Don’t expect too much from Rogue in 2022, as they’re probably not going to be able to deliver — there’s just no other way to put it. And we say this with a certain sadness: they’ve been a top-tier competitor for a year and a half and have grown beyond measure. They were never perfect, of course, but watching them develop into a bona fide title challenger has been a thoroughly delightful journey.

But, as the old adage goes: all good things have to come to an end.

It was only a matter of time before Rogue’s most talented players received an offer they couldn’t refuse. Steven “Hans Sama” Liv and Kacper “Inspired” Słoma have decided to leave the team and look for greener pastures. They knew, much like everyone else, that etching their names in history would’ve been impossible for as long as they wore Rogue’s jersey, so it should come to no surprise that they’ve decided to part ways.

They’re truly exceptional at the game and are at the peak of their powers — so why not capitalize on an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime? Why not explore the world and earn a sizable sack of cash in the process? It’s a wholly logical decision, even though it does leave LEC fans with a sour taste in their mouths.

All of this means that Rogue will no longer be able to compete for a spot at the very top of the region. They’ve made two roster changes but neither will suffice. These players are by no means bad (far from it), but they’re nowhere near as good or dominant as the ones they’ve been tasked to replace.

Rogue fans should definitely temper their expectations for the 2022 competitive season; otherwise, they’re bound to be disappointed.

The following five players will all compete under Rogue’s banner come 2022:

Top Lane: Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu

Jungle: Kim “Malrang” Geun-seong [former DWG KIA substitute]

Mid Lane: Emil “Larssen” Larsson

AD Carry: Markos “Comp” Stamkopoulos [formerly of Team Vitality]

Support: Adrian “Trymbi” Trybus

Needless to say, head coach Simon “fredy122” Payne will not have it easy, especially not after finding so much success throughout the last year and a half. The bar has been raised, and so have everyone’s expectations. The days when Rogue were a bottom-tier dweller happened so long ago most folks have probably forgotten. Right now, at the time of this writing, they’re considered as one of the most capable teams in Europe, but that’s almost certainly going to change in a few months’ time — and that is precisely our biggest fear.

We don’t want them to regress even though it’s all but guaranteed to happen now that they’ve lost two of their most important catalysts: Hans Sama and LEC MVP Inspired. Had they lost one of them maybe the situation would’ve been different (i.e. more favorable). But given the way things have panned out, it’s nigh impossible to give Rogue the benefit of the doubt. In time, this updated roster will surely play at a very respectable level but, odds are, it is never going to soar as high as its predecessor.

Losing Inspired and Hans Sama is a blow they almost certainly won’t be able to bounce back from. We’re talking about LEC’s finest here — they were instrumental in Rogue’s rise to the top and are wholly indispensable. Had Rogue been able to sign, say, Martin “Rekkles” Larsson and Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen (or a jungler of similar talent and experience), maybe we would’ve been more inclined to believe in their chances.

Malrang and Comp, however, simply aren’t good enough for Rogue to stay afloat. They’re not bad — far from it, in fact — but they just don’t have what it takes to fill in the void. And that’s not a knock on them either: few are the players who’d be up to the task.

There’s no way of knowing at this point in time, but one thing’s for certain: Rogue will no longer be a top-tier contender. There are never any guarantees, but we just can’t envision a world in which they trade blows with Fnatic, G2 Esports, Team Vitality, MAD Lions, and whoever else. They won’t become a bottom-dweller all of a sudden, but will instead assume the role of a mid-tier gatekeeper and probably challenge for a spot in the playoffs as well — without ever really leaving a mark.

Without an MVP jungler and one of the best AD carries in LEC history, Rogue will have to rebuild from the ground up. Moreover, their skill ceiling will no longer be as high, which means even if they improve over time (which they almost certainly will) they won’t be able to reach their previous highs. A bitter pill to swallow for Rogue fans, no doubt, but that’s what happens when a line-up loses its most powerful catalysts.

There’s simply not a whole lot to look forward to. Odoamne, Larssen, and Trymbi are still great players who’ll no doubt serve as a boon to Rogue’s chances, but will their talent and existing synergy be enough? We’re not convinced. Most other LEC teams have upgraded, whereas Rogue couldn’t have been dealt a worse hand. They’re still in the fight, so to speak, but they’re no longer equipped with the right tools and “weapons” so as to stand a chance.

If they can harness the synergy between their top laner, mid, and support — and Malrang and Comp deliver — they might stand a chance against the likes of Team BDS, EXCEL, Astralis, and SK, but those wins are far from guaranteed. In other words: Rogue will face an uphill battle and aren’t favored to accomplish much once all is said and done.

Moreover, the inclusion of Malrang will create a language barrier which will only further complicate things. There’s still no reason to be all doom and gloom about it, but only a select few LEC teams had managed to make it work in the past, so it’s definitely a gamble Rogue (arguably) didn’t have to make.

All in all, don’t expect much from Rogue going forward. They’ve lost two of their biggest stars and will surely fumble and fail in a myriad of ways before mounting any kind of offensive further down the line.