As you may have heard, rain has been benched from the FaZe Clan CS2 lineup to make way for the incoming Twistzz. After a decade together, it’s kind of big news. But despite the move, rain did confirm his intention to keep playing, his competitive flame for the game of Counter-Strike still burning bright. He even confirmed that he’s willing to transition to the in-game leader role for the first time ever, using his years of experience to call the shots on the server.
So the question remains: what teams could rain join after leaving FaZe Clan’s CS2 roster? Role-wise, rain has always been something of a Counter-Strike chameleon, adapting to his surroundings depending on the needs of the team. A valuable trait for FaZe Clan, but are others looking for more of a specialist in the current meta? I’ve combed through the VRS and highlighted the most likely options for where rain might end up in the future.
BC.Game – The Likely Option
Since signing s1mple, BC.Game have been on the Tier 2 grind. It has been going well, too, with an online event win in the ESL Challenger League Season 50 Europe Cup 2. But you don’t add a star like s1mple with the intention of languishing in the lower echelons of Counter-Strike, and as well as they have done, adding a player like rain could be the perfect way to level up their game without much upheaval. Leading the team right now is nexa, another flexible player who is very solid for Tier 2. Removing him would be harsh to give rain his IGL debut and I don’t see it playing out like that.
However, rain does have a lot in common with pr1metapz in terms of role and positions on both CT and T sides. He would represent a massive upgrade in this department, and if the money is there, then that is the move to make for BC.Game. Whether rain would be willing to go back to the online grind is another matter entirely. Given how highly s1mple speaks of rain, it’s a move that would surely be welcomed by the CS:GOAT.
Ninjas in Pyjamas – Not As Wild As It Sounds
If Ninjas in Pyjamas are looking to roll the dice, then there’s a world in which rain is an option. This all comes down to one factor, and one factor only: Snappi is 35 years old. He’s still holding his own individually, sure, but Counter-Strike is a young man’s game. It’s approaching unprecedented longevity, and simply, it can’t go on forever. When Snappi does hang up the mouse (whenever that might be), NIP could look to rain as a way to inject some winner’s DNA into the lineup.
The caveat here is that while Snappi may be staring down the barrel of retirement, bringing in an IGL who has never done it before remains a massive risk. NIP have battled long and hard to climb the VRS right from the very bottom, and they might not feel like they’re in a position to risk compromising that when the time comes. But it’s not as wild a take as it might initially sound.
GamerLegion – A Departure From the Norm
When you think of GamerLegion, you usually think of an organization that fosters young talent, before selling them on to bigger teams for a profit. I see them as an organization that makes the best of limited resources, with buying younger players the natural end product of that approach. In recent times, GamerLegion have developed a habit of losing games they should be winning comfortably, with losses against Fnatic, TYLOO, and Inner Circle of note. Through it all, ztr has been through some torrid individual form, the sort that even IGLs struggle to get away with. GamerLegion aren’t risk-averse, and rain could be an interesting option if they wanted to take a chance on his IGL arc working out.
While rain isn’t exactly a spring chicken at 30 years old, he does have what GamerLegion needs to finally be competitive: a winning ethos. A departure from their normal approach, but Moneyball can only take you so far. And if rain still has the drive to play at Tier 1 LANs, then GamerLegion can offer him that, too – no online grind necessary. If both parties were interested, a few details could still scupper this – how much FaZe Clan are asking for rain’s transfer, and his own wage demands.
Falcons – Two Possible Approaches, One More Likely Than The Other
I don’t think it’s likely, but I can see how Falcons might feel there’s a route to getting rain on board. If he’s committed to IGLing, then you could make the “fortune favors the brave” argument for rain over kyxsan. Personally, I think it would verge on insanity – kyxsan remains one of the best IGLs in CS2, so swapping him for someone with zero experience (when kyxsan is still doing a decent job) could prove to be utter madness.
More likely is -TeSeS +rain. The Dane has tailed off from his hot start on Falcons at the start of 2025, always being asked to sacrifice in the name of the team. It’s a role he fills admirably, but it’s also one that rain is equally apt at. Falcons want to win, and they want to win now. Not tomorrow, not next year – now. Money is no object to Falcons (evidently), so that won’t be an issue. For me, a Falcons with rain just a little better than a Falcons with TeSeS. That he’s a proven winner is only a bonus. NiKo and rain, running it back in the quest for a Major? Let’s see it.
Other Potential Candidates
Looking up and down the VRS, I reckon I’ve covered the main candidates for rain’s potential future. He’s a legend, but his age and potential wage put him in an awkward spot where teams that can afford him don’t need him, and vice versa. I looked at NAVI, but whoever you replaced, it was a nightmare in terms of positions. The going’s pretty good at MOUZ and G2, so they’re a no-go. Liquid -siuhy +rain makes so little sense that it’s barely worth speaking on. And beyond that, there’s nothing.
Personally, I’m delighted rain is continuing his career – I think he’s still got a lot to give, and hope he lands on his feet at a team where he can show his best. And maybe, just maybe, that IGL era keeps him around for many years yet.
