Valve Releases December CS2 Ranking as BLAST Prepares Bounty Season 3 Invites

Valve has published its December 1 Global Ranking update, and BLAST will use this snapshot to determine nearly all 32 invites for BLAST Bounty Season 3, the first major tier-one CS2 tournament of 2026.

BLAST confirmed it will take 28 teams directly from the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), with the final four spots awarded as wildcards. The tournament keeps its signature 32-team single-elimination format, with online opening rounds and an eight-team LAN final in Malta.

Top Teams in the December Valve Ranking

The December VRS snapshot differs from HLTV’s form-based ranking, emphasizing consistency, LAN performance and opponent network strength. The top 10 teams locked in for Bounty Season 3 are:

1. FURIA

2. Falcons

3. Vitality

4. Aurora

5. MOUZ

6. The MongolZ

7. Spirit

8. Liquid

9. G2

10. NAVI

Teams around the cut-off — Legacy, Astralis, 3DMAX, paiN, B8, FaZe, SAW, Gentle Mates, GamerLegion, BetBoom, fnatic, M80, NIP, Lynn Vision — are also expected to receive invites under the top-28 rule.

Format Changes: No More Wagering Bounties

BLAST has removed the controversial bounty wagering mechanic used in previous seasons. Season 3 will introduce a new non-monetary feature, with details to be revealed before the event. The total event value remains $1.15 million including prize pool, participation fees and club share.

Recent Context: Spirit’s Dominance, donk’s MVP Streak

BLAST Bounty Season 2 in Malta was dominated by Team Spirit, who swept The MongolZ 3–0 in the grand final. Superstar donk earned his 10th MVP medal, remarking:

“We didn’t face Vitality, and we need to beat them to become the best team in the world.”

A potential Spirit–Vitality matchup at Bounty Season 3 is one of the biggest storylines heading into 2026.

What’s Next

BLAST is expected to announce the 28 VRS-based invites and four wildcards shortly. With the new ranking locked in, key questions remain:

• Can FURIA convert their No. 1 VRS spot into a deep run?

• Will Spirit vs. Vitality finally happen on stage?

• How will the new format twist replace bounty wagering?

BLAST Bounty Season 3 kicks off early 2026, with Malta hosting the decisive LAN finals.