In the vast realm of CS2, Faze is arguably one of the most frustrating teams to get behind. Their run to the final in the Budapest StarLadder Major in 2025 was one of the highlights of the season.
Nobody thought that the team had the capacity to reach the final, but once they did, there were plenty of people cheering from the sidelines as they faced Vitality, the overwhelming favorites. They do blow hot and cold, though, and if they are to kick on and challenge some of the more revered teams, how far off the top teams are they? Let’s take a look.
Exploring Subdivisions
We have seen how gambling odds have reshaped how marketers and fans approach CS2 tournaments. As more money pours into this sector, top teams can use the capital to attract promising players from teams like Faze.
The strength of the market is underpinned by buzzing gambling markets that help prop up and inject a new wave of excitement into many matches and tournaments. This borderless approach to betting markets has worked online for decades. Long before these markets existed, online casinos used the global market as a springboard for their innovative designs, aiming to tap into the global gambling market.
Slot gaming companies were among the first to find success in this market, with online slots becoming the centerpiece of many promotional campaigns. As these markets have evolved and online slots games have developed a broader range of concepts, we’ve seen many of these ideas permeate the world of video game betting too.
In any event, the betting markets are often a balanced concept which can provide insight into the main market that operates above it, and with the odds slimming for Faze over the last 6 months in many of the games they’ve played, how realistic is it we could see them crack the top 5 rankings at some point in 2026?
Keeping Karrigan In The Team
Most CS2 teams rely heavily on their key players; they are often the spine of the team and bring the rest together. In the case of Vitality, they have the perfect blend of elite skill, with their key players being able to adapt to the ability of ZywOo.
On multiple levels, it is hard to understate how important Karrigan is to Faze. We have seen them capitulate before when he has moved to other teams, and we have seen a resurgence when he has returned to them. Although some people have questioned his aim and shooting prowess of late, there are many other components he brings to the team: his mid-round ability, his ability to deliver in high-pressure games, and a tactical approach that makes him the team’s biggest asset.
Without him, they struggle, and without him, they would be unlikely to kick on and pit themselves alongside the current top 5 teams.
Shifting The Mentality
Karrigan has proven in many key clutch moments that he has the tactical ability and mentality to deliver. However, Faze really needs to see this same mentality stretch throughout the rest of their team – they need more consistency in clutch moments and to enhance their overall performance, too.
They need to be more comfortable across a greater range of maps. While Vitality might be an unfair comparison, given how consistent and elite they are in CS2, these are the heights Faze need to aim for if they are going to make advances and crack the top 5 again.
History has shown us time and time again that if teams lack consistency and strength across multiple maps, they inevitably run out of momentum, and that this can also help the team boost their mentality. If they can showcase their adaptability and the other players on the team can pull it out of the hat as Karrigan has, then this could be the catalyst that spurs them on to become a top 5 team.
Examining The Ranking System
The current world rankings place Faze anywhere between 11th and 15th. It depends on which ranking system you believe holds the most weight. There are some CS2 gaming fans out there who already have them in the top 10, feeling they have turned a corner over the last 6 months. There are others who are not so full of praise.
As is always the case in CS2 rankings, the proof is in tournament performance. Consistency is key. While CS2 might not generate the same amount of money as other areas of the video gaming market, the annual earnings for teams in the top 5 are night and day compared to those in and around the top 15.
If Faze can add another key name to their roster, this is also a crucial point that could make or break a move into the top 5.
While social media isn’t always the most reliable source for CS2 transfer news, we’ve heard murmurs that m0NESY has been linked to a move to Faze. If they can add somebody who is a top-level lurker, or has the ability and caliber to add flexibility and improve their consistency, we could see them kick on and break into the top 5 over the next 12 to 18 months, but there are still a lot of variables to weigh up, and it is by no means a foregone conclusion.
