100 Thieves have enjoyed an encouraging start since assembling their ambitious roster in the most recent off-season, collecting a notable victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas at Roman Imperium Cup V and finishing as runners-up at DraculaN Season 5. Those results helped propel the squad into the top 40 of the live VRS rankings within just a few months of coming together.
At the center of that rapid progress is newly appointed in-game leader Håvard 'rain' Nygaard, who has taken charge of the project while collaborating closely with fellow veteran Nicolai 'device' Reedtz to get the inexperienced core up to speed and navigate the gauntlet of VRS LAN events.
rain has been candid about the growing pains that come with the transition to full-time caller duties. He laughed about moments of forgetfulness early on, saying that freezetime would start and he sometimes didn’t immediately remember he was the IGL. 'I would sit there and it was like, oh shit, I have to make a call,' he said, reflecting on the adjustment period.
On a more serious note, the 31-year-old identified mid-round decision making as the biggest area requiring improvement. He attributed the issue partly to habits formed during his long spell at FaZe, where a more freeform, individualistic approach to mid-rounds was common. 'I’ve been used to players just going for things, right? It’s something that is maybe not lacking here, but we need to work on a little bit,' he explained.
rain also stressed that he demanded proper structural support when accepting the IGL role. He made clear from the outset that he wanted a coaching staff capable of exerting significant influence and helping shape the team off the server, while he would focus on executing the vision during matches. 'I was very clear on that from the start with 100 Thieves, that if I were to take this role, I would need a coaching staff that can help a lot, have a lot of influence on the team. Then I just try to carry out the vision on the server,' he said.
He expressed confidence in device’s commitment to returning to peak form, noting the veteran’s work behind the scenes with coaches and staff to adjust his game. 'I see him working with the staff behind the scenes, trying to influence the way he plays, and I think he is doing everything he can to get back to it,' rain said.
Another positive element for rain has been the way William 'sirah' Kjærsgaard has integrated into the lineup. He described sirah as a 'positive surprise' thanks to the youngster’s vocal presence and clarity about what he wants to do in-game. 'He’s very vocal, he knows what he wants… he will ask for stuff and is very vocal in the server, calls rotations and all this stuff, so it’s been a very positive surprise in that sense,' rain commented.
Beyond those personnel assessments, rain touched on broader subjects such as the current situation around FaZe, the influence of figures like Lukas 'gla1ve' Rossander, and realistic expectations for the timeline in which 100 Thieves can fully gel and climb further up the rankings.
In short, rain struck a cautiously optimistic tone: the team has shown promising results early on, but there is still tangible work to be done on tactical cohesion and mid-round structure. With veteran leadership, committed staff support, and continued development from the young players, 100 Thieves aim to build on their early momentum and keep progressing in the VRS circuit.