Across CS:GO’s illustrious historical past, a single roster transfer extra instances than not can unlock a workforce’s true potential, taking a squad from underperforming to phrase class. Sometimes the transfer provides the required management, typically it’s wanted firepower at both rifler or AWPer, and typically it’s only a piece that helps all of the others match.
This 12 months was one other nice one for CS:GO, with some shocking outcomes that prompted the highest portion of the worldwide rankings to by no means keep the identical for too lengthy. Looking at a number of the groups that had glorious years general, or not less than completed 2022 sturdy, lots of them did so after making essential roster strikes this 12 months.
Here are a number of the most impactful CS:GO roster strikes of 2022.
Ropz rescues FaZe in time for Major trophy
During FaZe’s 2021 marketing campaign, their first with Twistzz and karrigan, they achieved a complete lot of nothing. Their finest outcome all 12 months was solely a semifinal look at IEM Cologne. But even after a dismal run to shut out the 12 months, they’d one thing to look ahead to in 2022 following reviews that Robin “ropz” Kool was headed their manner.
Ropz instantly match proper in, flourishing underneath karrigan’s management and offering stability to a workforce of gamers that each one began taking part in higher after his arrival. Ropz even earned MVP honors at ESL Pro League season 15 and helped FaZe elevate trophies at three straight occasions, together with the PGL Antwerp Major. Outside of the workforce’s stunning collapse on the Rio Major, there are nonetheless only a few blemishes on the FaZe calendar in 2022.
M0NESY breathes new life into G2
G2 made a number of adjustments throughout 2022. They introduced in in-game chief Aleksib in the beginning of the 12 months however moved on from him simply over half a 12 months later, bringing on jks and HooXi. But the org’s largest transfer was simply when it introduced on the AWP famous person of the long run, Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov.
At solely 16 years outdated, recent off the NAVI academy roster, m0NESY confirmed no concern towards the likes of NAVI, FURIA, Astralis, Liquid, and different top-tier groups. And even with the sting of lacking the Rio Major nonetheless recent, G2 ended the 12 months as sturdy as doable with a trophy on the BLAST Premier World Final, led by m0NESY’s first MVP-worthy efficiency.
YEKINDAR revives Liquid
Even after the arrival of oSee and the return of nitr0, Liquid have been nonetheless lacking one thing early of their 2022 marketing campaign. The answer arrived midway by means of the 12 months from an unlikely supply, with Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis becoming a member of as a stand-in after being benched from Outsiders.
Early on throughout his tenure, it was clear there was potential for this group to work, and YEKINDAR was eyeing Liquid as a everlasting house after only a few matches. Eventually, YEKINDAR signed on with Liquid full-time, and the workforce as a complete achieved top-four ends in three occasions through the last months of the 12 months, whereas additionally coming only a few rounds wanting reaching the IEM Rio Champions Stage.
Honorable mentions
- Jabbi joins Heroic
- N0rb3r7 and fame elevate Outsiders
- OG finds success with new additions nexa, NEOFRAG, F1KU, and degster
