Astralis faced a tough run recently, including an early exit at IEM Cologne and a quick loss to MOUZ at BLAST Bounty Season 2 LAN. Despite the setbacks, Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen feels the team’s new roles suit the players better than before, even if the adjustment period is still ongoing. It’s a moment where patience might be key.
After beating Rare Atom and Natus Vincere online, Astralis’ momentum hit a wall against MOUZ, who took them down 2-0 in Malta. HooXi wasn’t too down about it, saying they showed up and gave a good fight. He reckons if they’d played just a little sharper on Nuke, the series could have looked very different.
HooXi explained that beating top teams comes down to better decision-making in tight situations. Mechanics and tactics seem solid, but quick thinking in clutch moments is where they need to step up. Individual mistakes in early rounds, especially on Nuke’s CT side, cost them crucial rounds. Fixing these won’t happen overnight and will require time and learning from each game.
When asked about the team’s current level, HooXi admitted it’s tricky to set expectations so soon after the changes. He thinks Astralis is just below the top three teams right now but can beat anyone on a good day. Getting consistent performances is the challenge, especially against teams like MOUZ, Spirit, or Vitality.
Role changes have been a big topic. Staehr has taken on more star-like responsibilities, while jabbi’s role has shifted a bit. HooXi sees jabbi adapting quickly since he’s familiar with his new tasks. Staehr’s bigger role means a longer adjustment, and stavn is moving from very active positions to a more flexible, reading-focused role. Overall, HooXi feels the roles fit better now but expects the transition to take around six months before they fully settle in.
Wow, role swaps can really shake things up, huh? Do you think Astralis will bounce back stronger once they’ve had more time? Or is this just the start of a rocky path? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
