What “best” actually means here
“Best” isn’t only raw power. It’s how a legend feels under pressure, how forgiving their kit is, and whether their weapons cover common matchups. If a legend is strong on paper but needs frame-perfect inputs every second, most players won’t get results. So in this guide, “best” means three things: reliable weapons, simple routes to value, and room to grow at higher ranks.
Quick picks and why they work
Start with these. They show up in top lobbies all the time because they solve problems without fancy tech. Use them to learn spacing, dodge timing, and edge-guards. Then, if you want, swap to a flashier main.
| Legend | Weapons | Why it works | Skill curve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teros | Hammer / Axe | Huge threat zones, early KOs, simple confirms off side-air and recovery. Punishes panic jumps. | Easy to start, reward stays high even in diamond. |
| Arcadia | Spear / Greatsword | Safe pokes on spear, burst and staged strings on greatsword. Good neutral and edge control. | Medium – needs spacing discipline, then snowballs. |
| Mako | Greatsword / Katars | Mix-ups for days. Katars farm damage at low health; greatsword closes stocks. | Medium-hard – pays off if you like pressure. |
| Jaeyun | Sword / Greatsword | Balanced kit, honest sword neutral, big finishers. Stable in 1v1 and 2v2. | Medium – learn sword flow, add greatsword routes later. |
| Bodvar | Sword / Hammer | Classic fundamentals. Sword builds damage safely; hammer ends stocks early on reads. | Easy-medium – great first main for climbing. |
| Val | Gauntlets / Sword | Gauntlet strings, sword stability, strong signatures that don’t overcommit. | Medium – learns well over time, few bad matchups. |
Tier snapshot (big picture)
Tiers shift with patches, but the pattern stays: legends with at least one “control” weapon and one “closer” tend to sit higher. Use this as a quick map, not a law.
| Tier | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | Arcadia, Mako, Teros, Val | Win conditions are simple: space well, hit confirms, clean edge-guards. Works in 1v1 and 2v2. |
| A | Jaeyun, Bodvar, Hattori, Onyx | Strong kits with a few tougher matchups or higher execution at kill percent. |
| B | Koji, Ragnir, Cassidy | Viable with comfort and matchup knowledge. Less forgiving drops at high ELO. |
| C | Fun picks | Play them if you love them. Expect to work harder for the same results. |
How to choose your main (and not regret it)
Start from your rhythm, not from a list. If you like slow, heavy hits and reading jumps, hammer and axe will feel great. If you like sticky pressure, katars and gauntlets fit better. Prefer clean, safe neutral? Sword and spear are your friends. The idea is simple: your hands should relax when you play. If a legend forces you into awkward inputs every fight, drop them.
Run this three-step test:
- Ten-game taste test: play 10 ranked games with one legend only. No swaps. Notice fatigue, missed inputs, and how often you reach your win condition.
- Training check: in the lab, practice three bread-and-butter confirms at kill percent. If they never feel stable, try another legend.
- Matchup sample: queue until you meet spear, sword, and greatsword at least once. If your legend feels helpless in two of those, consider a pocket pick.
1v1 vs 2v2 – same legends?
Mostly yes, but the job changes. In 1v1 you need a reliable way to take stocks alone. In 2v2 you also need saves, anti-airs in scrambles, and signatures that don’t delete your teammate. Teros and Arcadia translate well into both. Val and Bodvar are also safe, because their kits don’t cause chaos on collision.
Common traps to avoid
- Meta chasing every week: you’ll never build instincts if you swap mains after each tier post.
- Only learning strings: damage doesn’t matter if you can’t secure the stock. Spend time on edge-guards and position resets.
- No warmup: two minutes of movement drills beats ten minutes of tilted queues.
- Ignoring defense: a single well-timed spot-dodge or jump save can swing a stock. Practice escapes as much as attacks.
Why these are the best brawlhalla characters for most players
The legends above cover the core skills the game asks for: safe pokes, simple confirms, and clear win paths near the blast zones. They also scale. As you climb, you just add better movement, cleaner drift, and tighter edge-guards. You don’t need a new main to reach the next tier – your habits will carry.
Example plan for your first week
Pick one of the best brawlhalla characters (Teros, Arcadia, Mako, Val, Bodvar, or Jaeyun). Day 1: lab three kill confirms per weapon and 10 minutes of dodge timing. Days 2-3: play 20 ranked games total, watch two losses back, and write one mistake to fix. Days 4-5: add edge-guard routes and stage control drills. Days 6-7: queue 2v2 with a friend and practice saves. That’s enough to feel a real jump.
Bottom line
If you came here for a simple answer: the best brawlhalla characters to start with are Teros, Arcadia, Mako, Val, Bodvar, and Jaeyun. They’re strong now, they teach good habits, and they don’t demand piano-hands to win. Try two of them, keep the one that calms your inputs, and stick with it for a month. You’ll see the climb on its own.
