ruggah: "Of course I think device is better than cadiaN"

I think the next step is to build on top of the synergy from last season. We identified some things where we could already see a percentage or two here and there that we can add to our game and benefit us.
Another thing we need is to, build the playbook. Towards the end of the season, we could feel that the opponents had answers for a lot of our good rounds, and we felt like we had to anti-strat ourselves to go into the next game and you go away from good rounds doing that too.
We've been trying to build on top of our playbook and also become a little bit more unpredictable.
Ultimately, our main goal is to do well at the Major, but we know there are a lot of nice tests along the way. Fall Groups is one of those nice tests and so is getting to go to the Final.
We want to build on our experience as a team and understand that you can be lucky once or twice to go really deep, but to do it consistently and to get to finals you need to find the last couple of percentages to make that happen.
That's our main goal as it always is when you are Astralis, we're just not pushing for it to happen overnight because we know it's a long process.

There's always extra motivation going into an event that plays the Final in your own home. The previous roster missed out on going to the Major on home soil, so it's something that's been marked in our calendar as an event we want to do good at, not only for ourselves but for the fans and our partners around Astralis.
It's always important to be able to show what kind of brand Astralis is, and there's no better place to do that than at home.
For us, it will always be special to play on home soil and I think that's the same for a lot of teams around the world. It's quite a motivational factor to start the season with an event like that on the horizon.

I would say it's a minor advantage over the other teams because every other team is used to travelling and you can make a lot happen when they're spending even one and a half hours on a plane.
Obviously, it's easier for us to create a schedule when we arrive, but once that first day is done it's fair game for everyone.

Regarding stavn and that narrative, it's not something we think is a problem.
Obviously, we are tracking how it is going and how he performed in previous rosters he was in, and the thing we can see is that his role isn't easy nor is it 1:1 comparable with superstars in other teams.
When stavn has good and big games, it's not necessarily because it's in groups but more because the team is functioning five percent better when there isn't as much pressure.
I don't think it's a secret for spectators who watch us play that we're proactive and like to put our reads in the rounds and be dynamic, if there's a little bit more pressure sometimes the timing goes away.
It's not something I'm concerned about, I try to take a step back to see how we can orchestrate things better so he can be more comfortable in these situations.
For me, it's not a stavn problem, it's a team problem if we can't make the same situations happen that make stavn comfortable in group stages.
It's also part of the story that when you're a young player, you need to find your groove in these big matches, having the certainty of always being in playoffs also has to count for something.
I also think the narrative is a bit black and white because there's also the other one where he's super good and one of the best performers every time against level-headed competition to get to the playoffs.

I think our situation is a little different, I was coaching rival teams at the time, but I think that back then they were already the best team in the world for a long time but just couldn't get over the finish line.
Our level right now isn't the same, we aren't the standout best team in the world. I would love that we were, but I don't think we are.
We're in a competitive level where there is four to eight teams that are at the same level, and some of those teams have more experience or more time together and they are the ones winning the trophies right now.
In comparison with the old Astralis team, everyone knew it was a matter of time before we all saw what happened in practice games at tournaments.
Back then, I think it was a mental hurdle, but for us, I think we need to grow as a team and experience these things together and build on top of what we have already been doing.
I think from three and a half months of progress we've shown that we are really good but just lack depth in the playbook as the season went on.

I think that when you look at the very best teams, they have a good mix of experience and younger players coming through with a lot of firepower, combined with being together for a long time.
I would love to be one of the teams that had won an event in the last season, but at the point in time we're in with our team, we need to build to get there. It's something we're aiming for, probably later along the way, we want to get closer and maybe even win something.
Considering where we are right now, I think our rankings are fair. On our day we can beat anyone, but we lack a little bit in terms of our floor so when it comes to playing these events we lack a little bit, perhaps because of experience or lacking in the playbook.
I also think it tells a story that it's not the same team winning everything every time, it's very competitive at the moment.

The addition of br0 has really helped offload resources from players. Back in the blameF team there was a lot of players that needed a lot of resources and there wasn't a player standing out in terms of where they came from.
In our team, we have designed it so everyone knows their role and br0's role is to be one of the guys that has less resources and less attention. But at the same time, you need to be able to hold your own.
Coming into the team from an international team, I'm very happy with how he has been able to slot in not only by his teammates but also by himself and the work ethic he has.
I'm very happy with him coming into the team and showing that even with lack of experience, he can still hold his own in big events and be the deciding piece in rounds and games.

I'm perhaps a bit surprised that it was back-to-back-to-back until the end of the season. Obviously, it was the dream scenario, but being realistic, I would've been happy with half of the playoff appearances and just showing the progress that we did.
It goes to show that we have a really good team and that even with a month of playing together we can do that, and that shows we're doing something right.
I also think that in the beginning, we had a little bit of preparation advantage which would have helped us in Chengdu, but since then we have shown that it wasn't just a one-time thing and we actually are one of the teams to consider for playoff brackets in the future.
We have a really good team, we have device who is one of the best players in history, so of course, it's also what we should be aiming for.
To speak about device, I knew that he was a hard worker, I've known him for a really long time. For me, it was never a question of putting the IGL reins on him if he didn't feel up for it, but he was also part of the conversation and wanted to do it.
I knew that going into the project and device leading the team that he was a really motivated guy and he's been thinking and reflecting on the change for a long time.
He also saw the positives of what it would enable for both the team and the players around him, so he is the dream stereotype of a hard worker who is happy to take even more responsibility at a certain point in his career.
I'm really happy with it, we have a great relationship and we're good at challenging each other, asking stupid questions that gets everyone to reflect. It's at a good point.

From an outside perspective, at least on cadiaN, I think he thrives when chaos is there and throws himself into it. That's the style they had, and I don't think our style is identical, but there is some common ground in the ideas and philosophies.
I still think there are differences because cadiaN did throw grenades, but at the same time, he was trying to make space with his AWP whereas device is more overview-based.
He wants to put his players in positions where they feel comfortable, and that everyone can breathe at times to make sure the call is coming in and that we have good mid-rounds. It was a little bit more chaotic in the HEROIC games I watched.
The building pieces are probably a bit more similar when it comes to the two different teams, but at the same time, I think we also put our own touches on it.
I don't think there are so many things that you can say is the same style, it just feels like that because the AWP is part of the map control group whereas on other teams, the IGL is the guy running in first with another guy. We just have the luxury to put two hard hitters in the pack and have device in the backlines making sure that the map control is super solid.

100%. I don't think it's downgrading cadiaN in any way, but I think history and stats show the difference.
That's one of the things when looking at the two teams that makes me think we will outgrow the old HEROIC team, maybe not in style, but in terms of how the firepower picture looks.
I see device as a superior AWPer to cadiaN, whereas cadiaN perhaps had other qualities that gave him impact on the team, but, of course, I think device is better than cadiaN.