It has finally returned! After the festive break, Counter-Strike is back on our screens, with the first tournament of 2025 – BLAST Bounty – kicking off. This is a tournament with a difference; a new format, innovative rules, and new rosters looking to prove themselves early on in the circuit. Today, we will explain the BLAST Bounty rules, so you can dive into watching your favorite pros battle it out without any confusion.
What is the BLAST Bounty format?
This innovative tournament format is simpler than you might initially think. It adds a thrilling twist to the usual tournament proceedings: underdog teams get to pick their opponents based on bounties tied to team rankings.
The top 32 teams, determined by the Valve Global Ranking System, will compete in this high-stakes event. Teams ranked 1-16 each have a bounty, increasing with their rank. The top four – G2, NAVI, Vitality, and Spirit – carry the highest bounties at $60k, while teams ranked 13-16 – paiN, Complexity, Astralis, and FlyQuest – have $15k bounties, with amounts scaling up through the ranks.
Teams ranked 17-32 start with no bounties but can “go hunting” by picking higher-seeded opponents. If they win, they claim the defeated team’s bounty. Half of the bounty is added to their own, and the rest is banked as a guaranteed payout for the tournament’s end. Additionally, defeating a higher-seeded team means inheriting their seed – e.g., if Metizport (seeded 32) beats MOUZ (seeded 5), Metizport takes the 5th seed.
This format gives underdog teams a strategic choice: go big by challenging top-ranked teams for larger bounties, or play it safe and target lower-bounty opponents for a steadier path to success.
Also, when the tournament reaches the playoffs stage, the draw will take place in a live show – if you’re a fan of the intricacies of professional Counter-Strike, this will be a fun one to watch.
The Teams
The teams and their respective seeding and bounties are listed as follows, as of the opening stage of the tournament (January 14th):
| 1 | G2 | $60k |
| 2 | NAVI | $60k |
| 3 | Vitality | $60k |
| 4 | Spirit | $60k |
| 5 | MOUZ | $30k |
| 6 | FaZe | $30k |
| 7 | Falcons | $30k |
| 8 | Liquid | $30k |
| 9 | FURIA | $20k |
| 10 | Eternal Fire | $20k |
| 11 | SAW | $20k |
| 12 | 3DMAX | $20k |
| 13 | paiN | $15k |
| 14 | Complexity | $15k |
| 15 | Astralis | $15k |
| 16 | FlyQuest | $15k |
| 17 | BIG | $0 |
| 18 | Virtus.pro | $0 |
| 19 | HEROIC | $0 |
| 20 | GamerLegion | $0 |
| 21 | MIBR | $0 |
| 22 | Nemiga | $0 |
| 23 | Wildcard | $0 |
| 24 | B8 | $0 |
| 25 | ENCE | $0 |
| 26 | Imperial Fe | $0 |
| 27 | Fluxo | $0 |
| 28 | 9 Pandas | $0 |
| 29 | M80 | $0 |
| 30 | BetBoom | $0 |
| 31 | fnatic | $0 |
| 32 | Metizport | $0 |
As always, if you’re looking to improve your Counter-Strike skills so that, one day, you’ll be hunting for bounties against the best in the world, Refrag is here to help you on your journey. With industry-leading practice modes, information banks, and an automated, personalised Coach, your grind to the top has never been simpler.
