As a longtime Brawl Stars enthusiast, I was ecstatic when Supercell announced that the Battle for Katana Kingdom event would be making a comeback in 2026. Originally a limited-time event from May 2025, this Japanese-themed extravaganza has returned for a special encore, and I've been grinding through its four chapters since day one. The event brings back the beloved Wasabi Powers, Sushi Rolls, and a slew of free rewards, including the coveted Cursed Kenji and Oni Kenji Hypercharge skin. Whether you're a veteran who missed it the first time or a newcomer eager to experience the chaos, here's my comprehensive breakdown of what's in store.

Four Chapters, Four Weeks of Mayhem

The event unfolds over four chapters, each active for one week. The encore follows the same structure as the original, so if you played last year, you'll feel right at home. Here's a quick overview:

Chapter	Name	Key Features
1	Way of the Wasabi	Wasabi Powers, Sushi Rolls, Samurai Smash mode, Double XP Weekend
2	Rise of the Futomaki Five	Mega Buffet (club event), Mastery Madness Weekend
3	The Taste of Vengeance	Oni Hunt mode, freebies, Double XP Weekend
4	The Final Cut	Daily Contests, x2 Starr Drops

I've already cleared the first chapter, and let me tell you, Samurai Smash is a blast. It's a PvPvE mode where you battle Samurai bots and enemy Brawlers to grab golden Daruma dolls. You can jump into 3v3 or 5v5 matches, and collecting 50 or 100 dolls wins the match. The bots have different attacks, so you need to stay on your toes. I found that coordinating with teammates to focus on the bots while keeping an eye on enemy players is key. The Double XP Weekend that runs alongside Chapter 1 is perfect for leveling up your Brawlers.

Wasabi Powers: A Game-Changer

One of the most exciting aspects of the event is the introduction of Wasabi Powers. These are temporary abilities that unlock for specific Brawlers, and they add a whole new layer of strategy. If you remember the Angels vs Demons season from 2024, this is similar but Brawler-specific. There are 60 Wasabi Powers in total, spread across four rarities:

Rarity	Number of Powers
Hot	20
Extra Hot	15
Crazy Hot	15
Inferno	10

Once you unlock a Wasabi Power, it automatically equips to the specific Brawler in Wasabi modifier game modes. I've already snagged a few Hot ones, and they can really turn the tide of a match. The Inferno ones are incredibly rare but absolutely devastating. I'm still hunting for my first Inferno drop.

Sushi Rolls and Free Rewards

Sushi Rolls are the heart of the event's reward system. They function like special Starr Drops, and every time you slice one open, you're guaranteed at least one reward. There's also a chance for the Roll to split into 1, 2, 4, or 8 Sushi pieces, multiplying your loot. The more Rolls you collect, the more you fill the Sushi Meter. Once the meter is full, you unlock Cursed Kenji and the Oni Kenji Hypercharge skin for free, along with other goodies.

I've been earning Sushi Rolls through Daily Win Rewards, Samurai Smash, the Club Event, special Oni Hunt Quests, Daily Contests, and various freebies in the Shop. It's refreshing to see an event that rewards free-to-play players so generously. I've already unlocked a couple of skins without spending a dime.

Katana Kingdom Skins

The event also introduces a set of seven Katana Kingdom skins, which are seasonal and will return after a year. If you manage to collect all seven, you'll unlock a special event Spray. The lineup includes:

• Cursed Kenji

• Tengu Angelo

• Tanuki Sprout

• Wanderer Gray

• Shukuteki Tara

• Shinobi Ash

• Kasa-obake Piper (the new Brawl Pass skin)

I'm personally rocking the Tengu Angelo skin, and it looks fantastic in-game. The attention to detail on these skins is top-notch.

Mega Buffet: A Club Affair

Chapter 2 brings the Mega Buffet, a reskinned version of Mega Pig. In this club event, you team up with your Clubmates to win matches across different modes and fill the club's win counter. Hitting milestones earns everyone in the club Sushi Rolls. You get 4 tickets per day, and unused ones stack. To earn rewards, you need to contribute at least 3 wins, and rewards can be claimed as soon as a milestone is reached. The only downside? Top contributors don't get extra rewards, which feels a bit unfair. But overall, it's a great way to bond with your club.

Oni Hunt: Face the Demon

Chapter 3, The Taste of Vengeance, introduces Oni Hunt. In this mode, you and two other players team up to defeat the Hypercharged demon Kenji. He has different attacks, changes patterns, and comes back stronger each time you defeat him. Each day, you must clear all five difficulty levels—Normal, Hard, Expert, Master, and Insane—to unlock 7 days' worth of rewards, including Sushi Rolls at the last two levels. Just like Showdown, you need to keep at least one teammate alive so the rest can respawn. I've only managed to clear Expert so far, but I'm determined to beat Insane before the week is over.

Daily Contests: Test Your Skills

The final chapter, The Final Cut, brings Daily Contests. Each day, you choose between three game modes or maps, and then compete on a 10-player leaderboard against others who made the same choice. You get 4x Tickets each day to participate, and your reward depends on your rank. The bad news? If you finish in the bottom two, you get nothing. I've had mixed results—some days I top the leaderboard, others I barely scrape by. It's a high-risk, high-reward affair.

Final Thoughts

The Battle for Katana Kingdom event is a fantastic addition to Brawl Stars, and I'm thrilled that Supercell brought it back for 2026. The variety of game modes, the generous free rewards, and the stunning skins make it one of the best events in recent memory. Whether you're grinding for Wasabi Powers or just here for the Sushi Rolls, there's something for everyone. My advice? Don't miss out—the event only runs for four weeks, and those limited-time skins won't return for another year. So jump in, slice some Sushi Rolls, and may the Wasabi be ever in your favor. 🍣⚔️

This overview is based on reporting from PC Gamer, a widely trusted source for game news and feature analysis. In the context of a live-service event like Brawl Stars' Battle for Katana Kingdom, that kind of coverage helps frame why rotating modes, limited-time progression systems, and cosmetic rewards such as themed skins and unlock tracks remain so effective at keeping players engaged across multiple weeks.