Looking for the best Brawlers to play right now? Our Brawl Stars tier list ranks the strongest characters in the current meta, helping you decide who to upgrade, who to pick in Ranked, and who is worth learning before your next push. We all know that Brawl Stars meta changes quickly. New Brawlers, Buffies, Hypercharges, balance patches, maps, and events can all shake up the meta, so the best Brawler today might not stay on top forever. That’s why this list focuses on the Brawlers who feel the most reliable across multiple modes, not just the ones who dominate one specific map. 

Below, you’ll find our updated Brawl Stars tier list, the best Brawlers for each major mode, and a quick breakdown of who you should prioritize if you’re trying to climb. If you’re also looking for freebies, check our up-to-date guide to the latest Brawl Stars free rewards, including reward links, QR codes, and daily gifts.

Brawl Stars Tier List (July 2026)

Our Brawl Stars tier list is based on current meta strength, flexibility across modes, Ranked value, ease of use, carry potential, and how well each Brawler performs after recent balance changes. This also takes into account their viable builds.

Tier	Brawlers
S-Tier	Damian, Edgar, Colette, Crow, Chester, Colt, Mortis, Starr Nova
A-Tier	Sirius, Bibi, Rico, Spike, Leon, Pierce, Mina, Otis, Shade, Bull, Cordelius, Trunk
B-Tier	Griff, Emz, Buzz, Fang, Najia, Kit, Kenji, Stu, Surge, Bea, Byron, Brock, Mandy, Gene, Max, Shelly
C-Tier	Piper, Belle, Angelo, Nita, Barley, Poco, Tara, Sandy, Maisie, Pearl, Amber, Darryl, Rosa, El Primo, Jessie
D-Tier	Jacky, Dynamike, Tick, Mr. P, Sam, Bonnie, Grom, Chuck, Frank, Doug, Penny, Hank, Pam

Remember that this list is meant as a practical meta guide, not a hard rule. Brawl Stars is heavily map-based, and a lower-tier Brawler can still be excellent on the right map or in the hands of a skilled player.

S-Tier Brawlers

S-Tier Brawlers are the best Brawlers in Brawl Stars right now. These picks are strong across several modes, offer high impact in Ranked, and are always worth upgrading if you enjoy their playstyle.

Damian remains one of the strongest new meta names. Even after recent balance changes, his kit still offers strong pressure, mobility, and fight control. He is not completely unstoppable, but he remains one of the safest Brawlers to pick.

Edgar continues to be one of the most dangerous picks when the enemy team lacks proper counters. He is not always the best blind pick, but his ability to dive, clean up low-health enemies, and punish isolated targets keeps him highly relevant.

Colette is one of the best anti-tank Brawlers in the game. Her damage profile makes her excellent into high-health targets, and she remains one of the top picks when bulky Brawlers or pressuring the objective are part of the meta.

Crow remains peak because of his poison, healing reduction, and ability to keep enemies weak. He can annoy tanks, slow down healing-based comps, and create constant pressure even when he is not securing kills himself.

Chester is still a high-impact brawler thanks to his burst damage and unpredictable Super rotation. He can be inconsistent if the matchup is bad, but in the right hands, he can very quickly swing fights in your favour.

Colt deserves a higher spot in the current meta because his damage and carry potential are all strong when the player can aim consistently. He is especially dangerous in modes where sustained damage is a must-have.

Mortis is one of the strongest assassin-style Brawlers in the current meta. He still requires good timing and careful target selection, but his ability to pressure backlines and clean up fights makes him a serious Ranked threat.

Starr Nova is one of the biggest names in the June meta. She shows strong current performance and is worth watching closely as players continue to adapt to her place in the meta.

A-Tier Brawlers

A-Tier Brawlers are strong and reliable, but they are usually a little more map-dependent, matchup-dependent, or skill-dependent than the highest tier.

Sirius is still dangerous because of his pressure and disruption, but he is no longer strong enough to be placed in S-Tier. He can still take over the right match, especially if the enemy team struggles to handle his power.

Bibi remains one of the best aggressive picks on the right maps. She has strong pressure, good mobility, and enough durability to bully weaker or poorly positioned enemies, especially in Brawl Ball and other close-range modes.

Rico is still excellent on maps with walls. His bouncing shots make him difficult to approach, and he can punish enemies who try to hide behind cover. He is just more map-dependent than the current S-Tier picks.

Spike remains a safe and flexible damage dealer. His poke, area control, and anti-tank potential keep him relevant, though he now fits better as a strong A-Tier pick rather than an automatic S-Tier lock.

Leon is excellent to surprise enemy comps, finishing low-health enemies, and punishing isolated targets. He is strongest when he can create space and avoid being forced into predictable fights.

Pierce, Mina, Otis, Shade, Bull, Cordelius, and Trunk are all worth watching closely. Some show strong performance in the current patch, while others have clear mode-specific or matchup-specific usefulness. They may not be equally strong everywhere, but each can be excellent when the map and draft suit them.

B-Tier Brawlers

B-Tier Brawlers are playable and can be strong in the right situation, but they are not as universally reliable as the top tiers.

Griff, Emz, Buzz, Fang, Kit, Kenji, Stu, and Surge can all work well when the player understands their matchups. They have enough upside to carry games, but they are not always the best picks in unknown drafts.

Najia moves way down from S-Tier in the previous meta. She can still create pressure and has useful tools, but her recent nerfs kneecapped her compared to stronger or more consistent picks this patch. She is still playable, just not a top-tier lock.

Bea, Byron, Brock, and Mandy remain useful when range is what you want. They can punish open maps and slower teams, but they become harder to use when the enemy has strong dive or too much pressure.

Gene and Max are still useful support/control picks, but they depend heavily on the map and team comp. They are strong when used correctly, but they are not always the first picks you should reach for.

Shelly is still a useful anti-tank option, especially for newer players or close-range maps. She is not always reliable into long-range pressure, but she can punish aggressive enemies very well.

C-Tier Brawlers

C-Tier Brawlers are not useless, but they are harder to recommend as general picks. They usually need specific maps, team comps, or favourable matchups.

Piper, Belle, and Angelo can still be strong on open maps where long-range damage reigns supreme. The problem is that they become much weaker on closed maps or against teams that can consistently dive them.

Nita, Barley, Poco, Tara, and Sandy all have clear use cases. Nita can pressure grouped enemies with her bear, Barley is strong around walls and choke points, Poco supports tankier comps, and Tara or Sandy can still swing control-heavy games.

Maisie, Pearl, Amber, Darryl, Rosa, El Primo, and Jessie can all have strong moments, but they are more situational than the Brawlers above them. Pick them when the map supports their strengths, not just because you like the matchup on paper.

D-Tier Brawlers

D-Tier does not mean a Brawler is unplayable. It means they are currently more niche, more matchup-dependent, or harder to recommend as general picks.

Jacky, Frank, Doug, and Hank can be threatening at close range, but they struggle when the enemy has strong control, anti-tank damage, or enough space to kite them.

Dynamike, Tick, Grom, and Mr. P can be annoying on the right maps, especially around walls and choke points, but they are vulnerable to pressure and can collapse quickly when assassins or aggressive teams get close.

Sam, Bonnie, Chuck, Penny, and Pam can still work in specific situations, but they are harder to recommend over better meta options right now.

Use these Brawlers if you enjoy them or if the map clearly favours them. Just be careful before spending major upgrade resources on them if your goal is to climb efficiently.

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Best Brawlers for Ranked

The best Brawlers for Ranked are usually flexible picks that work across several modes and do not rely too heavily on one perfect map. Best Ranked picks right now include:

• Damian
• Edgar
• Colette
• Crow
• Chester
• Colt
• Mortis
• Starr Nova
• Leon
• Rico

For Ranked, don’t just pick the highest-tier Brawler available. Think about the map, enemy draft, your team comp, and if you need damage, control, tank pressure, anti-tank tools, or a safe lane pick.

Best Brawlers for Gem Grab

Gem Grab rewards control, survivability, and the ability to hold space without throwing away the gem lead. Best Gem Grab Brawlers are:

• Gene
• Max
• Spike
• Rico
• Crow
• Colette
• Chester
• Sandy
• Tara
• Starr Nova

In Gem Grab, avoid reckless diving once your team has the gem lead. For example, a safe control Brawler can be more valuable than a flashy assassin.

Best Brawlers for Brawl Ball

Brawl Ball favours speed, pressure, knockback, burst damage, and Brawlers who can force openings. Best Brawl Ball Brawlers include:

• Bibi
• Damian
• Edgar
• Mortis
• Bull
• Max
• Chester
• Colette
• Rico
• Colt

Bibi is still especially strong here because she can pressure lanes, push enemies away, and create space around the ball. Edgar and Mortis are more matchup-dependent, but they can punish weak drafts very quickly.

Best Brawlers for Showdown

Showdown rewards survivability, burst damage, mobility, and the ability to win isolated fights. Best Showdown Brawlers right now include:

• Edgar
• Leon
• Crow
• Spike
• Mortis
• Chester
• Bibi
• Bull
• Cordelius
• Shelly

Showdown is more matchup-heavy than most modes, so positioning and patience matter as much as tier placement. A strong Brawler can still get punished badly if you take the wrong fight too early.

Best Brawlers for Heist

Heist is all about safe damage, base pressure, and the ability to defend without losing too much tempo. Best Heist Brawlers are:

• Colette
• Colt
• Rico
• Spike
• Bull
• Bibi
• Brock
• Jessie
• Nita
• Crow

Colette remains one of the most valuable Heist picks because she can pressure both enemy Brawlers and the safe. Colt and Rico also deserve high priority because their damage output can end games quickly if left unchecked.

Best Brawlers for Knockout

Knockout favours clean picks, long-range pressure, survivability, and careful positioning. Best Knockout Brawlers include:

• Piper
• Belle
• Brock
• Angelo
• Crow
• Leon
• Colt
• Gene
• Chester
• Spike

In Knockout, avoid unnecessary trades. A Brawler with strong poke or finishing power can win the round without needing constant aggression.

Best Brawlers for Beginners

If you are newer to Brawl Stars, the best Brawlers are not always the highest-ranked meta picks. You want characters who are strong, consistent, easy to understand, and useful in several modes. Best beginner-friendly Brawlers we’d recommend are:

• Shelly
• Nita
• Colt
• Poco
• Spike
• Bibi
• Rico
• Jessie
• Bull
• Brock

These Brawlers teach useful fundamentals like aiming, positioning, spacing, lane control, healing, and objective play. If you just started playing, focus on these Brawlers before going for the cream-of-the-crop picks. That will come later!

Best Brawlers to Upgrade First

If you are short on resources, prioritize Brawlers who are strong across multiple modes rather than characters who only work on one map. That way, you can farm resources to build up your roster. Best Brawlers to upgrade first are:

• Colette
• Crow
• Chester
• Colt
• Edgar
• Mortis
• Damian
• Rico
• Spike
• Leon

Before spending resources, it is also worth checking the latest Brawl Stars free rewards to see whether any reward links, QR codes, daily gifts, or Supercell Store freebies are available. That’s another sure-fire way to get those precious upgrade resources.

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How We Ranked the Best Brawlers

While building our Brawl Stars tier list, we considered several important factors:

• Overall strength in the current meta
• Performance across multiple modes
• Ranked usefulness
• Map flexibility
• Matchup spread
• Carry potential
• Ease of use
• Recent buffs, nerfs, and new Brawler releases
• Community and live-stat trends

Because Brawl Stars is so mode- and map-dependent, no tier list is perfect for every situation. A Brawler ranked lower overall can still be one of the best picks on a specific map, especially if you’re proficient in using them. After all, experience is the best metric!

What is Brawl Stars?

Brawl Stars is a fast-paced multiplayer action game from Supercell, the studio behind Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Boom Beach, and Squad Busters. It features short matches, collectible Brawlers, skins, ranked play, events, and several different modes, including Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, Showdown, Heist, Knockout, and more. You can download Brawl Stars through the official app stores below:

• iPhone and iPad through the Apple App Store.
• Android phones and tablets through the Google Play Store.
• The official Supercell Brawl Stars website.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)