Brawl Stars: Tier List of the Best Fighters — September 2026 ("Royal Academy" Season)
Season 54, “Royal Academy,” has begun in Brawl Stars: there are now 108 brawlers in the game, Starr Road has been replaced by Brawler Blast, and the meta has stabilized following the September balance update. We’ve compiled an up-to-date tier list based on data from win rate trackers (BrawlMetrics, Brawl Time Ninja, noff.gg)—with an analysis of which brawlers to level up and which to pick for each mode.
Brawl Stars Tier List for September 2026
- S+: Wendy, Nori;
- S: Gus, Bolt, Bo, Starr Nova, Shade, Amber;
- A: Mortis, Trunk, Lumi, Pierce, Sprout, Doug, Chester, Draco, Mandy, Finx, Meeple, Jae-Yong;
- B: R-T, Lola, Sirius, Moe, Stu, Kit, Gray, Kaze, Tara, Griff, Frank, Sam, Carl, Ruffs, Hank, Najia, Janet, Edgar, Ash, Emz, Bibi, Juju;
- C: Bull, Tick, Spike, Penny, Meg, Rosa, Max, 8-Bit, Nita, El Primo, Fang, Leon, Gale, Buzz, Dynamike, Colt, Rico, Jessie, Poco, Colette, Melodie, Otis, Sandy, Cordelius;
- D: Bea, Lou, Surge, Berry, Crow, Barley, Piper, Byron, Brock, Jacky, Belle.
Note: The tier list is based on the “average temperature” across the ladder. In coordinated ranked play, the top tier looks different: there, Shade, Wendy, El Primo, Edgar, and Melodie reign supreme—fighters who rely on team support.
Who’s the Strongest Right Now
Wendy is a legendary support and the undisputed number one: 69% adjusted win rate, first place on all trackers. Her team shield fits perfectly into a survival-focused meta. Nori shares the top spot in S+ with her. Among the “classics,” Gus and Bolt remain consistently strong (both over 64%), while Amber jumped 15 spots over the cycle. Shade is the game’s best assassin and the top pick among elite players, even though his gadgets and Star Powers were nerfed in the September patch.
Top Fighters by Mode
- Crystal Capture: Wendy, Gus, Amber, Bo—their shields and map control secure the mine;
- Brawlball: Wendy, Mortis, Bibi, Nori—mobility and ball control;
- Knockout: Bolt, Bo, Amber, Pierce — long-range beams are decisive in a no-respawn format;
- Clash (Solo/Duo): Bolt, Starr Nova, Shade, Trunk — survivability and damage;
- Heist: Colt, Bull, Shade, Nori — maximum damage to the vault;
- Reward / Zone Capture: Bolt, Amber, Bo, Wendy.
What Changed in September
The season’s biggest structural change: Starr Road has been reworked into Brawler Blast—this didn’t affect the tier list, but now when you unlock a brawler, you’ll also get power levels, gadgets, and even hyper charges. Unlock prices remain the same: from 160 credits for a Rare to 5,500 for an Ultra-Legendary. Coming up: the release of the new Mythic fighter Cosmo (a robot scientist with a magnetic super) in September and barista Vince in October. Keep in mind: the win rate for new fighters is always inflated by the “novelty effect” during the first few weeks—don’t rush to invest your resources.
Practical advice
Don’t level up the “strongest” character—level up the most versatile one for your playstyles: if you mainly play Crystal Grab and Brawl Ball, Wendy and Gus will pay for themselves the fastest. And remember: the balance in Brawl Stars changes every few weeks; we update this guide after every major patch.
Sources: timesaver.gg, noff.gg, brawlplanet.com