AVULUS has officially parted ways with its Dota 2 roster after a difficult season that never quite lived up to expectations. Despite showing flashes of potential and qualifying for major events, the squad struggled to deliver results on the big stage, leading to the decision to disband.
Today we part ways with our Dota 2 roster.
This season had its ups and downs, and it’s time for change.Respect to everyone who played under the AVULUS tag and left their mark.
Respect to everyone who supported us.This is just the beginning — see you soon.@smlngknight @Xibbe… pic.twitter.com/evTrJpLw6h
— AVULUS (@teamavulus) August 27, 2025
A Season of Ups and Downs
The 2025 campaign began with optimism, as AVULUS managed to secure slots at S-Tier tournaments like ESL One Raleigh, DreamLeague, and PGL Wallachia. These opportunities gave the roster a chance to compete against some of the best Dota 2 teams in the world. Unfortunately, results didn’t follow. The team often exited early, finishing in bottom places across both LANs and online events.
Avulus DOTA 2 Recent Results | Image via Liquipedia.net
Even in smaller competitions, AVULUS couldn’t find much consistency. The mix of experienced veterans and rising talents was promising on paper, but it never clicked enough to take down even weaker opponents.
The Roster Says Goodbye
In its official announcement, AVULUS confirmed that the organisation will no longer be working with its current Dota 2 lineup. The players released include:
- Andreas “Xibbe” Ragnemalm
- Athanasios “dEsire” Kartsabas
- Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev
- Tal “Fly” Aizik
- Magomed “Mag” Mirzaev
- Stormstormer
- Ekkio
- Mo13ei
Two names will remain within the organisation: Aliaksei “Smiling Knight” Svirydau and Vitaliy “Worick” Brezgin. Whether they stay on for the next iteration of the roster remains to be seen.
The Tier 1.5 Struggle
AVULUS’ struggles echo a bigger issue within the Dota 2 ecosystem often called the “Tier 1.5 problem.” Teams like AVULUS are strong enough to make it through qualifiers but usually can’t keep up against Tier 1 powerhouses. The result is a frustrating cycle of qualifying, underperforming, and eventually burning out.
It’s not just AVULUS. Earlier this year, Shopify Rebellion also disbanded its Dota 2 roster after failing to break through, despite having significant financial support and high-profile players.
Looking Ahead
While the current project has come to an end, AVULUS made it clear this isn’t a permanent exit from the Dota 2 scene. The team confirmed its intention to return next season with a refreshed lineup, likely taking advantage of the post-TI shuffle when roster moves and free-agent signings are at their peak.
“Respect to everyone who played under the AVULUS tag and left their mark. Respect to everyone who supported us. This is just the beginning — see you soon,” the organisation wrote on social media.
For now, fans will have to wait and see how AVULUS approaches its rebuild. But one thing’s certain: the organisation isn’t giving up on Dota 2 just yet.