karrigan on broky's Return

After a turbulent few months, FaZe Clan arrived in Cologne with a familiar face back in the lineup: Helvijs “⁠broky⁠” Saukants. Benched two months prior amidst team struggles, the Latvian AWPer has returned just in time for IEM Cologne — and with a renewed mindset that could redefine FaZe’s trajectory.

“There were scenarios where I missed Helvijs in the team,” Finn “⁠karrigan⁠” Andersen told HLTV following FaZe’s opening win over BIG. “That shows the fire he has during games. Boosting everyone else is a key factor in this team.”

A Tactical Reset and Mental Refresh

Following broky’s benching, FaZe turned to Oleksandr “⁠s1mple⁠” Kostyliev as a temporary stand-in, competing at IEM Dallas and the BLAST.tv Austin Major. Yet the arrangement was never intended to be permanent.

“We let broky know the decision would come after the Major,” karrigan said. “I talked to him during the Major — told him we wanted him back. He used the time well: hit the gym, got disciplined, and returned focused. Sometimes a small punishment can help a player.”

Missed Connections and Hard Lessons

The s1mple experiment sparked curiosity, but not the transformation FaZe needed. “If we went to the final and Sasha was MVP, sure, we’d talk,” karrigan admitted. “But I saw something missing — Helvijs brings fire, and Sasha does it differently. We needed our own identity back.”

With broky reinserted, the focus shifted not to tactics but communication. “I didn’t touch tactics,” karrigan stated. “I hunted down bad comms. I need feedback for mid-round calls — when nobody contributes, I call them out.”

Looking Inward, Moving Forward

FaZe’s 2-0 win over BIG might look clean on paper, but the team’s internal process is anything but superficial. “We lost all four pistols and still felt in control,” karrigan said. “Ancient got tight at the end, but we closed it calmly. No panic.”

That calm came after confronting harsh realities. “My leadership wasn’t great. The vlog from FaZe showed a side of me I’m not proud of,” karrigan admitted. “We had team talks, individual goals, and I’m holding everyone accountable this season.”

Map Pool Shake-Up and Meta Changes

With Overpass replacing Anubis in the CS2 map pool, FaZe faces structural shifts. “Anubis was hard at times, but we had a top-tier CT side. Overpass is different — requires structure and unpredictable moves. That’s what I like,” karrigan said confidently.

The lineup may need time to adapt, especially on the A site, but the in-game leader remains optimistic. “We’ve found a temporary solution. It’s still new, but promising.”

Game Balance Updates: A Welcome Change

Beyond maps, Valve’s recent economic tweaks have caught karrigan’s eye. “The CT update is one of the best I’ve seen,” he praised. “The $200 boost means you can drop hero M4s and do serious damage. Only downside? Still hate the $1,400 loss bonus — it ruins momentum.”

The Road Ahead

As FaZe looks to rebuild its identity, the mental game remains the priority. “FaZe used to never give up — we always had that clutch comeback,” karrigan noted. “But this past year, we cracked under pressure. That has to stop.”

He concluded with the kind of grit that made FaZe a household name: “It’s not magic, but a reset season with a focused broky and a team owning their roles? That’s a real shot at redemption.”