Brawler: Knuckle Storm
Danger 5Easyfor v1.1 + Paws & Claws · updated 2026-10-31
Six unarmed weapons, attack speed first, dodge second. The Brawler's +50% unarmed attack speed makes every point of melee damage hit twice as often as it would on anyone else.
Stat priority
Weapons
| Weapon | Copies | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fist | 2 | starter | Merge into tier II–III as soon as duplicates show up. |
| Power Fist | 2 | core | The damage ceiling of the class; prioritise over other unarmed weapons from wave 8. |
| Claw | 2 | core | Fast and cheap; fills slots until Power Fists appear. |
Items
| Item | Priority | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adrenaline | must | Dodge heals; the Brawler dodges constantly. |
| Spider | must | Damage per weapon with six weapons equipped. |
| Blood Leech | should | Sustain on every hit at this attack speed. |
| Chameleon | nice | Dodge while standing still - useful during boss waves. |
| Big Arms | nice | Flat damage you can afford early. |
Avoid
- Focus — Attack speed loss hurts more than the damage helps here.
Run plan
Early (waves 1–6)
Buy any unarmed weapon at tier I, merge duplicates, take melee damage on level-ups. Spend to a 20-material buffer.
Mid (waves 7–14)
Hunt Power Fists and the two must-have items. Start taking dodge up to 50%, then armor. Lock expensive weapon upgrades across waves.
Late (waves 15–20)
Max HP and armor on every level-up; the damage is already there. Kite the second boss in circles - unarmed range is short, so never stop moving.
Why it works
- Unarmed weapons scale with melee damage at high ratios, and attack speed multiplies that twice over on the Brawler.
- Dodge plus Adrenaline turns the character's weakness (short range) into sustain.
- Everything the build needs is common or uncommon, so bad shop luck rarely ends the run.
See the Brawler page for the full stat line and unlocks.