Natus Vincere (or “NAVI”) is among the most successful esports organizations in modern competitive gaming. Founded in 2009, they have established a strong foundation within the esports industry with their Counter-Strike and DOTA 2 teams, which propelled them to international fame. 

In this article, we’ll put the spotlight on NAVI’s journey, from its humble roots to its various esports divisions and their most explosive achievements.

Natus Vincere’s History 

NAVI was founded on December 17, 2009, in Kyiv, Ukraine. The organization originally operated under the name “Arbalet UA,” taken from its founder, Murat “Arbalet” Zhumashevich. It was later rebranded as Natus Vincere, a Latin phrase meaning “to be born to win.”

Like many other esports organizations, NAVI started with a Counter-Strike 1.6 team—and they hit the ground running. Throughout 2010, they dominated the scene, picking up multiple trophies at major events.

These early wins cemented their status as a leading esports team at the time and laid the groundwork for expansions into many other competitive titles.

Alongside its success in Counter-Strike in 2010, NAVI also established a DOTA 2 team that same year and continued to deliver superb performances. The team won the inaugural edition of The International (TI) and claimed the first-ever seven-figure cash prize in esports history.

With its path to greatness established, NAVI expanded ambitiously over the next decade, forming teams for PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, FIFA, and other games. They continue to compete at the highest level and are supported by a loyal fanbase.

Natus Vincere’s Esports Divisions 

Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike is where it all started. NAVI’s first victory was at ESWC Ukraine in 2010, followed by a massively successful year marked by many victories.

Switching to CS:GO in 2012, their performance declined, but picked up again in 2015 and 2016, with numerous deep runs before signing now legendary AWPer Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev that year. In 2021, NAVI won its first Major championship at PGL Major Stockholm 2021.

While NAVI’s Counter-Strike team had bumps along the way, they maintained a record of high-tier finishes during the CS:GO era—and not much has changed since. Today, NAVI is still widely regarded as one of the best CS2 teams globally.

DOTA 2

The Natus Vincere DOTA 2 division is among the most influential rosters in esports history.

The team won the inaugural edition of The International in 2011 and managed to reach the Grand Finals of both TI2 and TI3, playing a huge role in shaping early-game metas and strategies for the community. These achievements made them a force to be reckoned with in the DOTA 2 space.

In recent years, however, the NAVI DOTA 2 team has undergone significant restructuring. This comes after years of underwhelming performances, from early exits at major events to the team’s inability to qualify for tournaments altogether.

As of November 2025, restructuring appears to be an ongoing process for the team as the organization reviews its plans for the MOBA. However, their legacy and historical results will always keep NAVI relevant in the world of DOTA 2.

PUBG & PUBG Mobile

The Natus Vincere PUBG team was formed in 2018 and comprised four Russian players. Since then, they’ve found most of their success in A-Tier and B-Tier tournaments, with a less consistent track record at the Tier 1 level.

The roster has seen several changes over the years. In 2022, however, NAVI PUBG broke through in a big way by clinching the PUBG Global Championship title and taking home a massive $1,008,338.

This momentum carried over to the organization’s entry into PUBG Mobile in 2020, where NAVI made a stronger immediate impact, winning at the PUBG Mobile EMEA League in October of that year.

Both teams have since held a solid presence in their respective scenes and continue to perform well in regional PUBG and PUBG Mobile esports tournaments. 

World of Tanks

NAVI’s World of Tanks division was formed in July 2013, when the organization acquired the entire roster of the Russian team “The Red Rush.”

The squad played a significant role in the organization’s WoT run, competing in many Wargaming.net League seasons and Grand Finals. They went on to secure two Grand Final titles, along with multiple season championships.

In 2017, however, the squad went back to The Red Rush, and the NAVI World of Tanks division was shut down.

Rainbow Six Siege

The NAVI Rainbow Six Siege team was formed in 2019, when the organization acquired the entire roster of Mock-it Esports. However, they were replaced the same year by MnM Gaming’s roster. 

The team got off to a great start by winning the Season 10 Pro League Finals and ESL Premiership Winter 2019 tournament the same month. Since then, they have delivered standout performances, securing consistent top-10 and top-five placements in many notable tournaments.

In 2023, the Rainbow Six Siege team was disbanded by NAVI. 

Other teams

The NAVI divisions mentioned above remained its most successful, but the organization also competes in many other titles:

• Chess
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
• Call of Duty: Mobile
• Clash of Clans
• VALORANT
• Halo Infinite
• Apex Legends
• Paladins
• League of Legends
• Rocket League
• FIFA
• Fortnite
• Brawl Stars
• Tekken 8

Out of every Natus Vincere esports division, the Counter-Strike team remains its most profitable, having racked up more than $12 million in prize money.

Natus Vincere’s Biggest Achievements 

Natus Vincere has had one of the most stellar runs in esports history. Here are some of their biggest achievements:

FAQs

What does Natus Vincere mean?

Natus Vincere comes from Latin and translates to “born to win.”

What games does NAVI compete in?

NAVI fields teams across Call of Duty: Mobile, World of Tanks, DOTA 2, Rainbow Six, VALORANT, League of Legends, Fortnite, CS2, PUBG, and many other titles.

Is NAVI still active in DOTA 2?

Yes. NAVI continues to compete in DOTA 2.

Where is NAVI based?

NAVI is headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine.