Rico – Complete Character Review & Tier List Guide (2025)
Rico – Complete Character Review & Tier List Guide (2025)
Overview
Rico is a long-range sharpshooter whose attacks bounce off walls, allowing him to hit enemies from unexpected angles. His unique mechanic makes him incredibly effective on maps with tight corners and narrow pathways. While his base damage is moderate, a well-placed bounce combo can absolutely shred squishy brawlers or control an entire lane.
Rico's Super is a fast-firing line of bouncing bullets that pierce through enemies, allowing him to wipe out grouped opponents or apply constant pressure. In the hands of a skilled player, Rico becomes a high-mobility zoning specialist who can lock down lanes and eliminate threats from safe, indirect angles.
Tier Placement
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In the 2025 meta, Rico consistently places in the A-Tier, especially in Brawl Ball, Knockout, and Hot Zone, where his bouncing shots shine the most (source: noff.gg).
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Rico is popular in pro play on maps like Backyard Bowl, Canal Grande, and Ring of Fire, where bounce potential and precision are rewarded (source: mmonster.co).
Pros & Strengths
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Wall-bounce mechanic: Can hit enemies from behind cover or around corners.
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High skill ceiling: Skilled players can dominate games with accurate angles and timing.
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Fast Super: Can wipe teams in a line or push back aggressive enemies.
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Solid mobility: Rico is fast and slippery, making him hard to pin down.
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Great lane pressure: Especially in maps with walls, Rico can completely lock down an area.
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Strong with Hypercharge: Greatly improves burst and control potential.
Cons & Weaknesses
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Low base HP: Rico is fragile and can be deleted quickly by assassins or snipers.
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Map dependent: Needs walls and corridors to shine—struggles on open maps.
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Predictable shots in open areas: Without bounce potential, his attack becomes easier to dodge.
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Requires strong aim: Slightly off-target shots can lead to major missed damage.
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Weak vs. tanks in open space: Close-range tanks can easily rush Rico if there’s no cover to exploit.
Best Star Powers & Gadgets
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Star Powers:
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Super Bouncy: Bouncing bullets deal extra damage—ideal for maximizing pressure in maps with many walls.
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Robo Retreat: Increases movement speed by 34% when under 40% HP—fantastic for surviving ambushes and repositioning.
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Gadgets:
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Multiball Launcher: Fires 2 waves of bouncing bullets—solid for sudden burst damage and controlling space.
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Bouncy Castle: Heals Rico for every bullet that hits an enemy—amazing for lane sustain and aggressive trades.
Best Game Modes for Rico
| Game Mode |
Effectiveness |
Why? |
| Brawl Ball |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Bounce shots shine in enclosed maps, and Super clears lanes for scoring. |
| Hot Zone |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Excellent area control—can poke and zone from safe angles. |
| Knockout |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
High skill reward—great for punishing overextensions in tight spaces. |
| Heist |
⭐⭐⭐ |
Decent DPS, but better options exist for direct safe damage. |
| Gem Grab |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Strong mid or side lane presence depending on map structure. |
| Bounty |
⭐⭐⭐ |
Struggles on open maps, but useful on Canal Grande-style layouts. |
| Solo Showdown |
⭐⭐ |
Fragile and vulnerable without walls—less consistent. |
Strategy & Playstyle
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Early Game: Take control of walls and chokepoints. Use bounce mechanics to hit brawlers hiding behind cover.
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Mid Game: Use Multiball Launcher to punish grouped enemies or push enemies back from objectives.
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Late Game: Your Super becomes a teamfight finisher. Use it in narrow lanes or after wall bounces to deal full damage to multiple targets.
Pro Tips & Tricks
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Master bounce angles: Learn key wall setups on each map. You can hit enemies who think they’re safe behind walls.
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Zone with Super: Don’t always use it for kills—firing it across a lane can deny movement and force enemies out of position.
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Combo Bouncy Castle + Bounce Shots: Heal while aggressively trading by bouncing multiple shots into clustered enemies.
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Peek and shoot: Use quick movement to shoot, then retreat behind walls, taking advantage of his speed and range.
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Hypercharge Timing: Activate during team clashes—enhanced Super and bounce damage can swing an entire fight.
Example Loadout
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Star Power: Super Bouncy (best on most wall-heavy maps)
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Gadget: Bouncy Castle (adds survivability to Rico’s otherwise fragile kit)
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Hypercharge: Important for competitive matches—adds speed, bounce frequency, and better Super control
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Best Teammates: Max (speed boost), Bibi (control), Gene (pull and burst follow-up)
Conclusion
Rico is a wall-dancing sharpshooter who rewards creative angles, predictive aim, and high game sense. While fragile, his ability to deal consistent damage from safety and create map pressure through bouncing mechanics makes him one of the most satisfying brawlers to master.
If you're looking for a high-skill brawler who can dominate tight maps and control entire lanes with geometry, Rico is still one of the strongest choices in the 2025 Brawl Stars meta.