Twistzz confirms he was always set to replace rain: “In the early talks, it was like that”

Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken has affirmed that from the earliest stages of his return to FaZe, the plan was clear: he would replace rain in the active roster. Many fans speculated about internal dynamics, but the Canadian says there was never a fallback plan. “People may have thought otherwise (laughs), but yeah. In the early talks, it was like that,” he told HLTV. 

His return marks a reunion with former teammates karrigan and broky, but also comes amid roster turbulence: FaZe have been forced to reinstate rain temporarily due to ESL roster rules. 

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A “natural reunion” amid roster regulations

Twistzz called the move back to FaZe a “natural reunion”, citing his comfort with the core players and shared history, but he also acknowledged the constraints placed on roster decisions by VRS and ESL rules. 

FaZe’s opening in ESL Pro League Season 22 was complicated when they were forced to forfeit their match against G2 due to roster eligibility discrepancies. 

To comply with ESL’s “three-of-five original invite roster” rule, FaZe temporarily reinstated rain, despite having signed Twistzz to permanently replace him. 

Thus, although Twistzz is seen as rain’s long-term successor, FaZe are walking a tight line between compliance and competitive intent.

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Leadership role, team evolution, and internal dynamics

Twistzz described the shift in his responsibilities: he’s taking on more of a secondary caller role in the lineup, supporting karrigan’s leadership and contributing to mid-round decisions. 

He also praised the growth of broky and karrigan, noting that both have matured since his last stint in the squad. Their synergy and evolving roles have given FaZe fresh tactical depth. 

Karrigan, in a related interview, acknowledged that his removal of rain was the first time FaZe’s management made a roster move without consulting him since he rejoined the organization. He also indicated willingness to step down if trust eroded inside the roster. 

This combination of internal changes, leadership rebalancing, and roster restructuring signals that FaZe are entering a new era of strategic flexibility.

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Timeline & background

• FaZe bench rain, bring in Twistzz
  FaZe officially announced that rain would be benched and replaced by Twistzz, ending his near-decade run as an active member of the roster.

• Twistzz’s return to FaZe
  The signing of Twistzz from Liquid had been foreshadowed. FaZe publicly confirmed his arrival before revealing more about rain’s role.

• rain’s tenure and legacy
  Rain has been an integral thread in FaZe’s history, joining around the time the organization entered CS and becoming a long-serving stalwart of the roster.

• Roster mechanics & reinstate rain
  Despite Twistzz being the intended replacement, FaZe adhered to ESL’s roster rules by bringing rain back temporarily for the Pro League. Once the event ends, rain is expected to return to the bench and jcobbb may rejoin.

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Implications & what to watch next

• Stability vs transition
  Twistzz has made it clear that replacing rain was the plan from day one. But FaZe must balance short-term compliance (with rain) and their long-term vision (with Twistzz) without unsettling team cohesion.

• In-game chemistry & calling
  The success of this move depends heavily on how well Twistzz integrates into leadership roles and complements karrigan’s style. The secondary caller dynamic will be critical in close rounds.

• Fan sentiment & narrative
  Many in the community viewed rain’s benching as controversial. Some speculated it was a last-minute move; Twistzz’s clarity helps quell rumors and demonstrates internal planning.

• Competitive pressure
  FaZe began their EPL run under duress, forging through a forfeit and several elimination matches. The performance of the “new core” will be scrutinized sharply, especially vs top teams.