Starr Nova Challenge 9-0 Guide: Best Brawlers for Every Stage
The Starr Nova Challenge is live in Brawl Stars from May 12, 2026, giving you a chance to earn exclusive Nova Drops and limited-edition player icons, but you only get 4 lives to get 9 wins across three stages. Pick the wrong brawlers and those lives disappear fast. This guide gives you the exact best trios for every stage and map so you can go 9-0 without wasting a single life.
We also made a full video breakdown with gameplay tips for each stage, watch it below before you queue up:
Starr Nova Challenge Overview
The Starr Nova Challenge runs as a 9-win special event divided into three stages. Each stage requires 3 wins to advance, and you share a pool of 4 lives across all three. Lose all 4 and the run ends, though you can purchase extra lives with Gems if you get knocked out. Here is the full stage breakdown:
| Stage | Game Mode | Map | Primary Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knockout | Out in the Open | Starr Nova Player Icon |
| 2 | Brawl Ball | Pinball Dreams | Nova Drops |
| 3 | Gem Grab | Hard Rock Mine | Final Starr Nova Player Icon |
The maps are the same ones used in the Uravity: Najia Skin Challenge, so if you ran that event you already know the layouts. If not, read on: map knowledge is the difference between breezing through and burning all 4 lives on Stage 1.
Stage 1: Knockout on Out in the Open
Best Trio: Brock + Leon + Najia
Out in the Open is a relatively open layout with chokepoints, a river section, and key breakable walls. That layout heavily favors sharpshooters and stealth assassins over tanks and close-range brawlers. Brock, Leon, and Najia cover every angle this map demands.
Brock is the anchor of this comp. Let him break the key walls near the river in the first few seconds of the round, before committing to fights, and his long-range rockets control open areas and apply constant poke and area denial that keeps opponents pinned back. Leon pairs perfectly with that pressure: keep him in the flanks rather than the front line, and he’ll flank invisibly through the bushes, pick off isolated enemies, and survive in open terrain better than most close-range brawlers. Najia rounds the trio out with strong mid-to-long range control and solid synergy in team fights and cleanup situations, and she’s held up consistently well on this specific map through our runs.
A safe opening is to let Brock break the key river walls first, then use Leon to pressure the flank while Najia controls the central lane. This creates clearer sightlines and reduces the risk of an early elimination.
R-T is a reliable substitute for Najia if you don’t have her. For alternative full comps, try Brock + Byron + Leon, Brock + Angelo + Kit, or Damian + Najia with a tanky support pick. Coordinate picks in Knockout rounds too: one elimination per round is usually enough to win it.
Best Brawlers for Knockout on Out in the Open
Out in the Open is a regular Knockout rotation map, so this ranking is useful beyond the challenge itself. The map rewards players who win the long-range battle: sightlines are wide, cover is limited, and one mistake in open terrain usually costs the round. Sharpshooters and stealth assassins dominate here because their abilities let them either control space from distance or punish opponents caught rotating through the middle. Here are the best brawlers for Knockout on Out in the Open, ranked by how reliably they secure victory on this layout:
- Brock: the top pick. His rockets dominate the open lanes, and breaking the river walls early removes the little cover the enemy team has.
- Leon: his invisibility turns the map’s bushes into ambush routes, and his burst damage ends a round the moment he catches an isolated target.
- Najia: strong mid-to-long range control and consistent output in extended combat around the chokepoints.
- Byron: long-range poke plus healing keeps your trio alive through the slow, positional rounds this map produces.
- R-T: his mark mechanic adds damage from safe range and he holds lanes well when you lack Najia.
- Angelo: punishes anyone who steps into open water lanes and forces enemies to play passive.
- Kit: a flexible support pick whose utility swings close matches, best paired with a strong damage dealer like Brock.
Avoid short-range tanks and pure close-combat characters on this map. They struggle to cross the open middle without getting shredded, and in Knockout there are no respawns to recover from a failed engage. If you take these skills and picks into the regular Knockout rotation, the same ranking holds: range first, ambush second, tanks last.
Stage 2: Brawl Ball on Pinball Dreams
Best Trio: Colette + Otis + Damian
Pinball Dreams is a Brawl Ball map with mid-range control zones and enough open space that mobile brawlers thrive. You need a combination of damage, crowd control, and ball-carry ability, and this trio delivers all three.
Colette excels at melting tanks and dealing consistent damage to grouped enemies, which is exactly what you face in Brawl Ball team fights; her Super and gadget let her control both the ball carrier and the goal area at the same time. Otis is the game-changer: use him and Colette together to suppress the enemy ball handler before Damian pushes for the goal, since his silence shuts down enemy ball carriers and stops dangerous Supers from firing at critical moments. No other brawler in the mode provides that level of disruption. Damian brings massive damage output and mobility that makes him the carry of the comp, and per our 2026 Brawl Stars tier list he’s currently rated among the strongest picks on Brawl Ball maps with bushy or close-quarters elements.
If you’re missing Damian, Edgar is a strong substitute. Other viable comps include Colette + Otis + Edgar, Damian + Mortis + Bibi for a more aggressive approach, or Colt + Najia + Chuck for range and mobility. Whichever combo you run, coordinate Supers for goal steals rather than burning them mid-field.
Stage 3: Gem Grab on Hard Rock Mine
Best Trio: Crow + Sirius + Damian
Hard Rock Mine is a structured Gem Grab map where the center gem mine is the entire game. Controlling it, protecting your gem carrier, and poisoning theirs is the formula, and this trio executes it better than any other comp in the current meta. The single most important habit here: deny the enemy gem carrier the moment they pick up more than 7 gems, and count your own gems so you can start the countdown timer as early as possible.
Damian is, per our tier list, currently rated among the strongest brawlers in Gem Grab overall, with high damage, excellent control, and a dominant presence in the center lane. Build your strategy around him. Crow is the perfect support for that role: his poison melts gem carriers, disrupts enemy positioning, and his mobility lets him chase down or escape with gems when needed, prioritize holding gems safely over chasing eliminations. Sirius completes the trio with strong mid-range pressure, clone-based damage and control, and excellent synergy in team fights around the gem mine; his clones make it very hard for the enemy to hold gems or contest the center safely.
Colette is a strong substitute for either Sirius or Damian. Other viable comps: Crow + Damian + Colette, Damian + Crow + Griff, or Crow + Najia + Bo for more area control.
General Tips for Going 9-0
A few habits that separate 9-0 runs from wasted lives:
- Life management comes first. With only 4 lives shared across all 9 wins, one bad stage can end your run. Never play recklessly in Stage 1: the early lives are the most valuable.
- Stick to the recommended maps. Out in the Open, Pinball Dreams, and Hard Rock Mine each have specific brawler advantages. The trios above are optimized for these exact layouts, not generic mode picks.
- Coordinate Supers. In all three modes, saving Supers for the right moment wins more games than firing them the moment they’re charged.
- Don’t substitute carelessly. If you’re missing Najia, use R-T. If you’re missing Damian, use Edgar or Colette. The substitutes listed above are tested on these maps specifically.
For more on how to build these brawlers before the challenge, check the full 2026 Brawl Stars tier list and the complete game modes guide.
Recommended Power Level and Preparation
Power levels matter more in this challenge than in regular matchmaking because you cannot afford throwaway losses. Aim to bring brawlers at Power 9 or higher with both of their abilities unlocked: a missing Gadget or Star Power is a real handicap in every match, especially in Knockout where a single duel decides the round. If your recommended trio picks sit below Power 9, spend Power Points on them before the event rather than mid-run.
Preparation also means practice. Play a few friendly battles or regular ladder matches on Knockout, Brawl Ball, and Gem Grab with your planned picks so their attack patterns and Super timings feel automatic. Players who enter the arena cold tend to burn a life on Stage 1 just relearning their brawler. Ten minutes of warmup is cheaper than a Gem revive, and it keeps you ahead of the competition when the deciding team fight arrives.
Starr Nova Challenge Rewards
Completing all three stages earns you two exclusive Starr Nova Player Icons (one after Stage 1 and one after Stage 3) and a set of Nova Drops from Stage 2. These rewards are limited to the challenge window and won’t be available after the event closes, so completing it before the deadline is worth prioritizing even if you need to spend a few Gems on extra lives.
About Starr Nova: Trio, Rarity, and Best Build
A lot of players meet Starr Nova for the first time through this event, so here is the short version of who she is. For her full breakdown, see our dedicated Starr Nova guide.
Starr Nova is a Mythic assassin and the 103rd brawler added to Brawl Stars, released during the anime-themed Starr Patrol season. In the game’s lore she is the second member of the Starr Toon Studios trio alongside Kit, one of the few trios still waiting on its third character. And yes, she is a permanent brawler: the challenge and its rewards are limited-time, but Starr Nova herself stays unlockable through Starr Road for 1,900 Credits or through shop offers after the event ends.
Her kit revolves around her Super, which dashes her forward and transforms her into a sword-wielding form for 7 seconds with extra movement speed and lifesteal on damage dealt. For her best build, run the Power Level: Maximum! Star Power when you want raw damage, since each sword hit on an enemy brawler stacks up to a 30 percent damage bonus, and switch to Mystical Starr Technique in team modes where healing allies matters more. On Gadgets, Shining Starr of Friendship and Justice is the aggressive choice for Knockout-style maps thanks to its damage, ally healing, and teleport, while Floaty Time shines on objective maps where floating over walls creates shortcuts. Her best maps and modes lean toward Brawl Ball and Showdown variants, where her mobility and transform pressure are hardest to punish.
Starr Nova Challenge FAQ
What are the best brawlers for the Starr Nova Challenge Stage 1?
The best trio for Stage 1 Knockout on Out in the Open is Brock, Leon, and Najia (or R-T as a substitute for Najia). Brock controls the map and breaks walls, Leon flanks invisibly, and Najia provides mid-range control.
What are the best brawlers for the Starr Nova Challenge Stage 2?
The best trio for Stage 2 Brawl Ball on Pinball Dreams is Colette, Otis, and Damian. Colette melts tanks, Otis silences enemy carriers, and Damian carries with massive damage and mobility.
What are the best brawlers for the Starr Nova Challenge Stage 3?
The best trio for Stage 3 Gem Grab on Hard Rock Mine is Crow, Sirius, and Damian. Damian dominates the meta in Gem Grab, Crow poisons gem carriers, and Sirius adds clone pressure and mid-range control.
How many lives do you get in the Starr Nova Challenge?
You get 4 lives shared across all 9 wins in the Starr Nova Challenge. Extra lives can be purchased with Gems if you are knocked out.
What rewards do you get from the Starr Nova Challenge?
Completing the Starr Nova Challenge earns two exclusive Starr Nova Player Icons (after Stage 1 and Stage 3) and Nova Drops from Stage 2.
What are the best brawlers for Knockout on Out in the Open?
The best brawlers for Knockout on Out in the Open are Brock, Leon, Najia, Byron, R-T, Angelo, and Kit, in that order. Long-range control and stealth flanking win this map, while close-range tanks struggle to cross the open middle safely.
What trio is Starr Nova in?
Starr Nova is the second member of the Starr Toon Studios trio in Brawl Stars, alongside Kit. The trio’s third member has not been added to the game yet.
Is Starr Nova a permanent brawler?
Yes, Starr Nova is a permanent Mythic brawler. The Starr Nova Challenge and its rewards are limited-time, but the brawler herself remains unlockable through Starr Road for 1,900 Credits or through shop offers after the event.
