The online hunt is over — the eight bounty survivors are heading to Malta. From August 14 to 17, BLAST Arena Studios will host a Tier 1 clash where every match is an elimination, and every opponent you take down adds weight to your legacy.
This isn’t just another LAN. It’s the conclusion of a format that punishes mistakes and rewards giant-killing. The Closed Qualifier drama has already claimed dozens of victims. Now, the bounty is higher, the stage is brighter, and the stakes are lethal.
Format: Sudden Death on the Shores of Malta
The LAN stage will follow a single-elimination bracket, where every loss means instant elimination. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in a best-of-three format, while the grand final will extend to a best-of-five series to decide the champion and award the lion’s share of the $500,000 USD prize pool.
The format is deceptively simple: win two best-of-three matches, and you qualify for the LAN finals. Lose two, and you’re out. But here’s the twist — lower-seeded teams got to choose their first opponents, and higher seeds carry “bounties” on their backs.
Beat a top team? You take 50% of their cash reward. The other 50% carries over into the next match, raising the stakes every round. It’s high risk, high reward — with a format that can turn one upset into a Cinderella run.
The bracket will be drawn on Wednesday, August 13, 20:00 CEST, when teams will pick their opening opponents. Expect mind games, grudge picks, and calculated risks.
Teams to Watch
Vitality – The biggest bounty of them all. ZywOo is still in MVP form, and their summer streak cemented them as the team to beat. Any challenger will need a perfect game to take them down.
MOUZ – Quiet control and consistency define their play. They rarely collapse under pressure and arrive in Malta with full confidence after a clean run in the qualifier.
Spirit – donk and sh1ro headline a roster capable of explosive dominance. If donk turns up in LAN form, they could blow through the bracket.
The MongolZ – Asia’s best bring raw aim and fearless plays. Techno4K’s site-holds and Snow’s online numbers will be tested under LAN pressure.
Aurora – Ruthless in the qualifier, dismantling opponents with suffocating CT halves. On LAN, they’ll need that same momentum against elite firepower.
Who Surprised with Their Qualification?
Virtus.pro – They weren’t considered among the main favorites, yet managed to advance after defeating FaZe. Their methodical style and disciplined play worked once again, but qualifying for the LAN was still unexpected given their recent form.
Liquid – Few believed this roster could produce a strong result, but Twistzz and NAF carried in key moments. Their 2–1 victory over FURIA, after a poor first map, became one of the biggest surprises of the online stage.
Astralis – Not only did they qualify, but they also dismantled NAVI in convincing fashion, delivering one of the best performances of their new lineup. dev1ce and company showed high-level CS and a flexible map pool, making them a dangerous threat on LAN.
Final Thoughts
BLAST Bounty Season 2 in Malta promises to be a brutal tournament with no room for error. The single-elimination format combined with the bounty system guarantees that every match has the potential for an upset. Vitality, MOUZ, and Spirit look like the favorites, but Astralis, Liquid, and Virtus.pro have already proven they can flip the bracket and send top-tier teams packing.
On LAN, discipline, composure, and the ability to adapt to an opponent under high pressure will decide everything. There will be no second chances — and that’s exactly what makes the upcoming four days so exciting.
