Norwegian player Havard “rain” Nygaard may miss IEM Dallas 2025 as part of FaZe Clan. The reason is a joyful event in his personal life — his wife is 39 weeks pregnant, and he has chosen to stay home to support his family during this special moment.
Rain Clarifies His Absence: Staying Home for My Wife and Our Baby
During Rain’s absence, FaZe will play with a stand-in — skullz, a player from FURIA who is currently on the bench. It’s an unexpected but strategic decision that allows the team to maintain experience and balance during the tournament.
Following the recent high-profile roster change — broky being replaced by s1mple — there has been speculation surrounding Rain’s status. To clear things up, Håvard posted a personal message on Twitter:
“I see there is a little confusion as to why I’m probably missing out on Dallas so just wanted to clarify abit.
My amazing wife is 39 weeks pregnant and about to pop out another raindrop any day now, so I need to be home to take care of the family!”
Rain is the only remaining player from FaZe’s original 2016 roster. His loyalty not only to the team but also to his family has earned him deep respect across the CS community.
Stat Comparison: Rain vs Skullz
Rain
- Rating: 1.01
- Impact: 0.97
- ADR: 75.3
- KAST: 71.3%
Skullz
- Rating: 0.95
- Impact: 0.85
- ADR: 67.2
- KAST: 72.9%
This comparison shows a slight but consistent edge for rain across key metrics. He boasts a higher overall rating, stronger impact score, and more damage dealt per round — indicators of his ability to influence crucial moments and win duels. Skullz, on the other hand, has a slightly higher KAST, reflecting stable team involvement, but overall, his impact appears lower. These stats suggest the substitution is more of a necessity than a competitive upgrade.
Double Roster Change for FaZe: Skullz Replaces Rain, S1mple Debuts in CS2
The potential replacement of rain with skullz may be understandable due to personal circumstances, but it is unlikely to strengthen the team. Rain brings experience, stability, and the ability to take initiative in crucial moments. Skullz, while posting a slightly higher KAST, falls behind in nearly all other metrics and lacks the same level of tournament experience.
Following the already high-profile change of broky for s1mple—who still hasn’t played many official matches in CS2—this move further increases the level of risk for FaZe. The team now faces a situation with an unstable roster and two major variables to adapt to ahead of one of the most important tournaments of the year. FaZe’s success at IEM Dallas 2025 will now rely more on individual skill and the players’ ability to quickly build synergy on the server.
Their success at the tournament will depend heavily on raw individual talent and how quickly the players can build synergy and adapt under pressure.
