StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 2 Fantasy Picks

I finished in the top 1% of Fantasy Season Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, and I’m here to help you lock in the sharpest lineup for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 1.

The first stage of the major is over and what a rollercoaster it has been.

HLTV runs a dedicated Fantasy game for this event. A Fantasy game that consist of picking different players, hoping to hit the top players under a strict budget.

We can all agree that player performance wins fantasy leagues, but getting great value from roles and boosters can make a huge difference. That’s why I’ve created a list highlighting some of the best players for each role, based on both stats and value for money.

There are many roles to choose from, but these are some of my favorites and the most consistent options to use.

Main AWP

Even though I have already watched a full stage at the Major, I still have plenty of unanswered questions.

I believe Aurora will cruise through this stage, which makes woxic a great pickup at a very reasonable price.

regali was my money pick for Stage 1, and what a performance he and the squad delivered. I still have high hopes for FlyQuest and I am confident that regali can put up numbers even in losing games.

NaVi are yet to consistently perform at a top level this year, which makes w0nderful feel a bit expensive. They are still expected to go 3-0 or 3-1 though, so he remains one of the safer options.

FaZe, what the f@#* up? Can they bounce back? With a favorable draw in this stage, the overall level of their opponents has not really changed. There are still many teams that, on paper, are far weaker than FaZe. If they can find some form, broky is an insane value-for-money pick.

Support

The Support role rewards players who collect assists, survive rounds, or get traded. Because of that, support players are usually not the stars of their teams.

MAJ3R and Aleksib are role picks that are not expected to earn us many fantasy points. My previous experience with picking Aleksib is not great, which is why he is my number two choice. MAJ3R can still have some pop-off games, and with the team expected to have a few stomps, I think the 9,000 dollar price difference is worth it.

I was struggling to find picks for this role that felt worth the money. NAF is my best bet, but I am very unsure how Liquid will perform at this event. I can say exactly the same about bodyy and 3DMAX.

HS Machine

Astralis had a great tournament at IEM Chengdu, even taking a map off Vitality. I believe they will get past Stage 2. jabbi has amazing stats for HS Machine and needs to perform at his top level. He is a bit pricey, but he can be paired with HooXi for better economy.

jks performed well in Stage 1, making him another great pick for this stage. His role points are almost a safe bet every time.

If NaVi want to be in consideration for the trophy, it is on b1t’s shoulders. He is an expensive pick, but he can be extremely valuable, especially paired with HS Machine.

B8 have not shown me the level of gameplay I expected from them, even though they made it through Stage 1 with a 3-1 score. They still have some way to go, but esenthial can have great impact.

Leader

The leader role really depends on which teams you are building around. Pairing an IGL with a top performer is often the way to go.

MAJ3R and HooXi are my favorite picks for the leader role. Their teams are expected to perform and have shown great form recently.

karrigan and Aleksib are great enablers who generate economy while still being able to hunt for role points.

Multi Fragger

Because of MIBR’s ranking, insani is insanely cheap, which makes him an amazing value-for-money pick. His teammate kl1m also deserves a mention, but at $205,000 he is a bit risky for the money.

Staehr is, for me, the best Danish player at the moment. I expect great things from him at the Major. Astralis’ new lineup is giving him more space to perform, and he is shifting from a support role into more of a star role.

Fnatic showed decent gameplay in Stage 1, making it out 3-1. blameF is the hardest hitter on the team and would be priced like XANTARES if it was not for the team difference. If Fnatic can overperform, blameF is a great pickup.

Aurora are expected to do great things this stage, which makes XANTARES a very strong option. He is very expensive, though, which makes it hard to build a top-tier lineup around him.

Best value for money

My best value picks for this stage are without a doubt insani and Staehr. If MIBR can find form and make it out 3-2, I believe insani can do great things for the team.

Staehr is on a stronger team, and I can even see Astralis going 3-0. He fits more roles, and his price point is in a great spot.