Tacitus Joins Imperial, Says Org Gets His Best Version After Hiatus

The Brazilian Counter-Strike scene has a new, yet familiar, face stepping into a prominent coaching role. Marcos “tacitus” Castilho has officially joined Imperial for the latter half of the 2026 season, bringing with him a renewed sense of purpose and a wealth of tactical insight honed during a deliberate hiatus from competitive play. After spending months away from an official team position, the coach asserts that the organization is receiving his most refined professional self, ready to build on an existing foundation and guide a seasoned roster through a packed South American circuit.

Marcos “tacitus” Castilho has been involved in coaching since 2020, when he became an analyst for Triumph. After a period away from the competitive scene, he joined Imperial for the second half of 2026. In an interview with Dust2 Brasil, he valued the time he spent away from the scene, stating that it helped him because when you are on a team, you are always trying to bring things to improve your team, but you do not necessarily have time to look at the whole world of CS without concentrating on the pressure of the next game and the next championship. He noted that the process of evolving a team is a bit contradictory because you delay your personal evolution, mainly as a coach. He made it clear that today, Imperial has his best version.

He explained that having had this time to focus on himself and his evolution as a professional was super cool and he is already seeing a bit of this effect in the first days at Imperial. He has the impression that he is a much better version than before. This self-assessment is grounded in a disciplined routine he maintained while away from an official team. With more free time, tacitus dedicated himself to studying the global Counter-Strike meta, watching championships, and analyzing the playstyles that defined the top level. This continuous education kept him updated and provided a broader view of the game, unburdened by the immediate pressure of an upcoming opponent. He contrasts this with the tunnel vision that can develop inside a team environment, where the focus is necessarily narrow and survival-oriented.

The coach’s philosophy extends beyond tactics to the mental well-being of his players. He has made it a point to remind the Imperial squad of the fundamental joy that brought them to professional Counter-Strike. “When you are always thinking about the next game, the effect of the VRS on that game, aiming for the Major slot at the end of the semester or aiming for international slots, you lose a bit of the pleasure, the fun, and the genuine love for competing,” tacitus explained. “One of the things I have been talking about a lot is that we need to remember why we do this. At some point in our lives, even without earning a salary, playing CS was what we did most during the day. So, why not try to maintain and rediscover this love, this passion?”

A Period of Reflection and Professional Renewal

Tacitus was forthright about the value of his months away from the scene. He emphasized that the break allowed him to live his life alongside his wife and reflect on the lessons, both good and bad, from recent years. This distance, however, was never complete. “Since there is plenty of time in the day, I was always studying, watching championships, and analyzing the playstyles that were in the meta to stay updated,” he said. This self-directed study provided a crucial reset, allowing him to observe the entire Counter-Strike landscape without the tunnel vision that comes with preparing a specific team for its next official match.

The result, in his own words, is a coach who arrives at Imperial with a sharper mind and a clearer philosophy. “I make it clear that, today, Imperial has my best version,” tacitus stated. “I was not as good as I am (now), in the same way that, a year from now, I will be better than today if I continue working productively.” This commitment to constant improvement is a core part of the message he is bringing to the team. He stressed the importance of an organization providing tactical consistency, teaching players to understand their limits based on the in-game economy, and learning how to play with the scoreboard. “These things make a huge difference in the championship and help you deal better with pressure,” he added.

• Tacitus spent his time away from a team studying the global CS meta, watching championships, and analyzing playstyles to stay updated without the pressure of an upcoming match.
• He believes the daily process of evolving a team can delay a coach’s personal evolution, making his focused study period crucial for his own professional growth.
• The coach has emphasized the need for players to rediscover their genuine love for competing, reminding them of the passion they had for CS before it became a salaried profession.

The coach’s philosophy extends beyond tactics to the mental well-being of his players. He has made it a point to remind the Imperial squad of the fundamental joy that brought them to professional Counter-Strike. “When you are always thinking about the next game, the effect of the VRS on that game, aiming for the Major slot at the end of the semester or aiming for international slots, you lose a bit of the pleasure, the fun, and the genuine love for competing,” tacitus explained. “One of the things I have been talking about a lot is that we need to remember why we do this. At some point in our lives, even without earning a salary, playing CS was what we did most during the day. So, why not try to maintain and rediscover this love, this passion?”

Building on a Foundation and a Regional Focus

A key relationship in this new chapter is the reunion with VINI, Imperial’s captain. Tacitus expressed a long-standing desire to work with him again, praising his exceptional work ethic. “Few players I have worked with have a work ethic as loyal as his,” the coach said. “He always arrives on time, seeks solutions outside the game by improving his body and mind to increase his performance. He is a guy who can lead in that regard.” This respect for the in-game leader’s professionalism sets a tone for the entire project.

Tacitus is also realistic about the timeline for his impact. He acknowledged that there is no miracle to be performed in twenty to thirty days and that he is building upon the base left by zakk. The goal is to construct something sustainable, with a medium- to long-term vision. “We want to build something so that in six to ten months, we can look and say, ‘man, we are only improving, we are building,'” he explained. This stands in contrast to his previous experience at Fluxo, where he felt he could not fully implement a long-term process due to unfavorable competitive circumstances.

Tacitus steps into a role where the foundation has already been laid by his predecessor, zakk. He is not building a project from scratch but rather applying his tactical ideology onto an existing structure, making small adjustments. He was quick to credit the work done before his arrival and the robust support staff already in place, which includes manager muck, head of performance Bernardo, and analyst zqk. “I did not enter Imperial to assemble a coaching staff. I was the last piece to enter,” he said, noting that the mental and tactical preparation provided by this team is the most robust he has experienced as a head coach.

The immediate competitive plan is firmly rooted in South America. Imperial intends to compete in every possible championship within the region, with a focus on local LAN events. While a trip to Europe is a possibility if schedules align for one or two advantageous tournaments, the priority is to build confidence by winning on home soil. Tacitus draws on a positive past experience with Fluxo, where a regional path through Circuit X led to qualification for the Budapest Major, to support this strategy. He argues that the logistical hurdles of international travel, including fatigue and time zone adjustments, can often undermine performance, making a dominant regional campaign a more fruitful approach.