- 100 Thieves’ CS2 comeback and roster refresh
- gla1ve’s first big step as a head coach
- Why gla1ve is a perfect fit for 100 Thieves CS2
- rain’s new IGL role in 100 Thieves
- 100 Thieves Roobet and their long-term CS2 project
- Impact on NA and international CS2
- CS2 skins, trading, and why uuskins matters
- What to expect from 100 Thieves next
100 Thieves’ CS2 comeback and roster refresh
100 Thieves are officially back in Counter-Strike, and they are not sneaking in quietly. Their CS2 project is being built around two massive names: legendary in-game leader turned coach Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander and star rifler Håvard “rain” Nygaard, who is taking over the IGL role for the first time in his career.
The org had previously left Counter-Strike, but in late 2025 they announced a return to CS2 in partnership with Roobet. Instead of just picking up a mid-tier lineup, 100 Thieves is clearly aiming for a top-level roster that can compete at Majors and big international events.
Right now, not every player has been revealed, but the core direction is obvious: a team built on tactical depth and experience, with gla1ve steering the project as head coach and rain leading the server as IGL.
gla1ve’s first big step as a head coach
The biggest headline of this project is gla1ve’s career shift. After more than a decade as one of Counter-Strike’s most influential IGLs, he has officially retired as a player and stepped into his first full-time coaching role with 100 Thieves.
From Astralis dynasty to ENCE and beyond
To understand why this move is so important, you need to remember what gla1ve accomplished with Astralis. Under his leadership, Astralis dominated the CS:GO era with:
- Four Major trophies
- Three back-to-back Major wins – something no other roster has done
- A meta-defining style of utility-heavy, percentages-based Counter-Strike
He wasn’t just a system IGL; he was the backbone of that dynasty. His mid-round calls, timings, fakes, and late-round clutches made Astralis both terrifying and beautiful to watch. Analysts and pros often referred to him as one of the greatest in-game leaders of all time.
After leaving Astralis in 2023, gla1ve moved to ENCE. It was a completely different environment: a team that had once faced him in the IEM Katowice 2019 Major final now became his new home. With ENCE, he wasn’t fighting for Major titles anymore but mostly competing in lower-tier tournaments and qualifiers.
During this period, gla1ve often spoke publicly about issues in the CS2 ecosystem, especially around cheating and integrity in B-tier competition. It showed that even outside of tier-one events, he still cared deeply about the scene and its long-term health.
Retirement as a player and shift to coaching
In late November, gla1ve announced his retirement from active play. Instead of slowly fading away, he almost immediately revealed his intention to become a head coach. Looking at the timing, it’s very likely that the deal with 100 Thieves was already in the works when he went public with his plans.
Taking over a fresh CS2 project, with strong funding and big-name players, is a dream coaching debut for someone of his caliber. Rather than trying to squeeze out a few more years as a declining player, he’s moved into a role where his mind and experience can shine without mechanical limitations.
Why gla1ve is a perfect fit for 100 Thieves CS2
From both sides, this move makes a lot of sense. 100 Thieves needs a strong identity and a proven strategic leader to make their CS2 return actually matter. gla1ve needs an ambitious organization willing to give him control, time, and resources to build something serious.
A brain tailor-made for the new CS2 meta
CS2 is still a relatively young game. The meta, movement, utility usage, and map pool are evolving constantly. Teams that adapt fast and understand the details of the new engine have a big edge.
gla1ve’s strengths line up perfectly with this:
- Deep tactical experience: He’s used to building structured systems, default-heavy play, and on-the-fly adaptations.
- Utility innovation: Astralis basically wrote the book on smart grenade usage. That knowledge translates very well into CS2’s volumetric smokes and new nade dynamics.
- Leadership under pressure: Multiple Major runs mean he knows how to prepare a team for big stages and hostile arenas.
For 100 Thieves, having a coach who can both design playbooks and teach players how to think about the game is invaluable, especially if they want to mix veteran experience with younger firepower.
Benefits for players, fans, and the organization
This is a rare move that looks like a win for almost everyone involved:
- For 100 Thieves: They instantly gain credibility in CS2. They aren’t just “back in the game”; they’re competing for top talent and trophies from day one.
- For gla1ve: He gets a fresh start, a new challenge, and the chance to build his legacy in a different way – this time from behind the players.
- For rain and future teammates: They get one of the sharpest minds in Counter-Strike history guiding them through a new meta and new roles.
- For fans: Another serious contender at big events is always good news, making tournaments more competitive and storylines more interesting.
In a time when some organizations are cutting back or leaving CS2, a major org investing heavily in talent and infrastructure is a strong signal that the game’s top scene is still healthy and attractive.
rain’s new IGL role in 100 Thieves
While gla1ve’s coaching move is huge, the signing of rain might be just as impactful for what happens in the server. After years of being one of FaZe Clan’s most iconic riflers, rain has joined 100 Thieves and taken on the role of in-game leader.
Breaking away from FaZe after a legendary run
rain has long been synonymous with FaZe. Through roster changes, meta shifts, and different eras, he remained the constant presence: opening rounds, anchoring sites, winning impossible duels in majors and stacked finals.
Leaving that comfort and status behind is a massive personal decision. It suggests that rain is looking for more than just another paycheck or another year of the same role. He wants a new challenge, more responsibility, and a different kind of legacy.
Learning from karrigan and taking over the server
One of the most interesting angles here is rain’s experience under Finn “karrigan” Andersen, one of the best IGLs of the modern era. Years of playing under karrigan means rain has been exposed to:
- Complex mid-round calls
- Adaptive calling based on opponent tendencies
- A good balance between structure and freedom
- Playoff and Major preparation routines
Now he gets to put all that knowledge into practice as an IGL himself. Rain knows what it feels like to receive good calls; with gla1ve’s help, he now has the tools to make them.
Synergy between rain and gla1ve
The coach-IGL dynamic is one of the most critical relationships in any top CS2 team. On paper, rain and gla1ve complement each other extremely well:
- gla1ve: Big-picture strategist, game prep, anti-stratting, macro adjustments.
- rain: In-server voice, feel for the game, space creation, emotional anchor for teammates.
For rain, having someone like gla1ve behind him should make the transition into the IGL role far smoother. He doesn’t have to invent a system from scratch; instead, he can collaborate with a coach who has years of high-level experience doing exactly that.
For gla1ve, starting his coaching career with a veteran like rain means he doesn’t have to micromanage every detail or worry about inexperience at the core leadership level.
100 Thieves Roobet and their long-term CS2 project
100 Thieves is not just returning to CS2 randomly; they are doing it in partnership with Roobet, under the banner 100 Thieves Roobet. This signals a long-term commitment backed by serious sponsorship money.
Sponsorship and esports betting’s role in CS2
The CS2 ecosystem is heavily supported by sponsors, and betting brands have been a significant part of that landscape for years. 100 Thieves Roobet is another example of this model: a top American org and a betting partner teaming up to field a competitive roster.
This isn’t new – for example, tournaments like the Thunderpick World Championship show how betting partners are helping keep prize pools big and events frequent. Regardless of how fans feel about betting companies, their presence is one of the reasons there’s enough funding to support full-time players, staff, and global competition.
100 Thieves are expected to compete primarily in NA
Because 100 Thieves is an American organization, it’s very likely that this CS2 roster will base itself in North America, at least for regional leagues and qualifiers. That could mean:
- Competing in NA RMRs and qualifiers for Majors
- Attending big international LANs through direct invites or qualifier runs
- Scrimming both NA teams and top EU lineups when traveling for events
With rain and potentially other European talents on board, we might see a hybrid setup: a roster that practices in Europe during bootcamps and then relocates for specific leagues or events. Either way, the presence of 100 Thieves Roobet boosts the profile of the NA CS2 ecosystem at a time when it badly needs more competitive teams.
Impact on NA and international CS2
The return of 100 Thieves to CS2 with this kind of lineup has consequences beyond just one organization. It influences narratives, rivalries, and even how upcoming talents see their career paths.
Raising the bar in North America
North American Counter-Strike has gone through several rough years. Many orgs left, some players moved to VALORANT, and the talent pool felt thinner compared to the CS:GO glory days.
Bringing in a team built around rain and coached by gla1ve instantly raises the bar of what a serious NA project looks like:
- Young NA riflers and AWPers get something to aim for besides the usual suspects.
- Scrim quality improves if 100T actually practices in the region.
- Regional tournaments and leagues become more interesting when a true contender is involved.
New storylines on the international stage
On the global level, this roster opens up some juicy storylines:
- gla1ve returning to Major stages as a coach, potentially facing Astralis or other former rivals.
- rain leading a team against FaZe after years of being their core piece.
- 100 Thieves trying to win big CS2 trophies after their previous CS:GO attempts fell short.
If the rest of the roster is built intelligently – mixing firepower, solid support roles, and maybe one promising young talent – this team could quickly become a regular playoff presence at elite tournaments.
CS2 skins, trading, and why uuskins matters
Whenever a big org like 100 Thieves enters CS2 or signs iconic names like gla1ve and rain, it doesn’t just affect competitive results. It also ripples through the wider CS2 ecosystem – including content, viewership, and, of course, the in-game economy.
How esports success affects skins and item prices
CS2 has inherited and expanded the legendary skin economy from CS:GO. Whenever a team or player heats up, you often see effects on certain skins and stickers:
- Player stickers: If rain’s new team makes a deep Major run, his signature stickers may see increased demand.
- Team stickers: 100 Thieves-branded items at future Majors could gain collector value if they become a consistent playoff team.
- Weapon trend shifts: Meta changes – such as which rifle or pistol is preferred – can influence interest in specific weapon skins.
Competitive hype drives more viewers, and more viewers often translate into more people opening cases, trading, and looking to upgrade their loadouts.
Where players trade and buy CS2 skins safely
For regular players, the esports scene is also a constant reminder to tweak their own inventory: new AK finishes, upgraded knives, or that one clean AWP skin they’ve been eyeing. While the Steam Market exists, many users prefer third-party sites when they want more flexibility and better prices.
Platforms like cs2 skins marketplaces allow players to:
- Browse a wide selection of weapon and knife skins
- Compare prices more efficiently than on Steam
- Buy, sell, or trade items with lower fees in many cases
If you still have items from the CS:GO era, you can often treat them as assets within the same wider economy and move them around on sites that handle both csgo skins and CS2 skins. For collectors and traders, this makes it easier to adjust inventories as the meta and personal taste change.
Why uuskins is relevant to modern CS2 players
As CS2 grows and more orgs re-enter the scene, item trading will only become more active. Sites such as cs2 skins hubs like uuskins.com stand out because they focus on user-friendly access to the item market while supporting both casual buyers and more serious traders.
Players can:
- Quickly check prices before deciding to sell or upgrade.
- Follow trends and see how demand shifts around big tournaments.
- Consolidate older csgo skins into a more modern CS2 loadout.
With big-name orgs like 100 Thieves making headlines again, interest in CS2 cosmetics naturally rises – whether it’s fans wanting a skin that matches their favorite player’s rifle or collectors betting on future price growth.
What to expect from 100 Thieves next
Right now, we know three major things:
- 100 Thieves Roobet is back in CS2.
- gla1ve is the team’s head coach.
- rain has joined as a player and in-game leader.
The rest is still developing, which is part of the excitement.
The missing pieces of the roster
For 100 Thieves to truly challenge the elite, the upcoming roster announcements will be crucial. They’ll need a mix of:
- Consistent riflers who can play both aggressive and anchor roles.
- A reliable AWPer capable of impacting rounds without overextending.
- Support players who are willing to sacrifice stats for spacing, utility, and info.
With gla1ve as coach, it’s likely we’ll see well-defined roles rather than a loose pug-style lineup. Every player will have a job, a position, and clear responsibilities on each map.
Short-term expectations vs. long-term potential
It would be unrealistic to expect immediate dominance. Even with elite experience, completely new lineups need time:
- To build trust and chemistry
- To iron out protocols across all maps
- To develop a deep enough stratbook for top-tier events
In the short term, realistic goals might include:
- Qualifying for key international tournaments
- Reaching playoffs at a couple of mid-to-top-tier events
- Showing clear progress in consistency and identity
In the long term, if the roster is stable and the org stays committed, there is absolutely Major playoff – and even title contender – potential here. You don’t sign gla1ve and rain to aim for top 20; you sign them to eventually aim for top 5.
Why fans should keep an eye on 100 Thieves CS2
Whether you’re a long-time Counter-Strike fan or someone who jumped in with CS2, this project has all the ingredients for a compelling storyline:
- An all-time great IGL reinventing himself as a coach.
- A legendary rifler stepping up as IGL for the first time.
- A major organization returning to Counter-Strike with serious backing.
- Potential regional impact for NA and worldwide rivalries on big stages.
As more roster announcements drop and the first officials get played, we’ll see how theory translates into practice. But one thing is already clear: the CS2 landscape just got a lot more interesting with 100 Thieves, gla1ve, and rain in the mix.
Until then, fans can speculate on possible lineups, watch for scrim rumors, prepare their inventories for new 100T stickers and skins, and keep an eye on marketplaces like cs2 skins hubs if they want their loadouts ready for the next big era of Counter-Strike.
