Community Reacts as "Rain" Departs FaZe

Community Reacts as Rain Departs FaZe

FaZe’s surprise announcement that Håvard “rain” Nygaard has been benched has triggered an immediate and emotional response across the Counter-Strike community. 

Rain’s departure ends nearly ten years with the organization. He joined the roster back in 2016 (via the Team Kinguin → FaZe transition) and became the lone constant amid frequent roster changes. 

His exit came alongside the reveal that Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken will take his place. FaZe had already confirmed Twistzz’s return during the FISSURE Playground 2 event, but only later disclosed the outgoing player was rain. 

Reactions & Tributes

Almost immediately, tributes poured in from players, analysts, talent, and fans — many struggling to put rain’s impact into words.

Finn “karrigan” Andersen, in a video posted by FaZe, called rain “the best teammate.” Karrigan said:

“For me, you are probably the best player I have met in my career. Especially when it comes to who I am today and what I have become.” 

David “frozen” Čerňanský, another teammate, added:

“All the things I heard about you before coming to the team was not only true but even better.” 

Broadcast talent Travis (TravCS) lamented:

“rain leaving FaZe brings an end to one of THE legendary runs in CS history … Nobody has done it at a comparable level for longer.” 

On social media, some fans expressed anger at FaZe’s timing — feeling rain deserved a grander send-off. One X user wrote:

“Not sure I can forgive FaZe for benching rain 2 months before the Major.” 
Another said FaZe had lost “a huge part of its identity.” 

In Reddit threads, fans mourned the end of an era, with one commenter noting wryly:

“That’s the end of an era. And one last thing to note: rain’s last ever moment on FaZe was him whiffing a long range spray against the very man that’s replacing him on the team.” 

Rain’s & FaZe’s Statements

FaZe’s announcement stressed that they see rain’s career as far from over:

“Håvard remains a world-class player and his career is far from over. We are so grateful for the memories we made together, and you will always be a legend in our FaZe family.” 

In his own farewell message, rain wrote:

“After 10 unforgettable years, the time has come for me to say goodbye to FaZe Clan. And although FaZe has decided to go another direction, I am beyond proud of what we have achieved over the past decade.
To my teammates past and present, I just want to say thank you … Playing alongside some of the most talented individuals in the game has been an honour. … To all the fans that have supported me and the team, thank you for always being the loudest to cheer.” 

He also clarified that he is not retiring:

“My journey in CS2 is far from over. I will keep competing and growing as a player. … I’m open to offers for any role … while stepping into the IGL role would be a new challenge … it’s one I’m eager to embrace.” 

Broader Context & Controversy

Rain’s hand wasn’t forced due to poor form — in fact, he recently surpassed Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski in tenure to become the longest-serving starting player in top-tier Counter-Strike.

However, his departure comes amid a swirl of controversy unrelated to gameplay. In September 2025, rain publicly accused Thomas “Temperrr” Oliveira — a longtime acquaintance and FaZe co-founder — of sexual misconduct involving minors. 

He later retracted part of the accusation, calling for those involved to consider the real human consequences of such claims.  Temperrr denied the allegations and claimed he was being blackmailed. 

In that context, FaZe member Nick “FaZe Lacy” voiced frustration with the organization’s ongoing entanglement in these past disputes, stating:

“I’m tired of this s**t falling onto us” — aiming to distance current roster from controversies involving rain, Temperrr, and former FaZe Banks. 

Following the accusations, reports also surfaced that Temperrr had been removed from the FaZe roster as the organization moved to mitigate fallout. 

What’s Next & Significance

Rain leaves behind an era-defining legacy: more than 3,500 days with FaZe, 21 titles (including a Major at Antwerp 2022, where he was also MVP), and a reputation as a loyal and steady force.

Twistzz steps into his spot, signaling FaZe are betting on a refreshed dynamic

The timing — mere months before a Major event — and the manner of benching continue to fuel backlash. Some in the community believe rain merited a more dignified farewell.

Rain has made clear his intention to continue in CS2, possibly exploring in-game leadership roles.

The surrounding drama involving allegations against Temperrr adds complexity and emotional weight to the narrative of rain’s exit.