Hank Brawl Stars: Complete Guide, Best Build & Tips (2026)
Quick answer: Hank is an Epic Brawler in Brawl Stars classified as a Tank. His main attack, Balloon Blast, charges up a water balloon that deals more damage the longer it is held. His Super, Fish Torpedo, fires torpedoes in a wide spread dealing damage and disrupting enemy positioning. His best build runs Waterballoons gadget with It’s Gonna Blow star power in most situations.
Who Is Hank in Brawl Stars?
Hank is an Epic Brawler developed by Supercell for Brawl Stars, their multiplayer mobile arena game. He is a whale-themed ocean character with a high health pool, a charge-based main attack, and a wide-spread torpedo Super. His rarity is Epic, placing him in the same tier as Edgar and Colette in the broader Brawl Stars roster.
Hank’s Tank classification reflects his role: he is designed to absorb damage at the front line while disrupting enemy positioning with his Super and controlling space with his charge-based main attack. His high HP makes him one of the more durable Brawlers in the Epic tier, and his dual gadgets give him flexibility between offensive crowd control with Waterballoons and defensive survivability with Barricade depending on the match situation.
What distinguishes Hank from other Tank-class Brawlers is the skill ceiling embedded in Balloon Blast. A charged attack at maximum hold time deals significantly more damage than a quick tap-fire. Players who learn to hold the charge appropriately while moving deal far more damage per activation than those who tap-fire at close range. This mechanic makes his damage output highly player-dependent rather than simply scaling with proximity like most Tank attacks.
Hank’s Base Stats (Max Power Level)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Class | Tank |
| Health (HP at max power) | High |
| Main attack | Balloon Blast (charge-hold, more damage = longer hold) |
| Super | Fish Torpedo (wide spread torpedoes, area disruption) |
| Movement speed | Slow to Normal |
| Attack range | Medium |
| Gadgets | Waterballoons / Barricade |
| Star Powers | It’s Gonna Blow / Take Cover! |
His HP is the highest-leverage stat in his kit. It is what allows him to remain in medium range while holding the Balloon Blast charge rather than needing to fire immediately and retreat. Investing coins and power points into his health upgrades at each power level meaningfully extends how long he can hold frontline positions before needing to disengage. Upgrading Hank to Power Level 9 before unlocking gadgets and star powers is the recommended progression path.
Balloon Blast: Hank’s Main Attack Explained
Balloon Blast is Hank’s primary attack. He inflates a water balloon while holding the attack button. The longer the hold, the larger the balloon and the higher the damage output when it fires. At minimum charge, the balloon deals modest damage. At maximum charge, it delivers one of the highest single-shot damage values available to an Epic Brawler at his range bracket.
The Charge-Hold Mechanic in Practice
The charge duration creates a timing decision in every attack activation: how long can you hold before the enemy moves out of range, repositions behind cover, or forces you to react to incoming fire? Holding the charge too long in an active fight often means the shot fires at an empty position. Releasing too early means below-average damage. The skill of Balloon Blast is reading opponent movement and releasing at the moment maximum charge aligns with their position.
Against slow or stationary targets — Brawlers holding a position in Gem Grab or Heist defenders clustered near a safe — a full charge is almost always achievable. Against fast Brawlers like Edgar or Leon, a medium charge fired at the predicted position is more reliable than waiting for a full charge that the target will have moved away from.
It’s Gonna Blow: Speed During Charge
The It’s Gonna Blow star power grants Hank a movement speed boost when his attack is charged above 80%. This directly addresses the charge-hold tension: rather than being a stationary target while building to maximum damage, Hank can move faster during the highest charge window, making him harder to predict and harder to hit. This speed boost also helps him close distance on retreating targets during the high-charge phase.
Anticipating Enemy Movement
Experienced Hank players aim where opponents will be rather than where they currently are. A Brawler retreating from the gem mine will move in a predictable direction. A full charge aimed at that retreat path lands at maximum damage on a moving target without requiring a reaction-speed shot. This predictive approach to Balloon Blast is the primary mechanical gap between intermediate and advanced Hank play.
Fish Torpedo: How Hank’s Super Works
Fish Torpedo is Hank’s Super. When activated, Hank launches torpedoes in a wide spread in front of him. The torpedoes travel across the map and deal damage to all enemies they contact. The spread covers a significantly wider area than his Balloon Blast, making it effective for hitting multiple targets simultaneously or for area denial across a wide corridor.
Offensive Super Applications
The primary offensive use is firing the Super into a cluster of enemies to deal simultaneous damage to multiple targets. In Gem Grab around the mine, in Hot Zone contested areas, and in Brawl Ball near the goal, opponents frequently group within the torpedo spread width. Landing the full Super spread on two or three Brawlers deals enough combined damage to significantly alter the health states of the entire opposing team in a single activation.
Area Denial and Disruption
Fish Torpedo also functions as an area denial and crowd disruption tool even when it does not deal maximum damage. Opponents who see the Super incoming must decide whether to absorb the torpedo damage or reposition out of the spread path. This repositioning forces them away from objectives, out of cover, or into positions where Hank’s teammates have better angles. The disruption value of a Fish Torpedo that opponents avoid is often as high as one that connects, because the repositioning creates openings.
Charging Fish Torpedo
Unlike Chuck’s passive Super charge, Hank charges Fish Torpedo by landing Balloon Blast hits on enemies. Higher-charge Balloon Blast hits contribute more to the Super charge per activation. Consistently landing medium-to-full charge Balloon Blasts charges the Super significantly faster than tap-firing at minimum charge. This creates an incentive loop: better Balloon Blast play not only deals more damage per hit but also charges the Super faster.
Best Gadget for Hank: Waterballoons vs Barricade
| Gadget | Effect | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Waterballoons | Hank’s next Balloon Blast attack slows the movement speed of all enemies it hits for a short duration | Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, Knockout, any mode where slowing a specific target dramatically changes the fight outcome |
| Barricade | Grants Hank a temporary damage shield that absorbs a set amount of incoming damage | Heist, Siege, Hot Zone, modes where Hank is the primary defensive anchor absorbing sustained fire |
Which Gadget to Run
Waterballoons is the stronger default gadget for most modes and most team compositions. The best Hank build centers around this gadget because the water balloons slow applied to a hit target dramatically extends the time that target remains within Balloon Blast range for follow-up charges. A slowed gem carrier in Gem Grab cannot reach safety before a second Balloon Blast lands. A slowed ball carrier in Brawl Ball gives defenders time to reposition. The slow fundamentally converts Hank’s area-denial role into a lockdown tool that combines with any teammate who deals follow-up damage effectively. Barricade is the correct alternative in Heist and Siege where Hank is the primary damage-absorbing frontliner holding a position under sustained fire from multiple opponents simultaneously.
Best Star Power for Hank: It’s Gonna Blow vs Take Cover!
| Star Power | Effect | Best situation |
|---|---|---|
| It’s Gonna Blow | Hank gains a movement speed boost when his Balloon Blast charge exceeds 80%, allowing him to move toward or alongside opponents during the high-charge phase | Most modes, open maps, situations where mobility during the charge phase changes the approach angle |
| Take Cover! | Hank takes reduced damage from all sources when positioned near a wall | Wall-dense maps, defense-heavy modes like Heist and Siege, situations where Hank holds a fixed position near cover for extended periods |
Which Star Power to Run
It’s Gonna Blow is the stronger star power in most situations. The movement speed boost during high charge converts what would otherwise be a vulnerability window (holding still at 80%+ charge) into an approach advantage. Hank can close distance on retreating targets while maintaining the charge, land at near-maximum charge, and deal full Balloon Blast damage after repositioning under the speed boost. Take Cover! is the correct alternative on wall-heavy maps and in defense-anchored compositions where Hank’s primary role is holding a position near terrain rather than repositioning across the map.
Hank’s Hypercharge
Hank’s Hypercharge amplifies his Fish Torpedo Super, increasing the torpedo spread width, damage per torpedo, and adding additional effects during the activation. The Hypercharge makes the Super significantly harder to dodge and deals more total damage across the spread. Prioritize charging the Hypercharge before major team fights where Fish Torpedo’s area denial will hit the most targets simultaneously. The increased spread during Hypercharge means even partially evasive opponents take torpedo damage they would have dodged from the standard Super.
Best Synergies with Other Brawlers
Follow-Up Damage Dealers
Hank’s Waterballoons gadget slow creates a window where a slowed target remains stationary for follow-up damage. Pairing him with high-burst Brawlers who can immediately capitalize on a slowed opponent maximizes this window. Colette is an ideal partner: her percentage-based Taxing Shot deals higher absolute damage the more HP the target has, and Hank tends to slow high-HP frontliners who are Colette’s optimal targets. The combination of Hank slowing a high-HP tank and Colette dealing percentage damage to that slowed tank is one of the more efficient tank-killing synergies in the Epic rarity tier.
Support Healers
Doug is Hank’s strongest support partner. Doug’s Snack Attack heals Hank while he holds the Balloon Blast charge in the frontline, extending how long he can maintain the charging position under return fire. Doug’s Second Serving Super also revives Hank if an extended frontline hold results in elimination, reducing the risk of committing to an aggressive Balloon Blast position. This duo is particularly effective in Gem Grab where Hank holds the mine frontline while Doug sustains him from behind.
Area Controllers
Willow pairs well with Hank across multiple modes. Willow’s Hex Super can freeze an opponent in place for 4 seconds while Hank charges a full Balloon Blast on that stationary target. The combination of Willow’s forced positional lock and Hank’s maximum charge timing is one of the most reliable full-damage Balloon Blast setups available to him. Additionally, Willow’s Lantern’s Curse puddles slow opponents in the same area where Hank is attempting to charge, compounding his control window.
Best Team Compositions with Hank
Composition 1: Tank and Support (Gem Grab)
- Hank — frontline Tank at the gem mine, Waterballoons to slow gem carrier
- Doug — heals Hank through mine exchanges, Second Serving revival if Hank goes down
- Willow — Hex freezes gem carrier for a guaranteed full-charge Balloon Blast setup
Composition 2: Control and Burst (Brawl Ball)
- Hank — slows ball carrier defenders with Waterballoons, Fish Torpedo clears goal approaches
- Chuck — mobility scorer who benefits from defenders being slowed by Hank’s gadget
- Colette — percentage damage on any high-HP defenders Chuck cannot outrun
Composition 3: Defense Anchor (Heist)
- Hank — Barricade gadget and Take Cover! star power near the safe, absorbing approaching damage
- Leon — invisible flanker eliminating distant threats before they reach Hank’s defensive position
- Brock — long-range damage on approaching Brawlers before they can reach the safe perimeter
Best Game Modes for Hank in Brawl Stars
Gem Grab — Excellent
Gem Grab is Hank’s strongest mode. His high HP lets him hold the gem mine frontline through sustained exchanges that would eliminate lighter Brawlers. The Waterballoons gadget slows gem carriers who try to retreat, turning near-escapes into eliminations. Fish Torpedo fired across the mine area disrupts coordinated gem collection attempts. His position at the mine also draws enemy attention away from teammates collecting or holding gems.
Hot Zone — Strong
Hot Zone rewards area presence and survivability, both of which are Hank’s strengths. His HP lets him contest the zone longer than most opponents, and Fish Torpedo fired across the zone perimeter disrupts challengers attempting to enter. Take Cover! star power near the zone walls significantly extends his durability in the sustained fire that Hot Zone engagements typically generate.
Heist — Strong
In Heist, Hank functions as a defensive anchor near the friendly safe. His Barricade gadget absorbs rushes and his high HP delays safe damage long enough for teammates to eliminate attackers. On offense, a well-charged Balloon Blast at the safe or the defenders protecting it deals significant damage per activation.
Brawl Ball — Good
Brawl Ball suits Hank as a disruptor and space-controller rather than a primary scorer or defender. His Fish Torpedo clears approach paths to the goal and his Waterballoons slow intercepts defenders who would otherwise stop a scoring attempt. On enclosed maps with corridors, his high HP lets him hold the center without being immediately eliminated by a single dive Brawler.
Knockout — Situational
Knockout is functional but not Hank’s optimal format. His slow movement speed makes repositioning between phases challenging, and his charge-hold attack requires relatively static opponents to land maximum damage. Against the mobile, fast Brawlers common in Knockout, landing full-charge Balloon Blasts consistently is more difficult than in objective-based modes.
Showdown — Weak
Solo Showdown is not Hank’s mode. His high HP keeps him alive but his slow attack charge and normal-to-slow movement speed make him vulnerable to kiting from mobile Brawlers who can stay outside his attack range indefinitely. Duo Showdown with a coordinated healing partner is significantly better, but dedicated Showdown Brawlers will generally outperform him in the format.
How to Counter Hank in Brawl Stars
Brawlers That Counter Hank
- Colette — Her percentage-based Taxing Shot is uniquely punishing against Hank’s high HP. The higher his health pool, the more absolute damage each shot deals. Hank’s primary Tank advantage is his HP, and Colette’s formula turns that advantage into her damage advantage.
- Long-range Brawlers (Piper, Brock) — Hank’s Balloon Blast charge window is a vulnerability period where he is holding relatively still. Long-range Brawlers can deal sustained damage during the charge hold while staying outside his effective range. He cannot close the gap under fire without the It’s Gonna Blow speed boost.
- High-mobility Assassins — Edgar and similar dive Brawlers can reach Hank before he completes a full charge, forcing him to release early at reduced damage. The close-range engagement also makes his arc-based balloon harder to land precisely.
Counter Strategies
Interrupt the charge window
Hank’s maximum damage requires a held charge. Applying consistent pressure that forces him to move during the charge interrupts his timing and forces an early release at reduced damage. Any Brawler that can deal damage from a distance during the charge hold degrades his average damage per activation significantly.
Avoid clustered positioning against Fish Torpedo
Fish Torpedo covers a wide spread. A team that stays spread apart rather than clustering provides smaller targets for the torpedo fan. Opponents who cluster near objectives give Hank his most valuable Super activations. Maintain team spread when facing Hank to reduce torpedo multi-hits.
Use Colette or percentage-damage mechanics
Hank’s high HP is his defense. Any damage formula that scales positively with HP pool bypasses his defense advantage. Colette‘s Taxing Shot is the purest expression of this counter. Running Colette specifically against Hank on the opposing team turns his primary defensive stat into a liability.
Target Hank when Barricade is on cooldown
After Hank uses his Barricade gadget, he has a cooldown before it is available again. Committing aggression during the post-Barricade window when his shield is not available applies pressure against his diminished defense. Coordinated two-Brawler focus during this window can eliminate Hank faster than his HP suggests from a single attacker.
Hank Skins and Customization in Brawl Stars
Hank has received cosmetic skins since his release. All skins are purely visual and do not affect his stats, Balloon Blast charge rate, Fish Torpedo spread, or gadget effects. His ocean and whale aesthetic provides a distinctive visual foundation that carries across most of his cosmetic variants.
| Skin Name | Theme | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Hank (default) | Ocean and sea creature theme with water balloon and torpedo visual effects | Available on unlock |
| Lifeguard Hank | Summer beach lifeguard theme with altered attack and Super animations | Seasonal event / Shop |
| Party Hank | Festive celebration theme with bright color palette and altered balloon effects | Brawl Pass / Shop rotation |
| Diver Hank | Deep sea diving aesthetic with submarine and diving gear visual effects | Limited event / Shop |
Skin availability changes with each Brawl Stars season. Check the in-game Shop and active Brawl Pass tiers for current Hank skin availability and pricing in gems or coins. Supercell occasionally brings limited-time skins back through seasonal events and anniversary celebrations outside their original launch windows.
Hank in Competitive Play and Trophy League
Hank occupies a consistent B-tier to A-tier position in competitive multiplayer and Power League trophy formats, with his highest pick rates in Gem Grab and Hot Zone where his frontline control value is most pronounced. His pick rate at high trophy ranks is mode-dependent: high in objective-control modes, moderate in Brawl Ball, and low in Knockout-heavy event rotations.
Trophy League Performance
At high trophies in Gem Grab, Hank is one of the more reliable Tank picks because his Waterballoons gadget provides a lockdown tool that lighter frontliners cannot replicate. Teams climbing the Gem Grab trophy ladder frequently run the Hank and Doug combination as the sustain core, with the third Brawler providing either long-range damage or additional area control. This composition is resilient to most meta shifts because it does not rely on a specific damage type to function.
Competitive Events and Esports
In Brawl Stars Championship and Club League events, Hank appears most consistently in Gem Grab and Hot Zone lineups. The Waterballoons plus It’s Gonna Blow build is the dominant competitive choice, prioritizing the slow tool and the charge-phase mobility over the defensive alternatives. Monitor Supercell’s official event calendar for current mode rotations and maps where Hank’s specific strengths are most favorable.
Recent Updates and Balance Changes
Supercell issues regular balance patches affecting Hank’s HP values, Balloon Blast charge rate and damage scaling, Fish Torpedo spread and damage, and gadget effects. Check the official Brawl Stars update notes in the mobile app after each season update to verify current numbers. His Barricade shield amount and Waterballoons slow duration have both been adjusted in previous patches, so confirming current values is important when building compositions around his specific mechanics.
Hank Tips and Strategies for Every Skill Level
Beginner Tips
- Hold the attack button, do not tap it. Tap-fire Balloon Blast deals far below average damage. The entire value of Hank’s main attack is in the charge. Even a 50% hold deals meaningfully more than a minimum-charge tap. Get into the habit of holding at least 3-4 seconds before releasing on every attack.
- Use Fish Torpedo for area denial, not just damage. If enemies are grouping near the mine or goal, fire the Super even when you are not confident in landing a direct hit. The spread forces repositioning that creates openings for your teammates whether or not the torpedoes connect.
- Stay near walls on dense maps. The Take Cover! star power reduces incoming damage near terrain. Even without Take Cover!, walls give Hank protection from direct fire during the charge hold. Position against a wall that faces the direction you intend to charge.
- Activate Waterballoons on the highest-HP target. The slow is most impactful on Brawlers with enough HP to survive the first hit and remain in range for a follow-up. Slowing a target at 10% health who is about to be eliminated anyway wastes the gadget cooldown.
Advanced Strategies
- Use It’s Gonna Blow to close distance during the charge. When an opponent is retreating, begin charging and use the speed boost at 80%+ to pursue them while maintaining charge. Release at maximum charge once the pursuit closes the gap. This converts the charge-phase vulnerability into an offensive repositioning window.
- Coordinate Fish Torpedo with Willow’s Hex timing. When Willow uses Hex on an enemy, that opponent is frozen for 4 seconds. Immediately begin charging Balloon Blast during the Hex window and release at maximum charge on the frozen target. The 4-second Hex duration is more than enough time for a full Balloon Blast charge, guaranteeing the maximum damage shot on a stationary opponent.
- Pre-charge Balloon Blast before entering a contested zone. In Hot Zone or around the gem mine, begin holding the charge before approaching the zone perimeter. Arrive at the zone with a 70-80% charge already built, then release as soon as a target presents itself. This eliminates the vulnerable startup time of building the charge while already in the combat area.
- Save Barricade for the dive Brawler response, not early. Assassin dives like Edgar or Leon are Hank’s most dangerous encounter type. Barricade is most valuable when activated the moment an Assassin commits to the close-range dive, absorbing the burst that would otherwise eliminate Hank before he can respond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hank in Brawl Stars
Who is Hank in Brawl Stars?
Hank is an Epic Brawler in Brawl Stars developed by Supercell. He is a Tank with an ocean and whale theme. His main attack, Balloon Blast, charges up a water balloon dealing more damage the longer it is held. His Super, Fish Torpedo, fires torpedoes in a wide spread for area disruption. He is classified as one of the most durable frontline Brawlers in the Epic rarity tier.
How does Hank’s Super work?
Fish Torpedo fires a wide spread of torpedoes in front of Hank when activated. The torpedoes travel across the map and deal damage to all enemies they hit. The spread covers a wide horizontal area, making it effective for hitting multiple targets or forcing repositioning across an entire engagement zone. The Super is charged by landing Balloon Blast hits on enemies.
What is the best gadget for Hank?
Waterballoons is the recommended default gadget. It causes Hank’s next Balloon Blast to slow all enemies hit, extending how long they remain in range for follow-up charges and teammate damage. Barricade, which grants a temporary damage shield, is the alternative for defense-heavy modes like Heist and Siege where Hank is absorbing sustained fire as the primary frontliner.
What is the best star power for Hank?
It’s Gonna Blow is stronger in most situations. The movement speed boost when charging above 80% converts the charge-hold vulnerability window into an approach advantage, letting Hank pursue retreating targets while maintaining the charge. Take Cover!, which reduces damage near walls, is the alternative for wall-heavy maps and fixed defense positions.
What game modes is Hank best in?
Gem Grab and Hot Zone are Hank’s strongest modes. His high HP sustains frontline presence through contested objective fights, and his Waterballoons gadget locks down key targets attempting to retreat from objectives. He is also strong in Heist and solid in Brawl Ball. He underperforms in Solo Showdown where his slow movement speed and charge-based attack are exploitable.
How do I unlock Hank in Brawl Stars?
Hank is an Epic Brawler available through the Starr Road progression system, Brawl Pass season rewards, in-game events, and direct purchase from the shop when available. Check the current Brawl Pass tiers, active events, and the shop for availability in the current season.
Who counters Hank in Brawl Stars?
Colette is Hank’s most punishing counter because her percentage-based damage scales with his high HP. Long-range Brawlers who deal damage during the charge-hold window also counter him effectively by interrupting his maximum-damage timing. High-mobility Assassins who close distance before the charge completes force early releases at reduced damage.
What skins are available for Hank?
Known Hank skins include Lifeguard Hank, Party Hank, and Diver Hank. Availability varies by season and Supercell’s event calendar. Check the in-game Shop and active Brawl Pass for current skin offerings and their costs in gems or coins.
How does Hank compare to other Epic Brawlers?
Among Epic Brawlers, Hank is the primary dedicated Tank. Edgar is an Assassin in the same rarity tier with low HP and high burst. Colette is a Damage Dealer with percentage-based attacks. Hank’s high HP and charge-based attack fill a frontline sustain role that no other Epic Brawler replicates. See the complete Brawl Stars characters guide for full tier comparisons.
