Rain returns to FaZe’s active roster for ESL Pro League, jcobbb sidelined temporarily

FaZe have announced that Håvard “rain” Nygaard will return to their active lineup for the remainder of ESL Pro League Season 22, replacing Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski. The adjustment comes as part of the organization’s effort to comply with ESL’s roster rules, following their recent forfeit against G2. Once Pro League concludes, jcobbb is expected to be reinstated ahead of FaZe’s CS Asia Championships campaign. 

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Why the swap was necessary: compliance after forfeit

The move is tied to FaZe’s controversial forfeit earlier in the tournament. In their opening match vs G2, FaZe were forced to concede because their active roster did not adhere to ESL’s eligibility requirements. 

Specifically, ESL’s roster rules mandate that teams invited via Valve Regional Standings (VRS) must retain at least three of the original five core players present in the roster used at the VRS update (July 7). FaZe’s submitted lineup—featuring Twistzz, broky, karrigan, frozen, and rain—now includes a majority of the original invite group (karrigan, frozen, rain), satisfying the three-of-five threshold. 

By contrast, the previous lineup with jcobbb lacked this necessary overlap, featuring only two of the original invite five. That discrepancy triggered the forfeit and forced FaZe’s hand in reintroducing rain. 

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FaZe’s temporary roster plan

• Active lineup for ESL Pro League:

  • karrigan

  • frozen

  • Twistzz

  • broky

  • rain

• Transition plan: rain will step back to the bench after ESL Pro League, and jcobbb will return for the organization’s CS Asia Championships campaign.

FaZe’s public statements describe jcobbb’s removal as temporary and tactical, intended solely to ensure their Dutch in-tournament eligibility. 

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Rain’s background & return significance

Rain is a long-time figure in FaZe’s lineup, known for his leadership and rifling presence. 

His recent benching, announced earlier, had surprised many fans. In that announcement, FaZe stated they would explore IGL switches or alternative roles for him, though rain insisted he had no plans to retire. 

His return to the active lineup restores stability and experience at a critical point. Particularly after the forfeit, FaZe need to balance performance, compliance, and perception. Rain’s presence helps anchor that. 

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What this means for FaZe and future implications

1. Avoiding further forfeits
   With rain back, FaZe now satisfy ESL’s roster rules—minimizing the risk of additional technical losses.

2. Roster flexibility vs consistency
   This shuffle underscores the tension: competitive teams want flexibility with substitutions, but league rules push for lineup consistency. FaZe’s move may be seen as reactive but pragmatic.

3. Impact on performance
   Rain’s return may help on maps where experience and leadership matter most. However, integrating him under tournament pressure will be a test.

4. Community & optics
   The forfeit exposed a procedural oversight, and FaZe’s quick remedy may help salvage narrative integrity among fans and analysts.

5. Future roster planning
   With jcobbb expected to return post-Pro League, FaZe retain a level of continuity. How they manage rotations and performance across different events will be telling.