AVULUS has officially disbanded its Dota 2 roster after a string of disappointing results throughout the 2025 season.
Despite qualifying for multiple S-Tier LAN events in the year, the team rarely advanced beyond the bottom places. Still, the organization says it remains committed to the scene and is already planning to return with a new roster coming into 2026.
Tal “Fly” Aizik playing for AVULUS Image Credit: PGL
A Season of Missed Opportunities
AVULUS’ 2025 campaign was mainly met with frustration. The team secured slots at major events, including ESL One Raleigh, DreamLeague, and PGL Wallachia, where it had the opportunity to play on Dota’s biggest stages. However, they consistently failed to advance past the group stages. AVULUS often ended events with last-place finishes.
Even in online competitions, the roster couldn’t find any consistency. Despite being a blend of seasoned campaigners and rising stars, AVULUS failed to take down weaker competition to win smaller-scale events.
As a result, the entire squad, except for two members, has been released from the roster, as confirmed in the organization’s official statement.
Former AVULUS players:
- Aliaksei “Smiling Knight” Svirydau (Retained)
- Vitaliy “Worick” Brezgin (Retained)
- Andreas “Xibbe” Ragnemalm
- Athanasios “dEsire” Kartsabas
- Tal “Fly” Aizik
The Fragility of the Dota 2 Tier 1.5 Ecosystem
AVULUS’ struggles may highlight what many refer to as the “Tier 1.5 problem” in Dota 2 and esports in general. The team was strong enough to fight through qualifiers and earn S-Tier slots, but was rarely competitive once facing the best teams in the scene.
There’s a clear gap between the world’s elite and squads like AVULUS, creating a cycle where teams qualify, underperform, and eventually collapse under the weight of expectations and costs.
It’s a very familiar story across the esports ecosystem. Recently, Shopify Rebellion withdrew from the scene, despite being a more established organization with better financial backing. This was due to lackluster results, despite its roster brimming with potential.
AVULUS’ exit feels like a reminder of how fragile the competitive environment can be, especially if your team is stuck between Tier 1 and Tier 2. Low placements in tournaments, even the biggest ones, just don’t cut it sometimes.
A Plan to Return
Unlike some orgs that have exited the scene immediately, AVULUS emphasized its intention to stay within the space. In their announcement, the team confirmed plans to rebuild and return for the next season.
For now, only Smiling Knight and Worick will remain in the organization, though there’s no guarantee they’ll be part of the final lineup next season, as roster changes are still possible.
Given the timing, it’s obvious AVULUS will likely look to the eventual post-TI shuffle, when free agents and roster swaps are plentiful. With the right pickups and moves, AVULUS could come back stronger in 2026.
What Does This Mean for Tier 2 Dota?
The collapse of the AVULUS roster is a harsh reminder of how precarious life can be when you’re not in the top tier. Without deep tournament runs, financial backing quickly becomes uncertain, and you can never guarantee your slot on the team.
Still, AVULUS’ decision to stick around does offer a glimmer of hope. While this project didn’t work out, its commitment to the next season does give Tier 2 competitors a sigh of relief – showing that some organizations are still willing to invest and potentially encourage others to do the same.