NAVI had a rough 2025 season. Fans hoped for a rebound after a shaky BLAST.tv Austin Major, but things might get worse. Losing key player Justinas "jL" Lekavičius, adding unproven talent Drin "makazze" Shaqiri, and relying on coach Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi’s complex system could spell trouble. With IEM Cologne 2025 kicking off the second season, NAVI’s struggles may deepen. 

2025 Season 1: A tough ride

NAVI’s first half of 2025 was disappointing. After extremely successful 2024 the team failed to reach a single final next year. At BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 and IEM Katowice 2025, they finished 3rd-4th, losing to Spirit in the semifinals. ESL Pro League Season 21 saw them exit in the quarterfinals against The MongolZ. Later they missed the playoffs at IEM Melbourne and lost to “dead” Astralis at PGL Astana. At BLAST.tv Austin Major, they reached the playoffs with a 3-1 Stage 3 record but fell to Vitality in the quarterfinals. Inconsistent play from every player, plus losses to weaker teams, showed cracks. 

Losing jL: A big blow

JL, a rifler with NAVI for two years, left for a needed break. He wasn’t just a top performer, he was the team’s “atmosphere guy,” bringing energy and morale. His aggressive plays and unexpected moves sparked rounds and lifted teammates. Losing him leaves a gap in leadership and firepower. NAVI’s now much younger roster, already struggling with confidence, will miss his positivity, especially after a season of ups and downs.

Makazze: Unproven and under pressure

NAVI replaced jL with makazze, an 18-year-old rifler from NAVI Junior. Makazze shows promise, with strong aim and bold entries, but he’s untested at Tier-1. His only senior experience is small events, where he was looking really promising. Jumping straight to IEM Cologne 2025, a high-stakes S-tier event starting July 26, is a tough ask. Cologne’s Bo3 group stage against teams like Vitality or Falcons demands experience makazze lacks. His chaotic playstyle – favoring risky duels over teamwork – might not gel quickly with NAVI’s structured approach. Adapting to a top team’s pace could take months, leaving NAVI vulnerable early in season two.

B1ad3’s system: A slow rebuild

B1ad3’s system is complex, relying on precise utility and set plays across a seven-map pool. The structure worked in 2024’s Major win but struggled in 2025. Makazze’s chaotic style clashes with B1ad3’s structure, which demands discipline from players and clear understanding of the actions in the certain moment. Reshaping the system to fit makazze will take time – likely half the season. B1ad3 must simplify calls or adjust roles, especially with Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov and Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi underperforming. Until then, NAVI’s teamwork could falter, leading to more losses against top squads.

Season 2 outlook: Matching season 1 is a win

NAVI’s first season was shaky, a lot of playoff runs, but no finals. Season two looks tougher. With roster changes and system rebuild, NAVI might struggle to reach the playoffs. IEM Cologne is a brutal start, with other teams coming from the vacation without changes or only with minor ones like Spirit and Falcons. Later events offer chances to improve, but makazze needs to adapt fast. If NAVI match their season one results – one or two playoff runs – it’s a success. Anything less, like missing Cologne’s playoffs, could see them drop out of the top 10.

Challenges Ahead

NAVI face big hurdles. Makazze must prove himself against stars like Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut or Danil "donk" Kryshkovets, a tall order for a rookie. W0nderful’s shaky AWPing and b1t’s quiet rifling need fixing, or NAVI will rely too much on Mihai "iM" Ivan and Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen. The seven-map pool, already a weakness, could crumble if makazze can’t learn some map responsibilities quickly. B1ad3’s system, while proven, risks falling behind if adjustments lag. 

The fans should prepare for a worse season in 2025. If NAVI can match season one’s results – reaching a couple of playoffs – it’s a win. But with a rookie in a tough field, fans should expect struggles and hope for growth by the Budapest Major.