Mindfreak takes on new role within Paper Rex after roster change

In a rare roster shake-up, Paper Rex - long celebrated for their stability - recently made headlines by replacing long-time player Aaron "mindfreak" Leonhart with newcomer Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza. The change came ahead of VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Pacific Stage 1, but despite being subbed out of the main lineup, mindfreak isn’t leaving the team anytime soon.

From Player to Support System

Following their impressive upset victory over Team Heretics in the opening round of VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025, Paper Rex head coach Alex "alecks" Salle shed light on mindfreak’s current role at the post-match press conference. Far from being sidelined, the veteran is now working closely with the players in a hybrid role that merges coaching with on-call substitution.

“For the moment, he’s basically acting as an assistant coach. He does a lot more individual things with the players… even in scrims, he talks to them directly and helps with specific plans.”

Alecks had previously explained the thought process behind bringing in PatMen, a “pure-bred” VALORANT player to freshen up the team’s approach while maintaining their signature style.

This approach highlights Paper Rex’s unique team culture. One that values chemistry, trust, and collective growth over a win-at-all-costs mentality. Mindfreak’s shift into a more strategic and mentoring capacity reflects this philosophy.

According to alecks, mindfreak is still actively involved in creating strategies, even if they weren’t deployed in the opening match. His experience and calm presence serve as a stabilizing force for the rest of the squad.

“He’s invaluable to the team… basically their big brother aside from Bish (d4v41). It’s always good to have him around.”

A Quiet Backbone

Mindfreak continues to scrim and stay in competitive shape, ready to step in if needed. Alecks describes him as “a 6th-man slash assistant coach” - a reliable backup and a trusted strategist rolled into one.

For a team like Paper Rex, which thrives on synergy and creative freedom, having mindfreak in this behind-the-scenes role could prove just as vital as any in-game performance.

For all things VCT-related, make sure to stay tuned to THESPIKE.GG as we continue to update you with the freshest game and esports news.

Featured Image Source: Riot Games