TL;DR
- Kjaerbye provides the consistent, foundational play FaZe has lacked since its formation
- His role flexibility allows stars like coldzera and NiKo to focus on their strengths
- FaZe’s previous roster construction failed due to too many aggressive players competing for resources
- The team needs Kjaerbye’s average performance more than explosive individual games
- This strategic signing represents FaZe’s shift from pure talent acquisition to balanced team building

FaZe Clan’s acquisition of Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye in August represents a fundamental strategic pivot that finally enables their elite players to operate at maximum effectiveness. This move signals a departure from their previous approach of simply accumulating the most expensive talent available.
Many esports analysts consider FaZe’s CSGO lineup among the most disappointing in competitive history, given the extraordinary individual skill present on their roster. When the organization entered Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2016, their financial strategy became immediately apparent – they intended to purchase success through massive investment in player contracts.
While this methodology often succeeds in conventional sports, FaZe emerged as CSGO’s primary cautionary tale about roster construction pitfalls. Paradoxically, as the collective mechanical skill of their players theoretically increased, their tournament results progressively deteriorated. By the beginning of 2020, FaZe’s premium roster assembled to dominate CSGO Majors had reached only one Major championship final, losing to Cloud9 in an unforgettable match that highlighted their structural issues.
Contemporary FaZe has completely overhauled their team-building philosophy. Veteran players including Ladislav “GuardiaN” Kovács have departed the organization. Another marquee player, ex-Fnatic icon Olof “olofmeister” Gustafsson, opted for an indefinite competitive hiatus following eighteen months of inconsistent performances. After testing Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras, a promising but raw talent, FaZe secured a more stable and less spectacular replacement.
With Kjaerbye joining before ESL One Cologne 2020, FaZe finally possesses the missing piece they’ve needed throughout their existence. The critical insight for aspiring team builders: sometimes the most valuable addition isn’t the flashiest player, but the one who enables others to shine.
Common Roster Construction Mistakes: Many organizations replicate FaZe’s initial error by focusing exclusively on individual statistics rather than role compatibility. Teams should prioritize creating complementary skill sets rather than simply accumulating the highest-rated players available.
Kjaerbye’s Role: The Foundation FaZe Needed
The core issue FaZe encountered in their initial superteam experiments wasn’t personality conflicts among their celebrated professionals. The fundamental problem stemmed from insufficient tactical space for each player’s designated responsibilities to coexist effectively. Counter-Strike offers limited strategic positions and angles for aggressive peeking. All their athletes had extensive experience as primary carries, but with multiple aggressive talents concentrated on one squad, inadequate room existed for any individual to reach peak performance. Kjaerbye arrives at FaZe with youth on his side, yet brings veteran-level game understanding that complements FaZe’s existing experienced core.
Similar to the organization’s typical acquisitions, he maintains capability for spectacular individual performances. Interestingly, this represents only a secondary benefit for FaZe. As Cologne approached its conclusion, FaZe required cultivation of his more reliable and consistent gameplay patterns.

What Kjaerbye contributes to FaZe constitutes the element absent since the team’s inception – a stable cornerstone performer who executes effectively regardless of whether he’s securing eliminations or creating opportunities for teammates. In Kjaerbye, FaZe discovered an individual competent at maintaining competitive performance through most rounds, without reliance on exceptional form or highlight-reel moments.
With additional tactical freedom consequently created for star players Marcelo “coldzera” David and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, supporters should observe FaZe establishing sustainable competitive rhythms as ESL Pro League Season 12 approaches and their primary carries adapt. For teams looking to optimize their own roster construction, understanding role distribution is crucial – learn more in our comprehensive Class Guide that explores similar team composition principles.
Kjaerbye certainly isn’t an unknown quantity. He’s earned CSGO Major MVP honors. However, he doesn’t need to replicate his Astralis-era achievements to benefit FaZe. Actually, the optimal outcome for FaZe and their remaining elite players involves Kjaerbye performing steadily and generating opportunities for his colleagues. FaZe requires him to be fundamentally dependable and supportive so their star performers can maximize their impact.
Advanced Team Building Insight: The most successful esports organizations recognize that creating defined roles with clear responsibilities often produces better results than simply fielding the five most skilled players available. This principle applies across multiple gaming titles, including strategic approaches discussed in our Complete Guide to competitive team composition.
Practical Implementation Tips: When evaluating potential roster additions, consider not only individual statistics but how the player’s style will interact with existing team members. The most valuable additions often aren’t the most statistically dominant players, but those who fill strategic gaps in your team’s composition. Understanding weapon roles and how they complement different playstyles is equally important – explore our Weapons Unlock guide for deeper insights into equipment selection strategies.
The strategic implications extend beyond immediate tournament performance. Establishing clear role definitions creates sustainable team structures that withstand roster changes and meta shifts. Teams that master this balance typically maintain competitive relevance longer than those relying solely on individual talent.

Common Pitfall Avoidance: Many organizations make the critical error of forcing star players into supportive roles, which typically yields suboptimal results. Instead, identify players who naturally excel in foundational positions.
Action Checklist
- Analyze your team’s current role distribution and identify gaps in supportive positions
- Evaluate potential signings based on role compatibility rather than just individual statistics
- Establish clear in-game responsibilities for each player before major tournaments
- Monitor team dynamics and adjust role assignments based on player strengths and weaknesses
- Develop contingency plans for when star players face slumps or need tactical support
No reproduction without permission:Games Guides Website » FaZe Clan adding Kjaerbye brings balance to a flashy CSGO team How Kjaerbye's consistent play creates space for FaZe's star players to excel in CSGO
