Supercell’s Brawl Stars is here, bringing cartoonish charm to online team-based action. And in a limited-time Brawlidays special event, you can team up with two other players to take down a big bad boss.

But which characters work best together? To fully grasp the game’s unique brand of colorful, competitive chaos, you’ll need to get familiar with the cast. Kick-start your trophy collection with this quick look at a few key Brawlers.

‣ With his fancy jacket and ultraslick coiffure, Colt is a style icon. His long-range attacks let him pick off enemies from afar without setting a hair out of place.

Colt can’t take much damage, but he certainly can deal it. His attacks let loose a volley of shots; if you can hit with each one, it packs a serious punch. Get the hang of leading your targets and predicting enemy movements and you’ll cut through the other team like a knife through butter. His Super adds extra range, damage, and the power to blast through scenery.

Watch out for:
Pretty much everyone. With Colt, it’s all about keeping your distance and making the most of that hefty attack range. Get stuck in a close-up fistfight, though, and it’s all over.

Pro tip:
Colt’s attacks recharge quickly, so keep up the cover fire! Even if you initially miss, keep Colt strafing and shooting to land a few hits.

‣ If you’re heading into a brawl, who better to watch your back than a massive grizzly? Nita might look cuddly, but her bear buddy can turn the tide of battle in just a few swipes.

Nita’s standard attack has a decent range and can hit multiple enemies at once, but it’s her Super that really makes her stand out. Throwing down a quick spell, she summons the spirit of Big Baby Bear. With extended health, powerful claw attacks, and the ability to automatically chase down nearby enemies, your furry friend will distract and devastate the other team while Nita makes her getaway.

Watch out for:
Fast-moving Brawlers like Mortis who can outrun your Big Baby Bear.

Pro tip:
Nita can throw her summoning spell over walls and obstacles. If the other team is hiding out, toss a bear behind their lines to flush them out.

‣ This musical medic will strike a chord with anyone who wants to look good, sound good, and do good! Poco can heal teammates while boasting one of gaming’s finest hats.

Poco’s power chords send a wave of notes toward enemies. With one of the widest attack ranges in the game, his song’s almost guaranteed to be a hit. He doesn’t deal the most damage, but his Super charges quickly. And what a Super it is. With an extra flourish, Poco unleashes a wave of musical brilliance that restores the health of any allies in its range, making him invaluable when your team needs to keep the party going.

Watch out for:
Brawlers like Tara who can pull Poco out of position, where he’ll be easy pickings.

Pro tip:
As a musical soul, Poco needs bandmates: Team up with tanky characters like El Primo. With your healing backup, they can dish out the damage while you keep them in top form.

‣ With her punchy attacks, Shelly performs best up close and personal. If you like being in the thick of the action, Shelly is a great all-around choice.

Her shot volley spreads out as it travels, increasing the radius but reducing the damage. This makes Shelly great for chasing a moving target or taking on bad guys at point-blank range. Her fully charged Super ups the damage even more and can push the other team back and out of position.

Watch out for:
Brawlers like Colt or Piper who can stay out of range while still hitting you with their own attacks. Oof!

Pro tip:
In the Brawl Ball mode, Shelly’s Super not only destroys obstacles to clear a path to the goal, it forces enemies to drop the ball.

‣ Say aloe to this prickly character! Unlike your average cactus, Spike doesn’t do best rooted to the ground: With the power to slow down your pursuers, hit-and-run maneuvers are his speciality.

Spike’s main attack is a needly grenade whose spines shoot in all directions, so you can hit the entire other team at once. This makes a fabulous combo with his Super, which generates a field of extra-pointy cacti to damage and slow the movement of any bad guys caught in the area.

Watch out for:
Heavy hitters like Shelly who can quickly overwhelm Spike in a one-on-one contest.

Pro tip:
Spike’s a playmaker. Trap the other team in one spot, and if your teammates are ready to pounce at the same time you’ll be an unstoppable force. In modes like Gem Grab, where you need to control specific spots of territory, Spike’s Super can make all the difference.