ImperialHal returns to IGL after Team Falcons bench Zer0

In a rather shocking turn of events, Team Falcons have benched Rhys "Zer0" Perry effective immediately and promoted Phillip "ImperialHal" Dosen to IGL. ImperialHal has confirmed the team will announce a new third player to replace Zer0 in the very near future.

Team Falcons placed 6th at the ALGS: 2025 Midseason Playoffs in August. However, earlier in the year they enjoyed a great run of form winning the ALGS Open in New Orleans and placing 3rd at the ALGS Championship in Japan. Given the team's performance in 2025, it seems unlikely the roster change was results driven.

"I am back as IGL. I want to thank Falcons for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to showcase the best player in the world once again," said ImperialHal on Twitter/X. " Our third will be announced after this weekend."

Three days earlier, ImperialHal shared two tweets of his winning moments as IGL for TSM. Perhaps a subtle hint of his intent to return to winning ways.

On Sept 10, Zer0 also shared a cryptic social post of a silhouetted figure standing against a dramatic sunset sky breaking free from the chains around his wrists.

Moving Zer0 to the bench and confirming the swift arrival of a new third player marks the end of the iconic "super team" that saw Apex Legends' two most successful IGLs of all time play under the same banner at Team Falcons.

Initially ImperialHal and Zer0 were joined by fellow ALGS world champion Noyan "Genburten" Ozkose, Zer0's DarkZero team-mate. However, an abysmal 20th place at ALGS Split 2 in September 2024, led to the departure of Genburten after just five months. Ben "Wxltzy" Walton of Moist Esports stepped up to take his place.

During their 14 months together at Team Falcons, Zer0 and ImperialHal competed in 5 major LAN events, and won over $1,000,000 in prize money. They placed top 3 in four of the five LAN events, with the only anomaly a 20th place finish at the ALGS 2024 Split 2 Playoffs.

Over their time playing together, much was made of potential tensions between Zer0 and Hal based on their at times rather intense communication style. Their comms were audible during streams of their scrims, and the addition of a "featured stage" at the ALGS Open in New Orleans earlier this year provided a raw look at team comms during the heat of competitive play.

"I'm not going to argue and say it's health or anything," said Zer0 to esports.gg after winning the event with ImperialHal and Waltzy.

"But it's two people who respect each other enough, so nothing we say really sticks. We both live in Austin and go out IRL a lot, it's not like we're outside hating each other outside the game or anything."

Whether or not there is any bad blood between the pair remains to be seen. However, Apex Legends fans worldwide relished the opportunity to see them both play under the same banner.

Team Falcons' farewell to Zer0 as their IGL on social media was short and sweet.

"We have decided to move Zer0 to the bench - We thank him for his efforts while in the green and wish him the best in the future."

The prospect of ImperialHal and Zer0 potentially being IGL rivals once more in the near future is a storyline every ALGS fan would love to see.