Stranger Things in Brawl Stars: Waffles, Power Cards, and an Upside-Down Takeover

The world of Hawkins has slipped straight into Starr Park. With the new Stranger Things in Brawl Stars collaboration, Supercell and Netflix have created one of the most ambitious crossover events the game has ever seen. From a full rogue-lite game mode to a special waffle currency, boss fights against iconic monsters, and a full lineup of Stranger Things skins, this event completely flips the usual Brawl Stars rhythm on its head—in the best, most upside-down way possible.

If you’re a Brawl Stars player, a Stranger Things fan, or both, this is one event you don’t want to ignore.

What Is the Stranger Things in Brawl Stars Event?

For a limited time, Stranger Things in Brawl Stars introduces a themed season and in-game event that runs roughly from early November into early December (exact dates may vary slightly by region or source, but expect about a month-long celebration).

The collaboration includes:

• A completely new limited-time mode: Upside (or Upside Down) Showdown

• A special event currency: Waffles

• Power Cards and card decks that turn Showdown into a rogue-lite style “run”

• Boss fights inspired by Stranger Things monsters like Vecna and the Demogorgon

• A full collection of Stranger Things skins for existing brawlers

• A Stranger Things Brawl Pass season with free and Premium rewards

Instead of just a couple of skins and a themed map, the devs reworked core gameplay elements to create something that feels like a mini game-within-a-game—perfectly fitting for a Stranger Things crossover, where realities and dimensions collide.

Upside Down Showdown: Battle Royale Meets Rogue-Lite

At the center of the Stranger Things in Brawl Stars event is Upside Down Showdown (sometimes shortened to Upside Showdown), a limited-time game mode that mixes Solo Showdown, roguelite progression, and Stranger Things theming.

How the Mode Works

• You queue into a five-stage Solo Showdown “run” set in the eerie Upside Down.

• In each stage, the top 4 players advance, while the rest are eliminated.

• The deeper you go, the more waffles (event currency) and trophies you earn.

• To win the run (and maximize rewards), you need to survive all five stages and make it back to “the surface.”

This structure makes every run feel like a mini adventure. One bad decision or greedy risk can wipe your progress, but a smart build and solid positioning can carry you all the way to the end.

Card Decks and Power Cards

To even enter Upside Down Showdown with a given brawler, you must first unlock that brawler’s card deck using waffles and event progress. Once a deck is unlocked, you can use that brawler in the mode and start building your run.

At the start of each stage, you are offered one of three random Power Cards. These cards act like temporary buffs that stack over the course of your run, and they can drastically change how a brawler plays.

Examples of card effects include:

• Faster Super charge rate

• Increased health or damage

• Extra range or projectile speed

• Healing when dealing damage

• Defensive shields and other survivability perks

By the time you reach Stage 5, your brawler can feel completely transformed thanks to these stacked bonuses. It’s here that the “rogue-lite” feeling really shines: each run is unique depending on the cards you pick, and you’re encouraged to experiment with different builds.

At the end of a run, you can review your card setup and think about what worked, what didn’t, and which combos you want to try next.

Waffles: Eleven’s Favorite Snack Becomes Your Key Currency

You can’t talk about Stranger Things in Brawl Stars without mentioning waffles. In the show, waffles are Eleven’s comfort food; in the game, they become your ticket to progression.

How to Get Waffles

During the event, waffles can be earned in multiple ways:

• Upside Down/ Upside Showdown wins:

  • You receive waffles based on your success in each run. Survive longer, get more waffles.

• Daily wins:

  • Hitting win milestones (like your 2nd, 4th, and 6th win of the day) can grant additional waffles.

• Boss fights:

  • Team up to fight Stranger Things-themed bosses and split the waffle rewards.

• Event quests & Mega Quests:

  • Completing Stranger Things–specific missions yields waffle bonuses.

• Free shop offers:

  • Each day, you can log into the Shop to claim a free amount of waffles—often a larger amount on day one and a consistent daily chunk afterward.

• Optional Gem purchases:

  • For players willing to spend, bundles of waffles can be bought with Gems in the Shop.

The result is a system that rewards both casual logins and dedicated grinding. Even if you’re not playing all day, simply logging in daily and doing basic event tasks can stack up a respectable pile of waffles.

How to Spend Waffles

Once you’ve earned a good stash, waffles can be spent on Stranger Things event packs:

• Stranger Pack – cheaper, provides 1 Card Deck

• Multi-Stranger Packs – bundles of packs giving multiple card decks

• Strangest Pack – higher-cost option with:

  • 1 Card Deck

  • Extra bonus rewards (which can include event skins and cosmetics)

• 3x Strangest Packs – the “big value” bundle:

  • 3 Card Decks

  • 6 bonus rewards total across the three packs

There’s usually a cooldown timer between pack purchases, preventing players from spamming them nonstop. This pacing encourages you to play a bit, come back later, and slowly build up your collection of decks and rewards over the length of the event.

Boss Fights: Taking on Vecna and the Demogorgon

Stranger Things isn’t Stranger Things without terrifying creatures from the Upside Down. As part of Stranger Things in Brawl Stars, special boss fights let you team up with other players to battle monsters inspired by the series, such as Vecna and the Demogorgon.

These encounters:

• Are co-op focused – you and your teammates combine abilities to survive patterns and waves of attacks.

• Reward waffles and other event goodies upon victory.

• Shake up the usual 3v3 or Showdown formats with more PvE-style gameplay.

For players who enjoy Brawl Stars’ boss modes from past events (like Brawl-O-Ween), these Stranger Things bosses feel like a natural evolution, now wrapped in a darker, sci-fi-horror theme.

Stranger Things Skins in Brawl Stars

Of course, one of the biggest draws of Stranger Things in Brawl Stars is the skin lineup. Instead of adding brand-new characters, the collaboration remaps beloved Hawkins residents onto existing brawlers:

• Draco as Eddie Munson

• Bull as Hopper

• Lumi as Eleven

• Gus as Will

• Nita as Dustin

• Berry as Steve (Scoops Ahoy uniform!)

Each skin comes with its own twist on visuals—and often animations—so you’re not just slapping a costume onto the default model; you’re getting a full thematic reskin tailored to that character’s personality.

Eleven Lumi and Chroma Variants

The standout prize of the Stranger Things season is Eleven Lumi, earned via the Stranger Things Brawl Pass. Progressing through the pass (especially as a Brawl Pass Plus owner) can also unlock Chroma-style variants, such as:

• Retro Eleven Lumi

• Thrilled Eleven Lumi

This makes Lumi one of the most customizable brawlers for the duration of the event, perfectly fitting Eleven’s central role in the Stranger Things story.

Dustin Nita and Other Unlock Paths

Not all skins are locked behind paywalls:

• Dustin Nita

  • Can be obtained for free by collecting a set number of card decks (for example, 60 decks during the event).

• Other Stranger Things skins can:

  • Drop from card packs bought with waffles, or

  • Appear in the Brawl Stars Shop as Gem-purchasable event skins.

This mix of free progression, grindable rewards, and premium options gives players multiple paths to collecting their favorite characters.

Why Stranger Things in Brawl Stars Works So Well

Collaboration events in live-service games can feel shallow if they’re just a couple of skins slapped into a store. Stranger Things in Brawl Stars goes much further:

• It introduces a complete, replayable mode (Upside Down Showdown) that genuinely changes how Showdown feels.

• It adds a currency system (waffles) that’s deeply integrated into progression—not just a cosmetic token.

• It features boss fights, quests, card decks, and Power Cards, all themed around the Stranger Things universe.

• It offers both free and premium ways to enjoy the event, making it rewarding even if you don’t spend money.

From a gameplay perspective, Upside Down Showdown is a clever way to refresh Solo Showdown. The rogue-lite structure encourages experimentation with different brawlers and builds, and the lack of a strict play limit means you can grind as much as you want for waffles.

From a fan perspective, seeing Hopper, Eleven, Dustin, Steve, Will, and Eddie reimagined as Brawl Stars skins taps directly into the show’s nostalgic appeal. Small details—the waffles, the eerie maps, the Upside Down atmosphere—reinforce that this isn’t just a random crossover, but one designed with care.

Tips to Make the Most of the Event

To fully enjoy Stranger Things in Brawl Stars, keep these simple strategies in mind:

1. Claim your free daily waffles.Don’t skip the Shop; those daily freebies add up to a huge total over the event.

2. Play Upside Down Showdown every day.Even a few runs can secure daily win bonuses and steady waffle income.

3. Prioritize unlocking card decks for your best brawlers.Your main comfort picks will help you survive to later stages, earning more waffles per run.

4. Invest waffles in higher-value packs when possible.Strangest Packs and multi-pack bundles provide the best mix of card decks and extra rewards.

5. Team up for boss fights.Coordinate with friends or club members to farm bosses efficiently and maximize rewards.

6. Track your skin goals.Decide early whether you’re chasing Eleven Lumi, Dustin Nita, Eddie, Hopper, or others, and plan your waffle spending accordingly.

The Upside Down won’t stay open forever. When the event ends, the special mode, waffle currency, and some exclusive rewards will disappear with it. Whether you’re grinding for Eleven Lumi, collecting every Stranger Things skin, or just curious about this new rogue-lite spin on Showdown, now is the perfect time to dive in.

For fans of both series, Stranger Things in Brawl Stars is more than just a crossover—it’s a fully featured event that fuses Hawkins’ weirdness with Starr Park’s chaotic charm, turning every match into a little trip into the Upside Down.