Budapest Major 2025 Pick’Ems Guide: You sure you chose right?

The final CS2 Major of the year is here, and with three Swiss stages before playoffs, the Budapest Major is a Pick’ems minefield. Consistency matters, but so does understanding which teams overperform early and which only heat up later.

Here’s a concise, stage-by-stage approach to maximize your chances of protecting your coin.

Stage 1: Keep It Safe- Don’t Overthink

Stage 1 is about avoiding gambles. The field includes a handful of reliable qualifiers and several clear long shots.

Recommended 3–0 Picks (High Upside, Low Risk)

• Legacy – Entering with huge momentum (Asia champs, Bucharest finalists). Ideal 3–0 flyer.
• FaZe Clan – Inconsistent lately, but their individual skill should overwhelm Stage 1 opponents.

Likely Qualifiers (Your bread-and-butter safe picks)

These are teams you select simply to get one or two wins- stability is the goal here:

• NIP
• PARIVISION
• GamerLegion
• B8
• fnatic
• Imperial

All capable of grinding out the two wins you need.

0–3 Candidates (Protect your coin)

These are the most realistic collapse options:

• Rare Atom
• The Huns

Both struggle heavily vs. Tier 1 opposition and have poor matchup potential.

Stage 2: Where the Real Decisions Start

This is where the Major becomes volatile. Strong teams enter late, early qualifiers come in hot, and mistakes in your Pick’ems are punished hard.

Safe to Advance

• NAVI – Peaking recently with a StarSeries victory.
• Aurora – Strong Swiss performers throughout 2025.
• Team Liquid – ELiGE stability + tournament-readiness = solid 3–2/3–1 team.

Avoid flashier upset picks here- Stage 2 is unforgiving.

Stage 3: Pick for Power, Not Hope

Stage 3 houses the titans. This is the stage where you nail down the most predictable results of the entire Major.

Virtually Guaranteed to Advance

• Team Vitality – Shaky months, yes, but always reach late stages.
• FURIA - Best form in the world right now; multiple championships entering Budapest.
• Team Falcons – Europe’s most consistent playoff team of 2025.
• Team Spirit – If donk activates, they’re a lock.

All four are strong 3–1 or 3–0 candidates in a stacked field.

Dark Horses (Use Cautiously)

• MOUZ – Good for 2–1 starts but prone to late-Swiss collapses.
• Legacy or Aurora (if they reach Stage 3) – Momentum picks, but not “safe.”

Playoffs Outlook: Who Wins It All?

Best Pick for the Winner:

• Vitality – Defending champs with the most reliable big-stage performances.

Best “Value” Pick:

• FURIA – Supernova form and a confident, complete system.

Best Long Shot:

• Team Falcons – No trophies yet, but constant deep runs point to an eventual breakthrough.

Final Pick’ems Strategy Summary

Stage 1

Play it safe. Take Legacy/FaZe for 3–0, Rare Atom/Huns for 0–3, fill remaining slots with reliable EU teams.

Stage 2

Prioritize stability: NAVI, Aurora, Liquid.

Stage 3

Go with the big four: Vitality, FURIA, Falcons, Spirit.

Playoffs Winner

Vitality for predictability, FURIA for form.

Fingers crossed for great wins!