Best Trunk Build in Brawl Stars [2025 Guide] – BrawlOne
Discover the best Trunk build in Brawl Stars 2025 — including optimal gadgets, star powers, and gears to dominate every mode with massive control.
Table of Contents
If you’re eyeing Trunk in 2025, you’ll want a build that spikes pressure without throwing your lanes. Run For The Queen with the New Insect Overlords Star Power, then swap between Damage or Shield Gear based on matchup. Unlock paths, best modes, and how to chain his gadget into Super can make or break your climb. You’ll also need the right teammates and maps—or he collapses fast when lines open up.
Who Is Trunk in Brawl Stars?
You’ll first want to know when Trunk arrived and what rarity gate you’re dealing with, since that affects unlock odds and build priorities. You’re looking at a mechanical tree brawler forged by ants—revenge-themed, tanky, and built around spreading ants for speed and damage boosts. Keep that background in mind as it explains his chunky model, circular AoE, and spin-dash Super that paints the map with pressure.
Trunk’s Release Date and Rarity
Although his design looked understated at first glance, Trunk burst onto the roster on August 28, 2025, launching as a new unlock for 925 Credits or 169 Gems and appearing through Starr Road/Starr Drop paths. If you missed the release date rush, you could still target Trunk via Starr Road progression or lucky Starr Drops, which muddied his rarity at launch compared to classic labels.
Supercell sweetened things with a limited-time Value Pack: Trunk plus 5,000 Coins, 300 Gems, eight pins, a spray, and the Swimming Trunk skin for $16.99 USD (with +1,000 Coins via the Supercell Store). Early access showed up in mythic/legendary-adjacent Starr Drops, so you had multiple routes to secure him fast, whether you preferred Credits, Gems, or a bundle.
Background and Design Overview
Securing Trunk was just the start—now meet who you actually unlocked. You didn’t pull a single brawler; you recruited an entire colony’s wrath. Trunk is a mechanical tree forged by ants after their queen’s death, built to fight for ants’ rights and avenge the tragedy teased in the Doug trailer. He’s a collective invention—cold steel moved by tiny commanders.
In matches, that story becomes gameplay. Trunk carpets the ground with ants on every attack, then converts territory into power: stand on your swarms for bonus speed and damage. His super turns initiation into a lane-long ant trail, enabling fast collapses. Gadgets and star powers deepen the theme—For The Queen spreads coverage instantly, while New Insect Overlords punishes enemies, softening their damage inside your living minefield.
How to Unlock Trunk for Free
You can unlock Trunk for free on Starr Road by saving 925 Credits, so plan your path and bank rewards from Trophy Road and the Brawl Pass. Watch for limited-time events and shop rotations, since early bundles or value packs won’t be free but can shortcut the wait. If you’re patient, prioritize Credits and skip paid packs until Trunk hits Starr Road on his roster release.
Starr Road Path and Credit Costs
If you want Trunk for free, set him as your Starr Road target and funnel 925 Credits into his node the moment it appears. This guarantees you unlock Trunk without spending money, beating any Early Access temptations. Credits come from Trophy Road, Brawl Pass milestones, quests, and general progression, so keep banking them until Trunk’s node surfaces.
- Select Trunk on Starr Road so every Credit goes straight to his 925 Credits requirement.
- Track your Credit income from daily/seasonal sources and avoid spending on side nodes.
- Time your Starr Drops and box openings around his release to spike Mythic/Legendary path odds.
- If his node isn’t visible, progress the path until it rotates in, then commit instantly.
Once unlocked, pivot Credits to your next target and start stacking Power Points.
Limited-Time Event or Bundle Options
Kick things off by scanning current in-game offers and event calendars, since limited-time bundles and Starr Drop streaks can shortcut your path to Trunk without cash. If a reprise of the launch Value Pack appears, weigh it only if you want cosmetics and resources; otherwise, you can still unlock Trunk free.
Prioritize free paths: select Trunk on Starr Road so every Credit counts, then funnel Credits from Trophy Road milestones, Brawl Pass free track, and daily/weekly quests. Farm Starr Drops—Mythic and Legendary pools can roll Trunk, letting you skip Credits entirely. Keep streaks alive during event chains to maximize drop volume. If you missed early windows, aim for 925 Credits to finish the Starr Road unlock, and watch for rerun bundles or seasonal event bonuses.
Best Trunk Build in Brawl Stars (2025)
You’ll get the best results by running For the Queen with New Insect Overlords, then slotting Damage gear for clutch trades and swapping to Shield when you need safer engages. Use this setup to spread ants early, control lanes, and force unfavorable fights for enemies. If Trunk’s Hypercharge is available, trigger it after your ants are out to burst through chokepoints or start team fights your partners can finish.
Recommended Gears — Damage & Shield
Lean into Trunk’s bully potential by rotating between Damage and Shield gears based on the map and mode. In your trunk build, treat map-specific gears as a swap kit: use damage gear for close-range skirmishes and switch to shield gear when survivability wins lanes. Community builds favor Damage first (36%) for the +15% clutch damage under 50% HP, while Shield (22%) grants a 900 HP buffer that refreshes after you fully heal.
- Pick Damage on duel-heavy, tight maps to secure trades and finish targets.
- Slot Shield on objective maps with early brawls or healing windows.
- In Hot Zone and Brawl Ball, open with Shield; pivot to Damage when pushing leads.
- Pair Damage with New Insect Overlords for burst during mid-fight thresholds.
Best Gadget — For the Queen
Start fights on your terms with For the Queen, Trunk’s go-to gadget for instant lane pressure. It instantly spreads ants, forcing enemies to reposition and letting you dictate the lane. You’ll chain it with your super dash to pin targets, then convert space into objectives. With a 7-second cooldown, you can reapply pressure repeatedly in Hot Zone and Brawl Ball for sustained area denial. It’s the most-picked option (76% of curated builds) because it creates value without waiting for heals, unlike Worker Ants.
| Use Case | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Opening trades | Fast ants force retreats |
| Chasing with super dash | Locks routes and finishes |
| Zone control | Reapply every 7 seconds |
| Team follow-ups | Sets damage for allies |
Pick it when you want proactive control and reliable map pressure.
Best Star Power — New Insect Overlords
After forcing lanes open with For the Queen, lock in New Insect Overlords as your Star Power for safer trades and sturdier zone holds. You’ll reduce the damage enemies deal by 15% whenever they’re in your ant fields, turning every push into a dampened brawl. That defensive aura sticks to your playstyle: spread ants first, then duel. It also synergizes with gears, especially Damage, letting you swing low-HP skirmishes.
- New Insect Overlords lets you reduce the damage instantly after gadget deployment, punishing fast engages.
- Compared to Colony Scouts, which helps ants reveal hidden foes, you gain constant survivability across maps.
- The effect compounds with lane-wide ant blankets for reliable zone control.
- Usage data favors it (84%), reinforcing the go-to choice.
Hypercharge Tips (If Available)
When Hypercharge is available, treat it as your go button for explosive lane swings: pop it right before you dash with Driven By Revenge, then chain For The Queen to blanket ants while the temporary speed and damage spike kicks in. Pair Hypercharge with Damage Gear to punish low-HP windows; the 15% boost below half health stacks perfectly with your burst cycle. Prioritize New Insect Overlords when Hypercharging so enemies caught in ants deal 15% less damage, letting you stick in melee and finish fights. On bushy or tight maps, Hypercharge plus Speed gear lets you close gaps, spread ants deeper, and keep pressure. Cycle: charge, Hypercharge, dash, gadget, and chase—then back off, heal, and repeat when For The Queen comes off cooldown.
Best Game Modes for Trunk
You’ll get the most value from Trunk in Gem Grab and Brawl Ball, where you can control lanes and convert pressure into objectives. Knockout can also work if you coordinate engages and use your ants to force space safely. Avoid Heist and Hot Zone, as his short range and attack delay struggle against entrenched defenses or spread-out control.
Top Picks — Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, Knockout
Though Trunk can flounder on open maps, he thrives in objective modes with tight lanes—Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, and Knockout are your best picks. In Gem Grab, Trunk controls the mine with For The Queen, instantly blanketing ants to deny pickups and flush bushes. Brawl Ball rewards his dash super for bursty pushes and wall bounces while ants pressure lanes. Knockout favors his AoE trades and clutch finishes when Damage Gear activates under half HP.
- Hold mid in Gem Grab; spread ants before the first gem spawns, then chain engages.
- In Brawl Ball, dash off walls to break lines and escort the ball safely.
- In Knockout, play for poke, then commit when Damage Gear procs.
- Pair Trunk with healers or burst allies to capitalize on ant coverage.
Avoid These Modes — Heist and Hot Zone
Even with Trunk’s brutal close-quarters pressure, skip Heist and be cautious in Hot Zone. In Heist, long sightlines and wall breaks punish Trunk’s short range and main attack delay. You can’t safely cross open lanes or stack ants on the safe, so your burst rarely lands. Without a healer or peel, your dash engages get deleted by focused fire, wasting star powers and gadgets.
Hot Zone is map- and comp-dependent. If the enemy fields long-range control like Brock or Piper, they’ll poke you off pads and kite forever. Your ants won’t stick, and New Insect Overlords or other star powers won’t flip zones without sustain. If your team lacks zone-holding support, skip Hot Zone; prioritize modes where you can close space and convert initiations.
How to Play Trunk Effectively
You’ll open by claiming lane space and pre-spreading ants so your shots land as enemies step in. Mid-game, chain For The Queen! with your Super to force knockbacks into ant carpets, then punish slowed targets while New Insect Overlords trims their damage. In the endgame, lock zones with layered ants, use Speed/Damage buffs to bully chokes, and time dashes to keep pressure while teammates clean up.
Early-Game Strategy and Positioning
Almost always open by popping For The Queen! before your first peek so ants blanket the lane and instantly grant speed and damage. As Trunk, hug your spawned ants to win first contact; the movement boost lets you claim choke points fast. Use For The Queen gadget, then inch up with cover, strafing to bait shots. Be patient with your main attack delay—only commit when enemies step into ants. Damage Gear helps you clutch trades under 50% HP, so don’t panic-heal early. Anchor zone entrances in Hot Zone and Brawl Ball, forcing paths through your ants.
- Take the faster lane and tag bushes first.
- Hold ants, then dash to fan them wider.
- Pair near a healer or ranged ally.
- Pre-aim corners at choke points for punish.
Mid-Game Combos and Gadget Timing
When mid-game fights break out, chain For The Queen! right before you Super so your dash rides a fresh carpet of ants, instantly granting speed and damage for the ram and follow-up shots. Use tight gadget timing: its 7s cooldown lets you sync with enemy clustering at choke points. If you’re running New Insect Overlords, those ants also cut enemy DPS by 15%, letting you push through scrums safely.
Pre-place ants behind cover or in bushes, bait a peek, then Super through the field to secure picks. When you’re under 50% HP, pair Damage Gear 1 with the gadget burst to flip duels you’d normally lose. Expecting an early clash or cube race mid-game? Equip Shield Gear 1 and trigger For The Queen just before contact.
Endgame Control and Zone Pressure
As circles tighten and spawns get risky, seize the zone by blanketing it with For The Queen! on cooldown, then chaining shots to keep ants active. You’re playing Trunk to suffocate space: pre-place ants in choke points, retake edges with the Super, and hold while allies collapse. New Insect Overlords turns your swarm into a debuff field, cutting enemy damage by 15% so trades favor you. When you dip under half HP, Damage Gear flips duels—don’t retreat if you control the square.
- Dump ants ahead of pushes; reload behind cover, then re-pepper the zone.
- Super the center of Hot Zone to reset control and stall overtime.
- Pair with healers or burst to convert picks.
- Body-block angles while ants tick and teammates finish.
Trunk Team Synergies and Counters
You want allies who convert your ant spreads and dashes into kills—think Poco to keep you pushing and a finisher like Bea or Brock to clean up pinned targets. Pair with control picks like Lou or Griff to lock zones while you pressure lanes. Watch for hard counters like Piper, Brock, and burst/CC that interrupt your Super; bring gap-closers or vision to force close fights.
Best Allies to Pair With Trunk
Lean into Trunk’s bully lane style by pairing him with allies that keep pressure high and capitalize on his ant spread. You should pair Trunk with a healer like Poco to sustain dash entries, keep ants ticking, and win zone trades. Also combine Trunk with high single-target damage teammates—assassins or burst duelists—to secure picks while Trunk draws aggro. Add support/vision teammates to reveal bushes and time bursts during Trunk’s damage-reduction window. Most importantly, avoid pairing Trunk with fragile long-range glass cannons on open maps; they don’t peel or follow Trunk’s engages, leaving him kited.
- Poco sustains pushes in Brawl Ball and Hot Zone.
- Assassins capitalize on distracted targets.
- Byron or scouts provide vision and poke.
- Play around teams that counter Trunk with ranged poke and crowd-control.
Hard Counters to Watch Out For
Strong partners keep Trunk’s pressure high, but certain matchups punish his dash-and-ant game hard. Your biggest hard counters are long‑range snipers on open maps—Brock, Piper, and similar picks poke you down before you can spread ants or threaten close range. They kite your dash and farm your Super attempts.
Crowd‑control and displacement also shut you down. Stuns, pulls, and knockbacks erase engages and scatter ants, especially in Bounty and Knockout where one mistake snowballs. Versus CC teams, hold dash, path through cover, and bait cooldowns before committing.
Adapt your build: run Damage Gear to capitalize when you’re under 50% HP, and consider Shield for safer dives. If maps stay open, swap to New Insect Overlords for the 15% enemy damage reduction and play slower.
Final Thoughts — Is Trunk Worth Unlocking in 2025?
While long‑range modes punish him, Trunk’s value in 2025 is clear if you favor close‑range tank play and map control. If you want a reliable unlock for Hot Zone, Brawl Ball, and Showdown, Trunk fits. Community builds rate him “very good,” often OP on tight maps. With Trunk, the best build is simple: run For The Queen, New Insect Overlords, and Damage Gear to secure lanes, initiate, and win brawls when you’re low.
- Strongest in confined objectives; weak in Bounty, Knockout, Wipeout
- For The Queen and New Insect Overlords dominate pick rates in top builds
- Damage Gear swings close fights; Shield is a solid second gear
- Pairs best with healers or burst allies; you start, they finish
If you like aggressive initiation and team play, unlock him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is the Best Brawler in Brawl Stars 2025?
Edgar’s the best overall in 2025 for most ladders, but you should pick per mode. Use Trunk for Hot Zone/Brawl Ball dominance, Piper/Byron for ranged maps, Shelly to counter tanks, and Max or Gene for consistent team value.
Is There Any LGBTQ in Brawl Stars?
Yes. You’ll find LGBTQ+ representation mostly through Pride-themed skins, events, and social posts, not explicit lore. You can celebrate identity via cosmetics and community initiatives. If you want confirmed content, follow seasonal Pride bundles, charity collabs, and developer announcements.
Is Trunk Good in Brawl Stars?
Yes, you’ll find Trunk strong in objective modes. Play aggressively, spread ants early, and initiate with your Super. Equip For The Queen!, Colony Scouts, and Speed/Damage gears. Avoid open maps; pair with healers or high-DPS allies.
How Popular Is Brawl Stars in 2025?
It’s very popular in 2025. You see constant updates, new brawlers, and thriving creator ecosystems. You browse active guides, tier lists, and mode tips, join tournaments, and watch streams, while monetization discussions and balance changes keep conversations buzzing.
Conclusion
If you like aggressive lane control and clutch outplays, you’ll love Trunk. Unlock him through Starr Road, Credits, or lucky Starr Drops, then run For The Queen with Insect Overlords, pairing Damage or Shield Gear based on risk. Pre-spread ant carpets, chain gadget into Super, and stick to Gem Grab, Brawl Ball, and Knockout. Partner with healers or high single-target damage, dodge open maps, and you’ll snowball games fast. In 2025, Trunk’s absolutely worth unlocking.
Gamer. Strategist. Content creator. Since 2023, Soufyan has been decoding the Brawl Stars meta — helping thousands of players master Showdown, climb the ladder, and elevate their gameplay with powerful insights.
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