The Saudi organization Falcons has officially confirmed the departure of Emil “Magisk” Reif, one of the most successful players in Counter-Strike history. The four-time Major champion leaves the club after seven months on the bench and joins Astralis, the team that once gave him his greatest triumphs.
The end of the Falcons 2.0 experiment
A legacy etched in four majors. 🐐
Today we bid farewell to a legend of the game — thank you, @MagiskCS 💚#FalconsAreHere pic.twitter.com/NfRPV8jMfs
— Falcons Esports (@FalconsEsport) September 1, 2025
Magisk joined Falcons in December 2023, when the organization decided to make an ambitious leap and assemble a lineup of Europe’s top players. Alongside him came Snappi, Maden, SunPayus, and later his longtime teammate dupreeh. This was meant to be a team capable of challenging the giants and creating a new center of power in CS2.
The results, however, turned out to be far more modest than expected. Falcons spent months balancing between potential and reality, eventually embarking once again on a major rebuild. And yet, Magisk left behind more than just statistics: he delivered the historic moment of winning PGL Bucharest. It was Falcons’ first big trophy and proof that the idea of building a “galácticos roster” had merit.
A lost place in the system
With the arrivals of NiKo, TeSeS, and later m0NESY, it seemed Falcons had finally found their long-awaited formula for success. The team reached the finals of IEM Melbourne and BLAST Rivals Spring, and the Falcons brand truly shone on the global stage for the first time. But that was also when Magisk’s place became fragile.
Management chose to double down on youth and long-term potential, and the arrival of 17-year-old prodigy kyousuke meant that someone had to leave the lineup. While it seemed logical that TeSeS might be the odd man out, the final decision fell on Magisk. His last tournament in a Falcons jersey — the Austin Major, where the team was eliminated in Stage 2 — became a symbolic end of an era.
stavn takes a break
Due to personal circumstances, Martin “stavn” Lund will be taking a break from the Astralis team.
We fully support “stavn” and his decision to take a break and prioritize his health. We look forward to seeing him back on the server when he’s fit and ready to compete again ❤ pic.twitter.com/Nznv3o5TdB
— Astralis Counter-Strike (@AstralisCS) September 1, 2025
Magisk’s transfer to Astralis came amid another significant piece of news — the temporary break of Martin “stavn” Lund. The player himself admitted that he needed time to focus on his health and handle personal matters:
I told the team and Astralis that I need a break. Health comes above all, so I had to make this decision. I’ll take some time to deal with personal matters.
The organization fully supported him, stating that his return would come once he is ready to compete again at the highest level. It is this pause that Astralis is covering with the signing of Magisk, who in a symbolic way is returning “home” — to the club where he won three of his four Majors.
A legacy impossible to overstate
Despite an uneven period with Falcons, Magisk remains a legend whose name is inseparable from Counter-Strike history. His four Major titles, ability to adapt to any role, and consistency at the highest level made him one of the most valuable all-rounders in the game.
In their farewell post, Falcons called him a “legend of the game,” and those words were not empty. He was the one who helped the organization take its first true steps into tier-one CS, and his contribution will not fade despite the relatively short stint.
Community reaction
The news of Magisk’s departure from Falcons and his return to Astralis sparked a heated reaction among fans and across the media space. Opinions, as usual, were divided.
Some in the community took it with irony:
The Danish perfecto is coming home,” joked fans, hinting that Astralis are once again collecting their “old guard.
Others were more critical, emphasizing the player’s age and the pace of the current scene:
I hope Astralis sign someone young and promising, not veterans with zero reaction speed.
There were harsher takes too — ranging from “Who even cares?” to outright discontent:
What’s the point of signing old guys with zero motivation? They should have picked a younger player instead.
At the same time, some welcomed the chance to see Magisk in the Astralis red jersey again with excitement:
- “Robot swapped for robot,” wrote users, pointing to the Dane’s consistency.
- “They should just build a team of Magisks and more Magisks,” others added with humor.
Nostalgia was also present:
- “Denmark is partying” and “Tier 1 Astralis” — for some fans, the transfer is a chance for the club to revive its former strength.
Overall, the reaction revealed a classic split: some see Magisk as a relic of a past era, while others view him as the ultimate “universal soldier” capable of restoring stability to a team searching for its new identity.
Our view
Falcons, without question, have lost an experienced warrior who could have provided balance to their star-studded newcomers. But the club’s strategy is clear: betting on youth, hype, and long-term potential.
For Magisk, this is not a defeat — but rather a new opportunity. His return to Astralis feels both symbolic and practical: the organization needs an experienced leader, and Magisk can be the figure to stabilize the team after months of roster turbulence.
We see this transfer as a win-win for both sides: Falcons secure a new star of the future, while Astralis reclaim the heart of their golden era. And for fans, it’s another chance to watch a legend write the final chapters of his story.
