Europe has long dominated CS but who are the best CS2 teams outside Europe? Out of the 20 Counter-Strike Majors so far, from 2013 until now, only one non-European team managed to go all the way and win the biggest prize in all of Counter-Strike.
Apart from that infamous 2018 Cloud9 roster and the Intel Grand Slam-winning 2019 Liquid, Europeans have always had the upper hand over the rest of the world. However, teams from continents like North America, South America, and even Asia have had a bit of a resurgence lately, making deep runs in S Tier tournaments for the first time in the last five years.
Credit: Complexity
After their top-four finish at ESL Pro League Season 19, it’s safe to say that Complexity one of the best CS2 teams outside Europe right now. Since the first CS2 event, where Complexity finished second, the North American organization has consistently been on the cusp of big event playoffs, including the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen, where they squandered three chances to make it to the Royal Arena. Despite the disappointment, Complexity’s floor has increased massively in the past year, mainly due to the addition of EliGE.
Following his eight-year tenure with Liquid, EliGE joined Complexity in hopes of once again becoming an elite-level rifler, and he did just that. The American has been instrumental in his team’s success, powering them through numerous close series, while always being a contender for tournament MVP medals. If some of his teammates like floppy or Grim find more consistency in their game, Complexity could become a perennial playoff team in CS2.
Credit: Team Liquid
While Liquid failed to meet the community’s very high expectations right from the get-go, with missing the Major being the prime example, they have been hitting their stride much more in the past few months, securing playoff berths at IEM Chengdu and ESL Pro League Season 19. It has taken more time than expected for cadiaN to integrate his system and transition to calling in an international lineup, albeit he has done it before in Rogue. Now, it seems like the team is improving with each game, looking more cohesive and synergized than in their previous outings.
The saving grace of Liquid in their early months was the Canadian duo of Twistzz and NAF, who have been delivering on the server since the roster’s inception at the end of 2023.
The duo share a ton of big match experience between them, which is bound to be a big asset for the squad when they eventually establish themselves as a championship contender team. Going off their current rate of progression, Liquid should be consistently making playoffs come the fall season.
Credit: ESL
For the past decade, the Asian Counter-Strike scene has been largely dominated by Chinese and Australian teams, with the 2019/2020 Renegades/100 Thieves roster being the best team the region has ever produced.
However, seemingly out of nowhere, Mongolia has been producing tons of talent in recent years. TheMongolz have become a mainstay in the top 20 and one of the best CS2 teams outside Europe. With the team’s average age being below 20 years old, the sky is the limit for TheMongolz, who have just achieved their best-ever result at a big event, reaching the playoffs at ESL Pro League Season 19.
The only thing TheMongolz are lacking is experience. But by playing more and more events, it’s only a matter of time until they break into the top 10 and become a playoff contender team on the international stage. Let’s hope their success motivates their competitors to step up, hence improving the Asian region as a whole.
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