How to Build a Championship Era in CS2 Almost for Free?

Four consecutive titles, a million dollars in gold bars, and a 21-map win streak — all without burning millions. Team Vitality is rewriting the rules of the CS2 transfer market.

While other teams are buying out star players for the price of a Paris apartment, Vitality has built a championship roster from scratch. Falcons are pouring tens of millions into every second player, Spirit spends years grooming talent in its academy, and Vitality? They simply wait for the right player to become available. Behind this approach lies a genius transfer strategy that most organizations overlook.

A Free Ropz, FlameZ, and Millions Still in the Bank

During the IEM Melbourne finals, viewers were shown a cheeky image: a Happy Meal for $6, Falcons' roster for $10 million, and... Vitality’s starting five assembled for almost nothing. It sounds like a joke — but it’s real. In 2025, Vitality signed Ropz and FlameZ without paying FaZe or OG a single cent. And both players are among the highest rated — 1.21 and 1.15 respectively.

This isn’t a one-off. Vitality CS2 deliberately hunts for free agents or players with minimal buyouts. The team’s management isn’t just lucky — they’re proactive, constantly monitoring the market and planning long-term moves.

Where It All Began: Cheap Doesn’t Mean Bad

Back in 2018, Vitality’s first lineup included Happy, RpK, NBK, apEX, and a young ZywOo. Everyone except ZywOo was either without a team or in deep inactivity. ZywOo’s contract with French team aAa was set to expire in January 2019, but in the summer, Imperial tried to buy him out for $100,000. Vitality waited until the price dropped and signed the future superstar almost for free.

Their bet paid off: today, ZywOo is one of the most successful and consistent players in CS2 history, earning MVP at nearly every major event.

A Dream Roster Without Overpaying

Between 2019 and 2025, CS2 Vitality strengthened their roster eight times with free transfers. Misutaaa, Kyojin, dupreeh, Magisk, zonic — all joined without buyouts. The club only ever paid transfer fees for Nivera and shox. On top of that, management doesn’t miss a chance to profit: shox was sold to Liquid, dupreeh moved to Heroic, Magisk and zonic to Falcons, and Spinx was recently transferred to MOUZ.

Vitality resembles football’s Benfica — they develop talent, win trophies, and sell high. All without wrecking their budget.

But They Don’t Skimp on Everything: Championship-Level Salaries

After extending his contract, CS2 ZywOo now earns around €100,000 a month. Back in 2018, he only asked for $2,000 — and the club said no. Vitality didn’t want to create salary gaps within the team. That philosophy paid off: trust, discipline, and roster stability have been maintained for years.

Contracts are also extended in advance: apEX and ZywOo are locked in until the end of 2026, FlameZ until 2028. Vitality isn’t afraid to invest in stability, even when the market is in turmoil.

apEX’s Config and Settings in CS2

Vitality Is Esports’ Ultimate Case Study

While rivals treat players like hyped-up skins on the market, Vitality in CS2 is crafting a new model for building a championship roster. The club’s management is the unsung hero of modern CS.

Their approach proves one thing: you don’t always need millions to win. Sometimes, all it takes is knowing who and when to sign.