Karrigan: “This is the first time I’ve had a secondary caller since NiKo”

Karrigan: “This is the first time I’ve had a secondary caller since NiKo”

Finn “karrigan” Andersen says that the return of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken to FaZe Clan has brought a “tornado of fresh air” to the team, particularly because Twistzz is serving as a secondary caller — a role karrigan claims he has not had since working with Nikola “NiKo” Kovač in 2018. 

Twistzz’s Return & the Secondary Caller Role

Twistzz rejoined FaZe after stints at Liquid, where he contributed heavily to their tactics and structure (even taking up a captaincy role at times). His presence eases some of the burden on karrigan, who has long carried much of the in-game leadership (IGL) responsibilities.

Karrigan elaborated:

“This is the first time I've had a secondary caller since NiKo … a vocal voice I’ll listen to, that’s not always in the group with me … and can help make an adjustment in-game.” 

“With Russ, we have a tornado of fresh air into the team.” 

He noted that while Twistzz might have had potential in earlier lineups (2022–2023), the presence of other outspoken mid-round voices limited his ability to serve that role then.  Now, with more mid-round silence and clarity, karrigan sees room for Twistzz to step up. 

Karrigan also said that he’s asked Twistzz to trust the macro calls he and Filip “NEO” Kubski will maintain, while contributing his perspective when relevant:

“We need Russ back in top form … I think if he can become that we have a full package in Russ and I'm super happy to have him back.” 

Interestingly, karrigan also touched on FaZe’s recent roster changes: he revealed that the decision to bench Håvard “rain” Nygaard was the first time management made a roster move without consulting him since he rejoined the organization in 2021. He went on to say he would “happily step down” if any player ever lost faith in his leadership. 

Regarding the calling dynamic, karrigan clarified that Twistzz wasn’t a true secondary caller during his first FaZe tenure — there were conflicting mid-round voices — but now the role is being more clearly defined. 

FaZe Roster Changes & Their Effects

A key piece of background is that FaZe announced rain’s benching earlier in the season, which cleared the way for Twistzz’s return. This move sparked debate in the community, with many speculating on how it shifts the team’s balance. 

In a recent HLTV Confirmed podcast, rain addressed the situation, stating:

“There’s a lot of s**t going towards karrigan, which is very unnecessary. It was not his choice.” 

Thus, rain seemed to push back against narratives that karrigan was pulling strings behind the scenes. 

Interestingly, FaZe later announced that for ESL Pro League, they would reinsert rain into the active lineup, sidelining Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski.  That suggests the organization is still adjusting its optimal balance between experienced and new/incoming players. 

Recent Results & Challenges

FaZe’s ESL Pro League run has been rocky. They had to forfeit their opening match against G2 due to an ineligible lineup. In their second match, they were defeated 0-2 by 3DMAX, a result that puts them in the “elimination zone” of the tournament.The team faced logistical issues, as rain flew in late and had just about 30 minutes to get ready before his match. 

These early difficulties underscore the challenge of integrating a returning star and rearranged leadership roles under pressure.

What This All Means

Leadership dynamics shifting: The addition of a true secondary caller in Twistzz helps lighten karrigan’s in-round decision load, potentially making FaZe more adaptive mid-round.

Roster experimentation: The flip between benching rain and reinstating him suggests FaZe is still trying to find the right mix of strategic leadership, firepower, and cohesion.

Growing pains: Forfeits, unsteady communication, and late travel stress test even veteran-led squads.

Player sentiment: Rain’s pushback on criticism of karrigan indicates possible tension or external narratives the team is navigating.