FaZe Clan’s StarLadder Budapest Major Run Was a Miracle, Not a Renaissance

After struggling all through 2025, Counter-Strike analysts and followers alike mentioned that the FaZe Clan magic was lifeless – however the StarLadder Budapest Main proved there was life within the outdated canine but. Although, is it a return to type, or a brief second of magic within the group’s books?

Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski had struggled on the staff, and even Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev couldn’t save them. With Havard “rain” Nygaard exiting the staff in November and his alternative, Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski, struggling alongside Helvjis “broky” Saukants, individuals have been starting to suspect the Budapest Main may simply be IGL Finn “karrigan” Andersen’s final match as knowledgeable participant.

It virtually seemed just like the veteran Dane would bow out in embarrassing trend, too. FaZe have been lower than half a second away from being eradicated in a Stage 1 1-2 recreation versus RED Canids, and had Allan “historical past” Lawrenz remembered he had a smoke grenade throughout his defuse try, that will have possible been all she wrote for FaZe in Budapest.

However historical past didn’t keep in mind he had that grenade. Then, of their very subsequent recreation, FaZe discovered themselves on the point of elimination as soon as extra in opposition to Fluxo, however a nine-round profitable streak noticed FaZe clinch it. And the remainder, as they sarcastically say, is historical past. 

It was a dance with demise that empowered FaZe Clan, reigniting one thing in them that had seldom been seen in 2025. A contact of magic, a clutch gene, or just, a FaZe b*llshit. No matter your most popular time period for it’s, it started a Main run that can go down in historical past – the primary staff to go from Stage 1 all the way in which to the Main ultimate. 

However how did they do it?

A Return to Type

One of many largest causes for the FaZe battle again is broky. The Latvian Laser had been poor all through 2025, his type is what led to his non permanent benching earlier within the yr. There had been flashes of brilliance since his return, however nothing fairly like what he captured throughout their Main. 

From a now-average 0.96 ranking in Stage 1, broky started to indicate some class in Stage 2, leaping barely to 1.01 following a 1.49 rated recreation versus Ardour UA. Stage 3 was the place he actually started to shine, although, ending the Swiss Stage with a 1.19 ranking after robust performances in opposition to The MongolZ and 3DMAX.

That type continued within the playoffs, too. Though he was quiet for 2 maps within the semi-final versus NAVI, alongside David “frozen” Cernansky he was one of many solely gamers to indicate up in two of the maps in opposition to Vitality within the grand ultimate, and was instrumental within the staff getting previous MOUZ in the course of the quarters. 

FaZe’s closely criticised rookie, jcobbb, additionally noticed his type take an enormous upturn within the latter levels. The younger Pole additionally struggled in Stage 1 at 0.97, however went as much as 1.25 and 1.24 in Stage 2 and Stage 3 respectively. 

jcobbb’s biggest worth in the course of the FaZe run got here throughout pistol rounds. He ended Stage 3 and playoffs with a 1.98 pistol spherical ranking – second solely to Danil “donk” Kryshkovets – which is particularly spectacular while you consider that he performed seven extra maps than donk, and 11 extra maps than the subsequent closest participant, David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado. 

There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for the standard of IGLing out of karrigan. While the worth of such gamers is essentially primarily based on intangibles, it was clear simply how robust the sport plans have been on Nuke. FaZe ran by means of a number of groups on the map, together with MOUZ and Vitality twice, with each groups wanting helpless as they have been constantly performed out of positions. 

Even outdoors of the strong anti-stratting that had been happening, participant cams as soon as once more made the power of karrigan as a captain clear. The Main-winner by no means as soon as let his spirits appear damaged throughout more durable video games and at all times overestimated his staff. Their ultimate map of the match exemplified this greater than every other; the Dane might be seen laughing within the face of defeat whilst FaZe went 11-1 down. 

The primary factor, although, was that FaZe have been simply profitable rounds within the FaZe manner once more. If you happen to’ve been round Counter-Strike for some time, you realize what we imply. It’s a fashion of profitable man-down conditions in a manner that solely FaZe does. Rounds which are fully unlikely, but at all times in some way really feel possible.

Nonetheless, there’s a drawback with that. 

Regression to the Imply

The issue is that the playstyle isn’t constant. It by no means has been. It’s why FaZe have at all times been so streaky. 

Taking part in for 3vX conditions is nice when your stars are all firing, broky, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, and Robin “ropz” Kool all doing so for six months straight noticed them win practically every little thing within the first half of 2022, however the inconsistency that comes with the downturn in type is what value them two of these stars within the years since.

There’s additionally simply the inconsistency of broky to fret about. The Latvian is instrumental to FaZe’s model of play and was for his or her Main run, so what occurs when his ranking regresses again to his 2025 common of 1.04?

jcobbb can also be a priority. Australian analyst Chris “elmapuddy” Tebbit has already uncovered how Vitality was in a position to bully him on Overpass to be able to win the Main, and his CT performances could be regarding on different maps as nicely. It’s all half and parcel of the step as much as tier one and the Main confirmed promising indicators of improvement, however with a distinct match each week, Counter-Strike cares extra about consistency over for much longer intervals of time than the Main.

Simply take a look at Ivan “zweihh” Gogin, who has already been benched by Group Spirit regardless of being the primary cause they have been in a position to push previous Falcons in the course of the quarter-finals.

At the very least pistol rounds are one thing they’ll depend on. Within the final three months, FaZe have three of the highest 12 pistol spherical gamers in jcobbb, Twistzz, and frozen. It’s a power that has given them a 62.2% pistol win price in that point, second solely to MOUZ. If they’ll enhance their Spherical 2 conversion charges to get in step with the opposite prime groups, we might even see this kind proceed for a short while longer.