Americas’ top teams stay static in Dust2's February 2023 rankings

Teams were able to debut their new rosters but no teams set themselves apart to stay the year.

To provide a transparent summary of the ranking process, here is a breakdown of the Dust2 Ranking process:

Our team rankings are chosen based on a series of measurements where each team is allocated points dependent on where they rank compared to their peers. This point-based system puts all domestic and international results, HLTV ranking, the tier of play, and coaches polling into consideration. While we include the HLTV rankings to some degree, more weight is given to the select number of coaches within the scene that are ranking the teams due to their accurate ability in judging play outside of the regional matches.

#1 Liquid (EliGE, NAF, oSee, nitr0, YEKINDAR) (-)

The action was limited for Liquid in the first month of the calendar year, and when the matches finally came, victory was equally as limited. Three individual map wins which included a series win over baby brother Complexity marked a poor showing at BLAST Premier Spring Groups. With a busy three months coming up, time will tell which Liquid will be present rounding the corner to Major season.

February Events: IEM Katowice

#2 FURIA (arT, yuurih, KSCERATO, saffee, drop) (-)

FURIA did not see any officials last month.

February Events: IEM Katowice Play-In, ESL Pro League S17

#3 Complexity (JT, floppy, FaNg, Grim, hallzerk) (-)

Similar to Liquid, Complexity’s only success at their only showing, BLAST, was a 2-1 series win over Evil Geniuses. The win over a domestic opposition at an international LAN surely has its positives, but failing to build off it can be deflating for all teams involved. The solace found in the NAVI elimination loss is that Complexity stretched them to their limit, losing both maps in the 1-2 series loss 14-16.

February Events: IEM Katowice Play-In, IEM Brazil North America Closed Qualifier, ESL Pro League S17

#4 Evil Geniuses (Brehze, autimatic, neaLaN, HexT, wiz) (-)

The first look post-AWP swap netted less than stellar results at BLAST after a stunning upset over Heroic to start the event. Following the razor-thin 2-1 win, EG failed to mount ten round wins in five of the next eight maps before being eliminated.

February Events: CCT North Europe Series 3,ESL Pro League S17

#5 paiN (PKL, hardzao, biguzera, skullz, zevy) (+3)

paiN did not see any officials last month.

February Events: IEM Katowice Play-In, IEM Brazil North America Closed Qualifier

#6 Imperial (FalleN, boltz, VINI, chelo, JOTA) (-)

Imperial saw activity in two different events to start the new year. A 2-0 win over 00 Nation earned them a seat in this season’s EPL. The team looked to carry momentum over to the IEM Brazil South American Open Qualifier 1 but saw their fire put out before getting deep into the bracket.

February Events: ESL Pro League S17

#7 MIBR (exit, tuurtle, brnz4n, HEN1, insani) (+2)

MIBR’s sole appearance on the month with Academy callup Felipe “insani” Yuji came at the EPL S17 Conference, where he and his team shined twice over against Nouns in BO3 series to earn one of two slots through to EPL S17.

February Events: ESL Pro League S17 Conference North America, IEM Katowice Play-In

#8 00 Nation (coldzera, TACO, latto, dumau, nqz) (-1)

00 Nation started 2023 off with two series wins over Flamengo and an 0-2 loss to Imperial to earn one of two invites to EPL S17 through the South American Conference.

February Events: IEM Brazil South America Closed Qualifier

#9 ATK (MisteM, b0denmaster, Swisher, djay, Pluto) (+1)

ATK played its final month with long-standing member Ian “motm” Hardy before the eventual announcement of Vendetta’s Saad “Pluto” Siraj. A first-place showing over MIBR and Nouns at the EPL Conference capped off a slow month in-server for the typically busy team.

February Events: ESL Pro League S17 Conference North America, ESL Challenger League S44 North America

#10 9z (dgt, max, dav1deus, buda, try) (-3)

9z did not see any officials last month.

February Events: CCT North Europe Series 3, IEM Brazil South America Closed Qualifier