Vitality started StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 with a victory over magic, but for the team this tournament is part of a much bigger process. flameZ admitted that constant roster changes make practice and preparation more difficult, but the team still believes it can return to its best form and sees the Major as the main goal of the season.
Vitality want to get their game back
According to flameZ, what matters most for the team right now is not simply winning separate tournaments, but once again showing the Counter-Strike that previously allowed Vitality to consistently fight for trophies. Some of this season’s losses were especially frustrating for the players precisely because of the quality of their own game.
We just want to get back to our form — that is the main goal. If we manage to do that, the trophies will come too, along with everything we know we can achieve.
flameZ emphasized that even a loss is easier to accept if the team showed strong play and the opponent was simply better. By contrast, unsuccessful matches in which Vitality do not show their usual level worry the roster much more.
Roster changes make preparation more difficult
Throughout the season, Vitality have had to regularly adapt to personnel changes. mezii missed BLAST Open Porto, and in the future the team again plans to use jL, this time because of apEX’s absence. This means new positions, a different voice in communication, and a rebuild of some familiar interactions.
You have to get used to a new voice, to a new player on the server, and to different positions. Even if we know Justin, it is still difficult to constantly remove one player and put another one in.
flameZ calls the fact that jL is already familiar to the team a positive factor. However, this time his role will be different, as he will be replacing not mezii, but apEX, so mezii will take on part of the calling, and Vitality’s structure will change again.
jL forces Vitality to return to the basics
The previous period with jL gave Vitality an interesting experience. Because of the lack of full synergy, the team relied less on a complex playbook and focused more on fundamentals — trades, mutual support, and simply executing basic actions properly.
It forces you to focus a bit more on the basics rather than the playbook. We paid a lot of attention to just trading each other properly and doing the basic things well.
flameZ also separately noted jL’s energy. According to him, the Lithuanian adds more jokes and freshness to the communication, but at the same time brings his own aggressive style — moving a lot and constantly looking for opportunities for active plays.
Vitality believe in returning to their peak
After a dominant period, the bar for Vitality became extremely high, so the current instability is especially noticeable. However, flameZ does not believe that the best days of this roster are already behind them, and he reminds that the team has already gone through difficult stretches before.
We believe that we can get back to that level. We believe in everyone and in this roster. I don’t think any of us believes there is a better team for him than this five.
For Vitality, the current decline looks more like another stage that needs to be overcome through practice and the search for stable form. flameZ believes that such difficult moments are sometimes exactly what a team needs to once again reach its peak.
The Major remains the main goal
One of Vitality’s key tasks is to secure the most favorable path to the Major and qualify directly for Stage 3. The team understands that because of VRS and the unstable schedule, every upcoming tournament carries additional weight.
If we get victories and qualify for the Major directly in Stage 3, then we will arrive there very well prepared. We will have a chance to show strong play at the Major — that is the main goal.
flameZ even noted that the absence of other trophies in the second half of the season would not be a catastrophe if Vitality are able to win the Major. At the same time, the team is not giving up the fight for every tournament — he simply calls the trophies a consequence of good play, not the main goal itself.
StarLadder is an opportunity to regain form
StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 became another chance for Vitality to play a tournament with their full roster and restore stability. After the victory over magic, the team advanced to the upper semi-final, where they will face the winner of the FURIA — MIBR matchup.
flameZ admitted that the studio format without a big arena is not Vitality’s favorite, but right now that is secondary. The team needs VRS points, official matches, and the opportunity to make the most of the tournaments where the full starting five can still play together before the main stretch of the season.
