Magisk Returns to Astralis: stavn Steps Back Due to Health Issues

Astralis has announced the return of Emil “Magisk” Reif to the team’s roster. His spot was vacated by Martin “stavn” Lund, who revealed the need to take a break due to personal and medical reasons. For Astralis, this is a chance to bring back a former star who was part of the organization’s “golden era.”

stavn’s Peak Years

stavn rose to prominence during his time with HEROIC. From 2020 to 2023, he and the team secured podium finishes at several major tournaments:

• ESL One: Cologne 2020 Online – Europe — 1st place
• ESL Pro League Season 13 — 1st place
• PGL Major Stockholm 2021 — 2nd place
• Pinnacle Cup Championship — 1st place
• Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major 2022 — 1st place
• BLAST Premier: Fall Finals 2022 — 1st place
• Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2023 — 2nd place
• BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2023 — 1st place

This period can be considered one of the most successful in his career, as his total prize earnings surpassed $530,000.

A New Challenge in Astralis

In November 2025, Astralis benched two players — Buzz and b0RUP — and replaced them with stavn and jabbi. Over almost two years with the team, results were mixed. The most painful setback came when Astralis failed to qualify for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. Still, they managed to reach the podium at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 (3rd place) and PGL Astana 2025 (2nd place).

Recent results — 5-8th place at BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 and 9-16th place at the Esports World Cup 2025 — highlighted a loss of focus and cohesion. Despite that, stavn’s individual form remained solid: over the last three months, his Rating stood at 1.08, Swing at +0.43%, and ADR at 76.2. These numbers underline his consistency even during difficult times.

Stavn explained his decision to step back as being driven by health concerns:

I informed the team and Astralis that I need a break. Health comes first, and this is a decision I had to make. I will take some time off to handle personal matters. I’ll be cheering for the guys and focusing on coming back when the right time comes.

Magisk Back in Action

Emil “Magisk” Reif is one of the most decorated and wealthiest Danish CS players. From 2019 to 2021, he played for Astralis. This period is remembered as the “Astralis Era,” when the team dominated the professional scene, winning three Majors: FACEIT Major: London 2018, Intel Extreme Masters XIII — Katowice Major 2019, and StarLadder Berlin Major 2019.

In January 2022, Magisk joined Team Vitality, where he won his fourth Major — the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 — as well as Gamers8 2023. By the end of 2023, he departed Vitality and signed with Team Falcons, a Saudi-backed project that gathered top-tier European players, including Magisk.

Despite the star-studded lineup, Falcons delivered inconsistent results. They managed to claim: 1st place at PGL Bucharest 2025, 2nd place at Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, 2nd place at BLAST Rivals Spring 2025, and 3-4th place at Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025.

At the summer Major in Austin, however, the team finished only 20-22nd, after which Magisk was benched and replaced by kyousuke from Team Spirit Academy.

Potential Changes and Expectations for Astralis

Magisk’s return could be a pivotal factor in Astralis’ revival. The team has been searching for stability, with recent results reflecting a lack of cohesion and confidence. Magisk’s experience as a four-time Major champion can bolster the roster both mentally and tactically. His versatility allows him to fill gaps in the lineup while mentoring younger teammates.

A better balance can be expected between the aggression of younger players and the calm precision of veterans. Dev1ce and Magisk have already proven capable of creating “golden eras” — and their reunion could symbolize a new chapter for Astralis. If the squad can find chemistry and a clear identity, they have the potential to break back into the world’s top 5 and compete for major titles once again.

Current Astralis Roster:

• dev1ce
• Staehr
• jabbi
• HooXi (IGL)
• Magisk
• ruggah (Coach)

This marks the reunion of two legends from Astralis’ “golden era” — dev1ce and Magisk. Their shared history of success could become the cornerstone of the Danish organization’s resurgence.