The 7 Best Damage Dealer Brawlers in Brawl Stars, Ranked
These seven brawlers are built to put up big numbers fast, close out fights before they turn into a stalemate, and carry a match on their own when you play them right. These are our picks for the best damage dealer brawlers in Brawl Stars, counting down to our number one.
What makes a damage dealer
Damage Dealers are built around one job: put out as much raw damage as possible before the enemy can fight back. On MetaForge, that’s one of several brawler classes, alongside Tanks, Assassins, Marksmen, Controllers, Support, and Artillery.
A strong damage dealer can win a 1v1 outright, blast through cover, or delete a squishy support before their Super is even ready. That makes them some of the most satisfying brawlers to master, and some of the most punishing to face.
This list ranks damage dealers on raw damage-dealing power, not live win rate. It’s about what these brawlers can do when their shots connect: burst potential, how hard their Super hits, and how much pressure they put out in a straight fight.
Live win rate is a different question. It factors in counters, skill floor, and pick rate, so check our Tier List for the current meta, since that shifts with every balance update.
The full list, counting down:
- Shelly
- Pearl
- Colt
- Rico
- Clancy
- Surge
- Spike
7. Shelly
Shelly is the free Trophy Road starter, so it’s easy to write off once flashier picks unlock. Get her within range, though, and she turns into a real threat.
Her Buckshot attack is a wide shotgun spread that rewards fighting up close, and her Super, Super Shell, blasts through cover and knocks back anyone who survives it. A point-blank Super can flip a losing fight in one hit.
She’s also one of the most forgiving brawlers to learn, which is exactly why she still earns a spot on this list. If you like closing distance and ending fights fast, Shelly is worth keeping in rotation long after your account has grown past her.
6. Pearl
Pearl runs on Heat, and that mechanic is what makes her dangerous. The longer a fight drags on, the hotter she gets, and the harder her next hit lands.
Her attack, Hot Cookies, and her Super, Let Out Some Steam, both scale off that same Heat bar, so once she’s fully warmed up, the numbers get serious. That lets her poke enemies down from a safer distance than most damage dealers get.
Time your attacks well and keep that bar climbing, and Pearl turns a slow burn into a fast kill. She rewards patience more than most brawlers on this list.
5. Colt
Colt rewards good aim more than almost any other brawler on this list. Land your shots and the damage adds up fast.
His Six-Shooters fire a tight volley of long-range bullets, and his Super, Bullet Storm, tears through enemies and cover in one burst. A skilled Colt player can lock down an entire lane and punish anyone who steps out of position.
He’s not forgiving if you miss, but that’s the tradeoff worth making. Put in the practice and he turns raw accuracy into map control.
4. Rico
Rico stands out because of how unpredictable his shots are. His bullets bounce off walls, which means he can hit enemies who think they’re safe behind cover.
That makes Bouncy Bullets and his Super, Trick Shot, most effective on tight, wall-heavy maps where a straight shot won’t reach. Learn the angles and you’ll catch people completely off guard.
It takes reps to get comfortable predicting a ricochet, but once it clicks, Rico is one of the most satisfying damage dealers to play. Few things feel better than a bounced shot finding its mark from an angle no one expected.
3. Clancy
Clancy starts fights weaker than he finishes them. The longer a match goes, the more his damage output climbs.
His attack, Power Wash, and his Super, Torrent, both upgrade in stages as he powers up, eventually firing far more shots per hit than he started with. Let him snowball and he goes from a nuisance to a genuine threat in a team fight.
Leave Clancy unchecked for too long and he can single-handedly swing a match. He’s proof that patience pays off if you can survive his early game.
2. Surge
Surge is built to snowball. He’s weak when a match starts and genuinely dangerous by the time it ends.
His attack, Juice Of Justice, splits in two on contact, and his Super, Party Tricks, upgrades him through three stages: faster movement, then extra range, then a six-way split shot that hits absurdly hard. At max level, that final stage pumps out 2,360 damage per hit.
Keep Surge alive long enough to stack those upgrades, and he can shred an entire team almost by himself. He’s one of the best examples of a brawler that rewards playing safe early and going all in late.
1. Spike
Spike does a bit of everything a damage dealer needs. His attacks hit hard, and grouped enemies take the worst of it.
His Needle Grenade explodes into spikes that fan out in every direction, so it punishes anyone standing too close together. His Super, Stick Around!, slows every enemy caught in the blast, which makes escaping nearly impossible.
Play aggressive or hold down a key area of the map, and Spike delivers value either way. That mix of damage and control is exactly why he tops this list.
Best damage dealer by playstyle
- New to damage dealers: start with Shelly. She’s free, forgiving, and still hits hard at close range.
- Want poke without closing the gap: Pearl’s Heat mechanic rewards patience from a safer distance.
- Confident in your aim: Colt turns precision into full lane control.
- Like creative angles: Rico rewards learning how shots bounce off walls.
- Can survive a slow start: Clancy and Surge both reward staying alive long enough to scale.
- Want a pick that works everywhere: Spike’s mix of damage and crowd control makes him the safest all-around choice here.
FAQ
Is this ranking based on win rate or raw damage output?
This list ranks damage output, kit design, and how each brawler feels to play, not live win-rate data. For current competitive standings across the full roster, check our Tier List.
What makes a brawler a damage dealer in Brawl Stars?
Damage Dealer is one of the game’s brawler classes, built around raw damage output rather than mobility, healing, or crowd control. Their job is ending fights fast rather than outlasting them.
Is Shelly still worth playing since she’s a free starter brawler?
Yes. Her Buckshot and Super Shell still hit hard at close range, and she remains one of the most forgiving brawlers in the game to pick up.
Does this ranking change with balance updates?
Yes, Brawl Stars gets regular balance patches, and any brawler’s damage output can shift overnight. Check the Brawlers Database for current stats before spending Coins on upgrades.
Related tools & resources
See how the wider roster stacks up on the Tier List.
Look up exact stats, gadgets, and star powers for any brawler on this list in the Brawlers Database.
Line these seven up side by side with the Compare Brawlers tool before deciding who to upgrade next.
Curious about the exact damage math behind a Super or combo? Run the numbers in the Damage Calculator.
