HEROIC is no stranger to challenges, but time and again, they’ve proven their ability to bounce back stronger. Losing a team’s core three times in just over a year could destroy many organizations, but HEROIC consistently finds ways to remain competitive and financially stable. Their recent roster rebuild, following the loss of key players, exemplifies smart management and adaptability. Let’s explore how HEROIC has managed to turn setbacks into opportunities.
The Danish Success
Under the leadership of Casper "cadiaN" Møller, HEROIC’s Danish roster achieved remarkable success. They reached the grand final of the IEM Rio Major 2022, secured multiple top finishes, and won BLAST Premier: Fall Finals 2022 and BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2023. Despite their achievements, the roster disbanded after ESL Pro League Season 18 due to internal conflicts, notably the “stabbi” incident. This led to cadiaN joining Liquid, while Jakob "jabbi" Nygaard and Martin "stavn" Lund moved to Astralis.
Astralis’ acquisition of jabbi and stavn was controversial. Reports suggested the duo’s contracts were extended with the condition of benching cadiaN, yet Astralis’ interest swayed them. HEROIC capitalized on the situation, securing significant buyouts for the two players, showing their ability to turn internal strife into financial gains.
The Post-cadiaN Rebuild
Following the departure of their star players, HEROIC quickly assembled a new roster:
Despite starting their Major journey from the open qualifiers, this lineup performed admirably, making it to the Elimination Stage of PGL Major Copenhagen 2024. They reached the playoffs at IEM Dallas 2024 and later replaced nicoodoz with Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov to enhance their AWPing firepower. This change paid off, as the team secured semifinal finishes at IEM Rio 2024 and reached the finals at Elisa Masters Espoo 2024 and Thunderpick World Championship 2024. Their biggest achievement was making the playoffs at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, ultimately climbing to 8th in the Valve rankings.
Another Core Lost: Falcons’ Acquisition
Despite their progress, HEROIC lost yet another core when TeSeS, kyxsan, and degster moved to Falcons, taking with them HEROIC’s valuable Valve ranking invites. NertZ joined Liquid, while sjuush is rumored to be heading to Ninjas in Pyjamas. Yet again, HEROIC faced a critical moment.
The New 2025 Roster
Refusing to let another core loss set them back, HEROIC acted swiftly. They acquired the promising core of Sangal—xfl0ud, LNZ, and yxngstxr—who had reached 25th in the Valve rankings. This move secured invites to BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier and IEM Katowice 2025 Play-In, ensuring HEROIC’s presence in early 2025 events.
But HEROIC didn’t stop there. They signed SunPayus, one of the best AWPers of 2023, who had previously excelled under coach sAw in ENCE. To bolster firepower, they also brought in nilo, a rising star from Metizport, known for his impressive stats. This young, dynamic roster not only ensures competitive participation but also provides room for future adjustments if needed.
Thus, the organization seems not to be satisfied with the final five and announced the roster consisting of seven players:
- Linus "LNZ" Holtäng
- Simon "yxngstxr" Boije
- Yasin "xfl0ud" Koç
- Álvaro "SunPayus" García
- Andrey "tN1R" Tatarinovich
- Pavle "Maden" Bošković (sub)
- Linus "nilo" Bergman (sub)
- Eetu "sAw" Saha (coach)
What does that actually mean? There are two points: nilo’s transfer is not completely processed, the player or the organization must finish the paperwork and then move him into the starting roster. This also means that tN1R is just a one event stand-in. Another thing is a possible addition of Maden in place of xfl0ud. HEROIC want the Montenegrin, but cannot use him until the new core plays its first event and gets a new place in the Valve ranking. Most likely Maden will join the main roster in Katowice.
Smart Management vs. Astralis’ Missteps
HEROIC’s ability to rebuild quickly and strategically is a testament to their smart management. In stark contrast, Astralis, their main rival, has struggled with poor roster decisions and inconsistent results. Astralis has missed the last four Majors and failed to secure any significant victories, despite frequent lineup changes and investments. HEROIC, meanwhile, continues to earn through player transfers and maintains competitiveness by securing top-tier invites and nurturing emerging talent.
The Road Ahead
HEROIC’s new roster, led by the Sangal core and strengthened by SunPayus and nilo, enters 2025 with optimism. Their strategic approach ensures a solid foundation for the year’s first major tournaments. With the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 and IEM Katowice Play-In invites in hand, HEROIC has the flexibility to evaluate their roster’s performance and make adjustments if necessary.
This cycle of losing star players and rebuilding hasn’t just kept HEROIC afloat—it’s established them as a resilient organization capable of navigating the volatile esports landscape. While other teams falter under similar circumstances, HEROIC consistently finds a way to bounce back and remain relevant on the global stage.
In conclusion, HEROIC’s management deserves recognition for their ability to turn challenges into opportunities. By fostering a culture of resilience and smart decision-making, they’ve set a benchmark for how esports organizations can thrive despite adversity. As the 2025 season unfolds, HEROIC’s journey will be one to watch.
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