Opinion: Can NiKo Bring Falcons to the Top?

Since Nikola “NiKo” Kovač joined Team Falcons on January 3rd, 2025, things have been slowly but surely heating up. Sure, it didn’t pop off immediately, but we see some signs of life. The question now is: what’s next? Can this squad hit the big stage and make an Austin Major final?

NiKo and the New Falcons Project

Before NiKo, there was the whole “ s1mple on loan” experiment — short-lived and kinda meh. Falcons wanted big names, but it felt like they weren’t giving it time to breathe., coming from G2, felt like a reset. He started putting up the numbers we all expect from him, but the team still looked like a random stack rather than a serious contender.

Despite all that, they started finding their rhythm. Falcons began dominating tier-2 events, picking up a 1st and a 2nd place at PGL tournaments (albeit without Vitality or Spirit in the mix). Then came the big moment: a clean 3-0 win over G2 in Bucharest. Some called it a fluke, others saw it as a breakthrough — but either way, it turned heads.

Image Credit: HLTV. Photo by brcho_

Overall, the dominance is reflected in the fact that before NiKo joined, Falcons didn’t achieve a single first or second place. We’ll also look at victories over opponents in 2024 (before NiKo) and in 2025 (with NiKo).

As we can see, the arrival of NiKo in early 2025 clearly had a major impact. Falcons saw a dramatic performance boost, especially in February, where they posted an impressive 7–3 record. In contrast, they never had a winning month throughout the latter half of 2024.

Before NiKo joined, Falcons could only dominate tier-2 teams like BIG or OG and would easily lose to teams like Liquid or SAW. After NiKo’s arrival, they started defeating teams like Astralis, FaZe, Eternal Fire, The MongolZ, and G2. However, they remain inconsistent against squads like MOUZ and Complexity.

Image Credit: HLTV. Photo by brcho_

NiKo and m0NESY

And then they pulled the trigger and signed Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov. Huge move. NiKo and m0NESY have that old G2 synergy, and it showed right away at IEM Melbourne 2025. m0NESY debuted with a bang; they stomped SAW, took down a struggling NAVI, and gave Vitality a decent fight in groups.

Suddenly, this team feels dangerous. Even if they’re not winning every event, just the sight of NiKo and m0NESY on the server is a mental edge. The org clearly knows what it’s doing — they’re building around that duo, and it’s starting to click.

From the outside, everything seems to be going pretty well for the Falcons. Even before m0NESY joined, the team managed to win a LAN tournament — a clear sign that the project was starting to come together. That win looked like fertile ground, the perfect setup for a young star like Ilya to come in and act as a springboard to the next level. On paper, it all made sense: strong foundations, proven synergy with NiKo, and a system that finally started to click.

Image Credit: HLTV. Photo by brcho_

Another important point is the objective improvement gained by replacing degster with m0NESY, which becomes clear when comparing their HLTV stats over the past three months.

While degster performs decently in sniping, his overall impact is more average. m0NESY, on the other hand, delivers elite-level firepower, consistent clutch potential, and strong presence in opening duels. The upgrade is not just on paper—it’s in every round they play.

m0NESY has been listed in HLTV’s Top 20 players for three years straight, reaching #2 in 2024. degster, by contrast, has never made the list. And it might sound a bit harsh, but the young Ilya truly blossomed under NiKo’s wing at G2; most of his trophies were won alongside him. That chemistry now continues in Falcons, and it could be the key to unlocking the full potential of this new roster.

Image Credit: HLTV. Photo by brcho_

Verification in Melbourne

But this is CS2 — a game where the script rarely goes the way you expect. No matter how clean things look, there’s always that one unpredictable variable. Maybe it’s a role clash, maybe it’s meta shifts, maybe it’s pressure. Whatever it is, it creeps in and slows things down. Falcons are no exception. The hype is real, but so are the obstacles that don’t show up in highlight reels.

As some respected analysts (like Kane on HLTV Confirmed) have pointed out, star power doesn’t equal championships. Falcons might look scary on paper, but we haven’t seen consistent, top-tier teamplay yet. One strong series against G2 doesn’t make them elite, especially considering G2’s form was shaky during Bucharest.

The roster's still changing. That says a lot. It means they’re still figuring things out internally. And until they can lock down a proper system, not just rely on insane aim or big clutches, they’ll stay inconsistent. Falcons haven’t faced the full gauntlet of elite teams at a LAN yet, and they haven’t lifted a trophy that included all the big dogs.

Image Credit: HLTV. Photo by brcho_

The Falcons' performance in Melbourne proved they are a true Tier-1 team. Although Vitality defeated Falcons in the IEM Melbourne 2025 Grand Final, there were serious doubts along the way. Falcons managed to push Vitality into a nervous game and nearly won the decider on the fifth map.

So if the team, with their new roster, without proper scripts and fully polished teamplay, was able to force the world's No.1 team into triple overtime on the fifth map, just imagine what Falcons will become once they fully refine their game.

It will be exciting to see their hunger, fueled by the silver medals, at BLAST Rivals — and how they will perform against Spirit.

Source for artwork: HLTV. Photo by brcho_

Our Verdict

Falcons aren’t ready to dominate the scene just yet, but they’re not pretenders either. The NiKo + m0NESY combo gives them a serious foundation, and with the right support pieces, this team can become a consistent top-5 force. One more smart roster move — maybe swapping out Magisk or TeSeS for a younger talent — and we’re probably looking at a playoff regular in majors, if not a dark horse for titles.

They’ve got the firepower. They’re building chemistry. They’re not quite there yet — but they’re getting close.