EliGE Discusses FaZe’s Challenges After Ropz’s Departure

EliGE highlights the structural overhauls that FaZe had to endure after Ropz’s departure.

EliGE is optimistic about FaZe’s 2025 so far.
EliGE a été optimiste about FaZe’s 2025 jusqu’à présent.

One of the most eye-catching moves of the recent off-season saw Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski step up to FaZe to fill the gap left behind by Robin “ropz” Kool’s exit from the team.

Now playing his third event with the team at PGL Cluj-Napoca, EliGE and the rest of FaZe have their sights set on their first playoff outing with this iteration of the roster, now only a single series win away from the arena after bagging wins over SAW and Eternal Fire.

Shortly after his team’s win over Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli’s men, EliGE spoke to HLTV to discuss the series against Eternal Fire, the significant changes FaZe have made in the wake of his addition to the team, and his evaluation of their start to the season.

Congrats on the win. You beat EF, got revenge for Katowice, and you’re just one win away from the playoffs. That must feel good, right?

It feels really good, especially getting revenge for Katowice. We had some time to get some practices down and fix some things in between now and then, and I think that we played a really strong game.

This time you opted to pick Dust2 instead of Nuke. Is that down to the fact that you lost Nuke last time, or is it just figuring out your map pool?

I would say it’s probably a mix of both. I think that Dust2 is a strong map for us, we play it very well. We’re on the same page with everything that we should be doing, and Nuke has just been a little bit weaker. I have not been playing super well on it, so I think all those factors contributed to the pick, and it worked out super well.

You said Nuke isn’t the best map for you currently after switching spots. Is that something that you guys are looking to maybe switch around at some point?

100%, yeah, we’re definitely looking at it. I’m definitely trying everything possible. I looked at a bunch of different things that I could be adding to my game and different structures of how I can be playing it better, but it’s also just a matter of how you’re feeling in the game and making sure that you’re not really thinking that much. I think as soon as you’re thinking, that’s when you’re probably dying, that’s pretty much just how it is in CS. It’s a work in progress, and we’re going to have it fixed.

karrigan said that FaZe are completely revamping their playbook, which you have a big input on. How much are you enjoying being in a new environment in a new team after last year, which probably wasn’t according to your expectations?

It’s been a lot of fun. karrigan is obviously an amazing IGL, he is really good with people, with tactics, his communication is great, and he also has a lot of impact individually as an IGL. I even thought that last year he was having so many big impact rounds, and you’re seeing that here.

It’s definitely a different structure with me on the team instead of Ropz because he’s a lurker, which means we have more aggressive players, so it’s going to take a little bit longer for us to fully adapt compared to other teams. It’s just such a big structural change, and we’re also playing a little bit outside of our comforts. But overall, I’m pretty happy with how it’s been going, I think that we’ve been on a very steady improvement.

Talking about this tournament. You’re the second-highest ranked team in both rankings, HLTV’s and Valve’s. Is this the event where you can get your first trophy in FaZe?

That would definitely be amazing. I’m taking it one step at a time, as always. I’m just focusing on what I need to improve on, making sure that my mechanics feel good, and making sure that I can feel the game as much as I can. The team is just doing great around me, everyone is playing really well, and frozen’s having a great tournament.