diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/rebuild.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/rebuild.ts
index d7c75cce9fc5..a0b0f1ddc79d 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/rebuild.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/rebuild.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { setTimeout } from 'node:timers/promises';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 import { appendToFile, replaceInFile, writeMultipleFiles } from '../../utils/fs';
@@ -68,15 +69,9 @@ export default async function () {
   {
     const response = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/main.js`);
     const body = await response.text();
-    if (!body.match(/\$\$_E2E_GOLDEN_VALUE_1/)) {
-      throw new Error('Expected golden value 1.');
-    }
-    if (!body.match(/\$\$_E2E_GOLDEN_VALUE_2/)) {
-      throw new Error('Expected golden value 2.');
-    }
-    if (!body.match(/\$\$_E2E_GOLDEN_VALUE_3/)) {
-      throw new Error('Expected golden value 3.');
-    }
+    assert.match(body, /\$\$_E2E_GOLDEN_VALUE_1/);
+    assert.match(body, /\$\$_E2E_GOLDEN_VALUE_2/);
+    assert.match(body, /\$\$_E2E_GOLDEN_VALUE_3/);
   }
 
   await setTimeout(500);
@@ -90,9 +85,7 @@ export default async function () {
   {
     const response = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/main.js`);
     const body = await response.text();
-    if (!body.match(/testingTESTING123/)) {
-      throw new Error('Expected component HTML to update.');
-    }
+    assert.match(body, /testingTESTING123/);
   }
 
   await setTimeout(500);
@@ -106,9 +99,7 @@ export default async function () {
   {
     const response = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/main.js`);
     const body = await response.text();
-    if (!body.match(/color:\s?blue/)) {
-      throw new Error('Expected component CSS to update.');
-    }
+    assert.match(body, /color:\s?blue/);
   }
 
   await setTimeout(500);
@@ -122,8 +113,6 @@ export default async function () {
   {
     const response = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/styles.css`);
     const body = await response.text();
-    if (!body.match(/color:\s?green/)) {
-      throw new Error('Expected global CSS to update.');
-    }
+    assert.match(body, /color:\s?green/);
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/serve.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/serve.ts
index e5f5af674475..7623cc3a6afc 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/serve.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/serve.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { killAllProcesses } from '../../utils/process';
 import { ngServe } from '../../utils/project';
 
@@ -14,14 +15,8 @@ export default async function () {
 
 async function verifyResponse(port: number): Promise<void> {
   const indexResponse = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/`);
-
-  if (!/<app-root><\/app-root>/.test(await indexResponse.text())) {
-    throw new Error('Response does not match expected value.');
-  }
+  assert.match(await indexResponse.text(), /<app-root><\/app-root>/);
 
   const assetResponse = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/favicon.ico`);
-
-  if (!assetResponse.ok) {
-    throw new Error('Expected favicon asset to be available.');
-  }
+  assert(assetResponse.ok, 'Expected favicon asset to be available.');
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/styles-array.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/styles-array.ts
index 1639f8863aac..cc4d6d56f506 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/styles-array.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/basic/styles-array.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { expectFileToMatch, writeMultipleFiles } from '../../utils/fs';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
 import { updateJsonFile } from '../../utils/project';
@@ -42,8 +43,5 @@ export default async function () {
   );
 
   // Non injected styles should be listed under lazy chunk files
-  if (!/Lazy chunk files[\s\S]+renamed-lazy-style\.css/m.test(stdout)) {
-    console.log(stdout);
-    throw new Error(`Expected "renamed-lazy-style.css" to be listed under "Lazy chunk files".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout, /Lazy chunk files[\s\S]+renamed-lazy-style\.css/m);
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/bundle-budgets.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/bundle-budgets.ts
index d5cbf7059873..1401d8d3c6e3 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/bundle-budgets.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/bundle-budgets.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.dev/license
  */
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
 import { updateJsonFile } from '../../utils/project';
 import { expectToFail } from '../../utils/utils';
@@ -18,9 +19,7 @@ export default async function () {
   });
 
   const { message: errorMessage } = await expectToFail(() => ng('build'));
-  if (!/Error.+budget/i.test(errorMessage)) {
-    throw new Error('Budget error: all, max error.');
-  }
+  assert.match(errorMessage, /Error.+budget/i, 'Budget error: all, max error.');
 
   // Warning
   await updateJsonFile('angular.json', (json) => {
@@ -30,9 +29,7 @@ export default async function () {
   });
 
   const { stderr } = await ng('build');
-  if (!/Warning.+budget/i.test(stderr)) {
-    throw new Error('Budget warning: all, min warning');
-  }
+  assert.match(stderr, /Warning.+budget/i, 'Budget warning: all, min warning');
 
   // Pass
   await updateJsonFile('angular.json', (json) => {
@@ -42,7 +39,5 @@ export default async function () {
   });
 
   const { stderr: stderr2 } = await ng('build');
-  if (/(Warning|Error)/i.test(stderr2)) {
-    throw new Error('BIG max for all, should not error');
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(stderr2, /(Warning|Error)/i, 'BIG max for all, should not error');
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/prod-build.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/prod-build.ts
index 3c450aa8d98d..dee45876e379 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/prod-build.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/prod-build.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { statSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
@@ -10,17 +11,15 @@ function verifySize(bundle: string, baselineBytes: number) {
   const maxSize = baselineBytes + percentageBaseline;
   const minSize = baselineBytes - percentageBaseline;
 
-  if (size >= maxSize) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Expected ${bundle} size to be less than ${maxSize / 1024}Kb but it was ${size / 1024}Kb.`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert(
+    size < maxSize,
+    `Expected ${bundle} size to be less than ${maxSize / 1024}Kb but it was ${size / 1024}Kb.`,
+  );
 
-  if (size <= minSize) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Expected ${bundle} size to be greater than ${minSize / 1024}Kb but it was ${size / 1024}Kb.`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert(
+    size > minSize,
+    `Expected ${bundle} size to be greater than ${minSize / 1024}Kb but it was ${size / 1024}Kb.`,
+  );
 }
 
 export default async function () {
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/progress-and-stats.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/progress-and-stats.ts
index d16c671872fb..940179df052e 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/progress-and-stats.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/progress-and-stats.ts
@@ -4,15 +4,8 @@ import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
 
 export default async function () {
   const { stderr: stderrProgress, stdout } = await ng('build', '--progress');
-  if (!stdout.includes('Initial total')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected stdout to contain 'Initial total' but it did not.\n${stdout}`);
-  }
-
-  if (!stdout.includes('Estimated transfer size')) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Expected stdout to contain 'Estimated transfer size' but it did not.\n${stdout}`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout, /Initial total/);
+  assert.match(stdout, /Estimated transfer size/);
 
   let logs;
   if (getGlobalVariable('argv')['esbuild']) {
@@ -28,15 +21,11 @@ export default async function () {
   }
 
   for (const log of logs) {
-    if (!stderrProgress.includes(log)) {
-      throw new Error(`Expected stderr to contain '${log}' but didn't.\n${stderrProgress}`);
-    }
+    assert.match(stderrProgress, new RegExp(log));
   }
 
   const { stderr: stderrNoProgress } = await ng('build', '--no-progress');
   for (const log of logs) {
-    if (stderrNoProgress.includes(log)) {
-      throw new Error(`Expected stderr not to contain '${log}' but it did.\n${stderrProgress}`);
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(stderrNoProgress, new RegExp(log));
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/rebuild-deps-type-check.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/rebuild-deps-type-check.ts
index e390563fda9d..1f4964f6689b 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/rebuild-deps-type-check.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/rebuild-deps-type-check.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-import { waitForAnyProcessOutputToMatch, execAndWaitForOutputToMatch } from '../../utils/process';
-import { writeFile, prependToFile, appendToFile } from '../../utils/fs';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
+import { appendToFile, prependToFile, writeFile } from '../../utils/fs';
+import { execAndWaitForOutputToMatch, waitForAnyProcessOutputToMatch } from '../../utils/process';
 
 const doneRe = getGlobalVariable('argv')['esbuild']
   ? /Application bundle generation complete\./
@@ -69,14 +70,11 @@ export default function () {
         ]),
       )
       .then((results) => {
-        const stderr = results[0].stderr;
-        if (
-          !stderr.includes(
-            "Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'",
-          )
-        ) {
-          throw new Error('Expected an error but none happened.');
-        }
+        const { stderr } = results[0];
+        assert.match(
+          stderr,
+          /Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'/,
+        );
       })
       // Change an UNRELATED file and the error should still happen.
       // Should trigger a rebuild, this time an error is also expected.
@@ -92,14 +90,11 @@ export default function () {
         ]),
       )
       .then((results) => {
-        const stderr = results[0].stderr;
-        if (
-          !stderr.includes(
-            "Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'",
-          )
-        ) {
-          throw new Error('Expected an error to still be there but none was.');
-        }
+        const { stderr } = results[0];
+        assert.match(
+          stderr,
+          /Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'/,
+        );
       })
       // Fix the error!
       .then(() =>
@@ -116,14 +111,11 @@ export default function () {
         ]),
       )
       .then((results) => {
-        const stderr = results[0].stderr;
-        if (
-          stderr.includes(
-            "Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'",
-          )
-        ) {
-          throw new Error('Expected no error but an error was shown.');
-        }
+        const { stderr } = results[0];
+        assert.doesNotMatch(
+          stderr,
+          /Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'number'/,
+        );
       })
   );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/relative-sourcemap.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/relative-sourcemap.ts
index 11b2cccd082b..209e29aabd76 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/relative-sourcemap.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/relative-sourcemap.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
-
 import { isAbsolute } from 'node:path';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
@@ -41,22 +41,17 @@ export default async function () {
   const { sources } = JSON.parse(content) as { sources: string[] };
   let mainFileFound = false;
   for (const source of sources) {
-    if (isAbsolute(source)) {
-      throw new Error(`Expected ${source} to be relative.`);
-    }
+    assert(!isAbsolute(source), `Expected ${source} to be relative.`);
 
     if (source.endsWith('main.ts')) {
       mainFileFound = true;
-      if (
-        source !== 'projects/secondary-project/src/main.ts' &&
-        source !== './projects/secondary-project/src/main.ts'
-      ) {
-        throw new Error(`Expected main file ${source} to be relative to the workspace root.`);
-      }
+      assert(
+        source === 'projects/secondary-project/src/main.ts' ||
+          source === './projects/secondary-project/src/main.ts',
+        `Expected main file ${source} to be relative to the workspace root.`,
+      );
     }
   }
 
-  if (!mainFileFound) {
-    throw new Error('Could not find the main file in the application sourcemap sources array.');
-  }
+  assert(mainFileFound, 'Could not find the main file in the application sourcemap sources array.');
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/scripts-output-hashing.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/scripts-output-hashing.ts
index 517e185d4af0..8b34662c485e 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/scripts-output-hashing.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/scripts-output-hashing.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 import {
   expectFileMatchToExist,
@@ -55,9 +56,10 @@ export default async function () {
     `dist/test-project/browser/${filenameBuild2}`,
     'try{console.log()}catch{}',
   );
-  if (filenameBuild1 === filenameBuild2) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'Contents of the built file changed between builds, but the content hash stayed the same!',
-    );
-  }
+
+  assert.notEqual(
+    filenameBuild1,
+    filenameBuild2,
+    'Contents of the built file changed between builds, but the content hash stayed the same!',
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/sourcemap.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/sourcemap.ts
index b601ac08656d..cd3d6c32ab0c 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/sourcemap.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/sourcemap.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
+import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 import { expectFileToExist } from '../../utils/fs';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
-import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 
 export default async function () {
   const useWebpackBuilder = !getGlobalVariable('argv')['esbuild'];
@@ -30,9 +31,7 @@ async function testForSourceMaps(expectedNumberOfFiles: number): Promise<void> {
 
     ++count;
 
-    if (!files.includes(file + '.map')) {
-      throw new Error('Sourcemap not generated for ' + file);
-    }
+    assert(files.includes(file + '.map'), 'Sourcemap not generated for ' + file);
 
     const content = fs.readFileSync('./dist/test-project/browser/' + file, 'utf8');
     let lastLineIndex = content.lastIndexOf('\n');
@@ -41,15 +40,15 @@ async function testForSourceMaps(expectedNumberOfFiles: number): Promise<void> {
       lastLineIndex = content.lastIndexOf('\n', lastLineIndex - 1);
     }
     const comment = lastLineIndex !== -1 && content.slice(lastLineIndex).trim();
-    if (comment !== `//# sourceMappingURL=${file}.map`) {
-      console.log('CONTENT:\n' + content);
-      throw new Error('Sourcemap comment not generated for ' + file);
-    }
-  }
-
-  if (count < expectedNumberOfFiles) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `Javascript file count is low. Expected ${expectedNumberOfFiles} but found ${count}`,
+    assert.equal(
+      comment,
+      `//# sourceMappingURL=${file}.map`,
+      'Sourcemap comment not generated for ' + file,
     );
   }
+
+  assert(
+    count >= expectedNumberOfFiles,
+    `Javascript file count is low. Expected ${expectedNumberOfFiles} but found ${count}`,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/worker.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/worker.ts
index 7b6cdb390cb7..53e60aa34772 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/worker.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/build/worker.ts
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.dev/license
  */
 
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { readdir } from 'node:fs/promises';
+import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 import { expectFileToExist, expectFileToMatch, replaceInFile, writeFile } from '../../utils/fs';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
-import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../utils/env';
 import { expectToFail } from '../../utils/utils';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -83,9 +84,7 @@ async function getWorkerOutputFile(useWebpackBuilder: boolean): Promise<string>
     fileName = files.find((f) => /worker-[\dA-Z]{8}\.js/.test(f));
   }
 
-  if (!fileName) {
-    throw new Error('Cannot determine worker output file name.');
-  }
+  assert(fileName, 'Cannot determine worker output file name.');
 
   return fileName;
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/add-pwa.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/add-pwa.ts
index e4c3be19cc88..c01cc185c84b 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/add-pwa.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/add-pwa.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../../utils/env';
 import { expectFileToExist, readFile, rimraf } from '../../../utils/fs';
 import { installWorkspacePackages } from '../../../utils/packages';
@@ -17,9 +18,7 @@ export default async function () {
   const hasPWADep = Object.keys({ ...dependencies, ...devDependencies }).some(
     (d) => d === '@angular/pwa',
   );
-  if (hasPWADep) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected 'package.json' not to contain a dependency on '@angular/pwa'.`);
-  }
+  assert.ok(!hasPWADep, `Expected 'package.json' not to contain a dependency on '@angular/pwa'.`);
 
   const isSnapshotBuild = getGlobalVariable('argv')['ng-snapshots'];
   if (isSnapshotBuild) {
@@ -55,13 +54,10 @@ export default async function () {
   }));
   const emptyAssetGroups = assetGroups.filter(({ urlCount }) => urlCount === 0);
 
-  if (assetGroups.length === 0) {
-    throw new Error("Expected 'ngsw.json' to contain at least one asset-group.");
-  }
-  if (emptyAssetGroups.length > 0) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'Expected all asset-groups to contain at least one URL, but the following groups are empty: ' +
-        emptyAssetGroups.map(({ name }) => name).join(', '),
-    );
-  }
+  assert.ok(assetGroups.length > 0, "Expected 'ngsw.json' to contain at least one asset-group.");
+  assert.ok(
+    emptyAssetGroups.length === 0,
+    'Expected all asset-groups to contain at least one URL, but the following groups are empty: ' +
+      emptyAssetGroups.map(({ name }) => name).join(', '),
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/peer.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/peer.ts
index 85074646de11..d085efadf080 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/peer.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/peer.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { assetDir } from '../../../utils/assets';
 import { ng } from '../../../utils/process';
 
@@ -9,21 +10,15 @@ export default async function () {
     assetDir('add-collection-peer-bad'),
     '--skip-confirmation',
   );
-  if (!bad.includes(warning)) {
-    throw new Error('peer warning not shown on bad package');
-  }
+  assert.match(bad, new RegExp(warning), 'peer warning not shown on bad package');
 
   const { stdout: base } = await ng('add', assetDir('add-collection'), '--skip-confirmation');
-  if (base.includes(warning)) {
-    throw new Error('peer warning shown on base package');
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(base, new RegExp(warning), 'peer warning shown on base package');
 
   const { stdout: good } = await ng(
     'add',
     assetDir('add-collection-peer-good'),
     '--skip-confirmation',
   );
-  if (good.includes(warning)) {
-    throw new Error('peer warning shown on good package');
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(good, new RegExp(warning), 'peer warning shown on good package');
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/version-specifier.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/version-specifier.ts
index 7bd09835ee9c..f88d60a51ec9 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/version-specifier.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/add/version-specifier.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { appendFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import { expectFileToMatch } from '../../../utils/fs';
 import { getActivePackageManager, uninstallPackage } from '../../../utils/packages';
@@ -21,24 +22,32 @@ export default async function () {
   await expectFileToMatch('package.json', /@angular\/localize/);
 
   const output1 = await ng('add', '@angular/localize', '--skip-confirmation');
-  if (!output1.stdout.includes('Skipping installation: Package already installed')) {
-    throw new Error('Installation was not skipped');
-  }
+  assert.match(
+    output1.stdout,
+    /Skipping installation: Package already installed/,
+    'Installation was not skipped',
+  );
 
   const output2 = await ng('add', '@angular/localize@latest', '--skip-confirmation');
-  if (output2.stdout.includes('Skipping installation: Package already installed')) {
-    throw new Error('Installation should not have been skipped');
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    output2.stdout,
+    /Skipping installation: Package already installed/,
+    'Installation should not have been skipped',
+  );
 
   const output3 = await ng('add', '@angular/localize@19.1.0', '--skip-confirmation');
-  if (output3.stdout.includes('Skipping installation: Package already installed')) {
-    throw new Error('Installation should not have been skipped');
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    output3.stdout,
+    /Skipping installation: Package already installed/,
+    'Installation should not have been skipped',
+  );
 
   const output4 = await ng('add', '@angular/localize@19', '--skip-confirmation');
-  if (!output4.stdout.includes('Skipping installation: Package already installed')) {
-    throw new Error('Installation was not skipped');
-  }
+  assert.match(
+    output4.stdout,
+    /Skipping installation: Package already installed/,
+    'Installation was not skipped',
+  );
 
   await uninstallPackage('@angular/localize');
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/analytics/ask-analytics-command.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/analytics/ask-analytics-command.ts
index 3791d6850a8d..ae20bb21f2fa 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/analytics/ask-analytics-command.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/analytics/ask-analytics-command.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { execWithEnv } from '../../../utils/process';
 import { mockHome } from '../../../utils/utils';
 
@@ -17,9 +18,7 @@ export default async function () {
       'n\n' /* stdin */,
     );
 
-    if (!ANALYTICS_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('CLI did not prompt for analytics permission.');
-    }
+    assert.match(stdout, ANALYTICS_PROMPT, 'CLI did not prompt for analytics permission.');
   });
 
   // CLI should skip analytics prompt with `NG_CLI_ANALYTICS=false`.
@@ -31,9 +30,11 @@ export default async function () {
       NG_FORCE_AUTOCOMPLETE: 'false',
     });
 
-    if (ANALYTICS_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('CLI prompted for analytics permission when it should be forced off.');
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      ANALYTICS_PROMPT,
+      'CLI prompted for analytics permission when it should be forced off.',
+    );
   });
 
   // CLI should skip analytics prompt during `ng update`.
@@ -44,10 +45,10 @@ export default async function () {
       NG_FORCE_AUTOCOMPLETE: 'false',
     });
 
-    if (ANALYTICS_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'CLI prompted for analytics permission during an update where it should not' + ' have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      ANALYTICS_PROMPT,
+      'CLI prompted for analytics permission during an update where it should not have.',
+    );
   });
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/cache/cache-enable-disable.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/cache/cache-enable-disable.ts
index bb81dd2d80b9..1cfbf705787e 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/cache/cache-enable-disable.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/cache/cache-enable-disable.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { readFile } from '../../../utils/fs';
 import { ng } from '../../../utils/process';
 
 export default async function () {
   await ng('cache', 'enable');
-  if (JSON.parse(await readFile('angular.json')).cli.cache.enabled !== true) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected 'cli.cache.enable' to be true.`);
-  }
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    JSON.parse(await readFile('angular.json')).cli.cache.enabled,
+    true,
+    `Expected 'cli.cache.enable' to be true.`,
+  );
 
   await ng('cache', 'disable');
-  if (JSON.parse(await readFile('angular.json')).cli.cache.enabled !== false) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected 'cli.cache.enable' to be false.`);
-  }
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    JSON.parse(await readFile('angular.json')).cli.cache.enabled,
+    false,
+    `Expected 'cli.cache.enable' to be false.`,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-prompt.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-prompt.ts
index 3e0a182c2270..424b373e47a6 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-prompt.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-prompt.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import * as path from 'node:path';
 import { env } from 'node:process';
 import { getGlobalVariable } from '../../../utils/env';
 import { mockHome } from '../../../utils/utils';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 
 import {
   execAndCaptureError,
@@ -51,20 +52,24 @@ export default async function () {
       'y\n' /* stdin: accept prompt */,
     );
 
-    if (!AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('CLI execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup when it should have.');
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'CLI execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup when it should have.',
+    );
 
     const bashrcContents = await fs.readFile(bashrc, 'utf-8');
-    if (!bashrcContents.includes('source <(ng completion script)')) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Autocompletion was *not* added to `~/.bashrc` after accepting the setup prompt.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      bashrcContents,
+      /source <\(ng completion script\)/,
+      'Autocompletion was *not* added to `~/.bashrc` after accepting the setup prompt.',
+    );
 
-    if (!stdout.includes('Appended `source <(ng completion script)`')) {
-      throw new Error('CLI did not print that it successfully set up autocompletion.');
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout,
+      /Appended `source <\(ng completion script\)`/,
+      'CLI did not print that it successfully set up autocompletion.',
+    );
   });
 
   // Does nothing if the user rejects the autocompletion prompt.
@@ -83,26 +88,30 @@ export default async function () {
       'n\n' /* stdin: reject prompt */,
     );
 
-    if (!AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('CLI execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup when it should have.');
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'CLI execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup when it should have.',
+    );
 
     const bashrcContents = await fs.readFile(bashrc, 'utf-8');
-    if (bashrcContents.includes('ng completion')) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Autocompletion was incorrectly added to `~/.bashrc` after refusing the setup prompt.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      bashrcContents,
+      /ng completion/,
+      'Autocompletion was incorrectly added to `~/.bashrc` after refusing the setup prompt.',
+    );
 
-    if (stdout.includes('Appended `source <(ng completion script)`')) {
-      throw new Error(
-        "CLI printed that it successfully set up autocompletion when it actually didn't.",
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      /Appended `source <\(ng completion script\)`/,
+      "CLI printed that it successfully set up autocompletion when it actually didn't.",
+    );
 
-    if (!stdout.includes("Ok, you won't be prompted again.")) {
-      throw new Error('CLI did not inform the user they will not be prompted again.');
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout,
+      /Ok, you won't be prompted again\./,
+      'CLI did not inform the user they will not be prompted again.',
+    );
   });
 
   // Does *not* prompt if the user already accepted (even if they delete the completion config).
@@ -121,17 +130,19 @@ export default async function () {
       'y\n' /* stdin: accept prompt */,
     );
 
-    if (!AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout1)) {
-      throw new Error('First execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup.');
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout1,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'First execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup.',
+    );
 
     const bashrcContents1 = await fs.readFile(bashrc, 'utf-8');
-    if (!bashrcContents1.includes('source <(ng completion script)')) {
-      throw new Error(
-        '`~/.bashrc` file was not updated after the user accepted the autocompletion' +
-          ` prompt. Contents:\n${bashrcContents1}`,
-      );
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      bashrcContents1,
+      /source <\(ng completion script\)/,
+      '`~/.bashrc` file was not updated after the user accepted the autocompletion' +
+        ` prompt. Contents:\n${bashrcContents1}`,
+    );
 
     // User modifies their configuration and removes `ng completion`.
     await fs.writeFile(bashrc, '# Some new commands...');
@@ -142,20 +153,20 @@ export default async function () {
       HOME: home,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout2)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Subsequent execution after rejecting autocompletion setup prompted again' +
-          ' when it should not have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout2,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Subsequent execution after rejecting autocompletion setup prompted again' +
+        ' when it should not have.',
+    );
 
     const bashrcContents2 = await fs.readFile(bashrc, 'utf-8');
-    if (bashrcContents2 !== '# Some new commands...') {
-      throw new Error(
-        '`~/.bashrc` file was incorrectly modified when using a modified `~/.bashrc`' +
-          ` after previously accepting the autocompletion prompt. Contents:\n${bashrcContents2}`,
-      );
-    }
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      bashrcContents2,
+      '# Some new commands...',
+      '`~/.bashrc` file was incorrectly modified when using a modified `~/.bashrc`' +
+        ` after previously accepting the autocompletion prompt. Contents:\n${bashrcContents2}`,
+    );
   });
 
   // Does *not* prompt if the user already rejected.
@@ -174,9 +185,11 @@ export default async function () {
       'n\n' /* stdin: reject prompt */,
     );
 
-    if (!AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout1)) {
-      throw new Error('First execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup.');
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout1,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'First execution did not prompt for autocompletion setup.',
+    );
 
     const { stdout: stdout2 } = await execWithEnv('ng', ['config'], {
       ...DEFAULT_ENV,
@@ -184,20 +197,20 @@ export default async function () {
       HOME: home,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout2)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Subsequent execution after rejecting autocompletion setup prompted again' +
-          ' when it should not have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout2,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Subsequent execution after rejecting autocompletion setup prompted again' +
+        ' when it should not have.',
+    );
 
     const bashrcContents = await fs.readFile(bashrc, 'utf-8');
-    if (bashrcContents !== '# Other commands...') {
-      throw new Error(
-        '`~/.bashrc` file was incorrectly modified when the user never accepted the' +
-          ` autocompletion prompt. Contents:\n${bashrcContents}`,
-      );
-    }
+    assert.strictEqual(
+      bashrcContents,
+      '# Other commands...',
+      '`~/.bashrc` file was incorrectly modified when the user never accepted the' +
+        ` autocompletion prompt. Contents:\n${bashrcContents}`,
+    );
   });
 
   // Prompts user again on subsequent execution after accepting prompt but failing to setup.
@@ -220,11 +233,11 @@ export default async function () {
       'y\n' /* stdin: accept prompt */,
     );
 
-    if (!err.message.includes('Failed to append autocompletion setup')) {
-      throw new Error(
-        `Failed first execution did not print the expected error message. Actual:\n${err.message}`,
-      );
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      err.message,
+      /Failed to append autocompletion setup/,
+      `Failed first execution did not print the expected error message. Actual:\n${err.message}`,
+    );
 
     // User corrects file permissions between executions.
     await fs.chmod(bashrc, 0o777);
@@ -240,20 +253,20 @@ export default async function () {
       'y\n' /* stdin: accept prompt */,
     );
 
-    if (!AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout2)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Subsequent execution after failed autocompletion setup did not prompt again when it should' +
-          ' have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      stdout2,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Subsequent execution after failed autocompletion setup did not prompt again when it should' +
+        ' have.',
+    );
 
     const bashrcContents = await fs.readFile(bashrc, 'utf-8');
-    if (!bashrcContents.includes('ng completion script')) {
-      throw new Error(
-        '`~/.bashrc` file does not include `ng completion` after the user never accepted the' +
-          ` autocompletion prompt a second time. Contents:\n${bashrcContents}`,
-      );
-    }
+    assert.match(
+      bashrcContents,
+      /ng completion script/,
+      '`~/.bashrc` file does not include `ng completion` after the user never accepted the' +
+        ` autocompletion prompt a second time. Contents:\n${bashrcContents}`,
+    );
   });
 
   // Does *not* prompt for `ng update` commands.
@@ -264,9 +277,11 @@ export default async function () {
       HOME: home,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('`ng update` command incorrectly prompted for autocompletion setup.');
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      '`ng update` command incorrectly prompted for autocompletion setup.',
+    );
   });
 
   // Does *not* prompt for `ng completion` commands.
@@ -276,9 +291,11 @@ export default async function () {
       HOME: home,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('`ng completion` command incorrectly prompted for autocompletion setup.');
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      '`ng completion` command incorrectly prompted for autocompletion setup.',
+    );
   });
 
   // Does *not* prompt user for CI executions.
@@ -289,9 +306,11 @@ export default async function () {
       NG_FORCE_TTY: undefined,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('CI execution prompted for autocompletion setup but should not have.');
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'CI execution prompted for autocompletion setup but should not have.',
+    );
   }
 
   // Does *not* prompt user for non-TTY executions.
@@ -301,9 +320,11 @@ export default async function () {
       NG_FORCE_TTY: 'false',
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error('Non-TTY execution prompted for autocompletion setup but should not have.');
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Non-TTY execution prompted for autocompletion setup but should not have.',
+    );
   }
 
   // Does *not* prompt user for executions without a `$HOME`.
@@ -313,12 +334,12 @@ export default async function () {
       HOME: undefined,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Execution without a `$HOME` value prompted for autocompletion setup but' +
-          ' should not have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Execution without a `$HOME` value prompted for autocompletion setup but' +
+        ' should not have.',
+    );
   }
 
   // Does *not* prompt user for executions without a `$SHELL`.
@@ -328,12 +349,12 @@ export default async function () {
       SHELL: undefined,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Execution without a `$SHELL` value prompted for autocompletion setup but' +
-          ' should not have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Execution without a `$SHELL` value prompted for autocompletion setup but' +
+        ' should not have.',
+    );
   }
 
   // Does *not* prompt user for executions from unknown shells.
@@ -343,12 +364,12 @@ export default async function () {
       SHELL: '/usr/bin/unknown',
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Execution with an unknown `$SHELL` value prompted for autocompletion setup' +
-          ' but should not have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Execution with an unknown `$SHELL` value prompted for autocompletion setup' +
+        ' but should not have.',
+    );
   }
 
   // Does *not* prompt user when an RC file already uses `ng completion`.
@@ -370,12 +391,12 @@ source <(ng completion script)
       HOME: home,
     });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        "Execution with an existing `ng completion` line in the user's RC file" +
-          ' prompted for autocompletion setup but should not have.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      "Execution with an existing `ng completion` line in the user's RC file" +
+        ' prompted for autocompletion setup but should not have.',
+    );
   });
 
   // Prompts when a global CLI install is present on the system.
@@ -418,12 +439,12 @@ source <(ng completion script)
         PATH: pathEnvVar,
       });
 
-      if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-        throw new Error(
-          'Execution without a global CLI install prompted for autocompletion setup but should' +
-            ' not have.',
-        );
-      }
+      assert.doesNotMatch(
+        stdout,
+        AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+        'Execution without a global CLI install prompted for autocompletion setup but should' +
+          ' not have.',
+      );
     } finally {
       // Reinstall global CLI for remainder of the tests.
       await silentNpm(['install', '--global', '@angular/cli', `--registry=${testRegistry}`]);
@@ -439,11 +460,11 @@ async function windowsTests(): Promise<void> {
 
     const { stdout } = await execWithEnv('ng', ['config'], { ...env });
 
-    if (AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT.test(stdout)) {
-      throw new Error(
-        'Execution prompted to set up autocompletion on Windows despite not actually being' +
-          ' supported.',
-      );
-    }
+    assert.doesNotMatch(
+      stdout,
+      AUTOCOMPLETION_PROMPT,
+      'Execution prompted to set up autocompletion on Windows despite not actually being' +
+        ' supported.',
+    );
   });
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-script.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-script.ts
index 1b940056d30e..421763478950 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-script.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/completion/completion-script.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { exec, execAndWaitForOutputToMatch } from '../../../utils/process';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -62,9 +63,9 @@ export default async function () {
     'run',
     'test-project:build',
   );
-  if (noServeStdout.includes(':serve')) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `':serve' should not have been listed as a completion option.\nSTDOUT:\n${noServeStdout}`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    noServeStdout,
+    /:serve/,
+    `':serve' should not have been listed as a completion option.\nSTDOUT:\n${noServeStdout}`,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-get.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-get.ts
index 51d5f5c7aa1e..d64e0a630af0 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-get.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-get.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ng } from '../../../utils/process';
 import { expectToFail } from '../../../utils/utils';
 
@@ -5,40 +6,29 @@ export default async function () {
   await expectToFail(() => ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle'));
   await ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle', 'false');
   const { stdout } = await ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle');
-  if (!stdout.match(/false\n?/)) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "false", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout, /false\n?/);
 
   await ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle', 'true');
   const { stdout: stdout1 } = await ng(
     'config',
     'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle',
   );
-  if (!stdout1.match(/true\n?/)) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "true", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout1, /true\n?/);
 
   await ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle', 'false');
   const { stdout: stdout2 } = await ng(
     'config',
     `projects.test-project.architect.build.options.assets[0]`,
   );
-  if (!stdout2.includes('"input": "public"')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "input": "public", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.ok(stdout2.includes('"input": "public"'));
 
   const { stdout: stdout3 } = await ng(
     'config',
     `projects["test-project"].architect.build.options.assets[0]`,
   );
-
-  if (!stdout3.includes('"input": "public"')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "input": "public", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.ok(stdout3.includes('"input": "public"'));
 
   // should print all config when no positional args are provided.
   const { stdout: stdout4 } = await ng('config');
-  if (!stdout4.includes('$schema')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected to contain "$schema", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.ok(stdout4.includes('$schema'));
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global-validation.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global-validation.ts
index 05ba35ab7e9a..7be29130dca0 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global-validation.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global-validation.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { homedir } from 'node:os';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
 import { deleteFile, expectFileToExist } from '../../../utils/fs';
@@ -8,43 +9,28 @@ export default async function () {
   let ngError: Error;
 
   ngError = await expectToFail(() => silentNg('config', 'cli.completion.prompted', 'true'));
-
-  if (
-    !ngError.message.includes('Data path "/cli" must NOT have additional properties(completion).')
-  ) {
-    throw new Error('Should have failed with must NOT have additional properties(completion).');
-  }
+  assert.match(
+    ngError.message,
+    /Data path "\/cli" must NOT have additional properties\(completion\)\./,
+  );
 
   ngError = await expectToFail(() =>
     silentNg('config', '--global', 'cli.completion.invalid', 'true'),
   );
-
-  if (
-    !ngError.message.includes(
-      'Data path "/cli/completion" must NOT have additional properties(invalid).',
-    )
-  ) {
-    throw new Error('Should have failed with must NOT have additional properties(invalid).');
-  }
+  assert.match(
+    ngError.message,
+    /Data path "\/cli\/completion" must NOT have additional properties\(invalid\)\./,
+  );
 
   ngError = await expectToFail(() => silentNg('config', '--global', 'cli.cache.enabled', 'true'));
-
-  if (!ngError.message.includes('Data path "/cli" must NOT have additional properties(cache).')) {
-    throw new Error('Should have failed with must NOT have additional properties(cache).');
-  }
+  assert.match(ngError.message, /Data path "\/cli" must NOT have additional properties\(cache\)\./);
 
   ngError = await expectToFail(() => silentNg('config', 'cli.completion.prompted'));
-
-  if (!ngError.message.includes('Value cannot be found.')) {
-    throw new Error('Should have failed with Value cannot be found.');
-  }
+  assert.match(ngError.message, /Value cannot be found\./);
 
   await ng('config', '--global', 'cli.completion.prompted', 'true');
   const { stdout } = await silentNg('config', '--global', 'cli.completion.prompted');
-
-  if (!stdout.includes('true')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "true", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout, /true/);
 
   await expectFileToExist(path.join(homedir(), '.angular-config.json'));
   await deleteFile(path.join(homedir(), '.angular-config.json'));
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global.ts
index 77f276b04146..030d4b583d2c 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-global.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { homedir } from 'node:os';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
 import { deleteFile, expectFileToExist } from '../../../utils/fs';
@@ -15,9 +16,7 @@ export default async function () {
     '--global',
     'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle',
   );
-  if (!output.stdout.match(/false\n?/)) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "false", received "${JSON.stringify(output.stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(output.stdout, /false\n?/);
 
   // This test requires schema querying capabilities
   // .then(() => expectToFail(() => {
@@ -33,9 +32,7 @@ export default async function () {
   }
 
   output = await ng('config', '--global', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.inlineStyle');
-  if (!output.stdout.match(/true\n?/)) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "true", received "${JSON.stringify(output.stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(output.stdout, /true\n?/);
 
   await expectToFail(() => ng('config', '--global', 'cli.warnings.notreal', 'true'));
 
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set-prefix.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set-prefix.ts
index 09c3afea9f7f..40f22699baed 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set-prefix.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set-prefix.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ng } from '../../../utils/process';
 import { expectToFail } from '../../../utils/utils';
 
@@ -7,8 +8,6 @@ export default function () {
     .then(() => ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.prefix', 'new-prefix'))
     .then(() => ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular.component.prefix'))
     .then(({ stdout }) => {
-      if (!stdout.match(/new-prefix/)) {
-        throw new Error(`Expected "new-prefix", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-      }
+      assert.match(stdout, /new-prefix/);
     });
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set.ts
index 689be8c72194..2152e573132e 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/config/config-set.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ng, silentNg } from '../../../utils/process';
 import { expectToFail } from '../../../utils/utils';
 
@@ -5,36 +6,25 @@ export default async function () {
   let ngError: Error;
 
   ngError = await expectToFail(() => silentNg('config', 'cli.warnings.zzzz', 'true'));
-  if (
-    !ngError.message.includes(
-      'Data path "/cli/warnings" must NOT have additional properties(zzzz).',
-    )
-  ) {
-    throw new Error('Should have failed with must NOT have additional properties(zzzz).');
-  }
+  assert.match(
+    ngError.message,
+    /Data path "\/cli\/warnings" must NOT have additional properties\(zzzz\)\./,
+  );
 
   ngError = await expectToFail(() => silentNg('config', 'cli.warnings.zzzz'));
-  if (!ngError.message.includes('Value cannot be found.')) {
-    throw new Error('Should have failed with Value cannot be found.');
-  }
+  assert.match(ngError.message, /Value cannot be found\./);
 
   await ng('config', 'cli.warnings.versionMismatch', 'false');
   const { stdout } = await ng('config', 'cli.warnings.versionMismatch');
-  if (!stdout.includes('false')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "false", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout, /false/);
 
   await ng('config', 'cli.packageManager', 'yarn');
   const { stdout: stdout2 } = await ng('config', 'cli.packageManager');
-  if (!stdout2.includes('yarn')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "yarn", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout2)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout2, /yarn/);
 
   await ng('config', 'schematics', '{"@schematics/angular:component":{"style": "scss"}}');
   const { stdout: stdout3 } = await ng('config', 'schematics.@schematics/angular:component.style');
-  if (!stdout3.includes('scss')) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "scss", received "${JSON.stringify(stdout3)}".`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout3, /scss/);
 
   await ng('config', 'schematics');
   await ng('config', 'schematics', 'undefined');
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-hidden.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-hidden.ts
index bf616039600b..bd972d26a942 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-hidden.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-hidden.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { silentNg } from '../../../utils/process';
 
 export default async function () {
   const { stdout: stdoutNew } = await silentNg('--help');
-  if (/(easter-egg)|(ng make-this-awesome)|(ng init)/.test(stdoutNew)) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'Expected to not match "(easter-egg)|(ng make-this-awesome)|(ng init)" in help output.',
-    );
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(
+    stdoutNew,
+    /(easter-egg)|(ng make-this-awesome)|(ng init)/,
+    'Expected to not match "(easter-egg)|(ng make-this-awesome)|(ng init)" in help output.',
+  );
 
   const { stdout: ngGenerate } = await silentNg('--help', 'generate', 'component');
-  if (ngGenerate.includes('--path')) {
-    throw new Error('Expected to not match "--path" in help output.');
-  }
+  assert.doesNotMatch(ngGenerate, /--path/, 'Expected to not match "--path" in help output.');
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-json.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-json.ts
index 97ed468df942..6f1b8e89db49 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-json.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/help/help-json.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { silentNg } from '../../../utils/process';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -42,31 +43,21 @@ export default async function () {
   const { stdout } = await silentNg('config', '--help', '--json-help');
   const output = JSON.stringify(JSON.parse(stdout.trim()));
 
-  if (output !== addHelpOutputSnapshot) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `ng config JSON help output didn\'t match snapshot.\n\nExpected "${output}" to be "${addHelpOutputSnapshot}".`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    output,
+    addHelpOutputSnapshot,
+    `ng config JSON help output didn\'t match snapshot.`,
+  );
 
   const { stdout: stdout2 } = await silentNg('--help', '--json-help');
-  try {
-    JSON.parse(stdout2.trim());
-  } catch (error) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `'ng --help ---json-help' failed to return JSON.\n${
-        error instanceof Error ? error.message : error
-      }`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert.doesNotThrow(
+    () => JSON.parse(stdout2.trim()),
+    `'ng --help ---json-help' failed to return JSON.`,
+  );
 
   const { stdout: stdout3 } = await silentNg('generate', '--help', '--json-help');
-  try {
-    JSON.parse(stdout3.trim());
-  } catch (error) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `'ng generate --help ---json-help' failed to return JSON.\n${
-        error instanceof Error ? error.message : error
-      }`,
-    );
-  }
+  assert.doesNotThrow(
+    () => JSON.parse(stdout3.trim()),
+    `'ng generate --help ---json-help' failed to return JSON.`,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/project-cannot-be-determined-by-cwd.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/project-cannot-be-determined-by-cwd.ts
index 5f63a5ff0467..b4b572bfa3ee 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/project-cannot-be-determined-by-cwd.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/project-cannot-be-determined-by-cwd.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
 import { execAndWaitForOutputToMatch, ng } from '../../utils/process';
 import { updateJsonFile } from '../../utils/project';
@@ -20,9 +21,7 @@ export default async function () {
 
   try {
     const { message } = await expectToFail(() => ng('build'));
-    if (!message.includes(errorMessage)) {
-      throw new Error(`Expected build to fail with: '${errorMessage}'.`);
-    }
+    assert.match(message, new RegExp(errorMessage));
 
     // Help should still work
     await execAndWaitForOutputToMatch('ng', ['build', '--help'], /--configuration/);
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/run-configuration-option.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/run-configuration-option.ts
index 827d8dea6fc9..ab2761dce531 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/run-configuration-option.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/run-configuration-option.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { silentNg } from '../../utils/process';
 import { expectToFail } from '../../utils/utils';
 
@@ -9,9 +10,7 @@ export default async function () {
       silentNg('run', 'test-project:build:development', '--configuration=production'),
     );
 
-    if (!message.includes(errorMatch)) {
-      throw new Error(`Expected error to include '${errorMatch}' but didn't.\n\n${message}`);
-    }
+    assert.ok(message.includes(errorMatch));
   }
 
   {
@@ -19,8 +18,6 @@ export default async function () {
       silentNg('run', 'test-project:build', '--configuration=production'),
     );
 
-    if (!message.includes(errorMatch)) {
-      throw new Error(`Expected error to include '${errorMatch}' but didn't.\n\n${message}`);
-    }
+    assert.ok(message.includes(errorMatch));
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/head-request.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/head-request.ts
index 82ba370a0743..ed2c2dcd1267 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/head-request.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/head-request.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ngServe } from '../../../utils/project';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -16,10 +17,10 @@ async function checkHeadForUrl(url: string): Promise<void> {
   const result = await fetch(url, { method: 'HEAD' });
   const content = await result.blob();
 
-  if (content.size !== 0) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "size" to be "0" but got "${content.size}".`);
-  }
-  if (result.status !== 200) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "status" to be "200" but got "${result.status}".`);
-  }
+  assert.strictEqual(content.size, 0, `Expected "size" to be "0" but got "${content.size}".`);
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    result.status,
+    200,
+    `Expected "status" to be "200" but got "${result.status}".`,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/preflight-request.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/preflight-request.ts
index d73bf1eb4003..02a763dce197 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/preflight-request.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/commands/serve/preflight-request.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ngServe } from '../../../utils/project';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -5,11 +6,10 @@ export default async function () {
   const result = await fetch(`http://localhost:${port}/main.js`, { method: 'OPTIONS' });
   const content = await result.blob();
 
-  if (content.size !== 0) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "size" to be "0" but got "${content.size}".`);
-  }
-
-  if (result.status !== 204) {
-    throw new Error(`Expected "status" to be "204" but got "${result.status}".`);
-  }
+  assert.strictEqual(content.size, 0, `Expected "size" to be "0" but got "${content.size}".`);
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    result.status,
+    204,
+    `Expected "status" to be "204" but got "${result.status}".`,
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output-no-duplicates.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output-no-duplicates.ts
index 9a8cf8ca7fcc..0be6ea93ea48 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output-no-duplicates.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output-no-duplicates.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -5,13 +6,10 @@ export default async function () {
   const { stdout } = await ng('generate', 'component', '--help');
   const firstIndex = stdout.indexOf('--prefix');
 
-  if (firstIndex < 0) {
-    console.log(stdout);
-    throw new Error('--prefix was not part of the help output.');
-  }
-
-  if (firstIndex !== stdout.lastIndexOf('--prefix')) {
-    console.log(stdout);
-    throw new Error('--prefix first and last index were different. Possible duplicate output!');
-  }
+  assert.ok(firstIndex >= 0, '--prefix was not part of the help output.');
+  assert.strictEqual(
+    firstIndex,
+    stdout.lastIndexOf('--prefix'),
+    '--prefix first and last index were different. Possible duplicate output!',
+  );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output.ts
index 9495bfa200a6..86fc3b988b38 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/help-output.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
-import { ng, ProcessOutput } from '../../utils/process';
-import { writeMultipleFiles, createDir } from '../../utils/fs';
+import { createDir, writeMultipleFiles } from '../../utils/fs';
+import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
 import { updateJsonFile } from '../../utils/project';
 
 export default function () {
@@ -75,12 +76,8 @@ export default function () {
       )
       .then(() => ng('generate', 'fake-schematics:fake', '--help'))
       .then(({ stdout }) => {
-        if (!/ng generate fake-schematics:fake <a> \[b\]/.test(stdout)) {
-          throw new Error('Help signature is wrong (1).');
-        }
-        if (!/opt-a[\s\S]*opt-b[\s\S]*opt-c/.test(stdout)) {
-          throw new Error('Help signature options are incorrect.');
-        }
+        assert.match(stdout, /ng generate fake-schematics:fake <a> \[b\]/);
+        assert.match(stdout, /opt-a[\s\S]*opt-b[\s\S]*opt-c/);
       })
       // set up default collection.
       .then(() =>
@@ -92,12 +89,8 @@ export default function () {
       .then(() => ng('generate', 'fake', '--help'))
       // verify same output
       .then(({ stdout }) => {
-        if (!/ng generate fake <a> \[b\]/.test(stdout)) {
-          throw new Error('Help signature is wrong (2).');
-        }
-        if (!/opt-a[\s\S]*opt-b[\s\S]*opt-c/.test(stdout)) {
-          throw new Error('Help signature options are incorrect.');
-        }
+        assert.match(stdout, /ng generate fake <a> \[b\]/);
+        assert.match(stdout, /opt-a[\s\S]*opt-b[\s\S]*opt-c/);
       })
 
       // should print all the available schematics in a collection
@@ -123,9 +116,7 @@ export default function () {
       )
       .then(() => ng('generate', '--help'))
       .then(({ stdout }) => {
-        if (!/fake[\s\S]*fake-two/.test(stdout)) {
-          throw new Error(`Help result is wrong, it didn't contain all the schematics.`);
-        }
+        assert.match(stdout, /fake[\s\S]*fake-two/);
       })
   );
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematic-defaults.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematic-defaults.ts
index 7c9987d92321..a6fc32a8c52e 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematic-defaults.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematic-defaults.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
 import { updateJsonFile } from '../../utils/project';
 
@@ -12,9 +13,7 @@ export default async function () {
 
   // Generate component in application to verify that it's minimal
   const { stdout } = await ng('generate', 'component', 'foo');
-  if (!stdout.includes('foo.scss')) {
-    throw new Error('Expected "foo.scss" to exist.');
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout, /foo\.scss/);
 
   // Generate another project with different settings
   await ng('generate', 'application', 'test-project-two', '--no-minimal');
@@ -35,7 +34,5 @@ export default async function () {
     '--project',
     'test-project-two',
   );
-  if (!stdout2.includes('foo.component.less')) {
-    throw new Error('Expected "foo.component.less" to exist.');
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout2, /foo\.component\.less/);
 }
diff --git a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematics-collections.ts b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematics-collections.ts
index f67dde1072c4..6c009bf91e5d 100644
--- a/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematics-collections.ts
+++ b/tests/legacy-cli/e2e/tests/generate/schematics-collections.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
+import { createDir, expectFileToExist, writeMultipleFiles } from '../../utils/fs';
 import { ng } from '../../utils/process';
-import { writeMultipleFiles, createDir, expectFileToExist } from '../../utils/fs';
 import { updateJsonFile } from '../../utils/project';
 
 export default async function () {
@@ -55,24 +56,15 @@ export default async function () {
 
   // should display schematics for all schematics
   const { stdout: stdout1 } = await ng('generate', '--help');
-  if (!stdout1.includes('ng generate component')) {
-    throw new Error(`Didn't show schematics of '@schematics/angular'.`);
-  }
-
-  if (!stdout1.includes('ng generate fake')) {
-    throw new Error(`Didn't show schematics of 'fake-schematics'.`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout1, /ng generate component/);
+  assert.match(stdout1, /ng generate fake/);
 
   // check registration order. Both schematics contain a component schematic verify that the first one wins.
-  if (!stdout1.includes(fakeComponentSchematicDesc)) {
-    throw new Error(`Didn't show fake component description.`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout1, new RegExp(fakeComponentSchematicDesc));
 
   // Verify execution based on ordering
   const { stdout: stdout2 } = await ng('generate', 'component');
-  if (!stdout2.includes('fake component schematic run')) {
-    throw new Error(`stdout didn't contain 'fake component schematic run'.`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout2, /fake component schematic run/);
 
   await updateJsonFile('angular.json', (json) => {
     json.cli ??= {};
@@ -80,12 +72,8 @@ export default async function () {
   });
 
   const { stdout: stdout3 } = await ng('generate', '--help');
-  if (!stdout3.includes('ng generate component [name]')) {
-    throw new Error(`Didn't show component description from @schematics/angular.`);
-  }
-  if (stdout3.includes(fakeComponentSchematicDesc)) {
-    throw new Error(`Shown fake component description, when it shouldn't.`);
-  }
+  assert.match(stdout3, /ng generate component \[name\]/);
+  assert.doesNotMatch(stdout3, new RegExp(fakeComponentSchematicDesc));
 
   // Verify execution based on ordering
   const projectDir = join('src', 'app');