Carl How to play Carl

Carl counters

The best counters to Carl right now are Vince (66.5%), Cosmo (63.0%), Gus (62.7%): the share of head-to-head games each one wins against Carl, from 858 ranked and high-trophy games.

Carl vs popular picks

1. 
   ShadeCarl wins 46.5%472 games
2. 
   WendyCarl wins 43.8%311 games
3. 
   RicoCarl wins 47.4%445 games
4. 
   MaxCarl wins 43.3%213 games
5. 
   BrockCarl wins 52.2%342 games
6. 
   PiperCarl wins 48.3%194 games

How to beat Carl

• Punish him while the pickaxe is in the air. He cannot attack until it comes back.
• Fight at max range. Long throws return slowly, which cuts his damage.
• Use walls. His pickaxe stops on cover and returns early.

Common mistake: Standing in the path of the pickaxe on its way back. It hits on the return too.

Best Carl Build

Star Powers

Power ThrowRecommended

A faster pickaxe. It returns sooner, so you attack more often and enemies have less time to dodge.

Protective Pirouette

Gadgets

Heat Ejector

Flying HookRecommended

Your next throw pulls you to the end of its range. A long dash for engaging, chasing or escaping.

Recommended Gears

Shield

Speed

Adapt per mode

Hypercharge

Flamespin

Game plan

Carl throws a pickaxe that flies out and comes back like a boomerang, damaging everyone it passes through both ways. He only has one ammo, which returns with the pickaxe, so his attack rate depends on distance. His Super is a fast spin that damages everything he touches.

1. Fight closer than max range. A shorter throw returns sooner, so your pickaxe hits more often up close.
2. Throw so the return path also crosses enemies. Two hits per throw is how Carl deals his damage.
3. Use your Super to chase low targets or to escape, since it doubles your speed.

Drafting Carl

When to pick

Pick Carl on mid-range maps in Gem Grab, Heist and Hot Zone.

Who to pair with

Pair him with a controller or support who keeps the fight at his preferred range.

Ban or not

Rarely worth a ban. Long-range brawlers who out-trade him at max range are the cleaner answer.