Halmstads BK started the next decade with ending up in 4th place in the league, a visit by CD Europa did pull a large audience, the Spanish team won with 6–5. After a late league start in 1931, due to heavy snowing, the club ended up in 4th place yet again. IS Halmia won the league in 1932 and in a campaign in the local newspapers tried to get the better Halmstads BK players to join the team, this failed however, Halmstads BK defeated IS Halmia in a charity match for the city's unemployed, the swimmers also left the club and founded "SK Laxen". Under the leadership of playing manager Gunnar Olsson Halmstads BK was able to reach Division 1, the top league at the time, in 1933 for the first time in the club's history, this after defeating BK Drott and Helsingborgs IF for the league title and then defeating Krokslätts FF with 4–0 totally. Unexpected the club won bronze their first season in the top league as when they finished in 4th place, Emil Carlsson also became the club first player in the Swedish national team. The club was unable to repeat last season's result and ended up in 9th place in 1935, handball was also made a part of the club this year. Halmstads BK left the top league in 1936 after ending up second last, the club would have been able to stay if they had won over IK Sleipner in the last game, however the team lost with 2–4. The club was able to return to Division 1 in 1937, but a defeat against top competitor Helsingborgs IF saw them come in 2nd, former English professional player Harry Bruce became the first non-Swedish manager for the club. 1938 was a middle year for Halmstads BK as they ended up in 6th position at the end of the season, English club Sheffield United played a friendly against the club and won with 5–2. In 1939 the club celebrated its 25th year and won Division 2, however IFK Göteborg proved to strong in the qualify and won with 1–5 over the club.