In esports, a team’s results are often the primary indicator of its success. When a team faces a series of defeats or inconsistent performances, the management and coaching staff often begin searching for ways to improve the situation. One of the most common solutions in such cases is player substitution. This can provide a fresh impetus for the team, change the internal dynamics, and get the team back on track for victories.
NAVI
Our list starts with NAVI, who made some of the most significant roster changes within the team.
The primary motivation for these changes was NAVI’s unsatisfactory results since 2022: elimination from PGL Major Antwerp 2022 in the quarterfinals, a weak performance at BLAST Premier, and communication issues due to the mix of languages.
We want to build a strong team with a unified philosophy and a clear identity. The Ukrainian roster is not only about language but also a shared mentality, commented the CEO of NAVI.
Several key players were removed from the roster:
- electroNic (joined Cloud9)
- Perfecto (also joined Cloud9)
- b1t (remained for a while but became the sixth player)
- npl (removed due to inconsistent performance)
NAVI assembled a completely Ukrainian roster, focusing on synergy, national identity, and young talent. New players included:
- Justinas “jL” Lekavicius — former Apeks player, became the leader of the attacks
- Ivan “iM” Mihai — Romanian star rifler, breakout player at BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023
- AleksiB — Finnish in-game leader with experience in G2 and OG
Results of NAVI’s New Roster (2023-2024)
Despite skepticism from some analysts, the updated roster started off confidently: reaching the final of BLAST Premier 2023, the playoffs of IEM Katowice 2024 (Top 4), and the Esports World Cup 2024. They made a swift return to the top 5 of HLTV within six months of the changes. The reshuffle not only refreshed the team internally but also brought more trophies and nearly 9 times more prize money, totaling over $700,000.
NAVI is finally NAVI again, not a mix without soul!
The team looks young, hungry, and focused. It’s a pleasure to watch.
jL and iM are the best signings in the last 2 years!
G2
The second major roster change occurred within G2 Esports at the beginning of 2022, when they signed m0NESY from Natus Vincere Junior.
In 2021, G2 showed average results on the pro scene. They earned prize placements in: BLAST Premier: Spring Showdown 2021 (1-2 place), DreamHack Masters Spring 2021 (3-4 place), BLAST Premier Spring 2021 finals (3rd place), Intel Extreme Masters XVI – Cologne (2nd place), and PGL Major Stockholm 2021 (2nd place), where they also couldn’t overcome NAVI.
In January 2022, G2 Esports strengthened their roster by signing 16-year-old Russian sniper Illya “m0NESY” Osipov, who moved from NAVI Junior. It was expected that m0NESY would replace Francois “AMANEK” Delaunay, concluding his three-year tenure with the team. m0NESY quickly adapted to his new team and showed impressive results in his first tournaments, confirming the organization’s decision was correct.
Increase in Prize Earnings with m0NESY
With m0NESY joining, the team started performing at a high level. From 2022 to 2025, G2 Esports earned over $4.1 million in prize money:
- 2022: $887,250
- 2023: $1,103,500
- 2024: $1,361,000
Overall, signing m0NESY was a key event for G2 Esports, contributing to the team’s ongoing success on the international stage. His outstanding individual skills and aggressive playstyle significantly strengthened their sniper role.
The community reacted positively to m0NESY’s addition to G2 Esports. Commentator and former professional player Jakob “Pimp” Winneche noted:
This is a huge step for G2. m0NESY has the potential to become one of the best snipers in the world.
Team Vitality
Third on the list is the signing of ropz from FaZe Clan to Team Vitality, which took place in January 2025, before the start of the season.
Star duo with ZywOo
In January 2025, Estonian player Robin “ropz” Kool left FaZe Clan and officially joined Team Vitality, replacing Magisk in the starting lineup. The organization placed its bet on stability and experience, forming one of the strongest duos on the scene — ropz + ZywOo.
I wanted to fight for big trophies again, and I believe Vitality is the perfect place for that, said ropz.
Vitality immediately demonstrated strong results in Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025, ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Spring 2025, IEM Melbourne 2025 and BLAST Rivals Spring 2025. After ropz’s arrival, the team earned over $600,000 in prize money and consistently ranked in the top 1 of the HLTV and VRS world ranking.
ropz’s transfer has already been called one of the most important offseason decisions, turning Vitality into favorites for the main titles in 2025.
MOUZ
In 2023, Ninjas in Pyjamas, with Brollan, failed to win any major tournaments. This was likely one of the reasons why he decided to change organizations in search of new opportunities for growth.
In mid-2024, one of the most popular European esports organizations, MOUZ, announced the signing of Swedish star player Robert “Brollan” Jonsson, who had previously played for Ninjas in Pyjamas. The transfer was estimated to cost MOUZ between $300,000 and $600,000, which seemed like a smart investment given the immediate positive impact on the team’s results.
After spending just over a year with Ninjas in Pyjamas without any major successes, Brollan decided to start a new chapter in his career with MOUZ, where he aimed to become one of the key players in achieving high results.
Rapid growth over a few months
After Brollan joined MOUZ, the team’s performance on the international stage skyrocketed. They secured a major victory at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, finished as runners-up in two consecutive tournaments, and haven’t placed lower than 3–4th across five straight events. This remarkable consistency has made it one of the most successful stretches for MOUZ in recent years, with over $1.4 million in prize money earned since the Swedish star’s arrival.
Brollan is not just a great individual player, he is a leader who knows how to lead the team to victory. We are confident that his experience and desire to win will give us the necessary push to reach new heights, said the manager of MOUZ.
Swedish fans overwhelmingly supported the player, believing he was returning to his peak. With the new leader, Brollan, MOUZ not only returned to the top level but also showed they were ready to compete for titles at any tournament. Analysts called this transfer one that “reset” MOUZ.
Astralis
Lastly, the list should include the signing of Emil “Magisk” Reif from OpTic Gaming to Astralis in February 2018. Perhaps this transfer was the catalyst for the start of the “Astralis Era.”
In 2017, Astralis achieved significant success on the international CS:GO scene, winning three major tournaments with big prize pools:
- ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017 (January 22–29): Astralis won their first Major title, defeating Virtus.pro in the final 2:1.
- Intel Extreme Masters XII – Sydney (May 6–7): The team won the tournament, defeating SK Gaming in the final 3:1.
- BLAST Pro Series: Copenhagen 2017 (November 24–25): Astralis became champions, beating FaZe Clan 2:1 in the final.
In February 2018, the Danish esports organization Astralis announced the signing of 19-year-old Magisk, who replaced Marcus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye, who transferred to North.
The birth of the invincible Astralis
With the arrival of Magisk, Astralis achieved significant success from 2018 to 2020:
2018:
- FACEIT Major: London 2018: victory and a $500,000 prize.
- ELEAGUE CS:GO Premier 2018: victory over Team Liquid 2:0, winning $500,000.
- ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals: victory at home in Odense, winning $1,000,000 for the Intel Grand Slam.
2019:
- IEM Katowice Major 2019: victory over ENCE 2:0, winning $500,000.
- ECS Season 8 Finals: victory over Team Liquid 2:1.
- StarLadder Berlin Major 2019 victory over AVANGAR 2:0
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Astralis struggled in 2020, but still maintained its invincible legacy with solid placements.
It is worth noting that by the end of 2018, three Astralis players — Xyp9x, dupreeh, and dev1ce — became the first in CS:GO history to exceed $1,000,000 in individual prize earnings. The addition of Magisk was a key factor in Astralis’ dominance on the global CS:GO scene during these years.
In conclusion, Magisk’s arrival allowed Astralis to develop their historical dominance in CS:GO, solidifying their spot among the best teams of all time. The team’s winning culture was revitalized, and Magisk was undoubtedly one of the main catalysts in this period.
