Team Liquid’s Boxi has opened up about the sweeping changes reshaping the organization’s Dota 2 roster and strategy following the retirement of longtime captain Insania and the arrival of former Gaimin Gladiators stars Ace and tOfu.
Speaking ahead of BLAST Slam IV, Boxi detailed how the team are redefining their structure and communication after six years of stability under Insania’s leadership while learning to integrate two players who were once their fiercest competitors.
According to Boxi, the biggest adjustment has been the drafting responsibilities shift. “Tofu is tasked with drafting now, which is a big shift,” he explained, highlighting the magnitude of the change. With Insania having managed Liquid’s drafts for years, handing that responsibility to someone else marks a major turning point in how the team approaches its preparation and in-game decision-making.
Boxi admitted that the new setup feels different as the roster experiments with fresh communication styles and play philosophies. “It’s definitely different,” he said. “It’s still early days, and we’re figuring out how to mesh our strengths.”
The arrival of Ace and tOfu has united players who once faced each other in some of Dota 2’s most memorable clashes. Between 2022 and 2024, Gaimin Gladiators defeated Team Liquid in six major finals, forging a rivalry that defined the competitive scene.
Boxi shared that the team’s current focus is on chemistry rather than dominance. “Me and Ace were focusing more on playing safe and stable today rather than max efficiency,” he noted, suggesting that Liquid is prioritizing long-term cohesion over short-term perfection.
He also admitted that the roster’s synergy is still a work in progress. “We’ve scrimmed a little bit before, but we’re still figuring out how to communicate and approach things together,” Boxi said. Bringing together players with distinct playstyles and competitive histories takes time, and the team appears to be embracing patience as a key part of its rebuild.
Beyond strategy, Insania’s retirement has left an emotional void in the team’s dynamic. “We’ve played together for seven or eight years now, so there’s a gap,” Boxi said. “After a game, there was usually a rhythm to how we used to talk, how we broke things down, but now he’s just not there.”
The Swedish captain officially stepped away from professional play on Oct. 7, following an extraordinary run that included leading Liquid to The International 2024 championship and back-to-back victories at PGL Wallachia seasons three and four. His departure marks the end of an era that was defined by consistency, leadership, and success.
“There’s definitely a lot of potential here, and we’ll definitely want to be able to see it through,” Boxi said. The team’s focus now lies in “building a solid foundation” and “fine-tuning our communication” before expecting peak performance. He acknowledged that progress won’t happen overnight, adding, “Hopefully in a few months, we’ll start to click.”
As Team Liquid’s Dota 2 roster enters a new competitive season, it will be a story of rivals learning to collaborate, veterans adapting to new roles, and a championship team redefining its identity without the leader who guided it to glory.
Published: Oct 14, 2025 06:02 am