Recently, a popular idea started spreading in the CS2 community: that the current Falcons roster is basically a copy of G2 from 2024. And yes, at first glance the comparison sounds logical. Both teams had Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov and Nikola "NiKo" Kovač, both teams have similar strengths, and both share a similar map pool.

But once you look deeper, it becomes clear that these teams are very different. The gap between them is massive – especially when you compare the remaining three players, their roles, their experience, and the overall structure. In fact, Falcons are a much stronger team on paper, even though they still haven’t won a trophy, while G2 did. Below is a simple breakdown of why these teams should not be treated as the same.

The IGLs: kyxsan vs Snax

In G2, the captain was Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski. Sadly, in 2024 he was considered one of the weakest in-game leaders in the top scene. His individual form was low, he struggled to bring stability, and he had big problems in anchor roles that didn’t suit him. G2’s game plan relied heavily on m0NESY and NiKo carrying the team, while Snax often became the “trade piece” – and that didn’t work well.

Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski in Falcons is the complete opposite. He is reliable, calm, and fully understands the current meta. He reads the server extremely well. His individual level is strong both on T and CT sides, especially on defense. Statistically, he is above many IGLs in 2025, including Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin, Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, and Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo. Only a few captains outperform him individually: Rodrigo "biguzera" Bittencourt, Garidmagnai "bLitz" Byambasuren, and sometimes Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač (who only recently became an IGL and didn’t play the role all year). This alone puts Falcons far ahead of G2.

The Lurkers: TeSeS vs huNter-

René "TeSeS" Madsen is the current lurker of Falcons. He is a strong individual player with high impact, especially on the T side. His style is simple, stable, and efficient. huNter- in G2, however, played a different type of lurker. He was tricky, smart, unpredictable. He avoided taking useless fights and always tried to outthink his opponents. His impact was huge – he even earned MVPs. His experience was far greater as well, and his synergy with NiKo (his cousin) was something unique that cannot be replicated. This makes the players very different, even if the role title is the same.

The Young Riflers: kyousuke vs malbsMd

This is the closest comparison, but there are still key differences. Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa had a good second season with G2, but in 2025 he became much less stable. Maksim "kyousuke" Lukin is much younger, yet he is already showing an even higher level than malbsMd did last year. He plays on comfortable roles and fits the system perfectly. He has less overall experience – his main background is Spirit Academy – while malbsMd played many years in North and South America. But purely in terms of mechanics and impact, kyousuke looks stronger.

NiKo: Same Player, New Roles

NiKo today is not the same NiKo we saw in G2’s 2024 season. In Falcons, he now plays more anchor positions, more late-timing roles, and takes fewer aggressive fights. He focuses on stability and supportive play. He is no longer the super-aggressive star that he sometimes had to be in G2. The aggressive roles are now mostly handled by kyxsan and kyousuke – and that change works extremely well.

Team Style: A True Star Lineup vs a Two-Pillar Team

One of the biggest differences: G2 depended almost entirely on NiKo and m0NESY. If one of them had a bad tournament, G2 suffered. Falcons do not work like that. Anyone in Falcons can become the key player in a match – TeSeS, NiKo, m0NESY, kyxsan, or kyousuke. The star power is spread out, and the team is much more flexible.

Coaching: zonic vs TaZ

Falcons have one of the most legendary coaches in CS history: Danny "zonic" Sørensen. His experience, achievements, and knowledge are unmatched. G2 in 2024 had Wiktor "TaZ" Wojtas, who was coaching for the first time in his career. He was criticized for simple decisions and limited impact. Comparing TaZ to zonic is simply impossible – they are completely different levels of expertise. This is one of the biggest structural differences between the two teams.

Falcons 2025 are not a copy of G2 2024. Yes, there are similarities in the map pool and the shared star duo of NiKo and m0NESY, but the differences in IGL quality, lurker style, young rifler impact, team flexibility, and coaching experience are huge. Falcons are a deeper, more balanced, and more complete roster – a true superteam that is still on the path toward their first trophy.