VALORANT’s squad of popular YouTuber and streamer Disguised Toast has made a lineup change in the last few hours after a terrible loss to M80. It’s all about Drake “Exalt” Branly, who leaves the team’s lineup and becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Organizations at the highest competitive level are always looking to build a solid lineup that will allow them to fight for their different goals. But, on the other hand, teams in the Challengers division must also do so since their good results in the season depend on it, and thus, they could get the coveted quota for the 2024 VCT season.
Disguised releases Exalt
As mentioned, Disguised Toast’s VALORANT team has announced the departure of Drake “Exalt” Branly from its lineup. This move comes after the team was crushed in the VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 1 – Group Stage by M80, the best team in Group B.
The team posted a message on their Twitter account saying that Exalt’s departure from the lineup saddens them. However, they also mention that the player was a fundamental part of their triumphs in the open qualifiers and that they will always be grateful to him for what he gave to the team. Finally, they point out that he was one of the players who helped establish Disguised in the VALORANT competitive scene.
Today, we're sad to announce the departure of @ExaltVAL from DSG. Drake has been an integral part of our open qualifiers run and we will be forever grateful for his role in helping establish DSG's place in the Valorant scene. We will greatly miss his presence.
Thank you, Exalt. pic.twitter.com/gmabByrUcF
— DSG (@Disguised) March 10, 2023
Exalt was one of the players who have been part of the team since its inception last December. Since then, the 23-year-old has been the team’s second-best player in the NA Challengers tournament. According to VLR.gg, Exalt has a rating of 1.04, only behind Damion “XXiF” Cook, who has a rating of 1.05.
Separately, the team has announced that Exalt’s replacement in Disguised’s starting lineup for the remainder of Split will be Chris “riku” Piasecki.
For the remainder of the split, we will be playing with our registered substitute @rikugoat.
— DSG (@Disguised) March 10, 2023
Exalt announces he is a free agent
Following his departure from Disguised, the player announced on his Twitter account that he would become an unrestricted free agent. In addition, he also noted that he is ready to join any team, either in the Challengers division or the VCT Americas.
I want to thank @Disguised for the opportunity and wish them nothing but the best moving forward. I’m an unrestricted free agent and ready to continue playing in Challengers or the Americas league. https://t.co/RsBjtDWysa
— Exalt (@ExaltVAL) March 10, 2023
However, a few hours later, the player indicated that his departure from the team had been by mutual agreement. Exalt had received messages saying he had decided to leave the team to play for VCT Americas.
No I have not been poached, and no I don’t have an offer to play in the Americas league. We weren’t progressing the way we wanted to and both parties agreed that it was best to part ways. Please understand I am not a perfect player/person. At the end of the day goal is to win.
— Exalt (@ExaltVAL) March 11, 2023
Future of Disguised
Disguised is in fourth place in Group B of the NA Challengers League with a 2-2 record. On the other hand, the team has already secured its ticket to the Mid-Season Face Off, as MAD Lions, the fifth-place team, has not won a single game in this Split.
Disguised’s next game will be on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, against TSM, so we will see Riku’s debut with the team.
Header: Disguised
