NRG arrive in Dust2.us’ January 2024 rankings

Dust2.us is back with our top 10 ranking for the month of December! In this iteration of the rankings, 22 panelists, including players, coaches, journalists, and talent gave their input into the state of the scene amidst several changes heading into 2024. While the demise of Evil Geniuses and the debut of NRG are the biggest stories this month, so much more happened. Consider that Nouns, BOSS, Party Astronauts, Unjustified, Badass, and FLUFFY AIMERS made roster changes in December or plan to at the start of January. Despite that, not much change was seen this month, likely owing to team's results in ESL Challenger League Season 46 factoring heavily in the panelists' minds. With all of that said, let's get into it.

With that, here are the ground rules for how our power ranking will function for transparency:

Our team rankings are determined based on a series of measurements where each team is allocated points dependent on where they rank compared to their peers. This measurement is determined by the opinion of our panel, teams' relative HLTV ranking compared to other NA teams, and teams' tier of play. A team garners a higher tier depending on how frequently they compete internationally and in what division they play in during domestic competitions (ECL, Advanced, etc.). For the sake of our power ranking, we consider a team to be NA if they either have 3+ NA players and/or they spend a significant amount of their time competing in North America.

#1 Complexity (JT, floppy, Grim, hallzerk, EliGE, Coach: T.c, JamezIRL) (—)

Every single panelist said that this month Complexity was their #1 team in NA, no big surprise there. However, for the first time in a long time, Complexity honestly and truly looked wimpy this month. Considering they only played six maps, and three were losses to The MongolZ, that is not a great look. Personally, I wouldn't read into it too much as ESL Challenger Atlanta isn't exactly a must-win event for Complexity, however, with Liquid entering the NA scene next month COL might want to watch their backs.

December Events: ESL Challenger Atlanta 2023

#2 M80 (Swisher, reck, malbsMd, maNkz, slaxz-, Coach: dephh) (—)

ESL Challenger Atlanta 2023 should be considered a complete write-off for M80. Without their IGL and a stand-in coach who hasn't played the game in four years, they shouldn't lose sleep over it. Therefore, ignoring the Atlanta fiasco, M80 had a fantastic month, winning ESL Challenger League Season 46 over BOSS, spoiling NRG's debut in the ESEA Autumn Cash Cup 6, and winning the Mythic Winter Cup 2023 over Nouns. M80 is right where they need to be after five months, on Complexity's tail while regularly taking decisive wins against Nouns and other top domestic squads.

December Events: ESL Challenger Atlanta 2023, ESL Challenger League S46

#3 Nouns (nosraC, cJ, MarKE, junior, Jeorge Coach: SEMPHIS) (—)

In December, Nouns failed to, quite frankly, live up to their potential as the third-best NA team. Losses to PA and BOSS in ECL S46, and a strange Cash Cup loss to Josh "steel" Nissan's FPL Friends in the final Cash Cup of 2023 sure aren't great. However, Nouns seem cognizant of their decline, recently bringing in Paytyn "junior" Johnson and Jeorge "Jeorge" Endicott to shore up their ranks. This likely helped stave off a potential further decline in the rankings as the move seems to be, by all accounts, a slam dunk from the demise of Evil Geniuses. All eyes will be on this new roster next month to see if they can make the RMR.

December Events: ESL Challenger League S46

#4 BOSS (Cryptic, freshie, brett, d4rty, cynic Coach: Axed) (—)

Outside of the baffling decision of Adam "WolfY" Andersson to jump ship from BOSS to Party Astronauts, December was a great month for BOSS. The team had a great month, finishing ECL S46 in second place behind M80, while also getting their first LAN experience at Fragicago. Despite looking a bit foolish against the Badass mix in Chicago, finishing the event in 3rd-4th place, the future looks great for this team, especially as they get ready for ESL Pro League Season 19.

December Events: Fragicago 2023, ESL Challenger League S46

#5 NRG (oSee, daps, Brehze, HexT, FaNg) (New)

Canadian nationalists rejoice, a Canadian core has arrived! With NRG finally arriving on the scene, our neighbors up North finally have a team with more than one of their comrades on it in years, and it looks so good with the likes of Damian "daps" Steele, Josh "oSee" Ohm, and Jadan "HexT" Postma. Being real for a moment, these names alone likely secured NRG the fifth spot from our panelists, as the team pretty much did squat this month. Outside of close wins against PA and Wildcard, most of what NRG did this month was to set themselves up in leagues for 2024. This is something that must be done, but we must see more from NRG before knowing if this roster is packing heat.

December Events: None

#6 Party Astronauts (ben1337, chop, viz, cxzi, WolfY Coach: Viathan) (-1)

Party Astronauts fell one position this month largely due to the emergence of NRG in the scene. However, there is some actual data to digest here. For one, PA seem to be in good form again this month, with their sole one-sided losses being against M80 and BOSS. More important, though, is their decision to replace Josh "PwnAlone" Pigue with WolfY. This move confused many as the team essentially traded the old Mr. Consistent for the new hotness that bested them in ECL. With that, WolfY will be expected to deliver a lot in 2024 as a replacement for one of PA's franchise players.

December Events: ESL Challenger League S46

#7 Wildcard (stanislaw, Infinite, JBa, SLIGHT, Sonic Coach: horvy) (-1)

As is tradition, Wildcard didn't do a whole lot this month. Fortunately, this will be changing with the team in ECL next season, which is good because this team has not been put through their paces yet. They played a few maps, winning against teams they needed to win against, losing against teams they were expected to lose against, you know the drill. For a team surviving on their results as Forsaken and name value, it will be great to finally see these guys on the server consistently.

December Events: None

#8 Unjustified (Seb, Lake, Wolffe) (—)

Historically, losing two players is a great way to lose your position in the rankings. However, Unjustified having seemingly dodged that fate, likely due to the reported additions of Jerric "wiz" Jiang and Colby "Walco" Walsh being quite tantalizing. Additionally, as Unjustified performed quite well in Fragicago and ECL S46, the panel seems content to let the team cook for now.

December Events: Fragicago 2023, ESL Challenger League S46

#9 Badass (snav, dare, shane, Peeping, dea) (—)

Speaking of changing players, Badass did the same this month, ending up with FLUFFY AIMERS players Jaxon "Peeping" Cornwell and Deni "dea" Ediev. Considering the team did quite well in ECL and won Fragicago with Peeping as a stand-in, it is understandable why the panel is fairly bullish on the future of this team. Now if they can just keep their mouths shut in interviews...

December Events: Fragicago 2023, ESL Challenger League S46

#10 FLUFFY AIMERS (sacrifice, LEARSI, Jason, consti, intra) (—)

Again roster change muddies the waters for FLUFFY AIMERS to a degree. Considering dea was FLUFFY AIMERS' star player, who knows if they stick around after this month. Despite the future being unclear, the core still has a lot to be proud of, making ECL playoffs again and otherwise being a reliable middle-of-the-pack team. You go FA.

December Events: ESL Challenger League S46