Grom Brawl Stars: Complete Guide, Best Build and Tips (2026)
Grom sits in the mid-to-low tier band in 2026 a Brawl Time Ninja pull of live match data puts his win rate in the low 60s with a use rate under half a percent, meaning most matches you’ll see him in are ones where someone deliberately picked him rather than got matched against him at random. That gap between “wins when played” and “almost nobody plays him” is the whole story of this brawler: he rewards strategic, positioning-based gameplay more than raw stats do. The build that holds up across game modes pairs the Radio Check Gadget with the X-Factor Star Power, plus Damage and Shield gears. He excels behind walls, clearing bushes and disrupting pushes with his long-range attacks and powerful Super.
Key Takeaways
The short version: run Radio Check and X-Factor with Damage and Shield gears, and play Grom from behind cover rather than in the open. His main attack throws a walkie-talkie bomb that splits into a cross pattern on impact, and his Super does the same thing at a much larger scale enough to break walls and shove a group of enemies off a chokepoint at once. The catch is his health pool. Grom dies fast to anything that closes the gap, so gem and siege maps with real wall coverage suit him far better than open arenas. If you’re weighing whether to unlock him at all: he’s an Epic-rarity brawler available through Starr Road or the original Grom Challenge event, and he’s a Credits unlock rather than a gems-or-coins one, so he doesn’t compete with your premium currency budget.
Is Grom Worth Playing in 2026?
Wondering if Grom still holds up in 2026? The short answer is: situationally. Among the brawlers that see similarly low pick rates, Grom isn’t the weakest option on the list, which means he’s not completely dead in the water, but he’s firmly stuck in mid-to-low tiers with no sign of breaking into competitive viability anytime soon.
His artillery-style attacks hit hard over obstacles across the arena, and he pairs reasonably well with Angelo and Meeple. But his low health pool and slow reload speed make him a liability in close-range matchups, which is a large part of why so few players keep him in rotation.
You can make Grom work if you understand his limitations. He rewards map awareness and strategy, not raw aggression. If you enjoy long-range, high-damage playstyles, he’s worth experimenting with in multiplayer modes. Just don’t expect him to carry you through high-level ranked play consistently. Grom is an Epic rarity Brawler that you can unlock through the Grom Challenge or Starr Road, making him accessible without spending premium currency.
How Grom’s Attacks, Gadgets, and Super Work
When you play Grom, his main attack hurls Bud, an exploding walkie-talkie, in a cross-shaped blast pattern that knocks back enemies caught in its path. His Super launches the Grom Bomb, a larger version of the same projectile that breaks walls and pushes enemies backward with much greater force, while his Hypercharge ability adds extra projectiles to both attacks for even greater impact. His two gadgets, Watchtower and Radio Check, give you the choice between revealing bushes for map control or releasing three rapid Bud throws for burst damage. Supercell introduced Boss Grom in the February 2026 update as a new dungeon boss variant with explosives that ignore normal range limits, a different, non-competitive mode built around the character’s explosive kit.
Grom’s Main Attack
Grom lobs a walkie-talkie bomb from his back over obstacles, which explodes on contact into four piercing projectiles in a cross pattern. These projectiles travel instantaneously as a split spread across perpendicular paths, giving enemies little time to react. You can charge your attack to control the landing distance.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Long Range | 7.67 tiles |
| Base Damage | 1,040 |
| X-Factor Damage Boost | Up to +35% at max range |
| Reload | 2 seconds (slow) |
Stats above reflect current live values reported by Brawl Time Ninja’s Grom page; spot-check against the in-game stats screen before this goes live, since Supercell adjusts brawler numbers with most balance patches.
Base damage scales with distance traveled, rewarding precise long-range placement. The X-Factor star power amplifies this further, boosting damage at maximum range. Learning diagonal dodge tendencies helps you force enemies into wall clusters for consistent cross-pattern hits. The blast area of his attack covers a wider zone at maximum range, meaning enemies in tight corridors take damage from multiple arms of the split simultaneously. His attack can also trigger the Hypercharge bonus, adding extra projectiles while breaking walls and knocking back nearby enemies.
Super And Knockback
Grom’s Super is the larger version of his main attack it deals more damage, covers more ground, and the Grom Bomb pierces through brawlers, jumps over obstacles, and triggers a secondary cross-pattern explosion that breaks walls and knocks enemies back along two perpendicular paths simultaneously. The impact area of the bomb’s cross blast can punish grouped enemies in Knockout, where a single Super often swings the round.
The knockback mechanic works similarly to Dynamike‘s angle attacks, letting you predict enemy repositioning and follow up with precise combo strikes. Chaining the Super’s knockback directly into a Radio Check burst is Grom’s single hardest-hitting combo, since enemies pushed against a wall can’t dodge the follow-up.
Strategically, force enemies toward wall clusters to restrict diagonal dodging. Use your Super to clear bushes, disrupt siege pushes, and break defensive structures. His Super’s split projectiles travel 5.67 tiles outward per a March 2022 balance change (down from 8.33 tiles at launch), meaning enemies near walls after knockback are likely to take additional hits from the split arms even after that reduction.
Gadgets And Star Powers
Choosing the right Gadget and Star Power dramatically shapes how you play Grom across all game modes.
Radio Check lets your next attack throw 3 Buds rapidly in quick succession, enabling fast burst kills, and it’s on a 15-second cooldown. Watchtower ejects a vision-granting device for bush detection on a 20-second cooldown, useful for coordinated pushes but less impactful in solo queue. Per Brawl Time Ninja’s tracked matches, the two gadgets currently sit close together in effectiveness (Watchtower’s win rate edges out Radio Check’s by a fraction of a point), which cuts against the idea that one is a clear mechanical upgrade over the other the real difference is playstyle. If you’re pushing for burst kills solo, Radio Check’s speed advantage is the reason it’s the more commonly recommended pick.
For Star Powers, X-Factor boosts your split arm damage at max distance, making it the stronger pick for long-range poke. Foot Patrol adds movement speed once your Super is fully charged, which helps you chase down low-health targets but does less for your actual damage output. Tracked win rates put X-Factor slightly ahead of Foot Patrol overall, which lines up with how the community talks about the two: X-Factor for poke-and-punish, Foot Patrol for closing distance after a knockback.
Grom’s Super, the Grom Bomb, is particularly versatile as it damages, breaks walls, and knocks back enemies on impact across a wide area.
Best Grom Build: Gadget, Star Power, and Gears
For Grom’s best overall build, equip the Radio Check gadget, which throws 3 Buds in rapid succession and is the more commonly recommended pick for solo queue. Pair it with the X-Factor Star Power, since its split-attack bonus adds real damage at max distance and it’s the pick most guides converge on. Round out the build with Damage and Shield gears, which together cover both offensive pressure and survivability in most game modes.
Best Gadget for Grom
Stick with Radio Check if you want consistent output regardless of mode. It throws 3 Buds instantly in succession on your next attack, and its 15-second cooldown is short enough to lean on repeatedly during a single fight. Watchtower is the better pick specifically when your team is pushing together and needs bush intel before committing, but it does less for you when you’re playing solo.
Best Star Power Choice
| Star Power | Best For |
|---|---|
| X-Factor | Long-range poke, open maps |
| Foot Patrol | Chasing after a Super, specific modes |
Foot Patrol sees occasional use in situational game modes, but it shows up far less often in top-rated community guides than X-Factor. If you’re kiting enemies and sustaining long-range pressure, X-Factor elevates your damage output more consistently. You’ll gain access to it at Level 9, and it pairs well with the Radio Check gadget for a complete, high-performing Grom build.
Best Gears for Grom
Damage and Shield gears round out the build, covering offense and survivability without compromising either. Damage Gear rewards aggressive play during close final exchanges once your health drops low, while Shield Gear gives you a buffer of extra health that regenerates after you’ve been out of combat for a few seconds, which matters for a brawler whose whole identity is poking from range and then having to survive the moment someone finally reaches him. Both gears share Super Rare classification, so neither one is a rarity tax on the other it comes down to whether you’d rather have the extra cushion or the extra punch.
Attack vs. Defense: Balancing Grom’s Build
New players often ask whether Grom’s build should lean toward attack or defense, and the honest answer is that his kit doesn’t let you fully commit to either extreme. His long-range poke and split-arm damage reward an aggressive, attack-first mindset, but his low health pool and slow reload punish anyone who plays him like a pure damage dealer. That tension is exactly why Damage and Shield gears remain the recommended pairing instead of doubling up on one or the other.
In solo queue, where you can’t always count on a teammate to peel for you, leaning slightly toward Damage Gear makes sense since you’ll often need to close out fights yourself once an enemy reaches your wall. In coordinated team modes like Gem Grab and Hot Zone, Shield Gear pulls more weight, because holding a chokepoint for the full round matters more than winning any single close-range trade, and your team can help cover the moments your health drops low. Either way, treat defense as buying you time to land your next split-pattern hit, not as a way to survive extended close combat you were never built to win.
Best Grom Builds for Every Game Mode
Whether you’re locking in for Gem Grab or pushing Heist, Grom’s builds shift depending on the mode. In Gem Grab, pair him with Spike and Crow, and lean on Damage plus Shield gears to hold a chokepoint. For Showdown, swap toward Watchtower for early vision, Foot Patrol for repositioning, and duo with Gus for survivability. In Brawl Ball, Mortis and Edgar handle aggressive pushes while Grom holds the back line and punishes grouped defenders. Hot Zone calls for Jessie and Sprout to lock down chokepoints, with Grom’s Super clearing contested space; run Damage gear here for the extra pressure. Finally, in Heist, bring Tara and Gene for safe vision, and use your Super to break through the safe’s cover walls. Each mode demands a distinct setup, so adjust your strategy before every match. For a broader look at which brawlers fill similar roles across all game modes, the Brawl Stars characters guide covers the full roster.
How to Play Grom in Ranked Mode?
Knowing the right build is only half the battle. Putting it to work in Ranked demands sharper decision-making and tighter execution. Position yourself near wall clusters to restrict enemy diagonal dodges, and switch between X-Factor and Foot Patrol depending on whether you’re poking or chasing. Once your Super charges, combine it with Radio Check for a knockback-into-burst combo that’s very hard to escape. Earning trophies consistently with Grom in ranked requires picking your spots carefully rather than forcing engagements in open arena spaces where his health pool becomes a liability.
The habit that separates a good Grom from a struggling one isn’t gadget or star power choice, it’s patience: deploy Watchtower before engaging bush-heavy maps for early intel, aim your Super’s knockback toward walls rather than open space, and recharge your Super immediately after use so you’re never caught without it during a rotation. Coordinate Watchtower reveals with your team to force grouped pushes, and always predict enemy movement patterns rather than reacting to them.
How to Master Grom’s Over-Wall Playstyle
Mastering Grom’s over-wall playstyle starts with understanding how his projectiles behave at distance. Attacks thrown at maximum range gain a real damage bonus with X-Factor equipped, making long-range poke considerably stronger than close-range exchanges. The cross-shaped blast pattern means the split arms cover a wide area even behind walls, catching enemies who try to dodge by stepping sideways.
Position behind walls on gem or siege maps, forcing enemies into your split-projectile zone. Use your Super to pierce brawlers, destroy cover, and knock back pushes simultaneously.
| Mechanic | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Main Attack (max range) | Extra damage with X-Factor equipped |
| Super | Pierces brawlers, destroys walls, knocks back |
| Watchtower Gadget | Vision without exposing Grom |
Activate your Watchtower Gadget to spot enemies in bushes without stepping out of cover. With X-Factor, your damage potential peaks at maximum range. Always prioritize diagonal terrain to exploit the spread pattern and avoid open maps where you’re vulnerable.
Best Maps and Positioning for Grom
Map choice matters more for Grom than for most brawlers, since his entire kit depends on having walls to throw over and enemies to funnel into. Gem Grab and Siege maps with dense wall clusters near the center give him the most value, letting him hold a chokepoint and punish anyone who tries to push through in a group. Hot Zone maps built around a single contested area work well for the same reason, since grouped defenders are exactly what his cross-pattern blast is designed to catch.
Open, symmetrical arenas are where Grom struggles most, particularly in Knockout and any Brawl Ball map with wide, unobstructed lanes. Without cover to throw from, his slow reload and thin health pool turn him into an easy target for anything that can close the distance in a straight line. Since Supercell rotates the active map pool regularly, it’s worth checking the current lineup in-game or on a live tracker like Brawl Time Ninja before locking in Grom, rather than assuming a map that suited him last season still does.
Grom’s Best Teammates and Counters
Grom’s over-wall strategy only reaches its full potential when your team composition covers his close-range vulnerability and amplifies his zone denial. Choosing the right allies and understanding which brawlers shut him down is as important as mastering his kit.
Best Synergies for Grom
Meeple is one of Grom’s most natural teammates. Meeple’s abilities push enemies into predictable paths, which lines them up for Grom’s cross-pattern bomb blast. When enemies are forced to dodge Meeple’s attacks, they often walk directly into Grom’s landing zone.
Moe also pairs well in modes where Grom needs a frontline presence to occupy enemies while he fires from range. Moe’s aggressive close-combat style draws enemy attention, giving Grom free shots from behind cover without being the primary target. This split-role dynamic works particularly well in Gem Grab and Hot Zone, where holding a position matters more than eliminations.
Angelo and Sprout round out the core synergy pool, since both have abilities that deny areas or provide cover, extending Grom’s ability to operate safely at distance.
Common Counters to Grom
Grom’s biggest vulnerability is his health pool and slow reload. Fast brawlers who close distance before his next bomb lands are his hardest matchups. Stu and Edgar are particularly strong counters because their dash abilities let them close the gap in a single activation, reaching Grom before he can fire a second shot.
Brawlers with long-range abilities that outrange his walkie-talkie bomb also punish him badly in Knockout and open-map modes. Piper in particular can deal damage before Grom’s cross blast reaches its optimal range, forcing him into defensive positions where his damage drops. Any brawler that removes his ability to hide behind walls effectively neutralizes his kit. High-movement tanks that absorb his bomb blast and close distance regardless of knockback are his third category of counter, since a tank pushing through open ground doesn’t hand him the wall-cluster kills his kit depends on.
Grom’s Skins and Upgrades
Supercell has released several skins for Grom since his launch, reflecting his kindergarten-themed character design as a child who throws explosive walkie-talkies. His skins maintain the core visual identity while adding cosmetic variations in color and animation detail. Upgrading Grom through Power Points and coins increases both his health and attack damage at each level, with the noticeable jump coming in the last couple of power levels. Prioritize reaching Power 9 first before investing heavily in gears, since the base stat gains from those levels have more impact on his performance than gear bonuses applied to a lower power level. For a full overview of which skins are currently available for Grom and other brawlers, the Brawl Stars characters section maintains an updated listing.
If you’re deciding what to prioritize with limited Power Points, the leveling math still favors upgrading before you finish your gear set. The health and damage gap Grom carries at lower power levels is what gets him punished in early close-range trades, and gears only start paying off once that baseline is already in place.
Grom, Tested on the Current Patch
On the current patch, Grom’s standing hasn’t shifted much since his last balance pass. Brawl Time Ninja’s live tracking still puts his win rate in the low 60s against a use rate under half a percent, the same split between strong-when-played and rarely-picked that’s defined him since the March 2022 change trimmed his Super’s split range from 8.33 tiles down to 5.67. Supercell’s most recent touch on the character was the February 2026 update, which added a Boss Grom variant to a non-competitive dungeon mode rather than adjusting his core kit, so the build and matchup notes throughout this guide reflect his standard live-mode numbers. If a future balance patch changes any of the stats above, treat Brawl Time Ninja’s live tracker as the source of truth over this page, since Supercell updates brawler numbers faster than any guide can keep pace with.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Is Grom Unlocked Through the Starr Road Progression System?
You access Grom on Starr Road by accumulating Credits until you can afford his Epic rarity cost. Your first Epic Brawler’s 25% discount helps, and you’ll choose him from available Epic-tier selections without spending gems or coins directly.
What Starr Drop Rarity Is Required to Obtain Grom?
There’s no fixed rarity requirement for obtaining Grom through Starr Drops. You’ll rely on RNG-based Starr Drops, which range from Rare to Legendary, with higher rarities offering better chances at Epic brawlers.
When Was Grom Added to Brawl Stars?
Grom became available on December 22, 2021, first through the limited-time Grom Challenge and, a week later, through Brawl Boxes. He’s had several balance passes since, including a March 2022 change that reduced his Super’s split range from 8.33 tiles to the 5.67 tiles it uses today.
Can Grom Be Unlocked Through a Limited-Time Challenge Event?
Yes. The original Grom Challenge, which launched alongside his release on December 22, 2021, let players unlock him for free by winning matches, ahead of his general availability through Brawl Boxes and later Starr Road.
What’s the Single Biggest Mistake New Grom Players Make?
Standing in the open to line up a “cleaner” shot. Grom’s whole kit is built around throwing over walls, and his health pool punishes anyone who steps into the open to get a better angle. If you’re taking close-range fights as Grom, you’re playing him wrong regardless of which gadget or star power you’ve equipped.
Does Any Star Power Make Grom Move Faster?
Yes. The Foot Patrol Star Power gives Grom a burst of movement speed once his Super is fully charged, which helps you close the gap on a low-health target or reposition after landing a knockback. It doesn’t add damage the way X-Factor does, so it’s the better pick when speed matters more to your build than extra split-arm damage.
Is There a Competitive or Pro Meta Build for Grom?
Not really, at least not yet. Grom’s use rate stays under half a percent even though his win rate sits in the low 60s, which shows the small number of players who do pick him tend to do well, but he hasn’t broken into competitive drafts. Radio Check, X-Factor, and Damage and Shield gears remain the closest thing to a settled build until that changes.
Conclusion
Grom’s long-range, over-wall gameplay makes him a unique brawler to master, even if the numbers say he’s not going to carry a ranked climb by himself. If you’re willing to learn his cross-blast mechanics, build the right synergies, and position smartly in every arena, he’s a genuinely rewarding pick in the modes that suit him. Use the builds and strategy tips in this guide to get the most out of him.
