Table of Contents
- Will Supercell's Controversial Records System Destroy Brawl Stars Player Engagement?
- What Happened to Masteries in Brawl Stars?
- Why Players Are Angry About the Records System
- Random Rewards vs. Guaranteed Progress
- Reduced Motivation to Play Different Brawlers
- Brutal Challenge Requirements
- The Community Backlash
- What Supercell Says vs. What Players Want
- Will Masteries Come Back?
- My Take on the Situation
- What This Means for Brawl Stars Players
Will Supercell's Controversial Records System Destroy Brawl Stars Player Engagement?
I understand your frustration with the recent changes in Brawl Stars. Let me break down what happened and why players are so upset about losing the mastery system.
What Happened to Masteries in Brawl Stars?
Supercell removed the beloved mastery system from Brawl Stars in June 2025 and replaced it with a new records system. This decision came after they claimed only 11.8% of players had earned a brawler title since masteries launched in early 2023. The company gave players one last chance to earn mastery rewards through the #1000Masteries community event before completely removing the feature.
Why Players Are Angry About the Records System
The new records system feels like a major downgrade to many players. Here's what changed:
Random Rewards vs. Guaranteed Progress
The biggest complaint centers on how rewards work now. The old mastery system gave players guaranteed rewards for hitting specific milestones. The new records system relies heavily on random Starr drops, making progress feel uncertain and unrewarding.
Reduced Motivation to Play Different Brawlers
Masteries encouraged players to try different brawlers since each had their own progression track. The records system doesn't provide the same incentive, leading many players to lose interest in experimenting with their roster.
Brutal Challenge Requirements
Some records have extremely difficult requirements that feel nearly impossible to achieve. This has led to toxic behaviors like teaming up or abandoning objectives when players realize they can't complete a record during a match.
The Community Backlash
Players have organized a passionate response across social media platforms:
- Reddit threads titled "Bring back masteries!" are getting hundreds of upvotes
- The hashtag #BringBackMasteries is trending on X (formerly Twitter)
- Players are sharing stories about how the update killed their motivation to play
- Some community members are calling for boycotts of the records system
One frustrated player summed up the feelings perfectly: "Winning 20 matches with a new brawler and ONLY getting ONE Starr drop doesn't feel like an achievement".
What Supercell Says vs. What Players Want
Supercell moved mastery rewards to an expanded Trophy Road system that now goes up to 100,000 trophies. They claim this makes rewards more accessible to all players, regardless of which brawlers they choose to play.
However, players argue this misses the point entirely. The mastery system wasn't just about rewards - it was about having meaningful goals tied to specific brawlers and feeling a sense of progression and accomplishment.
Will Masteries Come Back?
Supercell has remained silent about potentially bringing back masteries despite the overwhelming negative feedback. The company has made major changes in response to community backlash before, like the gears rework a few years ago, so there's still hope.
Players continue pushing for masteries to return, either replacing records entirely or working alongside the new system. The community clearly isn't giving up on this fight.
My Take on the Situation
As someone who follows mobile gaming trends, I think Supercell made a mistake here. While their data showed low engagement with mastery titles, they failed to understand why players valued the system beyond just the final rewards.
The mastery system provided:
- Clear progression goals
- Reasons to play different brawlers
- A sense of mastery and accomplishment
- Guaranteed rewards for effort invested
The records system, despite its technical improvements, feels hollow by comparison. Random rewards rarely create the same emotional investment as guaranteed progression.
What This Means for Brawl Stars Players
If you're a current player feeling frustrated by these changes, you're not alone. The community response shows that Supercell may have underestimated how much players valued the mastery system.
Keep voicing your concerns through official channels and social media. Gaming companies do listen when feedback is consistent and widespread. The #BringBackMasteries movement shows the community's passion, and sustained pressure could lead to changes.
For now, focus on the aspects of the game you still enjoy while hoping Supercell reconsiders their decision. The records system might improve over time, but it's clear that many players want their beloved masteries back.