Ever feel like you’re playing a different game than the pros? You log in, pick your favorite brawler, and proceed to get absolutely dismantled by a team of "broken" characters you didn't even know were meta.
It happens to everyone.
The roster of Brawl Stars brawlers has ballooned to a massive 99 characters as of early 2026. Keeping up with who's actually good—and who's just a "noob trap"—is basically a full-time job. Whether you’re a Day 1 veteran or just picked up the game after seeing a random ad, the landscape is unrecognizable compared to even a year ago.
The State of the Meta in 2026
Honestly, the meta right now is kind of a mess. Supercell has been leaning hard into high-mobility assassins and "hybrid" supports that do way too much damage. If you're still trying to carry games with old-school picks like Jessie or Poco in high-elo Ranked, you’ve probably noticed they’re struggling. They aren't "bad" brawlers, per se, but they get powercrept by newer releases like Mina and Pierce.
Mina is a prime example of why people are frustrated. She’s technically a damage dealer, but she plays like an assassin with way too much health. Her Windmill gadget is basically a "get out of jail free" card that ruins the day of any tank trying to get close.
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Then you have Pierce, the legendary sniper. He basically took Piper’s best traits and dialed them to eleven. If you can actually hit your shots, Pierce is unmatchable. If you can't? Well, you’re just dead weight for your teammates.
Who’s Actually S-Tier?
If you want to climb, you need to know who the "must-picks" are. It's not just about rarity. Some Legendaries are currently sitting in the trash tier while certain Rares are dominating.
- Mortis & Edgar: It’s 2026 and these two are still everywhere. Love them or hate them, their mobility in the current "fast-meta" makes them top-tier picks for finishing off squishy targets.
- Mandy: She’s been eating well lately. Her range is just silly, and on the right map, she can shut down an entire lane without ever being seen.
- Jae-yong: This guy is a support-healer-speedster hybrid. He basically replaced Max and Poco in the competitive scene because he does their jobs better.
- Lumi: Even after the nerfs, her area control is just too good. In modes like Hot Zone, she’s almost a mandatory ban.
The "Noob Traps" You Should Probably Avoid
We’ve all been there. You save up your credits, unlock a cool-looking Legendary like Kenji, and then realize he has the range of a literal toothpick.
Kenji is currently stuck in a weird spot. He’s fun, sure, but his low damage and high skill floor mean most players just feed the enemy Super all game. Similarly, Leon might look cool to new players, but in high-level play, he’s frequently ranked in the F-tier. People have learned how to track him, and without his Hypercharge, he just doesn't have the impact he used to.
The Problem With Tanks
Tanks are in a weird spot. Bull and El Primo are still decent in very specific bushy maps, but on most open maps, they’re just walking Super-batteries for the enemy team.
Trunk, one of the newer tanks, actually tried to fix this with some interesting mechanics, but without a consistent way to charge his Super, he’s often sidelined for more reliable options like Buster. Buster still feels like the only tank that actually functions as a "protector" rather than just a large target.
Real Talk: The Hypercharge Gap
Let's be real for a second. If your brawler doesn't have a Hypercharge, you're playing at a massive disadvantage. Supercell’s roadmap for 2025 and 2026 was supposed to give everyone a Hypercharge, but the power gap between a "good" one and a "useless" one is huge.
Take Ziggy, for instance. Ziggy was bottom-tier for a long time. Then the Hypercharge dropped, and suddenly he had a 60%+ win rate. It wasn't because the player got better; it's because the purple button is a win-condition.
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On the flip side, some brawlers like Penny or Sprout have Hypercharges that feel like they were designed in a lunch break. They don't change the tide of the game, and in 2026, if you can't flip a game in 5 seconds, you're losing.
Choosing the Right Brawler for the Mode
You shouldn't play the same character everywhere. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people try to play Piper in Brawl Ball.
- Brawl Ball: You need knockbacks and mobility. Melodie and Stu are still kings here. If you can't break walls or dash, you're going to have a hard time.
- Gem Grab: Control is everything. This is where Otis and Lola shine. Lola’s ability to hold the mid-lane with her clone is still elite, even if she’s not the newest kid on the block.
- Knockout/Bounty: This is the playground for Pierce, Nani, and Mandy. If you can't hit someone from across the screen, don't bother.
- Heist: This mode is basically "Who can base-race faster?" Colt with his Hypercharge is still a monster, but Finx has been making waves lately with his insane burst damage.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Session
If you’re looking to actually improve your win rate and stop tilting, here is what you need to do right now.
First, audit your roster. Stop spending Power Points on "middle-of-the-road" brawlers. In the current 2026 meta, a Level 11 brawler with a Hypercharge is worth three Level 10s. Pick one S-tier from each class (Marksman, Assassin, Tank) and max them out.
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Second, respect the bans. In Ranked, stop banning your "least favorite" brawler and start banning the ones with the highest win rates like Mina or Ziggy. If you leave Mina open and you don't have first pick, you’ve basically lost the draft.
Third, watch the pro replays. Use tools like PL Prodigy to see what the top 200 players are actually picking on specific maps. The meta changes every two weeks with balance tweaks, and what worked on Tuesday might be trash by Friday.
Success in Brawl Stars isn't just about aiming; it's about knowing the math of the matchup before the gates even open. Stick to the high-value picks, learn the timing of the newer Hypercharges, and stop trying to make "bad" brawlers happen. They aren't going to happen.