Helsinki was freezing in November, but inside the Exhibition and Convention Center, the energy was basically nuclear. If you were watching the Brawl Stars World Finals 2024, you know it wasn't just another tournament. It was the moment the "ZETA era" finally cracked, and a new king stepped out of the shadows. Honestly, most people expected the usual suspects to sleepwalk into the trophy. Instead, we got HMBLE—an Italian organization that decided they weren't interested in following the script.
They didn't just win. They dominated.
It’s rare to see a team look so untouchable at the highest level of competitive play, but Symantec, BosS, and Lukii made it look like a casual Sunday ladder push. They went 3-0 against Crazy Raccoon in the Grand Finals. Think about that for a second. Crazy Raccoon is a team filled with legends like Tensai and Sitetampo, guys who have been the final bosses of this game for years. To sweep them on the biggest stage in the world is, frankly, kind of insane.
What Really Happened With the HMBLE Sweep
The story of the Brawl Stars World Finals 2024 is really the story of HMBLE’s discipline. While other teams were relying on raw mechanical outplays, HMBLE played like they were sharing a single brain. Their drafting was light-years ahead. They understood the meta shift better than anyone else in Finland that weekend.
Most analysts were looking at ZETA DIVISION or Crazy Raccoon as the safe bets. ZETA had won three years in a row (if you count their different rosters/regions). The "ZETA Dynasty" felt permanent. But when HMBLE started tearing through the bracket, the atmosphere shifted. You could feel it on the stream. People realized that the EMEA region wasn't just "good" anymore—they were the new standard.
The Numbers That Broke the Internet
Supercell called this event "SuperFest," and for once, the marketing hype actually matched the reality. The viewership stats for the Brawl Stars World Finals 2024 were genuinely stupid. We’re talking about a peak of over 1.1 million concurrent viewers.
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To put that in perspective, the 2023 finals peaked at around 273,000. That is a 179% jump.
Why the sudden explosion? A few things converged at once:
- The In-Game Rewards: Let’s be real, people wanted those rewards. Supercell tied the viewership to some pretty juicy in-game progression, which definitely boosted the numbers.
- Co-streaming: There were 86 different channels co-casting the games. You had creators in every language under the sun reacting to the matches in real-time.
- The Meta: The game was in a fast, aggressive state. Hypercharges were everywhere, and the matches were explosive. It was actually fun to watch, even if you weren't a hardcore competitive player.
The prize pool was sitting at a cool $1,000,000. HMBLE walked away with $400,000 of that. Not a bad weekend's work for three guys playing a mobile game in Helsinki.
The Brawlers That Defined the Meta
You can’t talk about the Brawl Stars World Finals 2024 without talking about the Brawlers. If you watched the bans, you saw two names constantly popping up: Moe and Kenji. Those two were basically "must-ban or lose" for a huge chunk of the tournament.
Interestingly, Gus had a massive presence with a 33.9% pick rate, though his win rate was a bit underwhelming at 35%. On the flip side, 8-Bit was the secret weapon. Whenever a team felt comfortable enough to pull out the walking arcade machine, they usually won, boasting an 85.7% win rate across the event. It showed that despite all the new Hypercharges and flashy new releases, old-school control still wins championships.
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The Most Impactful Brawlers:
- Gus: The most played Brawler, used as a safe poke and support option.
- Kenji: Constantly banned (nearly 40% ban rate) because no one wanted to deal with his mobility.
- 8-Bit: The quiet MVP for teams that knew how to protect him.
- Clancy: High win rate (61.5%) because his stage-up mechanic is just too oppressive in a pro’s hands.
Heartbreak and Retirement
It wasn't all celebrations. For some, the Brawl Stars World Finals 2024 was a bittersweet ending. One of the most shocking moments was Patchy’s retirement. After Luminosity Gaming got knocked out, Patchy announced he was stepping away from the competitive scene at just 18 years old.
It was a reminder of how high the pressure is at this level. LG played incredibly well, and their match against ZETA was one of the closest series of the tournament. They were right there. But in esports, sometimes a few percentage points on a Heist safe are the difference between a legacy and a "what if."
The EMEA Dominance
For years, the narrative was that East Asia (specifically Japan) was untouchable. They had the better movement, the tighter drafts, and the "clutch factor." But the Brawl Stars World Finals 2024 flipped that. The top four featured three European teams: HMBLE, SK Gaming, and Totem Esports.
SK Gaming, in particular, was a powerhouse. Their semifinal match against HMBLE was arguably the "real" final for many fans. It was a German-heavy clash that drew in massive numbers from the European audience. Even though HMBLE won, SK Gaming proved that the depth of talent in Europe is currently unmatched.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you’re looking to improve your own game based on what the pros did in Helsinki, or if you're planning to follow the 2025 circuit, here is the reality of the current competitive landscape.
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Master the Draft, Not Just the Brawler
The 2024 finals proved that games are won in the draft phase. HMBLE’s ability to bait out bans and then counter-pick with Brawlers like 8-Bit or Lola was a masterclass. Don’t just pick your "main." Learn the counters. If the enemy picks a tank-heavy comp, you need to know exactly which tank-shredder fits the specific map.
Watch the "Old" Brawlers
Everyone focuses on the new, broken releases. But notice how Brawlers like Rico, 8-Bit, and Tara still carried games. Consistency beats novelty. If you can play a "boring" Brawler perfectly, you’ll climb faster than someone trying to force a high-skill Brawler they haven't mastered.
The Power of the Duo/Trio
Communication was the biggest differentiator. HMBLE won because they moved as a unit. If you're serious about the game, stop solo-queuing. Find a team, use voice chat, and learn how to coordinate Supers. The gap between a "good" player and a "pro" is almost entirely down to how they support their teammates, not how many kills they get.
Track the 2025 Changes
The 2024 Finals were the peak of the 12-team format. Moving into the next season, Supercell is already tweaking the point systems and regional slots. Keep an eye on the Monthly Finals; that’s where the next "HMBLE" is currently practicing.
The Brawl Stars World Finals 2024 was a turning point. It wasn't just a tournament; it was the moment the game went from a "big mobile esport" to a genuine global phenomenon with millions watching. Whether you’re a pro or a casual player, the bar has officially been raised.