The CS2 off-season brought plenty of roster changes, with teams looking to upgrade their lineups and improve their chances in 2025. While some moves seem like clear upgrades, others come with potential risks. Let’s break down the most impactful roster changes and determine who came out on top during this Rostermania.

Falcons: Building a Superteam

The most eye-catching roster change comes from Falcons. They signed Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač and the core of HEROIC, including René "TeSeS" Madsen, Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski, and Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov, alongside Emil "Magisk" Reif. With Danny "zonic" Sørensen as their coach, this lineup looks incredible on paper. Falcons struggled in 2024, but these changes give them a fresh start with some of the best players in the game. If they can quickly build chemistry, this team could dominate the CS2 scene. It’s hard to see this as anything but a huge win for Falcons.

B8: Aggression Upgrade

B8 made an important move by signing Artem "kensizor" Kapran from kONO to replace Arsenii "cptkurtka023" Derevynskyi. Kensizor brings firepower and aggression, which was something B8 lacked in their previous lineup. However, with this upgrade come challenges: the team will need to adjust to a new playstyle, and kensizor will have to prove himself against tougher opponents. Their first test will be against G2, who recently lost NiKo, making this a perfect opportunity to test their new roster.

FaZe: Firepower Boost with EliGE

FaZe brought in Jonathan "⁠EliGE⁠" Jablonowski, which adds significant firepower to their lineup. While this move improves their fragging potential, it may create role and positional clashes. EliGE’s arrival requires FaZe to adapt their strategies, but if they manage to do so effectively, this roster could be one of the strongest in 2025. The potential is there; now it’s about making it work.

Liquid: NertZ Adds Firepower

Liquid replaced Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis with Guy "NertZ" Iluz, bringing a much-needed boost in firepower. Although there may be some role conflicts and a lack of naturally aggressive players, Liquid’s new roster is already showing promise. They easily defeated 9 Pandas at the BLAST Bounty qualifier, with NertZ leading the scoreboard. If Liquid can iron out their role issues, they could become a serious contender in 2025.

MOUZ: Stability Wins

Unlike other teams, MOUZ chose to keep their lineup intact, retaining stars like Dorian "xertioN" Berman, Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek, and Jimi "Jimpphat" Salo. Despite rumors of departures, the team managed to stay together, which is a major win. MOUZ had a strong 2024, and their consistency could help them carry that momentum into 2025. By avoiding risky changes, MOUZ positions itself as one of the most stable teams heading into the new year.

Vitality: Ropz Joins the Squad

Vitality made headlines by signing Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool to replace Lotan "Spinx" Giladi. Ropz is one of the smartest and most consistent players in CS2, and his addition gives Vitality more tactical flexibility and firepower. This move allows Vitality to diversify their strategies and reduce their dependence on Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut. It’s a clear upgrade and positions Vitality as one of the teams to watch in 2025.

GamerLegion: Betting on Young Talent

GamerLegion sold Timur "FL4MUS" Maryev, benched Sebastian "volt" Maloș, and brought in Oldřich "PR" Nový from MOUZ NXT and Fredrik "REZ" Sterner from NIP. PR is a rising star with massive potential, while REZ brings valuable experience and balance to the team. These changes set GamerLegion up for long-term success, as they now have a mix of young talent and veteran leadership. If PR lives up to his potential, GamerLegion could surprise many in 2025.

Who Won the Rostermania?

It’s too early to crown a clear winner, but all these teams made significant changes that set them up for a successful season. As the 2025 unfolds, we’ll see which teams truly capitalized on the off-season and which still have work to do. One thing is certain: the CS2 scene just got a lot more exciting.