According to HLTV statistics, Falcons players have been selected over 10,000 times in more than 7,800 fantasy lineups, far exceeding any other team. They are no longer just a buzzword—they have become a truly respected team in the global CS2 community.
To be honest: the Falcons weren’t perfect back then. Their early fame stemmed primarily from their star-studded rosters, rather than dominant results. What truly changed things was a series of bold acquisitions—these moves finally began to show significant results.
From Popularity to Reshaping: Falcons’ Big Moves
From Peak Popularity to Team Rebuilding: Falcon Team’s Major Moves
To understand the transformation of Team Falcons, we must start with their significant roster overhaul at the end of 2024. At that time, their performance in the Major qualifiers was inconsistent, repeatedly failing to secure a top-eight spot. However, Team Falcons did not give up; instead, they initiated the largest roster restructuring in their history:
On January 3, 2025, the Falcon squad officially announced the signing of legendary rifleman NiKo (formerly a core player from G2). They also recruited three key players from Heroic—kyxsan, TeSeS, and degster.
In mid-year, they made another stunning signing: the young prodigious sniper m0NESY joined the team, officially forming the so-called “super squad.”.
This roster became a hot topic online at the time. Some dubbed it the “European Galactic Battleship,” while others questioned whether “having too many stars would make it difficult to manage.” But the facts proved that the Falcons were not just hyping up hype; they were genuinely striving to turn this dream team into a championship machine.
The data tells no lies: The Falcons are delivering on their potential.
The progress of Falcons is evident. According to HLTV official data as of November 2025:
Falcons Global Ranking: 3rd Place
NiKo’s average rating in Falcons: 3.0:1.15 (based on 173 maps)
Champion of the PGL Major Bucharest 2025
Runner-up at the 2025 IEM Melbourne Station
Average win rate in the first half of 2025: 63%
What does this mean? It means they are not merely relying on their lineup to gain popularity; they have indeed gained fame on the field.
In the months following Nico’s joining the team, the Falcon squad’s average headshot rate increased by 6%, and their win rate in crucial moments also rose by nearly 10%. More importantly, they finally found a stable rhythm—transforming from a team “with strong financial backing but inconsistent form” into a formidable force capable of rivaling the Vigor and Spirit squads.
Behind the Glory: Falcons Are Still Working On
Of course, we must also be honest. While Falcons have made a lot of progress, they haven’t yet reached a level of “dominance.”
Their current problems are also very real:
Tournament Pressure Management: NiKo remains the core player, but his execution in essential games sometimes appears rushed.
Tactical Integration Period: kyxsan’s leadership is clear, but sometimes there are subtle clashes with m0NESY’s rhythm.
Roster Instability: Frequent role adjustments occasionally cause tactical execution to falter.
If they can win a Major title before 2026, Falcons’ story will truly complete the leap “from a dream team to a well-deserved one.”
The Other Side of Glory: Why Are Falcons So Popular?
The charm of Falcons isn’t just due to their achievements.
Fans love them because this team feels genuine, ambitious, and daring.
Look at NiKo’s expressions, TeSeS’s celebrations, and m0NESY’s youthful explosiveness—Falcons are like a fusion of the old and the new. They possess traditional European strength, as well as cutting-edge CS2-era playstyles.
On the Chengdu stage, their fans displayed a banner that read “Fly High, Falcons!”, a slogan that has now become their social media catchphrase. Perhaps this is the real reason they became the most popular team at IEM Chengdu Fantasy: they make people believe that hard work and dreams are worthwhile.
Conclusion
Falcons’ current story can be divided into three phases:
Being highly regarded (number one in popularity at IEM Chengdu Fantasy);
Beginning to deliver (PGL championship + world top 3 ranking);
Preparing to sprint (aiming for a Major championship and long-term dominance).
From popularity to honor, from dream to reality, Falcons’ rise is a story of reinvention and belief.
If they maintain this momentum, don’t let their fame go to their head, and aren’t afraid to try again after failure—I dare say they will become one of the iconic teams of a new era in CS2.