Supercell just dropped the hammer. If you’ve logged into Brawl Stars lately, you’ve probably noticed that things feel... different. It isn’t just a few number tweaks this time. We’re looking at a fundamental shift in how the game plays, thanks to the massive January 2026 update. Honestly, if you haven’t checked the patch notes, you’re basically walking into a firing squad.
The headline? Buffies.
They’ve replaced the old Epic and Mythic Gear system with something way more aggressive. We’re talking about permanent power-ups for your Gadgets, Star Powers, and Hypercharges. But while some brawlers are eating good, others—looking at you, Mina—got hit with the nerf bat so hard it’s kind of sad.
Why the Global Health Buff Changed Everything
Before we get into specific brawlers, we have to talk about the "Great HP Inflator." Almost every single brawler in the game just received a health buff. Why? Because the devs realized that with Buffies and Hypercharges, the damage output was getting insane. People were dying in half a second.
By increasing health across the board, the game has slowed down slightly. It’s less about who taps their red button first and more about sustained pressure.
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Except for Mina.
Mina was the only brawler who didn't get the health boost. In fact, she actually took a 3% health nerf. When you combine that with everyone else getting tankier, her effective damage has plummeted. She went from being the undisputed queen of the meta to a glass cannon that’s more glass than cannon.
The New King of the Hill: Pierce
If you haven’t unlocked Pierce yet, start saving your credits. He’s the new "cleanup" brawler and he is absolutely everywhere. His mechanic is weird—he only reloads by picking up shells he drops or by completely emptying his clip.
Why Pierce is broken right now:
- Pool Sniper: His long-range shots drop shells. If you pick them up, you auto-fire a piercing shot at the nearest target. It’s basically a free attack.
- You Only Brawl Twice: This gadget lets him absorb all nearby shells to gain a massive shield. In Gem Grab, he can dive in, grab the gems, pop the shield, and walk out like nothing happened.
- Mission: Swimpossible: His last ammo slows enemies. In a meta where health is higher, slowing someone down so your team can focus-fire them is a death sentence.
He’s the ultimate counter to the new tank meta. You can’t really hide from a brawler who rewards you for missing shots by giving you more ammo to pick up.
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The Buffies Revolution: Colt and Spike
Supercell is rolling out Buffies in waves. The first group to get them includes Colt, Shelly, Spike, Mortis, Frank, and Emz.
Colt is finally "good" again, and I don't mean "good if you have pro aim." I mean actually viable for the rest of us. His Speedloader Gadget was reworked. It doesn't just reload ammo anymore; it fires two quick shots that slow the target. If you have the Buffie equipped, those shots actually steal ammo from your opponent. Imagine being an Edgar jumping on a Colt, only to have him slow you and take your ammo. It’s hilarious.
Then there's Spike.
Spike’s Popping Pincushion gadget is now aimable. You read that right. You can actually point it. And with the Buffie, anyone hit by two needles gets rooted to the spot. It makes Spike one of the best defensive brawlers in the game for Brawl Ball. You can't score if you can't move.
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Nerf Report: Who Got Grounded?
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Some fan favorites got taken down a peg to make room for the new power system.
- Meeple: Their Hypercharge rate was slashed. It used to be one of the fastest in the game, but now you actually have to work for it.
- Jae-Yong: The "Drunkard" support took a massive hit to his healing and speed boosts. He was providing too much value for how easy he was to play. Now, his Weekend Warrior gadget has a 25-second cooldown. That’s an eternity in a Brawl Stars match.
- Hank: The bubble-blowing menace is finally being reined in. His super cycling was too fast, making him nearly impossible to kill at close range. The devs increased his super charge requirements, so you can't just spam it anymore.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Meta
A lot of players think that because everyone has more health, assassins are dead. That’s just not true. Mortis actually feels better because his Creature of the Night gadget (the old Survival Shovel) is now an aimable dash. It gives him much better mobility for escaping after a kill.
The real losers are the mid-range "chip" brawlers. If you’re playing someone like Crow or Gene, you’ll find it much harder to actually secure kills. You can poke all day, but with the higher HP pools, enemies have plenty of time to retreat and heal.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Push
If you want to climb the ladder this season, stop playing like it’s 2025. The "burst" era is over for now.
- Focus on the Buffie Brawlers: If you have the coins, invest in Colt or Spike. Their new aimable gadgets give them a massive edge over brawlers still stuck with the old tap-to-activate mechanics.
- Abuse the Pierce Shells: If you're playing against Pierce, do NOT let him pick up his shells. Stand on them. Force him to use his last ammo so he gets stuck in a reload animation.
- Check the Floor Indicators: There’s a new visual under brawlers now. If you see a glowing circle with a different design, they have a Buffie active. Don’t 1v1 them unless you know exactly what their upgraded kit does.
- Save Your Gears Refund: Since Epic and Mythic gears are being removed for Buffie-enabled brawlers, you’re getting a full coin refund. Don’t blow it all on skins. You’ll need those coins to pull Buffies from the new Claw Machine.
The meta is still settling, and with the Spring Split of the Brawl Stars Championship kicking off January 30th, we’re going to see some wild strategies. For now, keep an eye on those health bars—they’re bigger than they look.