Here is How CS2 and Dota 2 Teams Are Reshaping Their Lineups

Roster changes in esports are way more common than people think, especially when analysing some of the more popular games. Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 are prime examples, so I decided to take a look at all of the latest roster changes and share them with you.

Keep in mind that esports rosters change all the time. The latest wave shows teams trying to solve difficult issues, and since the Esports World Cup 2026 has already started, we will have to wait and see whether the changes were for the better. With that said, let’s see everything new.

CS2 Roster Changes

There have been numerous CS2 roster changes in the last couple of days, and it’s safe to say they have changed the balance of power. Many people looking to bet on CS2 would want to know more about it, so let’s see some of the hottest options until now. Bear in mind that there are many other big events left, so we will definitely see even more changes in the future.

Guilherme “levi” Gustavo is No Longer in Imperial Esports Active Roster

Imperial made the decision to remove Guilherme “levi” Gustavo from the active roster, and this means only one thing – we have another reset point for the organisation. Following the changes, the team’s active roster now has chelo, VINI, decency and noway.

The fact that levi is no longer a part of the team definitely creates short-term uncertainty. There will be a replacement soon, but we will have to wait to see what happens.

Since levi is on the inactive roster, he will most likely have to find a new team. Even though I have seen situations where inactive players have been brought back to play, most of them end up looking for a new team, so I expect to see the same here.

Brollan Joins HEROIC From MOUZ’s Inactive Roster

Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin made an interesting move by joining HEROIC from MOUZ. I believe this is one of the more important CS2 roster changes because it gives HEROIC a solid player with a lot of experience.

Based on the information, Brolle joined HEROIC after MOUZ decided to bench him a few months ago. An interesting fact is that he will also move away from his traditional in-game lead role. I believe he can definitely stabilise the roster and should be able to help his new team achieve good results.

MartinezSa Joins HEROIC From Gentle Mates

Gentle Mates also announced an interesting roster change as Antonio “MartinezSa” Martinez announced he will join the team from HEROIC. This change means that Gentle Mates just got an interesting AWPer who will be playing on an English-speaking roster for the first time. Before that, he only played with Spanish teams (Movistar Riders, 9z, Gentle Mates).

Although MartinezSa has proven his skill countless times, the new team will be a challenge. The AWPer has to be quick to adapt to the new roster and the English communication. There will also be a different tactical rhythm, and this is something that takes time.

Gentle Mates definitely lost a big name because he was one of the team’s core players. The worst part is that the move comes at a time when there are rumours that the organisation is leaving CS2.

Yxngstxr Moves From HEROIC’s Active Roster to Inactive; xfl0ud Leaves the Team

On the topic of HEROIC, the team decided to make two other important roster changes. The first one is related to Simon “yxngstxr” Boije because he will be stepping down from the team’s active roster. I have to say that most CS2 fans probably aren’t surprised by that, since he was forced to play as an AWPer, even though it was never his primary role. That’s the reason why HEROIC added MartinezSa.

Speaking of parting ways with players, Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç is also no longer a part of HEROIC. The player decided to move to FUT Esports, which means the latter finally has five players.

Yasin “xfl0ud” Koç is a very important addition to his new squad because he brings much-needed international experience. He also fits in well with the Turkish organisation, and I think this should help the team perform much better.

Losing Yasin xfl0ud could be an issue for HEROIC, but I think it is a part of a much larger roster change that now focuses on MartinezSa and Brollan. The team may have issues at first, but once players get used to playing together, things will change.

Jimpphat Joins Aurora Gaming

Aurora Gaming recently made a major statement by adding PoJimi “Jimpphat” Salo to its roster. The Finnish player was a part of MOUZ before, but he decided to part ways with the organisation and will be a part of Aurora’s team.

Everyone who’s been following the player knows that he brings discipline, defensive reliability and big-match experience. He can definitely help his new team in difficult situations, and this is especially valuable for Aurora, who has struggled with it before.

Story Moves From FlyQuest’s Active Roster to Inactive

João “story” Vieira is no longer a part of FlyQuest’s active lineup after spending just 6 months with the team. I am not surprised this happened because the Portuguese player was unable to get used to the situation within the team.

FlyQuest will be in a difficult position now because replacing an AWPer is easier said than done. If the team is interested in competing internationally, it needs to be very careful with the story’s replacement. The new AWPer needs to be someone who can lead the team, and finding someone like that is never easy.

Cairne Joins Fnatic From NIP’s Inactive Roster

Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi finally decided to move away from Ninjas in Pajamas after he was on the squad’s inactive roster. The player is now part of Fnatic, which means the team now has a roster full of Ukrainian players.

The fact that all players are from the same country should mean that the team will have better communication. Fnatic is one of those teams where you can definitely feel there is a strong culture around their leader (fEAR), so it will be interesting to see how the new team member fits in.

Gizmy, Afro, AZUWU, Bymas, and Rainwaker Leave Monte

Monte is officially without a CS2 roster after all team members are no longer a part of the organisation. Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen was one of the first to leave as he decided to join 100 Thieves. According to my information, he will become the new in-game leader, and this means that rain will focus more on his individual impact and secondary calling.

As for the remaining 4 players, afro, AZUWU, Bymas, and Rainwaker are now a part of Luminosity Gaming. Getting an existing core of players is not new in the CS2 world, so the organisation decided to pull the trigger. People who’ve been following Monte’s roster know that Rainwalker is versatile, afro gives the team AWP presence, Bymas adds experience, and AZMU is what keeps all of it together.

Dota 2

Like in Counter-Strike 2, the professional Dota 2 scene is very dynamic. There are always roster changes among the Tier 2 and 3 teams, but there are often new additions in the Tier 1 scene as well. I know that many people looking to bet on Dota 2 will want to know more about them, so this article will share everything you should be aware of.

Remember that the Dota 2 EWC 2026 is already on, so we expect to see even more changes once it is over. We are slowly getting ready for The International, and as we all know, it is where teams want to perform at their best.

Emo Joins Yakult Brothers as Setsu Leaves

Yakult Brothers is one of those Chinese Dota 2 teams that never really got the chance to shine. It has been through several roster changes in the last year, and the latest one involves the addition of Zhou “Emo” Yi and the departure of Gao “Setsu” Zhenxiong. Emo will be the team’s new midder and he is a well-known name because he actually played for the club before.

It’s safe to say that most fans expected to see this change. Setsu was unable to live up to the expectations of the demanding mid-lane, so he is stepping away for a familiar face. Emo is one of those players who has proven he can do well and he will try to help his team in the upcoming games.

Miposhka is Now Team Spirit’s Coach

Team Spirit is one of the best Dota 2 teams in the world, and every change here counts, including the latest one. After being on the inactive roster for a while, Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov decided to become the team’s coach. He will assist MiLAN and will do everything possible to help the two-time TI winners succeed once again.

Needless to say, Team Spirit has always been one of the best Dota 2 teams in the world, and they are among the big favourites for all upcoming competitions. Miposhka was an active player until recently, but now that he is a coach, he can contribute without returning to the grind of full-time competition.

Noticed Joins PARIVISION, SSS Leaves

PARIVISION finally decided to conclude its offlane change by signing in Evgeniy “Noticed” Ignatenko and moving Valery “SSS” Lazarev to the bench. This crucial change comes just a few weeks before the TI 2026 qualifiers. Many Dota 2 fans are not surprised by the change because Noticed was actually a part of the organisation before as a stand-in.

Dota 2 players and fans know that the offlane is one of the most important roles in the game. Having a solid player in this position is non-negotiable, so it’s nice to see that PARIVISION decided to step up their game. We will just have to wait and see what’s going to happen.