Monte have officially resolved the question of their fifth player, confirming the signing of Bulgarian rifler Rainwaker. For the 24-year-old, this marks a return to a stable tier-2/tier-1 level after a series of team changes, while for Monte it represents the logical conclusion of their roster rebuild ahead of a packed season.
Monte’s roster decision: what changed
The signing of Rainwaker became a direct replacement for ryu, who joined Astralis earlier this year. Monte did not delay the search for a replacement and opted for a player with LAN experience and a strong systemic background.
Rainwaker is a well-known name on the European scene. Over the past few years, he has played in several international lineups, gained experience at major events, and shown the ability to adapt to different roles within a team.
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Rainwaker’s debut with Monte
Despite the official announcement coming only now, Rainwaker has already played his first official matches for Monte. His debut took place during the online stage of BLAST Bounty, where the team unexpectedly defeated Natus Vincere 2–1.
That match became one of the key arguments in favor of the Bulgarian player: Monte looked composed, and the newcomer fit organically into the team structure. However, they were unable to build on that success — in the next round, the team lost to Falcons and ended their run at the tournament.
What comes next: the upcoming tournament
The next event for the updated lineup will be the Copenhagen Gaming Week Showdown, where Monte will compete in Group B alongside Tricked, ENCE, and illwill. This will be Rainwaker’s first opportunity to showcase himself on LAN with his new team — without any allowances for a “transition period.”
For Monte, this tournament will be an important indicator of whether the new roster can not only surprise in individual matches but also consistently make it through group stages.
Current Monte lineup
After signing Rainwaker, Monte’s roster is as follows:
- Jack ‘Gizmy’ von Spreckelsen
- Aurélien ‘afro’ Drapier
- Oscar ‘AZUWU’ Bell
- Aurimas ‘Bymas’ Pipiras
- Aleks ‘Rainwaker’ Petrov
- Alexander ‘kakafu’ Szymanczyk (coach)
Why Rainwaker
Monte’s choice appears pragmatic. Rainwaker is not a “star” signing, but a player who:
- has experience playing against top-tier opponents;
- feels comfortable in a supportive rifler role;
- does not require the team to be built around him.
For Monte, who are still shaping their own identity, this is more important than a big-name transfer.
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Upcoming LAN events
Monte did not make any rash moves — they completed the roster logically and on time. Rainwaker has already shown that he can be useful in key matches, and the upcoming LAN events will determine whether he becomes a stable component of the team rather than a temporary solution.
For the Bulgarian player, this is a chance to relaunch his career at a high level. For Monte, it is an opportunity to finally compete with a full lineup without constant experimentation.
