As a veteran Brawl Stars player, I've seen my fair share of updates, but the Brawl Pass changes that rolled out in December 2025 and are now fully in effect in 2026 have completely reshaped how I approach progression. The days of simple linear rewards are gone; now we have Keys, a Vault, and a pricing structure that made me do a double-take. Let me break down what's new and what it means for both free-to-play and paying players.
Free Track Buffs – More Coins, Keys, and Chaos Drops
I was pleasantly surprised to see Supercell buff the free track again. They've added an extra 1,000 coins and a resource key that you can exchange for 2,000 power points – the same as a Buffie. Plus, you now get Chaos Drops, extra Bling, and Credits. As someone who occasionally plays without spending, this makes the grind feel much more rewarding. It's not just filler; these are meaningful resources that help you level up Brawlers faster.
Brawl Pass and Plus – Titles, Skins, and Chromas
One of my favorite changes is that Titles and Chroma Skins have been moved to the normal Brawl Pass. Previously, you had to buy the Plus version to get those. Now, every season includes two Brawl Pass Skins and their Chromas in the standard pass. That's a huge win for players who can't afford the premium tier. Brawl Pass Plus, on the other hand, now gives you more Keys – enough to unlock both Brawl Pass skins and their Chromas starting from January. You also get 50 more Gems than before. I've already claimed my extra Gems and used them to grab a few extra Keys.
Keys and the Brawl Pass Vault – A Game-Changer
The introduction of Keys is the highlight of this update for me. They let you open a Brawl Pass Vault that contains Resources, Skins, Brawlers, and Buffies. There are four different types of Keys, each corresponding to a category. I think they took inspiration from Call of Duty: Mobile's battle pass system, but that's fine – it works. Each offer in the vault costs one Key, except for Vintage Skin Sets which require two. Newly released Brawl Pass skins cost one Key, while previous season skins cost two. Brawl Pass skins from the January 2024 Starrforce Season or non-collab skins will be available in the Skin Vault. And when you use a Key, you get both the skin and both Chromas. I love this because it gives me the freedom to plan my progression. I can save Keys for a skin I really want, or spend them on Buffies to boost my favorite Brawlers. It's a flexible system that respects my time and choices.
Tail Rewards – Better Than Starr Drops
Tail Rewards have also been upgraded. They now cost 2,800 XP and give you something different each time – from a Demon Drop to a Sushi Drop or even the newer Chaos Drop. The best part? Tail Rewards always provide better items than a random Starr Drop. I've gotten some great pulls already, including a rare skin I'd been eyeing. You can also spend Gems to upgrade your Tail Reward, but make sure you claim it before the season ends, or it turns into a standard reward. I learned that the hard way last season – don't make my mistake!
Pricing Changes – The Elephant in the Room
Now, the not-so-fun part: the price has increased. The normal Brawl Pass now costs $8.99, and Brawl Pass Plus is $12.99. Supercell gave us until January 2026 to buy at the old price and even store passes, but as of now, the new prices are live. I'm not thrilled about spending more, but I have to admit the added value – extra tiers, Keys, more Gems, and better rewards – does soften the blow. For me, it's still worth it if you play regularly. But if you're on a tight budget, you might want to stick to the free track, which is now more generous than ever.
Here's a quick comparison of what you get:
| Feature | Free Track | Brawl Pass | Brawl Pass Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Coins | +1,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Resource Key | Yes | Yes | More Keys |
| Titles & Chromas | No | Yes | Yes |
| Brawl Pass Skins | No | 2 per season | 2 per season + Chromas |
| Gems | No | Some | +50 extra |
| Keys for Vault | Limited | Yes | Plenty |
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think this is one of the biggest updates Brawl Stars has seen in a while. The team's goal was to make the Brawl Pass more valuable, offer more progression freedom, and improve monetization. I believe they succeeded on the first two, though the price hike is a tough pill to swallow. As a player, I'm excited about the Keys and the Vault – they add a layer of strategy that was missing before. I'll definitely be saving my Keys for the next Starrforce skin. If you want to see every change, check out the December 2025 update article, but for now, I'm off to grind more XP for my next Tail Reward. Happy brawling! 🎮
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