In the Stage 2 Round of 16 at BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 2, Swedish HEROIC will face Turkish Aurora. The format is Best of 3, online, but there is far more at stake than just another win. For both teams, this is a chance to qualify for the prestigious LAN Finals, earn valuable points for the world ranking, and test their form ahead of the busy autumn tournament schedule.
Previous Meeting
The last time these teams met was in June at IEM Dallas 2025, where Aurora claimed a convincing 2–1 victory. The Turkish side won Dust2 and Mirage after losing on Train, while HEROIC struggled to counter the aggressive style of XANTARES and the cohesive team play of their opponents. That match was a painful loss for the Swedes, but now they have the chance to redeem themselves in an equally important competitive setting.
Current Form
HEROIC (seed #10) have 3 wins in their last five series — against Complexity, Virtus.pro, and MIBR — but also suffered two defeats to Ninjas in Pyjamas and Spirit, both 0–2. The team has been inconsistent but is capable of closing out matches against opponents of their level or lower.
Aurora (seed #9) show a similar trend: victories over FlyQuest and Ninjas in Pyjamas, but losses to FaZe, Spirit, and MOUZ. Their key strengths remain the consistent performance of XANTARES and the leadership of MAJ3R, who builds the game plan around the team’s AWPers.
Rosters & Key Figures
HEROIC
- Scr0b – aggressive entry who can break through defenses right from the start of a round.
- nilo – versatile rifler who adapts effectively to multiple roles.
- tN1R – the driving force behind HEROIC’s attacks, rating 1.16, Impact 1.23, ADR 84.1.
- LNZ – experienced support player who brings stability in clutches and utility usage.
- yxngstxr – young talent with an aggressive style and high potential for game-changing plays.
Aurora
- jottAAA – reliable rifler who holds defense solidly and supports in attack.
- MAJ3R – experienced in-game leader who structures disciplined team play.
- XANTARES – star player, rating 1.18, Impact 1.35, ADR 85.1 — the biggest threat to HEROIC.
- Wicadia – young and explosive entry-fragger who often opens rounds.
- woxic – veteran AWPer who often secures early-round advantages.
Map Pool & Veto Analysis
Map stats (last 3 months):
- Dust2: HEROIC 12% | Aurora 60%
- Mirage: HEROIC 78% | Aurora 56%
- Inferno: HEROIC — | Aurora 67%
- Nuke: HEROIC 50% | Aurora 50%
- Train: HEROIC 60% | Aurora 17%
- Overpass: HEROIC 67% | Aurora —
- Ancient: HEROIC 33% | Aurora —
Expected veto:
- HEROIC will remove Inferno, which they do not play.
- Aurora will likely ban Overpass, which is absent from their pool.
Likely picks:
- HEROIC may go for Mirage (78% winrate), where they control mid well and adjust quickly.
- Aurora will likely pick Dust2 (60% winrate), where XANTARES and woxic traditionally dominate in open duels.
Potential decider:
- Nuke — both teams play it at an average level (50%), making it an even battleground for the deciding map.
Key Duels
- tN1R vs XANTARES — battle of team leaders for overall impact. tN1R brings stability, XANTARES explosive dominance.
- Scr0b vs woxic — entry vs AWPer, where the first moves of the round could decide the map’s momentum.
- nilo vs MAJ3R — young talent against a seasoned captain.
Prediction
Aurora enter this match with confidence after defeating HEROIC at IEM Dallas and with a well-prepared map pool. Their pick of Dust2 is a major advantage, especially considering the form of XANTARES and woxic. If they can impose their tempo on the deciding Nuke, HEROIC’s chances of revenge will drop sharply.
Expected score: 2–1 in favor of Aurora.
