The VCT offseason has seen a flurry of Valorant roster changes, with teams bringing on fresh talent to prepare for the upcoming VCT 2022 season.
From North America to the EMEA region, teams are rebuilding as they gear up to battle for regional dominance and challenge reigning VCT 2021 champions Acend.
We’ve rounded up a list of the top five Valorant roster changes we’re most excited to see in action during the VCT 2022 season. Watch these rosters compete live at the VCT NA and EMEA Stage 1 Challengers.
5. T1 adds steel
T1 has signed veteran in-game leader Joshua “steel” Nissan, shortly after his departure from 100 Thieves. One of North America’s most famed IGLs, steel is charged with leading T1 to the trophy that has eluded them over the past two years.
Having reached the semifinals of VCT Stage 3 Masters Berlin with 100 Thieves, and consistently ranking among the top teams in the NA region, steel brings top-tier experience to a completely overhauled T1 roster that is hungry for success.
T1’s journey in Valorant has been rocky to say the least. Originally starring the trio of Braxton “brax” Pierce, Tyler “Skadoodle” Latham, and Keven “AZK” Larivière from the now infamous North American CS:GO team iBUYPOWER, and the later addition of Sam “DaZeD” Marine, T1’s roster has always looked formidable on paper.
But disappointing finishes at tournaments and the inability to compete with the Tier 1 of North America led to multiple Valorant roster changes. We’ll be following T1 closely with the hopes that the new iteration of their roster can put on the performance we’ve always wanted to see.
T1’s Valorant roster changes for VCT 2022
- Joshua “steel” Nissan
- Zander “thwifo” Kim
- Josh “pwny” VanGorder
- Johann “seven” Hernandez
- Rahul “curry” Nemani
- Out: Tyler “Skadoodle” Latham
- Out: Timothy “autimatic” Ta
- Out: Anthony “dawn” Hagopian
- Out: Braxton “brax” Pierce
4. 100 Thieves sign BabyJ and ec1s
100 Thieves has brought in a rising star from FaZe Clan in the form of Hunter “BabyJ” Schline, while former Team Liquid IGL Adam “ec1s” Eccles will take on shot-calling duties.
100 Thieves has been a top contender in NA Valorant since winning Riot Games’ First Strike event, but they’ve only had one international LAN appearance so far at Masters Berlin, after failing to qualify for Valorant Champions 2021 at the VCT NA Last Chance Qualifier.
The signing of two younger players could help revitalize the team with fresh ideas, with Hiko as a steadying hand. Equipped with the raw mechanical skills of Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk and Ethan “Ethan” Arnold, 100 Thieves’ new Valorant roster changes could shape up to be pretty dangerous in 2022.
The new roster will be looking to find some international success this year after the dearth of trophies in 2021.
100 Thieves’ Valorant roster changes for VCT 2022
- Spencer “Hiko” Martin
- Peter “Asuna” Mazuryk
- Ethan “Ethan” Arnold
- Hunter “BabyJ” Schline
- Adam “ec1s” Eccles
- Out: Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella
- Out: Joshua “steel” Nissan
- Lakia joins Japanese Valorant team IGZIST ahead of VCT 2022 season
- Alliance introduces Coven, its first all-female Valorant team
3. TSM completes roster with corey and Rossy
After months on the sidelines of competition, TSM introduced an all-new roster for VCT 2022, built around the core of star duelist Matthew “Wardell” Yu and Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik, and mid-season acquisition Aleko “LeviathanAG” Gabuniya.
Corey “corey” Nigra joins from FaZe Clan, where he found some success after beating some of the top teams in North America on the back of FaZe Clan’s aggressive smeaging strat. Upholding a reputation for being a reliable fragger, he brings solid firepower to TSM’s new lineup.
Former Immortals player and Astra main Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo will take on the IGL role.
Fans will no doubt be looking forward to seeing Wardell wield the Operator against top teams again, and these TSM Valorant roster changes could be what he needs to do just that.
TSM’s Valorant roster changes for VCT 2022
- Matthew “Wardell” Yu
- Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik
- Aleko “LeviathanAG” Gabuniya
- Corey “corey” Nigra
- Daniel “Rossy” Abedrabbo
- Out: Sean “bang” Bezerra
- Out: James “hazed” Cobb
2. G2 Esports bring back keloqz
Despite benching him last December, G2 Esports has brought back Cista “keloqz” Wassim to replace Oscar “Mixwell” Cañellas, the first player to be signed by the organization.
The Jett player put up stellar performances right from the very beginning, helping G2 Esports qualify for Masters Berlin. Alongside Žygimantas “nukkye” Chmieliauskas, keloqz was integral to G2 Esports’ upset over Sentinels in the Group Stage, eventually ranking as the sixth best-rated player of the tournament.
The organization rounds out their roster with Giants Gaming duo Aaro “hoody” Peltokangas and Johan “Meddo” Renbjörk Lundborg, and their coach Daniil “pipsoN” Mesheryakov. Since the addition of keloqz, G2 Esports has won their past nine matches, taking home the VCT Europe Stage 1: Challengers 2 title.
While not all the games were against Tier 1 competition, it’s an encouraging start for the revamped roster going into VCT 2022. G2 Esports were the kings of European Valorant in the game’s first year, and fans will be eager to see these new Valorant roster changes return them to those heights.
G2 Esports’ Valorant roster changes for VCT 2022
- Cista “keloqz” Wassim
- Aaro “hoody” Peltokangas
- Johan “Meddo” Renbjörk Lundborg
- Auni “AvovA” Chahade
- Žygimantas “nukkye” Chmieliauskas
- Out: Oscar “Mixwell” Cañellas
- Out: Jose “koldamenta” Luis Aranguren
- Out: Jacob “pyth” Mourujärvi
1. FunPlus Phoenix announce new additions ardiis and SUYGETSU
In preparation for VCT 2022, FunPlus Phoenix announced new Valorant roster changes with the addition of Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks, formerly of Team Liquid and G2 Esports, and Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin.
The team has consistently remained at the top of European Valorant, but has fallen just shy of qualifying for the biggest international events. FunPlus Phoenix will be hoping that these roster changes are exactly what they need to reach the next level of professional Valorant, led by the likes of Counter-Strike legend and IGL Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov.
Ardiis has proven himself to be a potent force in Valorant. He was part of G2 Esports’ dominant streak, winning seven straight Ignition Series events and First Strike: Europe.
Together with rising star Pontus “Zyppan” Eek, who is equally deadly on both duelist and initiator roles, FunPlus Phoenix looks poised for greater success in 2022.
In an interview with Upcomer, defending Valorant Champion Patryk “starxo” Kopczyński of Acend listed FunPlus Phoenix as one of the teams he’s most excited to play against.
FunPlus Phoenix’s Valorant roster changes for VCT 2022
- Dmitry “SUYGETSU” Ilyushin
- Pontus “Zyppan” Eek
- Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov
- Andrey “Shao” Kiprsky
- Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks
- Out: Tobias “ShadoW” Flodström
- Out: Dmitriy “dimasick” Matvienko
READ MORE: FaZe Clan’s new Valorant roster leaked before VCT NA Stage 1 qualifiers
