Counter-Strike 2 is almost officially released, and that means that CS:GO is almost officially behind us.
One of the greatest games ever released, CS:GO has been one of the cornerstones of esports as the industry has exploded to new heights during its lifespan.
One of if not the most captivating of all esports, it has only become so because of some of the incredible teams that have become era defining throughout history.
Dominant teams often redefine how the game is played, but not just that, they push everyone around them to be better, and these teams did both of those things and then some.
Looking at their length of dominance, their achievements in their runs, and the impact they had on Counter-Strike, we've compiled a list of the five greatest teams in CS:GO history.
Notable achievements:
Where better to start than NIP? The first of two Swedish teams to feature on this list, their dominance at the start of CS:GO is the stuff of legend.
A four-man core of GeT_RiGhT, f0rest, Xizt, and friberg that would reach the first five Major finals, they also won one, ESL One: Cologne 2015.
Of course, that isn't what they're most fondly remembered for. When G2 broke NAVI's 19 LAN map winning streak earlier this year by going 21 maps unbeaten, it was viewed as an incredible achievement, but it is still dwarfed by NIP.
Having won 87 maps in a row in the early stages of CS:GO's release, NIP's record is one that will likely never be matched again, even with a new game on the horizon. Started in 2012 and continuing into 2013, it was a run that would see them win every single LAN event they attended up until StarSeries Season V finals, where a Virtus.pro team that at that point featured adreN and Dosia became the first team to take them down.
Dominance unlike any other, their run is one that commands respect and stands amongst the greatest in any esport title.
Notable achievements:
Despite having already won a Major and finishing second place in another in the first two years of the game, it's 2015 where fnatic truly rose to power.
With olofmeister having the best year of his career and finishing number one in HLTV's top 20, the team consisting of olof, JW, flusha, pronx, and KRIMZ became the first team to win back-to-back Majors in 2015.
Champions of ESL One: Katowice as well as ESL One: Cologne, they also won the first two seasons of ESL Pro League, as well as Dreamhack Open Tours, FACEIT League Season 3, and the Gfinity Spring Masters.
An incredible year, they finally truly overcame their Swedish rivals NIP with a year so strong that people still talk about it today.
Notable achievements
Although fnatic became the first team to win consecutive Majors the year before, it was the consecutive Major wins of the LG/SK that became more iconic in 2016.
Starting the year still signed to Luminosity Gaming, the team of FalleN, coldzera, TACO, fnx, and fer had enjoyed a steady rise in 2015 with appearances in Major playoffs and a second place finish at FACEIT League Season 3 Finals, but in 2016, they came with a point to prove.
Partially impressive due to their 'lesser' region in a game dominated by European squadrons, their Major wins would become iconic, especially due to the coldzera jumping AWP clip and the comeback against Team Liquid that play enabled.
With the MLG Columbus Major, two ESL One: Colognes, an IEM Sydney, two seasons of ESL Pro League, and an ECS under their belt across the two years, the team were the best team in that era, and FalleN's incredible displays as both the AWPer and IGL inspired an entire generation of players.
Notable achievements
When you talk about dominance in CS:GO, even with their 87-0 streak, it isn't NIP that first comes to the mind of most fans. That honour goes instead to Astralis.
Announced by Sadokist as "the best of all fucking time" when they closed out their Intel Grand Slam at ESL Pro League Season 8, they were the first team to do so, and considering what would happen after, they were only just getting started.
Winners of an unprecedented three consecutive Majors with the FACEIT London Major 2018, IEM Katowice 2019, and StarLadder Berlin 2019, combined with their Major win at ELEAGUE Atlanta 2017, no core has won as many Majors as dupreeh, device, Xyp9x, and gla1ve have, and the addition of Magisk only made them stronger.
Credited with redefining Counter-Strike due to their utility usage and the calculated, tactical nature of their playstyle, they forced every team to become more like them in a pursuit to catch them, and in the modern era, it's unlikely we will ever see sustained dominance such as theirs again.
Notable achievements
If not for Astralis, Liquid would have gone down in history as the greatest team in 2019, but despite that, they still find themselves on this list.
The second best team in the world for the entire period of Astralis' dominance, people always try to denigrate Liquid's achievements due to their failures at Majors, but it is the NA sides Intel Grand Slam win that makes them so impressive.
Activated by the signing of Major winner Stewie2k at the end of 2018, the Summer of 2019 saw Liquid go on an unstoppable run that even Astralis would have envied.
Closing out their Grand Slam win in just 63 days with wins at IEM Sydney, Dreamhack Dallas, ESL Pro League Season 9, and ESL One: Cologne, it was a period in which every big LAN was won by the NA side in the most succesful era for their region in the entirety of CS:GO.
A team to make their region proud, call it a purple patch if you like, but as the only NA side to win Cologne and the second team to win a Grand Slam, you can't take their achievement away from them.
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