Vitality vs Astralis — Who’s the Greatest Team in CS History?

Vitality’s victory at the Austin Major marked the peak of one of the most dominant runs in CS history. Over six months, they claimed seven top-tier trophies and lost only two matches — against Eternal Fire (now Aurora) and Legacy. The results are undeniable: this lineup crushed the competition across every format, including wins at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League, and Intel Grand Slam Season 5.

But can they truly be called the greatest of all time? Or does that title still belong to the legendary Astralis? Let’s compare Vitality vs Astralis.

The Standard of Greatness: Astralis

When it comes to dominance in Counter-Strike, Astralis remains the benchmark. Their run from 2018 to 2020 wasn't just about trophies — it was about consistency, innovation, and an almost mechanical level of control over the meta. With dev1ce, gla1ve, dupreeh, Magisk, and coach zonic, they defined what it meant to be a dynasty.

Even now, any conversation about the best CS team ever inevitably circles back to the Astralis team.

Apex Keeps It Real

Vitality’s captain Dan "apEX" Madesclaire has never shied away from putting his team's success into context. Before the Austin Major, he said:

“Astralis won three Majors. So no, we’re not at their level yet. To get there, we need to win a lot more tournaments.”

After lifting the trophy, he reflected again:

“These were the best six months CS has ever seen. Seven out of eight tournaments. But we still have a long way to go to catch those guys. We want to try.”

It’s rare to hear such honesty in the midst of glory — and it’s also telling. The Vitality team knows how high the bar is.

Numbers Don’t Lie — But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story

On a pure statistical level, Astralis still leads. Their era lasted 679 days, compared to just 133 so far for Vitality. Astralis held the number one spot in the HLTV rankings for 406 consecutive days — Vitality, only 84. Astralis won 16 titles during their run. Vitality has 7.

But Vitality’s peak has been sharper. They boast a higher win rate — 82% compared to Astralis’s 78%. They’ve won more events in a row — 7 vs 6 — and own the longest unbeaten streak in CS history at 30 matches.

So what matters more: longevity or intensity?

Majors Still Rule Everything

For all the data, Majors remain the ultimate measure of greatness in Counter-Strike. Astralis won three. Vitality CS2 has one.

That gap is too wide to ignore. Even with better stats in some areas, Vitality can’t yet claim the crown without matching the Major record. One tournament defines a moment. Three define a legacy.

Congratulations to Vitality for Extending Their Era Through 2025

The Verdict: Not Kings — Yet

Vitality are without question the best team in CS2 so far — and arguably the most dominant team we've seen in the past five years. At their peak, they might even outplay prime Astralis. But greatness in CS is earned over time, with consistency and big-stage wins.

If Vitality adds a second or third Major to their resume, this debate shifts dramatically. Until then, Astralis CS2 remains the greatest team in Counter-Strike history — and Vitality remains the strongest challenger we’ve ever seen.