The beginning of the winter transfer period in CS2 has brought major roster decisions that will impact the competitive landscape of next year. Organizations are rebuilding lineups for the Major season, while fans follow every new move on the scene with great attention. In this article, we track all official changes and provide context on why they happened.
NIP: A new chance to build a competitive core
Ninjas in Pyjamas are trying to put an end to a long period of instability that has lasted for over a year. Bringing in a Ukrainian entry-rifler is a bet on a faster tempo and aggression — something NiP sorely lacked throughout most of 2025.
🇸🇪 NIP:
– 🇵🇹 ewjerkz
+ 🇺🇦 cairne— Vladislav Gromov (@GromovCS) December 5, 2025
How NiP are improving their structure
The arrival of cairne is not just a firepower upgrade. NiP are getting a player who can impose tempo rather than only react to the opponent. His aggression in early duels opens more space for r1nkle, allows the team to take map control faster, and lets them play as the proactive side in crucial matches.
- Key improvements that could be noticeable in the near future:
- better round openings thanks to cairne’s strong entry metrics
- reduced pressure on r1nkle in clutch and pivotal moments
- more flexible attacks with expanded contact-style variations
NiP’s problems in the second half of 2025 are well-known: the lack of a clear second engine alongside sjuush, instability in role assignments, and chronic issues on Ancient and Mirage on the T-side. If the transfer works out, these weak points should disappear in the first months of 2026 — which could bring the team back into the fight for a top-15 world ranking.
Updated NiP roster:
- Artem “r1nkle” Moroz
- Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer
- Rasmus “sjuush” Beck
- Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara
- Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi
Richard “Xizt” Landström (coach)
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Core rebuild
Winter Rostermania has only just begun, but one trend is already clear — top organizations are focusing on strengthening the core rather than making short-term changes. Teams are looking not just for strong fraggers, but for players with the right role profile and mentality to handle pressure at major tournaments.
Ahead lies the 2026 Major season, where every roster decision may cost millions — while the right transfer could bring a club back into the elite. The changes happening now will define the competitive balance for the coming months.
