Quick answer: The August 4, 2026 Brawl Stars maintenance nerfs 8 brawlers with zero general buffs — Surge (unload speed 400 to 470, Power Shield ammo 2 to 1), Damian (Super speaker bounce halved 800 to 400), Starr Nova (health 4,000 to 3,700), Max, Bolt, 8-Bit, Crow, and Griff — and rebalances 23 NanoPowers (9 nerfs, 14 buffs) two days before Windstock Fusions went live on August 6.
The August 4, 2026 maintenance contains 45 individual balance changes — 22 general nerf lines across 8 brawlers, 9 NanoPower nerfs, and 14 NanoPower buffs — plus 7 bug fixes, and not one general buff anywhere on the list. It is a pure correction patch: five of the eight nerfed brawlers (Crow, Griff, Starr Nova, Bolt, and Surge by omission) were touched or spared in the July 2026 patch, and August walks that power back. The timing matters more than usual — the Windstock season (Season 53, August 6 to September 3) launched two days later with Fusions, which automatically combine 2 of a brawler's 3 NanoPowers, so every NanoPower line below now compounds.
Complete August 2026 Changes Table
| Brawler | Change | Old | New | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Surge | Main attack unload speed | 400 | 470 | +17.5% slower |
| Surge | Power Shield Gadget reload ammo | 2 | 1 | −50% |
 Damian | Main attack fire punch damage | 1,000 | 800 | −20% |
| Damian | Main attack explosion damage | 1,000 | 800 | −20% |
| Damian | Super speaker bounce damage | 800 | 400 | −50% |
| Damian | Super speaker health | 2,000 | 1,500 | −25% |
 Starr Nova | Health | 4,000 | 3,700 | −7.5% |
| Starr Nova | Main attack reload speed | 1,400 | 1,600 | +14.3% slower |
| Starr Nova | Floaty Time Gadget decay rate | 10s max | 7s max | −30% duration |
| Starr Nova | Power Level: Maximum damage per stack | 5% (30% cap) | 4% (20% cap) | −33.3% at cap |
 Max | Super charge rate | 92 | 80 | −13% |
| Max | Phase Shift (Buffie) second-dash window | 3s | 2s | −33.3% |
 Bolt | Super shield | 40% | 30% | −25% |
| Bolt | Trait: Super charge from moving | — | — | −23% |
 8-Bit | Super charge rate | 99 | 80 | −19.2% |
| 8-Bit | Extra Credits Gadget cooldown | 15s | 18s | +20% |
| 8-Bit | Plugged In (Buffie'd) ally speed bonus | 15% | 10% | −33.3% |
 Crow | Main attack damage | 380 | 320 | −15.8% |
| Crow | Slowing Toxin Gadget damage | 800 | 600 | −25% |
 Griff | Piggy Bank Gadget explosion radius | 800 | 600 | −25% |
| Griff | Piggy Bank (Buffie) bonus radius | 25% | 30% | +5pp (compensation) |
| Griff | Keep the Change Star Power spread | — | — | +55% wider |
Stat values are Supercell's published base-level numbers from the official maintenance notes.
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Which Brawlers Were Nerfed in August 2026?
Did Surge Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: significant. Surge's main attack unload speed slows from 400 to 470 (+17.5%) and his Power Shield Gadget now reloads 1 ammo instead of 2. Our July breakdown flagged exactly this: Surge held a 54.28% win rate through July untouched, and we wrote that if it held above 54%, he would lead the next balance list. He did. The unload nerf costs him close-range burst races, and half a Gadget refund guts his most efficient defensive trade — but neither change touches his upgrade loop, so expect Surge to fall from must-ban to strong pick rather than out of the meta.
Did Damian Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: massive. Damian takes the heaviest hit of the patch — four separate lines. Both main-attack components drop 20% (fire punch 1,000 to 800, explosion 1,000 to 800), his Super's speaker bounce damage is halved from 800 to 400, and the speaker itself loses 25% health (2,000 to 1,500). On top of that, his 1st NanoPower's punch size shrinks from 0.5 to 0.3 (−40%). The Super was Damian's zone-control identity; at 400 bounce damage with a 1,500-health speaker, opponents can now walk it down and break it. Expect Damian to drop a full tier on the next tier list refresh.
Did Starr Nova Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: massive. Starr Nova loses on four general lines plus a NanoPower: health falls from 4,000 to 3,700 base — exactly reverting July's +600 max-level health buff (8,000 back to 7,400) — reload slows from 1,400 to 1,600 (+14.3%), Floaty Time's decay rate rises 50% (max duration 10s to 7s), and Power Level: Maximum drops from 5% damage per stack capped at 30% to 4% capped at 20%. Her 2nd NanoPower slash range also shrinks from 1.5 to 1. This is her third consecutive month on the balance list (June poke nerf, July durability buff, August full walk-back), and the Power Level cap cut is the real story: her late-game damage ceiling falls by a third.
Did Max Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: significant. Max's Super charge rate drops from 92 to 80 (−13%) and her Phase Shift Buffie's second-dash window tightens from 3 seconds to 2. Her 2nd NanoPower's Super speed boost also falls from 150% to 100%. All three changes tax the same resource — Super uptime — which is the entire Max gameplan. She keeps her speed identity but cycles it noticeably less often.
Did Bolt Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: significant. Bolt's Super shield drops from 40% to 30% and his trait now charges 23% less Super from moving. This is the second consecutive patch to hit him — July already cut his max attack damage 15.6% and gutted Unstoppaball. August attacks the last thing that made him frustrating: passive Super generation. Bolt has now lost Super charge speed, Super durability, and attack damage across two patches; he is no longer a blind-pick.
Did 8-Bit Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: significant. 8-Bit's Super charge rate falls from 99 to 80 (−19.2%), Extra Credits' cooldown rises from 15 to 18 seconds, and the Buffie'd Plugged In ally speed bonus drops from 15% to 10%. A bug fix in the same maintenance also stops Extra Credits from shooting over walls — a shadow nerf worth as much as the stat lines on wall-heavy maps. His consolation prize: the 2nd NanoPower's Super area jumps from 35% to 50%, so turret-focused builds keep a Fusion-relevant upside.
Did Crow Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: significant. Crow's main attack damage drops from 380 to 320 (−15.8%) and Slowing Toxin's damage falls from 800 to 600 (−25%). July rebuilt Crow as a commit-assassin, buffing his base damage 31% to 380; August gives back more than half of that gain while the rework's health cut and 3-second poison stay in place — leaving him the least favorable version of the trade: still committed to all-ins, now with less reward per volley.
Did Griff Get Nerfed in August 2026?
Impact: small. Griff's Piggy Bank explosion radius shrinks from 800 to 600 (−25%, with the Buffie's bonus radius nudged from 25% to 30% as partial compensation) and Keep the Change's projectile spread widens by 55%, cutting his long-range consistency. His base kit and July's 15-second Gadget cooldown buff are untouched, so this trims his wall-break and snipe reliability without changing his role.
Which NanoPowers Were Nerfed in August 2026?
| Brawler | NanoPower | Change | Old | New |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sirius | 2nd | Shadow health buff | 40% | 30% |
| Sirius | 3rd | Shadow spawn time | 8s | 16s |
 Frank | 3rd | HP buff | 50% | 35% |
 Alli | 1st | Enrage reload speed | 60% | 45% |
 Ziggy | 2nd | Super area | 50% | 35% |
| Damian | 1st | Punch size | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Max | 2nd | Super speed boost | 150% | 100% |
 Tick | 1st | Main attack extra mines | 2 | 1 |
| Starr Nova | 2nd | Slash range | 1.5 | 1 |
Sirius is the only brawler hit twice — his 3rd NanoPower's shadow spawn time doubles from 8 to 16 seconds, the single largest relative nerf in the patch (+100%). Tick losing 1 of 2 extra mines and Starr Nova losing a third of her slash range are straight 33–50% cuts to what those picks were taken for.
Which NanoPowers Were Buffed in August 2026?
| Brawler | NanoPower | Change | Old | New |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Belle | 1st | Projectile bounce range | 50% | 120% |
 Tara | 2nd | Super Shadow health | 8,500 | 10,000 |
 Fang | 1st | Popcorn drop cooldown | 3s | 1.5s |
 Mr. P | 1st | Main attack size | 40% | 50% |
 Sprout | 1st | Main attack size | 30% | 40% |
 Buzz | 3rd | Hypercharge charge buff | 50% | 100% |
 Bo | 3rd | Super charge buff | 25% | 40% |
 Edgar | 2nd | Super auto-charge speed | 100% | 150% |
| 8-Bit | 2nd | Super area | 35% | 50% |
 Mortis | 3rd | Heal from damage dealt | 30% | 40% |
 Rico | 1st | Bouncing gumball cooldown | 3s | 1.5s |
 Penny | 1st | Burst projectile range | 50% | 100% |
 Barley | 1st | Main attack size | 20% | 30% |
 Angelo | 3rd | Main attack charge speed | 40% | 50% |
The buff list has a clear shape: 14 buffs, and 6 of them (Belle, Penny, Mr. P, Sprout, Barley, Angelo) enlarge or extend main attacks on mid-tier ranged and thrower picks. The headline numbers are Belle's bounce range more than doubling (50% to 120%), Penny's burst range doubling (50% to 100%), and the Super-economy trio — Buzz's Hypercharge NanoPower doubling to 100%, Edgar's auto-charge jumping to 150%, Bo's Super charge to 40%.
Why Do the NanoPower Changes Matter More in Windstock?
Windstock (Season 53, live August 6 to September 3) activates Fusions, which fuse 2 of a brawler's 3 NanoPowers at match start — both effects active simultaneously. That mechanic multiplies this rebalance: a buffed NanoPower is now live in roughly two of three possible fusion pairs instead of only when hand-picked, and a gutted one (Sirius's 16-second shadow spawn, Tick's single extra mine) drags down every pair it lands in. Edgar, Buzz, and Bo — whose buffed NanoPowers generate Supers and Hypercharges passively — are the clearest Fusion winners, because charge-rate effects stack naturally with almost any second power.
What Bugs Did the August 4 Maintenance Fix?
The maintenance shipped 7 fixes alongside the balance pass:
- Ability effects now apply while respawn protection is active.
- Meg's Heavy Metal Star Power only heals her when her Super actually hits an opponent.
- 8-Bit's Extra Credits Gadget can no longer shoot over walls (a functional nerf on wall maps).
- Nori can jump over obstacles after his attack fully charges with his 1st NanoPower equipped.
- Nori's Super no longer cancels when thrown while dashing.
- Nori's dash no longer breaks Gene's Super.
- Assorted text and description corrections.
Three of seven fixes target Nori — his dash interactions were the buggiest mechanic of the Ramen Rebellion season, and two of the three fixes (Super-cancel and the NanoPower jump) are effectively small buffs to his consistency.
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Which Brawlers Won and Lost in the August 2026 Patch?
Big losers
- Damian — four general nerfs plus a 40% smaller NanoPower punch; his halved Super bounce (800 to 400) removes the zone-control threat.
- Starr Nova — health revert, slower reload, weaker Gadget, and a damage cap cut from 30% to 20%; five total lines.
- Sirius — both meaningful NanoPowers nerfed, including a doubled 16-second shadow spawn.
- Surge — the predicted correction landed; slower unload and half a Gadget refund end his must-ban status.
Small losers
- Bolt — a second consecutive patch of Super-economy cuts; no longer a blind-pick.
- Max and 8-Bit — matching ~13–19% Super charge taxes on Super-dependent kits.
- Crow and Griff — reliability trims that soften July's gains without changing their roles.
Big winners
- Edgar — 150% Super auto-charge is the strongest passive NanoPower in the game heading into Fusion pairs.
- Belle and Penny — bounce range 50% to 120% and burst range 50% to 100% turn both into long-lane NanoPower priorities.
- Buzz and Bo — doubled Hypercharge generation and +60% relative Super charge on two already-playable picks.
- Throwers as a class — Sprout, Barley, and Mr. P all get 10-point attack-size increases in the same patch.
What Should I Do After the August 2026 Balance Changes?
If you play Surge: keep playing him — he lost burst racing and Gadget economy, not his upgrade engine. Expect fewer bans, which means you'll actually get to pick him.
If you play Damian or Starr Nova: shelve them until the next tier list data lands; both lost their win conditions, not just stats.
If you play Bolt, Max, or 8-Bit: budget for slower Super cycles — all three lost 13–23% of their charge economy.
If you're choosing Fusions in Windstock: prioritize Edgar, Buzz, and Bo — passive charge-rate NanoPowers compound in any fusion pair.
If you play throwers: push Sprout and Barley now; 10-point attack-size buffs are quietly large on lob patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed in the Brawl Stars August 4, 2026 maintenance?
The August 4 maintenance shipped 45 balance changes — 22 nerf lines across 8 brawlers (Surge, Damian, Starr Nova, Max, Bolt, 8-Bit, Crow, Griff), 9 NanoPower nerfs, 14 NanoPower buffs — plus 7 bug fixes. There were no general buffs.
Did Surge get nerfed in August 2026?
Surge was nerfed twice: main attack unload speed slowed from 400 to 470, and his Power Shield Gadget now reloads 1 ammo instead of 2. It ends the 54%+ win-rate run that made him the top ban through July.
Is Damian still good after the August 2026 nerfs?
Damian is significantly weaker: both attack components lost 20%, his Super's speaker bounce was halved (800 to 400), the speaker lost 25% health, and his 1st NanoPower punch shrank 40%. He is the patch's biggest loser and likely drops a full tier.
Were there any buffs in the August 2026 patch?
No brawler received a general buff — the only buffs are 14 NanoPower changes, led by Belle (bounce range 50% to 120%), Penny (burst range 50% to 100%), Edgar (Super auto-charge 100% to 150%), and Buzz (Hypercharge charge 50% to 100%).
Did Starr Nova get nerfed again in August 2026?
Starr Nova took 5 nerf lines — her third straight month on the balance list. The health cut (4,000 to 3,700 base) exactly reverts July's buff, and her Power Level: Maximum cap fell from 30% to 20% bonus damage.
Do the August NanoPower changes affect Fusions in Windstock?
Yes — Fusions (live August 6 with Season 53, Windstock) combine 2 of a brawler's 3 NanoPowers automatically, so each of the 23 NanoPower changes now applies in most fusion pairs rather than only when hand-picked.
Why is there no August 2026 balance blog post from Supercell?
Supercell shipped these changes through the August 4 server maintenance and published the list via in-game and social channels; the official Brawl Stars blog's latest entry remains the June 2026 release notes. Maintenance-window balance passes typically skip the blog.