Honestly, the meta right now is a complete mess. If you’re still trying to climb the ranks using the same strategies from last Christmas, you're basically handing your trophies over on a silver platter. May 2025 has turned into a playground for specific high-skill brawlers and some frankly ridiculous hypercharges that have shifted the power balance overnight.
It's chaotic.
We’ve seen the rise of Jae-Yong, the fall of some legendary staples, and a balance patch that basically told tank mains to "git gud" or get out. This brawl stars tier list may 2025 isn't just about who has the most health. It’s about who can survive the current onslaught of crowd control and burst damage.
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The S-Tier Reality Check: Who’s Actually Winning?
Most people think the S-Tier is just for the newest brawlers. While Jae-Yong is definitely living up to the hype, the real stars this month are the ones who can handle the "Dark Sands" meta shift.
Jae-Yong is the name on everyone's lips. If you've played a match in the last 48 hours, you've seen him. His ability to manipulate space while dealing consistent damage makes him a nightmare in Gem Grab. But don't sleep on Lumi. Despite some early skeptics calling her "just another support," her control capabilities in Hot Zone are unmatched right now. She’s frustrating to play against, and that’s usually a sign of a top-tier brawler.
Then there’s Mina. Honestly, she might need her own tier. Her interaction rate is through the roof. If you aren't banning her in Ranked, you’re basically asking for a loss. She’s got this weirdly perfect balance of mobility and punishing damage that makes her feel "broken" even though her stats look okay on paper.
- Jae-Yong: Versatile, high damage, and currently dominates the mid-lane.
- Mina: High skill cap but rewards you with absolute map dominance.
- Otis: The damage buff he got recently turned him into a tank-shredding machine. 4k damage per ammo? It’s absurd.
- Ruffs: He’s back. The projectile speed buff was exactly what he needed to become reliable again.
The Hypercharge Factor
You can't talk about a brawl stars tier list may 2025 without mentioning the new Hypercharges. Kenji’s new Hypercharge is... something. It’s arguably one of the most polarizing additions this season. Some pros say it’s the only thing keeping him viable, while others think it’s a "press to win" button that ruins the competitive integrity of the game.
Why Your "Go-To" Brawler Might Be Failing
It sucks when your favorite brawler falls off.
Look at Frank. He’s the classic example of a brawler who looks great in lower trophies but gets absolutely dismantled in Masters. Even with his rework and Hypercharge, the sheer amount of crowd control (CC) in the game right now—thanks to brawlers like Lou and the newly buffed Lumi—means Frank spends half the match just standing still. He’s basically a walking battery for enemy Supers.
Kenji is another weird one. He’s technically a legendary, and he’s super mobile, but he’s currently sitting in the C-Tier for most competitive players. Why? Because mobility doesn't matter if you don't have the range or the burst to finish the kill. You’ll spend the whole game dashing around looking cool just to get one-shot by an Otis who didn't even have to move.
Mid-Tier Gems: The A and B Tier Grinders
Not everyone can play a perfect Mina. For the rest of us, the A-Tier is where the real work gets done.
Buster is still a solid choice. His shield is one of the few things that can actually stop the projectile spam from the S-tier marksmen. However, Supercell recently shaved his base health down from 5000 to 4800. It’s not a death blow, but you definitely feel those missing 200 points when you’re trying to hold a zone.
Then there’s Max. Everyone thought she was dead after Jae-Yong’s release, but the "Sneaky Sneakers" buff—dropping the cooldown to 8 seconds—has given her a second life. She’s the shortest gadget cooldown in the game now. You can basically teleport every time you get into a sticky situation.
The Rise of the Controllers
- Jessie: Her turret health got a bump to 3600. It doesn't sound like much, but in Heist, that extra second of life translates to a lot of safe damage.
- Barley: The new map rotations have a lot of narrow corridors. Throwers are eating good this month, and Barley’s area denial is better than it’s been in a year.
- Penny: Still struggling a bit. People keep hoping she’ll climb, but until her projectile speed gets a real look, she’s stuck in the "niche" category.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Meta
A lot of players just look at a list and pick the top brawler. That’s a mistake. The brawl stars tier list may 2025 is heavily dependent on the map. You can take a "God Tier" brawler into a map with no cover and get wrecked by a C-tier Piper main.
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Also, we need to talk about Hank. He was the king of the "prawn ready" memes, but his recent nerfs to movement speed and bubble size have been brutal. He’s fallen from a top-tier pick to a very specific counter-pick. If you aren't playing him with a dedicated healer, you’re going to have a bad time.
The "Anti-Tank" Era
We are currently in a heavy anti-tank meta. Between Otis, Griff (who is still a beast in Brawl Ball), and the buffs to Crow's heal reduction (now at 60%), playing a tank is harder than ever. If you’re going to run a tank, it better be Meg or Buster. Anyone else is just food for the marksmen.
Actionable Strategy for May 2025
Stop auto-aiming with Maisie. Seriously. She got a slight health buff to 7400, which gives her more survivability, but her value comes from hitting those tricky shots. If you master her timing, she’s an easy A+ tier.
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If you’re pushing trophies solo, focus on Juju. Even after her nerfs, she’s incredible for control. People underestimated her new Hypercharge because it just looks like a "faster pet," but in a meta that’s becoming more about slow play and area control, that pet is a game-changer.
- Ban Mina or Jae-Yong in every Ranked match. Don't risk it.
- Focus on Hypercharge progression for Brawlers like Pam and Max; their new buffs make their "Hyper" states much easier to reach.
- Avoid Frank and Hank unless you are playing in a coordinated team that can clear CC for you.
- Check your gears. With the rise of Ruffs and his projectile speed buff, speed and shield gears are more important than ever to dodge that opening volley.
The game is faster and more punishing than it was two months ago. If you want to stay ahead, you have to adapt to the fact that "balance" in May 2025 means being more aggressive and choosing brawlers that can ignore the opponent's control. Keep an eye on the mid-month maintenance; Supercell has been quick to tweak these numbers lately.