Is Brawl Stars really free?

Yes, it's a free-to-play . All brawlers can be obtained for free over time via Starr Drops, season progression, and events. In-app purchases (Brawl Pass, gems, skins) speed up progression.

How many brawlers are there in Brawl Stars?

There are currently over 80 brawlers distributed by rarity (Common, Rare, Super Rare, Epic, Mythic, Legendary, Chromatic, Mythic Hypercharge). Supercell adds 2-3 new ones per season.

What are Hypercharges?

Hypercharges are ultimate super-powers unlocked for select brawlers at level 11. Activated in-game once their gauge fills, they boost the brawler's Super with a spectacular visual effect and increased power.

Which game mode is most rewarding?

Showdown and Trio Battle give the most trophies. Power League and Ranked are competitive modes with rewards (gems, credits, skins). Event modes offer unique rewards.

Is the Brawl Pass worth its price?

For $5, the Brawl Pass gives access to an exclusive brawler, a skin, gems, and hundreds of rewards . For a regular player, the ROI is excellent — it's the most cost-effective purchase in the game.

Brawl Stars: complete overview and strategy guide for Supercell's mobile shooter

Brawl Stars is the multiplayer mobile game from Supercell, released globally in December 2018. Mixing top-down shooter, MOBA mechanics, and short matches (3 min max), it has become one of the most popular mobile games in the world with over 200 million downloads and a mature esports scene (Brawl Stars World Finals with multi-million dollar prize pool).

The concept: choose a brawler (character) from a roster of 80+, level it up, and use it across a dozen competitive game modes.

What makes Brawl Stars unique?

Brawl Stars combines strategic depth and short matches: you can play a full match in under 3 minutes, perfect for mobile. But behind the casual appearance lies real tactical depth:

80+ brawlers with their attacks, Supers, Gadgets, Star Powers, and Hypercharges
10+ recurring game modes (Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, Heist, Bounty, Showdown, Knockout, Hot Zone, Duels, Trio Battle…)
Rotating event modes with unique rewards
Power League / Ranked for competitors
Club Wars for guilds
Champions League (official esport)

Gameplay pillars

Brawlers and rarity

Brawlers are classified by rarity:

Rarity	How to obtain
Common	Trophy levels
Rare	Starr Drops, Progression
Super Rare	Starr Drops, Progression
Epic	Starr Drops, Rewards
Mythic	Brawl Pass, events
Legendary	Rare Starr Drops, events
Chromatic	Paid Brawl Pass or progression
Mythic Hypercharge	Special seasons

The higher the rarity, the rarer the brawler — but not necessarily more powerful.

Upgrading a brawler

Each brawler can be upgraded to level 11 (Power 11):

Power Points (from Starr Drops, purchases)
Coins (upgrade currency)
At each tier: new Gadget, Star Power, or Hypercharge

A maxed brawler is 3 to 4 times more powerful than level 1.

Game modes

Mode	Players	Objective
Gem Grab	3v3	Collect 10 gems and hold for 15 sec
Brawl Ball	3v3	Score 2 goals in opponent’s net
Heist	3v3	Destroy enemy safe
Bounty	3v3	Kill to earn stars
Knockout	3v3	Elimination, best of 3
Showdown	Solo / Duo	Battle Royale, last survivor
Hot Zone	3v3	Control zones
Duels	1v1	Brawler duel, best of 3
Trio Battle	3v3	Combined brawler score

The Brawl Pass

The Brawl Pass is the seasonal progression system:

Free Brawl Pass: limited rewards at each tier
Premium Brawl Pass ($5/month): all rewards + exclusive brawler + skin
Brawl Pass Plus ($10/month): Premium + double XP + exclusive skins

For a regular player progressing, it’s the most cost-effective purchase.

Codes and free rewards

Brawl Stars doesn’t use redemption codes like Monopoly Go, but offers many free rewards:

Daily Starr Drops (4-5/day)
Weekly quests
Season rewards (trophies)
Club League rewards
Special events (collaborations, tournaments)

Priority brawlers to master

Brawler	Difficulty	Role	Why
Shelly	Beginner	Damage Dealer	Available from start, versatile
Bull	Beginner	Tank	Powerful at close range
Colt	Beginner	Sniper	High range, sustained damage
Bonnie	Intermediate	Hybrid	Two modes, versatile
Mortis	Advanced	Assassin	Extreme mobility, high skill cap

Events and collaborations

Brawl Stars has secured major partnerships:

Stranger Things crossover
Subway Surfers collaboration
Brawl-O-Ween (Halloween season)

Tips for getting started

Play daily: daily Starr Drops are the main source of free progression
Focus on 3-4 brawlers at first, don’t spread your Power Points
Brawl Pass as soon as you play regularly: unbeatable ROI
Join an active club: Club Wars give massive rewards
Learn modes one by one: master Brawl Ball before moving to Heist, etc.

App ecosystem

Available on: iOS, Android (PC via emulator)
Business model: free-to-play, optional micro-transactions
Community: 50M+ monthly active players
Esport: Annual Brawl Stars World Finals with $1M+ prize pool

This article serves as a hub for our complete coverage of Brawl Stars. As a Supercell flagship esport title, the game gets monthly seasons we cover regularly on After Strategy.