If you’ve ever stared at your Brawl Stars character selection screen for 30 seconds before a match, panicking because you don’t know which pick will carry your team, you’re not alone. I’ve lost count of how many Gem Grab matches I threw early on because I picked a close-range brawler for a wide, open map with no cover. A lot of new and even intermediate players ask who is the best Brawl Stars character, and the short answer is that there’s no one-size-fits-all pick – but there are clear top performers that shine in specific scenarios, playstyles, and skill levels. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to pick the right character every time, no guesswork required.
Who Is the Best Brawl Stars Character for Each Core Game Mode?
Most new players make the mistake of picking a character they like the look of, regardless of what mode they’re playing. That’s the fastest way to drop trophies, even if you’re using a generally strong character. When players ask who is the best Brawl Stars character, they usually forget to account for map layout, which can make even the strongest meta pick useless. We’ve broken down the top picks for each of the most popular permanent game modes below, based on current meta data and thousands of high-rank match results.
Keep in mind that these picks change slightly if you’re playing on a custom or event map, so always take 10 seconds to look at the map layout before you lock in your character. If the map has almost no cover, skip close-range brawlers entirely, even if they’re the top meta pick for the mode.
Top Picks for Every Playstyle
Even if a character is the top meta pick for a game mode, you’ll perform worse with them if they don’t match how you like to play. There’s no point forcing yourself to use a slow tank if you prefer hanging back and dealing damage from far away, for example. If you prefer aggressive play, don’t force a support pick just because someone told you they’re the answer to who is the best Brawl Stars character. Let’s break down the best characters for each common playstyle.
If you’re an aggressive player who likes to push enemy lines and get eliminations first, Buzz is one of the best picks you can go for. He’s a fast brawler with a stun attack that lets him catch enemies off guard, and he’s strong enough to take out most mid-health characters in two hits. He works in almost every game mode, too, which makes him a great pick if you don’t want to switch characters between matches.
For players who prefer supporting their team instead of getting kills, Mr. P is an underrated top pick. His porter turret can harass enemies across the map without you having to put yourself in danger, and his super lets your entire team move faster across the map, which is a huge advantage for both pushing objectives and retreating when you’re outnumbered. You can carry matches with Mr. P without getting a single elimination, which is perfect if you don’t care about topping the kill count every game.
If you’re a sniper main who likes staying as far away from fights as possible, you can’t go wrong with Byron. He deals consistent long-range damage, and his attack can also heal your teammates, so you’re contributing to the team even if you’re not getting a lot of eliminations. His super can heal your entire team in one go or deal massive damage to a group of enemies, depending on what your team needs at the time.
Best Brawl Stars Characters for New and Low-Skill Players
New players often search for who is the best Brawl Stars character when they first start, because they want to unlock the strongest picks as fast as possible. A lot of high-rank tier lists skip over characters that are easy to use, because they’re not the strongest at the top rank. But if you’re new to the game or have under 5000 trophies, you don’t need to be using the hardest characters to master to climb ranks. In fact, using an easy, consistent character will help you climb faster than fumbling with a high-skill meta pick.
One of the best options for new players is Shelly, the first character you unlock when you start the game. She has balanced health and damage, her attack is easy to aim, and her super can break through walls and take out multiple enemies at once. A lot of players drop Shelly once they unlock new characters, but she’s still a strong pick even at mid ranks, especially on maps with lots of close-quarters fights. I still use her for most Brawl Ball matches when I’m playing with friends, and she’s never let me down.
Another great pick for new players is Nita. Her bear summon super lets her get extra damage without having to aim perfectly, and the bear can also tank damage for your team during objective pushes. She works in every game mode, and she only costs 10 credits to unlock, so you can get her very early on. One thing to note: don’t waste your credits on high-skill characters like Mortis or Spike until you have at least three or four easy-to-use characters leveled up to level 7. You’ll get more use out of a level 9 Shelly than a level 1 Spike, no matter how strong Spike is in the meta.
How to Make Any Character Work for You
At the end of the day, skill with a character matters more than their meta ranking. I’ve seen top 100 players use characters that most people write off as “bad” carry entire matches, just because they’ve spent hundreds of hours mastering that character’s mechanics. You don’t need to follow every tier list that claims to have the definitive answer to who is the best Brawl Stars character to win matches. If you have a character you love playing that isn’t on any tier list, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t climb ranks with them.
First, make sure you’re using the right gadgets and star powers for your character and the game mode you’re playing. For example, Shelly’s “Fast Forward” gadget is great for Brawl Ball, where you need to move fast to score goals, but her “Band-Aid” gadget is better for Showdown, where you need extra healing to survive fights. Even a mid-tier character becomes a lot stronger when you’re using the right loadout for the situation.
Next, practice your character on friendly matches first before you take them into ranked trophy matches. That way you can learn their attack range, reload speed, and super charge rate without risking losing trophies. You should also watch a few short gameplay clips of high-rank players using your favorite character to pick up small tips you might not have noticed on your own, like trick shots or common flank routes they use. Don’t feel like you have to stick to the meta to have fun or win matches. Brawl Stars is meant to be enjoyable first, and you’ll always play better with a character you actually like using, even if they’re not considered one of the top picks.
At the end of the day, asking who is the best Brawl Stars character will always get you a different answer depending on who you ask, because the best pick depends on your skill level, playstyle, and the game mode and map you’re playing on. The picks we outlined above are a great starting point if you’re tired of losing matches because you picked the wrong character, but don’t be afraid to experiment and find characters that fit your personal preferences. The more you play with a character, the better you’ll get with them, and you might even find a hidden gem that works better for you than any meta pick. Next time you load into a match, take a few seconds to check the map and mode before you lock in your pick, and you’ll be climbing ranks in no time.