers want to be as far away from the fight as possible. If an Assassin gets close, it’s game over.
- Artillery: The "throwers." Tick, Dynamike, and the new Ziggy. They hit you from behind walls. It’s the most annoying class to play against on maps with lots of cover.
- Support: These guys don't always get the glory, but they win games. Poco, Doug, and the latest Glowbert (a Mythic Support released this month) keep the team alive or buff their speed.
The "New Generation" of Brawlers
In 2025, we saw 12 new characters. Some of them are just... weird. Take Trunk, for example. It’s literally a tree controlled by ants. It’s slow, it’s heavy, but if it gets near you, the damage is disgusting.
Then there’s Meeple. It’s a creature made of board game pieces. It can trap enemies in a specific area and boost the projectiles of its teammates. It’s a "Controller" in the truest sense. If you’re playing with a coordinated team, Meeple is almost an automatic win on Hot Zone.
And we have to talk about Pierce. He was the big December 2025 release. He’s got a "complicated" reload mechanic that rewards precision. Most people find him too hard to play, but in the hands of a pro, he’s a monster because his shots reach way further than you expect.
Why Rarity is a Lie
A lot of new players think Legendary = Better. Honestly? Not always.
Look at Shelly. She’s the starting brawler. In the right meta, with her Hypercharge "Double Barrel," she can delete a Legendary Kenji or Spike in two seconds. Rarity mostly determines how complex the mechanics are, not necessarily how much damage they do. A Mythic brawler like Gigi (the creepy puppet) has a teleportation ability that’s hard to master, whereas a Rare like Rosa is just "hit shield, go punch." Both are viable; one just requires a PhD to use effectively.
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Strategy: How to Actually Level Up
Stop upgrading everyone evenly. You’re wasting coins.
If you want to actually progress in 2026, you need to be surgical with your resources. Coins and Power Points are harder to come by than they used to be.
- Get to Power 7 first. This is the "sweet spot" because it unlocks Gadgets. A brawler without a gadget is basically half a character.
- Push your favorites to Power 9. This gets you Star Powers. This is where characters like Ziggy really start to shine (his "The Great Ziggini" Star Power boosts his lightning strikes by 30%).
- Only go to Power 11 if there’s a Hypercharge. Seriously. The stat boost from 10 to 11 is okay, but the Hypercharge is the real reason to spend those 5,000 coins. If a brawler doesn't have one yet—like some of the newer 2025 releases—Power 10 is usually enough for most Ranked matches.
The Mastery Grind
If you’re low on credits to unlock the new Glowbert or Finx, look at your Mastery tracks. It’s the best "free" way to get stuff.
Don't just grind one brawler to Gold 3. It takes forever. Instead, rotate through your roster and get everyone to Silver 3. The rewards at that level are the best balance of "time spent vs. stuff gained." You’ll get a steady stream of coins and credits just by playing characters you usually ignore.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think they can "main" one brawler and reach the top. You can't.
Brawl Stars in 2026 is about "lanes." If you're playing Gem Grab and all three of you are bunched up in the middle, you're going to get wiped by a single Squeak or Mina Super. You have to spread out. Use the left and right sides of the map. If you win your 1v1 on the left, don't just sit there—rotate and help your teammate in the middle.
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Also, learn to count shots. If you know that Brock has used all three of his rockets, that’s your window to charge in. If you just run at him while he's got full ammo, you’re just a free kill.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Account
- Check the Shop for Hypercharge Unleashed events. They usually happen when new ones drop, and it's the easiest way to try out maxed-out brawlers for free.
- Focus your upgrades on one brawler per class. Have one solid Tank (Frank or El Primo), one Marksman (Piper), and one Assassin (Edgar or Mortis) at Power 11. This ensures you’re never "countered" in the draft phase of Ranked mode.
- Stop auto-aiming with Marksmen. It sounds simple, but at higher ranks, everyone knows how to "juke." If you aren't leading your shots with Belle or Pierce, you aren't hitting anything.
- Farm Mastery to Silver 3. Use your lower-trophy brawlers to do this. It’s easier matches and fast rewards to help you unlock the newer Mythics and Legendaries.