Two new powerhouses have arrived in Season 46! The Ultra Legendary Controller Sirius returns with his shadow legion to seek vengeance, while the Mythic Poison Sharpshooter Najia reigns supreme at long range with her venomous snakes. This definitive guide will get you up to speed fast—whether you're a rookie or a veteran, you'll be mastering these Brawlers in no time!
Part 1: Sirius – Lord of Shadows, Avenger of the Stars
Core Role
As the 100th hero in Brawl Stars, Sirius is an Ultra Legendary Controller specializing in Shadow Collection and Summon Control. He builds his army with dual-projectile attacks and unleashes devastating pressure with his Super. Once in Hypercharge mode, he becomes an unstoppable battlefield presence.
Backstory
Sirius was the original owner of Starr Park's first amusement ride, until he was unjustly expelled and permanently banned. Now, he has returned with mysterious shadow powers, swearing revenge on the park. He stands as Brawl Stars' first true villainous hero.
Full Skill Analysis (Core Mechanics)
Normal Attack: Binary Star
Sirius fires two projectiles simultaneously, offering exceptional versatility and high survivability:
- Shadow Strike: A straight-line, single-target projectile that grants 1 Shadow Count on hit.
- Starr Bomb: A wall-piercing area-of-effect projectile that also grants 1 Shadow Count on hit.
Core Rule: Every 4 Shadow Counts collected from enemy heroes generate one shadow of that hero, with a maximum storage of 3 shadows. Shadows inherit the original hero's traits—Tank shadows have more HP, while Sharpshooter shadows deal more damage.
Level 11 Reference Damage: 1,200 damage per projectile.
Super Skill: Shadow Summon
Unleash all collected shadows to form a controllable legion:
- Tap to Recall: Shadows return to Sirius to defend him.
- Drag to Command: Direct the shadows to charge and attack a specific area.
Hypercharge Bonus (Unlimited Energy): Shadows gain increased damage and HP. Sirius himself receives a +20% movement speed boost, +5% damage, and +5% shield.
Star Powers (Choose One)
You may only equip one Star Power per match. Choose based on your team composition and playstyle:
- The Darkest Starr: Each hit from Shadow Strike counts as 2 Shadow Counts, effectively doubling your shadow accumulation speed. This is the optimal choice for all game modes, boasting an 82% pick rate in professional play.
- Dusk Runners: Grants shadows a +15% movement speed bonus. This excels in aggressive lineups, making it ideal for Gem Grab and Brawl Ball where chasing or kiting is key.
Gadgets (Choose One)
Each Gadget has a unique cooldown and purpose—adapt to the battlefield:
- Master of Shadows: Recalls all shadows to Sirius and restores 25% of their maximum HP. With a 13-second cooldown, it pairs perfectly with "The Darkest Starr" to create a nearly unkillable shadow army.
- A Starr Is Born: Fires an energy bolt that summons a shadow clone and slows the hit enemy by 20% for 2 seconds. With a 17-second cooldown, it's perfect for emergency shadow generation or locking down fleeing enemies in clutch moments.
Best Build & Pro Tips
Meta Build
- Star Power: The Darkest Starr
- Gadget: Master of Shadows
Core Concept: Rapidly accumulate shadows and sustain your legion to maintain constant map pressure.
Core Gameplay
- Army Building: Prioritize dueling enemy Brawlers that are duplicated on their team. Land both projectiles on the same target to collect a shadow in just 4 hits.
- Map Control: Once you have 3 shadows, unleash your Super. Split your army to cover multiple flanks if enemies are spread out, or focus fire on a single target if they group up.
- Hypercharge Combo: Activate "Master of Shadows" to heal your army right before triggering Hypercharge. This maximizes your damage and survivability for a game-winning push.
- Clutch Plays: If your shadows are low, recall them to heal. If you're out of shadows entirely, use "A Starr Is Born" to create a distraction and regain control.
Mode Viability
✅ Recommended: Gem Grab (Hold objectives), Brawl Ball (Area denial), Mecha Mayhem (Protect the mech)
❌ Avoid: Solo Showdown (Shadows are easily focused down without team support)
Part 2: Najia – Queen of Vipers, Sharpshooter Nightmare
Core Role
The 101st hero in Brawl Stars, Najia is a Mythic Damage Dealer and the game's first Sharpshooter with controllable two-stage projectiles. She excels at extreme Attack Range and sustained poison damage, making her the ultimate counter to fragile ranged Brawlers.
Backstory
Najia works at Fink's Escape Rooms, where she's tasked with designing difficult challenges. However, her kind heart often leads her to secretly lower the difficulty to spare players from frustration. A master of venomous jar combat, she is a deceptively powerful "cute poison master."
Full Skill Analysis (Core Mechanics)
Normal Attack: Viper Jar (Core Mechanic)
This two-stage attack offers unmatched flexibility and ease of use:
- Stage 1 (Jar): A piercing projectile that can be steered mid-flight by dragging your joystick.
- Stage 2 (Snake): The jar explodes at max range, releasing a homing snake that attacks the nearest enemy.
Damage Scaling: Damage increases with distance (Minimum 960, Maximum 1600), applying poison damage over time (stackable).
Max Attack Range: 11 tiles (5 tiles for the jar + 6 tiles for the snake), far surpassing most Sharpshooters.
Newbie Friendly: The snake uses Auto-Aim, so you don't need perfect accuracy to land hits consistently.
Super Skill: Super Danger Noodles
Najia fires 3 venomous jars that release homing snakes, applying stacking poison damage to enemies in the area. The snakes prioritize enemy Brawlers and can be devastating when multiple hit the same target.
Game-Changing Combo: Drag your Super while your Normal Attack is in flight to inherit the two-stage trajectory. This allows you to launch snakes up to 11 tiles away, making it a deadly surprise tool in Showdown final circles.
Charge Rate: Requires 6 Normal Attack hits. While average, the Auto-Aim mechanic makes charging this incredibly fast in practice.
Star Powers (Choose One)
- Poisonous Protector: When an enemy is killed by your poison damage, a Super snake spawns at their location (with 50% HP). While theoretically strong, it is often situational as it only triggers on hero kills (not summons) and requires precise damage timing.
- Venomous: Poison damage increases based on the target's current HP, dealing up to +200 extra damage at full health. This is the meta-defining choice, drastically improving your ability to shred tanky heroes.
Gadgets (Choose One)
- Poison Puddles: Poisoned enemies leave a trail of venom for 4 seconds, matching your Normal Attack's poison damage. This is a dominant zoning tool, forcing enemies into unfavorable positions.
- Najia Jar: Najia encases herself in a protective jar. When destroyed, it knocks back nearby enemies. Note that this has limited defensive value compared to other healing Gadgets, as enemies can easily counter it by positioning against a wall.
Best Build & Pro Tips
Meta Build
- Star Power: Venomous
- Gadget: Poison Puddles
Core Concept: Zone enemies out with extreme range and cover the map with poison to limit their movement.
Core Gameplay
- Safe Poking: Use your 11-tile range to attack from behind walls. Most Sharpshooters can't reach you, allowing you to farm Super charge safely with Auto-Aim.
- Long-Distance Super: Fire a Normal Attack and immediately drag your Super to send "Super Danger Noodles" flying across the map onto unsuspecting enemies.
- Self-Defense: With only 1 ammo in your clip, use Najia Jar to create space if an assassin dives you, then reposition to safety.
- Showdown Strategy: Use the "Attack + Super" combo to land poison on enemies from outside the circle, securing eliminations without exposing yourself.
Mode Viability
✅ Recommended: Solo/Duo Showdown (Zoning), Gem Grab (Long-range support), Bounty (Safe pickoff damage)
❌ Avoid: Mecha Mayhem (Vulnerable to close-range Brawlers during pushes)
Counter & Synergy Guide
Counter Matchups
Sirius:
- ✅ Counters: Fragile Sharpshooters (Colt, Piper), Immobile Supports (Byron, Gene)
- ❌ Countered by: High-Burst Assassins (Leon, Mortis), AoE Clear (Brock, Bea)
Najia:
- ✅ Counters: All Short-Range Tanks, Standard Sharpshooters (hard counters Piper & Colt)
- ❌ Countered by: Invisible Assassins (Leon, Shadow), Shielded Tanks (Rosa, Frank)
Synergy Combo: Shadow & Venom
Sirius + Najia = Unstoppable Zone Control
- Najia uses Poison Puddles to restrict enemy movement and apply constant pressure.
- Sirius capitalizes on their slowed movement to easily land his dual projectiles and build his shadow army.
- Najia lands a long-range Super Danger Noodles to finish low-health targets, while Sirius uses Master of Shadows to keep his legion alive and block enemy retakes.
Conclusion
Sirius offers strategic depth for players who enjoy controlling the battlefield with his endless shadow army. Najia provides a beginner-friendly yet highly lethal option for players who prefer picking off enemies from afar with Auto-Aim precision.
Both heroes are set to shake up the meta—unlock them today and climb the ranks!
