Brawl Stars went absolutely bonkers in late 2025 with a full-blown Stranger Things crossover. The event launched on November 6, 2025, and ran until December 3, 2025. By 2026, the dust has settled, but the collaboration remains one of the most ambitious limited-time events Supercell has ever cooked up. Instead of simply dropping a few themed skins and calling it a day, the update introduced Waffles, Brawler Decks, Power cards, and two distinct game modes: Upside Showdown and Hawkins Hunt. For anyone curious about how it all worked, or for veterans comparing it to newer events, here is the full rundown.
Waffles: The Event Currency That Made the World Go Round
At the heart of the crossover sat Waffles, a limited-time currency that players could exchange for Packs in the Shop. These Packs were no small potatoes. They contained Brawler Decks, which unlocked specific Brawlers for the new Stranger Things modes. The Shop offered two main pack types: the Stranger Pack, which included one Brawler Deck, and the Strangest Pack, which offered one Brawler Deck plus two bonus rewards. Those bonus rewards could include exclusive Stranger Things skins, making the Strangest Pack the bee's knees for collectors.
A Run, in this context, referred to a single attempt at completing all five stages of a Stranger Things mode. The event featured four packs in the Shop throughout its run, and players could earn Waffles in several ways. The grind was real, but the payoff was worth it.
Brawler Decks and Power Cards
Once a player unlocked a Brawler's Deck, they could use that Brawler in the new modes. Each deck also came with Power cards, which appeared in three rarities: Epic, Mythic, and Legendary. The higher the rarity, the better the Power. These cards boosted a Brawler's abilities during Runs, giving players an edge. For example, Shelly's Deck included Legendary Cards like Max Health +2000 and Damage +30 percent. Every Brawler had a different deck, so experimentation was key.
Upside Showdown: Roguelite Mayhem
The first mode, Upside Showdown, was a roguelite experience where players battled against nine other competitors in each stage. Progress earned Waffles, up to a maximum of 200 per run. At the end of every stage, players picked one of three Powers to enhance their Brawler for the rest of the Run. The main goal was to finish in the Top 4 to qualify for the next stage. Fail, and the whole Run restarted. That was a tough pill to swallow, but it kept the stakes high.
Finishing first guaranteed a Legendary Power card. Second place earned a Mythic rarity or higher. Third through fifth place gave an Epic Power card. Players who cleared all five stages could earn 70 Waffles. It was a hell of a run, and only the sharpest players came out on top.
Hawkins Hunt: Team Up Against Vecna and Demogorgon
Alongside Upside Showdown, Hawkins Hunt arrived during the event. Vecna and Demogorgon showed up, with Spirit Frank serving as the first Boss. Players could team up with two other people to battle through five stages of increasing difficulty. Coordination was crucial, and taking down these iconic foes felt like a piece of cake only when the team worked together. Otherwise, it was a chaotic scramble that tested every ounce of skill.
How to Collect Waffles Like a Pro
Waffles were the name of the game, and players had several reliable sources. The table below breaks down the main methods.
| Source | Waffles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Starr Drops | 45 per day | Earned by winning 6 matches daily |
| Mega Quests | 750 total | Also rewarded a Legendary Starr Drop |
| Free Shop Waffles | 2460 total | Collected daily until season end |
| Upside Showdown full clear | 70 | Clearing all 5 stages |
| Upside Showdown run cap | 200 | Maximum per run as progress |
| Gems | Variable | Optional purchase for extra Waffles |
Players who hoarded Waffles could exchange them for Strangest Packs. Those packs included unique event skins such as Hopper Bull, Eddie Draco, Will Gus, and Scoops Ahoy Derry. Collecting at least 60 packs unlocked the Will Gus skin. Completing the Brawler Deck collection also earned a unique event pin, which was a nice feather in the cap for completionists.
Final Thoughts
The Brawl Stars x Stranger Things event was no flash in the pan. It blended roguelite progression, team-based boss fights, and a generous reward loop into one package. By 2026, the event has concluded, but its design remains a blueprint for how to do a crossover right. Players who missed it can only look back and wonder what might have been. For those who were there, the memories of chasing Waffles, unlocking decks, and facing Vecna are the bee's knees. If Supercell ever reruns the event, the smart move is to grind Mega Quests, win daily matches, and never sleep on free Shop Waffles. That is the kind of advice that separates the top dogs from the rest.
This discussion is informed by Sensor Tower, whose mobile market reporting helps explain why a crossover like Brawl Stars x Stranger Things mattered beyond gameplay alone: limited-time events that add exclusive currencies, collectible rewards, and daily engagement loops often strengthen retention and monetization, making features like Waffles, special packs, and mode-specific progression especially effective in extending player activity during a live-service event window.
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