The FaZe CS:GO roster are one of the most beloved teams of all time. It took a long time to get it right, but the organization finally sits among the game’s greats.
The jewel in FaZe’s crown. Credit: Joao Ferreira | © PGL
Tough Beginnings
It wasn’t always easy for this FaZe Clan CS:GO organization. It initially entered CS:GO esports in early 2016, much later than many of its competitors. For a long time, they seemed to exist to make up the numbers. Always the middle of the pack, never really making a splash in any competition. A runners-up finish at ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 stands as the exception to the rule.
It wasn’t for lack of trying from the FaZe CS:GO team. Big investments were made to ensure the FaZe Clan CS:GO roster featured the top talents. Between 2016 and 2019, the team tried a number of players, including rain, olofmeister, NiKo, GuardiaN, and coldzera. There was even a first stint for karrigan from late-2016 to mid-2018. Given the all-time great status of these players, it’s remarkable that it never seemed to click for FaZe in CS:GO. It was one decision that turned their fortunes around.
karrigan’s Second Coming
At the beginning of 2021, it had all begun to fall apart for karrigan at mousesports, after a long period of overperformance that had started to correct itself. He made the decision to return to the FaZe CS:GO roster, which had recently brought in talented rifler Twistzz from Liquid. With rain still a part of the team, and broky brought in during 2019, things were close to coming together.
2021 was still a tough year for FaZe, up against a dominating monster in NAVI, an absolute machine that to date stands as one of the best CS:GO teams of all time. But in karrigan CS:GO has one of its biggest brains, and he had a plan.
ropz Era
At the start of 2022, the FaZe CS:GO team benched olofmeister, purchasing ropz from mousesports to replace him. The influence of karrigan was evident, having played with the youngster during his time there. A switch flicked in FaZe.
Suddenly, everything worked. Winning every fight, every retake, every clutch, no matter the odds. It was near-CS:GO perfection.
They started off 2022 with a bang, winning BLAST Premier Spring Groups, IEM Katowice, and ESL Pro League Season 15, all by April. By May, they’d become Major winners, on their way to one of the best years any CS:GO team had ever had. Their year tailed off after that, with only a single IEM Cologne win.
FaZe in 2023
Bringing us to today, there are question marks about the FaZe Clan CS:GO team in 2023. In karrigan CS:GO has one of its stalwarts, but he’s now 33. It’ll be tough for him to learn an entirely new meta in CS2, but if anyone can do it, it’s him. On the back of becoming the third-ever team to win the Intel Grand Slam, the team has the BLAST.tv Paris Major to look forward to, aiming to finish CS:GO off in style.
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