Can the HEROIC Trio Solve Falcons’ CS Problems?

And there we have it. Falcons have rounded out the roster by signing the core of HEROIC. The addition of kyxsan, degster, and TeSeS to the roster containing NiKo and Magisk stirs mixed feelings within me. While it might seem like they’ve thrown caution to the wind by signing three players who have never cracked the Top 20, perhaps it was the best they could salvage from a limited pool to avoid being left out in the cold for tournament invites.

Downsides of the Signing

Looking at their individual form, it seems recency bias has played a significant role. HEROIC’s Quarter-Finals run at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 likely put them on Falcons’ radar. But dig a little deeper, and the cracks begin to show. Their past results paint a picture of mediocrity: a 3rd-4th finish at IEM Rio 2024, a 9th-12th finish at ESL Pro League Season 20, a 5th-6th finish at IEM Dallas 2024, dead last at EPL Season 19, 7th-8th at IEM Chengdu, and a forgettable 12th-14th finish at the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024.

This is about to be HEROIC.

Welcome the trio! 👇@kyxsancs@degsterof@TesesCS

It's time to show what we are made of. 🦅#FalconsAreHere pic.twitter.com/gS3s97OINH

— Falcons Esports (@FalconsEsport) January 4, 2025

I do agree that most of these events didn’t include degster, but his inconsistency has long been a hot-button issue, as highlighted by casters at the Shanghai Major. For NiKo to go from m0NESY to degster feels less like a leap forward and more like a step sideways. And then there’s the puzzling decision not to include NertZ in the core. Let’s not forget, NiKo joined a team he defeated in the Quarter-Finals with G2 – without NertZ in the mix. It’s a head-scratcher how Falcons have always signed player around NertZ but not him.

While I hate to write them off before they’ve even hit the server, this move reeks of a panic button being pressed. It feels like Falcons have built a lineup just to keep their foot in the door for invites, placing all their bets on NiKo to carry them through.

The Upsides

That said, I wouldn’t be shocked if this roster manages to punch above its weight, thanks to one man: kyxsan. From what I’ve seen of him in the HEROIC lineup, he’s shown flashes of brilliance as an IGL. In my book, he’s already better than many of his peers. And NiKo has a history of struggles when it comes to playing in a team with a dedicated IGL.

While I mean no disrespect to Snax, HooXi, or nexa, kyxsan has the potential to grow bigger. Pairing his mind with Zonic’s expertise could be a match made in heaven. However, Falcons haven’t exactly built a rock-solid reputation in the scene. If the results don’t come, the pressure cooker will only get hotter for their young leader.

At the end of the day, only time will tell if this roster has what it takes to contend for title, or if it’s just another stepping stone for Zonic to build the dream team he truly desires.