Cloud9 CS2’s Rostermania Masterclass

The last few months for any Cloud9 fan have been tense. The rumors surrounding the organization floated anywhere from the addition of Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov to signing academy-tier rosters, with barely a top 30 player, that would make a CS2 trophy nigh on impossible for Cloud9. In the end, they've settled somewhere in the middle. What could've easily been yet another pure firepower five stacks turned into a puzzle where every piece fits perfectly.

Yet fan reaction remains mixed for what is, on paper, the best-constructed roster in this off-season. So, let's take a look at the incredible pieces that make up C9's latest CS2 roster.

The core of Ax1le, Boomb14, and interz has a known floor. Boomb14 has seriously stepped on ever since he was jettisoned off of NaVi. Pundits' opinion on Boomb14 has gone from him being Andrij "B1ad3" Ghorodensjkyj's mouthpiece to a complete IGL in his own regard. Especially his stint in the sh1ro-less C9 shows he can make pretty much any roster work.

interz's return is essentially a mea culpa from the NA organization, which cut him for Timur "buster" Tulepov just over a year ago. The youngster perfectly replaces Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy in the supportive role. He will never top the charts in the server, but he'll control space on the map in such a way that his team will remain at an advantage even after he's outdueled. And when you've got the sort of cracked-out youngsters that C9 now possesses, sometimes that's all you need to turn the tide.

Finally, there's the lynchpin of this whole roster: Ax1le. He alone controls the peaks of this roster. With no Denis "electroNic" Sharipov, Ax1le will have a complete carte blanche in star roles. If he returns to his 2021 form (#5 HLTV, 1.18 Rating), this team will suddenly rocket up the rankings to challenge in playoffs regularly. If his underwhelming CS2 performances with Cloud9 (1.08 rating - 2024) continue, his will be the first head on the chopping block.

Now, let's turn the spotlight on the newcomers. First is Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko. The Israeli-Ukrainian rifler has been a prospect ever since he stepped onto Endpoint in late 2022. OG then picked him up in 2024, and he stamped his name on CS2.

Averaging a 1.16 rating in 2024, HeavyGod is incredibly talented as an anchor and is now making his first foray into Tier 1. For many analysts, this is the player to watch in such a stacked roster. Get ready for some incredible mowdowns.

Perhaps Cloud9's only misstep in this roster mania was all the negative press surrounding the signing of ICY from AMKAL. While there's something to be said about the player's conduct in the situation, he is still only 19 years old.

He isn't a generational talent like m0NESY that the team was trying to get their hands on. But he is still part of the ongoing EEU wave that just keeps on delivering. A little rough around the edges, but there's no denying that he is massively talented.

In an era of frag-first rosters, Cloud9 now has the perfect mix of aggressive playmakers (Ax1le, Boomb14) and anchors (interz, HeavyGod) to make up the rifling ranks. And that doesn't even mention the raw talent that is ICY.

All that makes for a brilliantly balanced squad that can have a very high ceiling if the pieces fall in place. That makes Cloud9 the team to watch as they debut at the BLAST Premier Fall Groups.

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Featured Image via Eric Ananmalay & ESL