Recently there was a shake-up in the world of Age of Empires II: DE esports with the announcement that Hera, Lerieyy and Hearttt have joined Team Vitality. We invited Vitality to write a guest blog to introduce themselves. Let’s give them a good welcome!
Team Vitality, a leading esports organization with its roots in Paris, France, officially announces it’s storming the Castle Age and we couldn’t be more excited to join the scene.
By joining the Age of Empires ecosystem, Team Vitality brings its “V for Victory” legacy to one of the most iconic strategy franchises in video game history. This new chapter marks the meeting of a modern esports titan and a legendary franchise which stands as the global benchmark for Real-Time Strategy.
A “Superteam” to Conquer the Ladder
Hera
Liereyy
Hearttt
Vitality isn’t just entering the scene; they are aiming for the throne immediately. For their arrival in Age of Empires, the club has assembled a roster that can only be described as a “Superteam,” featuring some of the most decorated players in history.
Please welcome the inaugural Team Vitality AoE II roster:
- Hamzah “Hera” El-Baher The Golden Boy. Recognized for his unmatched consistency and strategic mastery, Hera is the defining figure of the modern era. In 2023, he recorded a historic 14-tournament winning streak in S-Tier events. Fresh off his victory at Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado 2024, the current “Player of the Year” is here to continue his reign under the Vitality banner.
- Kai “Liereyy” Kallinger The Archer God. Renowned for having perhaps the best micro-management in the world, the Austrian superstar brings aggressive play and mechanical perfection to the squad. A multi-time Red Bull Wololo Champion (II & IV), Liereyy is widely considered one of the most spectacular talents to ever touch the game.
- Hernán “Hearttt” Pizarro The Veteran Strategist. With a career dating back to 2012 and over 80 professional tournament appearances, Hearttt is the rock of the team. Honored as the “Comeback Player of the Year” in 2023, the Peruvian star brings deep strategic understanding and resilience to round out this powerhouse trio.
First Global Milestone: Red Bull Wololo 2026
The drums of war are already beating for Red Bull Wololo 2026: Londinium.
One of the most prestigious events on the competitive calendar, this global competition will be the first major opportunity to see Team Vitality’s players – and particularly Hera – compete under their new colors at the highest level. The world will be watching to see if the “Golden Hornets” will join to conquer London alongside their new players in the Hive.
Age of Empires has a thriving and ever-growing competitive scene. We’re thrilled to support its growth each year and to see great talent evolve. Seeing a group of our highly skilled and hugely popular pro-players join a prestigious team with Vitality is exciting news for our eSports scene and we look forward to seeing Hera, Lierreyy, and Hearttt compete as part of the Vitality Hive. With 2026 being a particularly exciting year with events like Red Bull Wololo: Londinium there’s huge potential for great gameplay moments and victories.
— Michael Mann, Studio Head, World’s Edge
“At Team Vitality, our expansion is always driven by a certain ambition: to compete for and win World Championships in the world’s most iconic games. Age of Empires and our new superstar lineup align perfectly with that vision. The RTS genre laid the foundation for the modern esports industry and paved the way for the massive success we enjoy today in titles like Counter-Strike. We have been incredibly impressed by the publisher’s long-term commitment to this ecosystem and the passion of a dedicated community that has kept this legacy alive for decades. We are honored to be part of this history and can’t wait to welcome AoE fans into the Vitality Hive.
— Danny Engels, Corporate Director, Global Operations at Team Vitality