It is time for the [Meca Ranking] of 'Seven Knights Re:BIRTH' (SKRB). With a steady stream of offensive heroes hitting the scene, the arena meta has been firmly leaning towards offensive decks. The arrival of 'Seonran' has naturally spiked the frequency of offensive deck mirror matches. However, looking at it from another perspective, finding a surefire way to dismantle these offensive decks guarantees a massive win rate. It has been a frantic week for high-ranking players, all obsessively dissecting PvP strategies—and the consensus they have landed on is the defensive deck.

The 'Defensive Deck' Finds the Answer: A 26% Surge in Pick Rate Reclaims the Top Spot

The first week of August in the arena began under the lingering shadow of Seonran's release. However, the defensive deck has finally found its loophole and flipped the script. More details below.Before we dive into the pick rates, let us look at the distribution by position. We can see the return of magic-type heroes, who hit rock bottom last week. That said, the figure remains a measly 0.3%; out of 300 players surveyed, only one was actually running a magic deck.

For those interested, counter-decks specifically targeting Seonran have been popping up outside the top rankings. These setups place 'Sylvester' in the front row of an offensive formation, utilising the 'Juri' execution skill and the reworked 'Yeonhee's' area-of-effect damage to hard-counter offensive teams. While they boast a high win rate against offensive builds, they possess a glaring weakness: they absolutely cannot beat a defensive deck. As the prevalence of defensive decks grew, these anti-meta builds quietly vanished from the upper echelons.

So, who were the core heroes responsible for the defensive deck’s resurgence? Looking at the pick rate rankings, we are narrowing it down to 'Clemis, Aris, Rudy, Phalanus, and Radgrid.' All five saw their pick rates climb by over 24 percentage points, securing the top five spots. As you can see, this is essentially the same lineup as before Seonran's debut. The players simply tweaked their formations, pets, and equipment to create a bespoke strategy against offensive decks. Currently, the arena does not guarantee a high win rate with just one specific combination; the 'Offensive vs. Defensive' battle remains a balanced 50/50 affair depending on the situation.

The Defensive Deck's Best Picks Relying on Sheer Bulk

The popularity of offensive decks previously sent the 'Basic Formation' to its peak. With the Seonran craze cooling off, that formation dipped by 8.7 percentage points, while the 'Balance Formation' climbed by 6 percentage points. Furthermore, as some offensive-deck rankers are also adopting the Balance Formation, it has reached a total usage rate of 61%.

The pet pick rates also confirm the defensive deck's comeback. 'Zeo' dropped by 20.3 percentage points, while 'Lu' jumped by 18.3 percentage points—a direct mirror to the decline of offensive decks and the rise of defensive ones. It is also encouraging to see the pick rates of 'Pike' and 'Karam' rising. Like Lu, they are popular choices for defensive builds. Consequently, our Best Picks for this week are the five defensive heroes who swept the top five spots in total pick rates.

Advanced Arena Defensive Team Pick Rate Analysis

※ The Advanced Arena defensive team pick rates were recorded at 10:00 AM on August 5th.
※ Statistics are based on the defensive team compositions of the top 100 players.
※ Current defensive team information may vary slightly.

Defensive decks have returned to the Advanced Arena as well. The 'Radgrid Defensive Deck' saw its pick rate surge by a whopping 30 percentage points, claiming the number one spot among the Top 100 defensive teams. Consequently, offensive decks dropped by 28 percentage points. Unlike the standard arena, defensive decks tend to be more popular in the Advanced Arena's defensive lineups anyway. The core members remain the same five heroes highlighted in our Best Picks.

Even in this difficult climate, offensive deck users are constantly seeking solutions. We have spotted some players adopting 'Pi' to break through the stalemate. The goal seems to be utilising the 'Execution' effect against defensive teams that are otherwise a headache to finish off.

Unfortunately, it is hard to gauge the performance of these Pi-inclusive offensive decks. Not only is the season ending in less than a day, but the next Advanced Arena season is introducing a fresh environment. The SKRB live broadcast has already hinted that the next season will feature an 'Accessory Ban' mode. We expect an entirely new meta to emerge, distinct from what we have seen before.

Real-time Arena Analysis Lab

We are now mid-season in the Real-time Arena Analysis Lab. The current leader is 'PetalYT' from the Jave Legion. Having secured the top spot early in the season, this player is holding on tight and continuing to rack up points. They have maintained an overwhelming lead, sitting about 19,000 points ahead of the runner-up. While the Real-time Arena is all about drafting, banning, and psychological warfare, the current top-tier meta is simply about ending fights as fast as possible. As long as you maintain a win rate high enough to recover the points lost from any occasional defeat, your score will keep trending upwards.

Therefore, as shown in the data above,matches between offensive and magic decks, which allow for a fast tempo, are quite common.Looking at PetalYT's combat history, the player was consistently banning defensive decks—both their own and the opponent's. Because battles tend to drag on when facing a defensive deck, this matching strategy is the logical choice.

Aside from the occasional encounter with instant-death decks, most battles were between offensive and magic teams. I noticed a replay where PetalYT lost the initiative to a magic deck. Everyone, except those running defensive decks, prefers to stack speed to seize control of the fight. I was curious to see how the number one ranked player would handle playing from behind.

With most of the team's survival skills exhausted by the opponent's AoE attacks,PetalYT’s first skill was Yeopo's 'Blood Wind Wall Break.' The intent was to apply a defense-down debuff and attempt an AoE stun. Unfortunately, no enemies were stunned, leading to a disadvantageous start. To make matters worse, the enemy's 'Reginleif' and 'Skuld' skills locked out three of the team's heroes, leaving only Seonran and Orca available.

However, Seonran, having stacked the 'Oni Face' effect six times, unleashed the 'Shadowless Flying Sword' effect to turn the tide. A single attack saw the opponent fall helplessly while burning through all their survival resources. 'Delons,' having narrowly survived countless hits, used an awakening skill to secure immunity to additional damage, restoring stability to the party. Following this, the continuous attacks from the 'Death Dance' and the activation of the 'Execution' effect finished off the remaining enemies. It was a masterclass in proving that a well-built Seonran can flip the table even when losing the first strike. Good luck in the arena, mates.