Assassins are often the most frustrating Brawlers to face in Brawl Stars. Whether it is an Edgar jumping out of a bush, a Mortis dashing through your team, or a Leon appearing from thin air, these Brawlers are designed to punish mistakes, exploit low health, and delete squishy targets in seconds. For many players, the sight of an Assassin’s Super meter being full is enough to cause panic.

However, Assassins are high-risk, high-reward Brawlers. They rely on close proximity and specific windows of opportunity. If you understand their mechanics and learn how to anticipate their moves, you can turn their aggression against them. In this guide, we will break down the strategies, Brawler picks, and tactical tips needed to counter every Assassin in the game.

Table of Contents

General Principles for Anti-Assassin Play

Before looking at specific Brawlers, you must master three general rules that apply to all Assassin encounters.

1. Ammo Management

Assassins wait for you to waste your ammo. If they see you fire all three shots at a box or another enemy, that is their signal to strike. Always keep at least one ammo bar full. This "panic shot" or defensive shot is often enough to push them back or finish them off before they reach you.

2. The "Buddy System"

Assassins thrive on isolation. They look for the player who has wandered too far from their team. By staying close to a teammate (but not so close that you are both hit by AoE), you force the Assassin to engage a 2v1. Most Assassins will lose that fight immediately.

3. Watching the Super Meter

You can see when an enemy has their Super because a yellow glowing ring appears around their feet. If you see an Edgar or a Buzz with a yellow ring, you must change your playstyle. Back away, move toward a teammate, or prepare your defensive gadgets.

How to Counter Edgar: The Jump Master

Edgar is the most common Assassin at lower and mid-trophy levels. His Super charges automatically, meaning he will eventually jump on you.

  • The Counter-Move: Use "Knockback" or "Escapes." If you are playing Gene, save your "Lamp Blowout" gadget for the moment he lands. If you are Piper, use your Super to jump away as soon as he is in mid-air.
  • Don't Panic: If you are a high-health Brawler, don't run. Stand your ground and auto-aim. Edgar has very low health and relies on his "Life Steal" (healing while hitting). If you out-damage him quickly, he dies first.

How to Counter Mortis: The Dash King

Mortis uses his dashes for both movement and damage. A good Mortis is hard to hit, but a bad Mortis is essentially a free kill.

  • Use Walls: Mortis’s dash stops when he hits a wall. By standing near corners or small obstacles, you can make him "clunky," causing him to waste his dashes on the geometry instead of your Brawler.
  • High DPS at Close Range: Mortis is weak against Brawlers who deal massive damage up close. Shelly, Bull, and Spike are his worst nightmares. If he dashes into you, don't retreat—fire everything point-blank.

How to Counter Leon: The Stealth Predator

Leon’s power comes from his invisibility. You don't know where he is until he is right next to you.

  • Listen Closely: Leon’s Super has a distinct sound effect. When you hear that "poof" sound, he is invisible. Immediately move toward the center of the map or toward your teammates.
  • Bush Checking: If you suspect an invisible Leon is nearby, fire your shots into empty space and bushes. If you hit him once, he becomes visible for a fraction of a second, revealing his position.
  • Vision Gear: If you are playing on a map with lots of bushes, the Vision Gear can help you keep him tracked once you land a single hit.

How to Counter Buzz: The Stun Specialist

Buzz uses a buoy to grapple toward you and stun you. If he lands the stun, you are usually finished.

  • Side-Stepping: Buzz’s buoy moves in a straight line. If you see him aim it, move perpendicular (sideways) to his line of sight. If he misses the hook, he wastes his Super.
  • Break Line of Sight: Use walls to block the hook. If the hook hits a wall, he will pull himself to the wall, not to you.
  • Anti-Stun Gadgets: Brawlers like Frank (with Active Noise Canceling) or Poco (with Protective Tunes) can negate the stun entirely.

How to Counter Fang: The Burst Kick

Fang is dangerous because his Super can chain between teammates, and his "Roundhouse Kick" gadget can stun you.

  • Dodge the Shoe: Fang’s main attack launches a shoe if it misses. The shoe charges his Super. Do not let him hit you with the long-range shoe, or he will have his Super ready in seconds.
  • Don't Group Up: If Fang hits one person with his Super, he can instantly bounce to the next. Stay spaced out so he can only hit one person, making it easier for the other two teammates to eliminate him.

How to Counter Mico: The Jumping Monkey

Mico is a unique Assassin because he is immune to damage while he is in the air during his jump attacks.

  • Timing is Everything: You cannot hit Mico while he is in the air. You must time your shots for the exact moment he lands.
  • Ammo Depletion: Mico has one of the slowest reload speeds in the game. If you can survive his first three jumps (by using gadgets or moving away), he will be out of ammo and completely defenseless.
  • Area Damage: Brawlers like Barley or Jackie can deal damage to the spot where he is about to land, forcing him to take damage the moment his feet touch the ground.

How to Counter Melodie: The High-Mobility Diva

Melodie uses notes that orbit her to deal damage and triple-dashes to close the gap.

  • Stay Inside or Outside the Orbit: Melodie’s notes deal damage at a specific radius. If you are a Tank, get right in her face; if you are a Marksman, stay far away. The worst place to be is in the "sweet spot" where her notes are spinning.
  • Predict the Dashes: Melodie gets three dashes, but they must be used within a specific time. If she uses one to engage, she only has two left to escape. Use crowd control (slows/stuns) to stop her mid-dash.

Top 5 Best Anti-Assassin Brawlers

If you are tired of being bullied by Assassins, start playing these Brawlers. They are the natural counters to the Assassin class.

1. Gale

Gale is the ultimate Assassin counter. His Super pushes them away, and his "Twister" gadget creates a literal wall they cannot cross. He can shut down a jumping Edgar or a dashing Mortis with a single button press.

2. Surge

Surge’s Super allows him to hop in the air, dodging the Assassin’s initial burst while knocking them back and dealing damage. A high-stage Surge is almost impossible for an Assassin to kill.

3. Shelly

Assassins have to get close to do damage. Shelly is the queen of close-range damage. Her "Super" can one-shot almost any Assassin in the game if they are close enough.

4. Otis

Otis’s Super "mutes" the enemy, preventing them from attacking or using their Super for several seconds. If an Assassin jumps on you and you hit them with your Super, they become a walking target who can't fight back.

5. Gene

Gene’s "Lamp Blowout" gadget is the most reliable self-defense tool in the game. It instantly pushes back all nearby enemies and heals Gene. It is the perfect "Get away from me" button.

Conclusion

Assassins are designed to capitalize on fear and lack of coordination. By staying calm, managing your ammo, and picking Brawlers with knockback or high burst damage, you can effectively neutralize the Assassin threat. Next time you see an Edgar or a Mortis, don't run away in a straight line—anticipate their move, use your environment, and show them that the "squishy" Brawler is actually a trap. Good luck in the arena!

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