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Los Ratones Dominate: How Caedrel's Team Managed to Lift Three Consecutive Trophies in the NLC

Los Ratones Dominate: How Caedrel's Team Managed to Lift Three Consecutive Trophies in the NLC

31 Aug
Martin Arévalo-Östberg

Everything that Los Ratones touch seems to turn to gold. After their latest 3-0 victory in the Grand Finals of the 2025 NLC Summer, Caedrel's team didn't just sweep the finals, they swept an entire year's worth of NLC tournaments.

So far in 2025, Los Ratones have won every single official tournament they have entered, including all three NLC splits as well as EMEA Masters in Winter and Spring. There is little doubt Los Ratones currently stand a step above the competition in the region's Tier-2 scene, but just how dominant is this team really?

Kings of Sweeps

Initially, Verdant looked incredibly in-form coming into the NLC Summer Finals to face Los Ratones after putting up six consecutive game wins in the Lower Bracket. And yet, Los Ratones brushed past their rivals without breaking a sweat all the same, sweeping the Bo5 Grand Finals in just 97 minutes of play.

Looking past their latest conquest, though, Los Ratones' year has been marked by flawless Grand Finals displays all around. In fact, the team is yet to drop a single game in a Finals match. That's right, throughout the entirety of 2025, the team has not only made the Grand Finals of every tournament they attended, but also swept every single one of these finals, putting up a total finals scoreline of 15-0.

If you ever need some cleaning done at your place, remember to call Los Ratones, because no one sweeps as well as they do.

The Magic Formula: A Well-Oiled Machine

The truth is that this Los Ratones squad was built for success from the start. And yet, between three former LEC stars, a rising star in the jungle, and a streamer/Solo Q sensation, the squad didn't just win — it dominated.

Los Ratones
Despite all of their distinct shapes and sizes, the Los Ratones squad work together seamlessly. (Credit: Los Ratones)

Fresh off the bootcamp of a lifetime shadowing Ryu "Keria" Min-seok as he fought his way to back-to-back Worlds trophies, it's safe to assume Martin "Rekkles" Larsson learned a thing or two from a player who has proven he isn't just one of the best support players in the world right now, but one of the best to ever do it. In fact, Rekkles' precision of play has led him to finish with the highest KDA out of all players at every single tournament he attended in 2025.

Meanwhile, Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek and Juš "Crownie" Marušič provide the team with some much needed stability from the carry roles. Their experience and confidence on the Rift is palpable every time Los Ratones take the stage. Moreover, the two players look right at home across a wide number of picks, often proving to be a proper drafting headache for any opposing coaches.

Despite his inexperience, Veljko "Velja" Čamdžić often leads the line from the jungle for Los Ratones. The Serbian player's growth over the course of the year has been remarkable to watch, and he will no doubt let his name be heard across the halls of the LEC in the not-too-distant future.

And then there's Simon "Baus" Hofverberg. A streamer known for his wacky picks and an even wackier playstyle. His integration into the team and a competitive environment was far from a guarantee in the beginning, but Caedrel and Odoamne have undoubtedly managed to make the most of the top laner's unique approach to the game while simultaneously reigning in some of his more peculiar habits.

And speaking of the Rat King himself, none of what Los Ratones have accomplished would have been possible without Caedrel. Not only because he built the team to begin with, but also because, with the help of Odoamne, he turned the squad into a macro engine that will consistently find a way to remain thousands of gold ahead even when falling behind in kills.

Perhaps no better stat, however, demonstrates Los Ratones' ability to rely on anyone on the roster at a time of need than the fact that every player on the squad (except for Rekkles) has won a Finals MVP award with the team.

EMEA Masters Summer: Will Los Ratones Complete the Perfect Run?

Given that EMEA Masters Summer will overlap with Worlds 2025, there has been much speculation about whether or not Los Ratones would actually attend the event. As members of the team have stated, it might actually turn out to be more beneficial for them and their growth to attend a bootcamp in either China or South Korea during Worlds than it would be to attend EMEA Masters Summer.

Even if this were to be true, though, would the team really pass on the chance to complete a historic six-for-six run by winning every single tournament they attended in the season? Tier-2 or not, the feat would be nothing short of legendary, but only time will tell whether they will even get to try.

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Featured image credit: Image exclusive to Strafe Esports


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