Raven 2 is currently in the midst of its server transfer season, which kicked off on July 2 and runs until 23:59 on July 8. Guild transfers, however, wrap up slightly earlier at 23:49. It remains to be seen where these guilds and alliances will land and how they will reshape the competitive landscape. Keep your eyes peeled; the tension is far from over.

For this edition of the Ancient Citadel rankings, we have forecasted the matchups based on the current server transfer trends. Several worlds are bracing for a seismic shift in atmosphere as a wave of guilds relocates. The Lux world, in particular, has caught my attention—it looks like it is set to become a fiery battleground once again.

Analysis of guilds expected to participate in the 24th Ancient Citadel

Diverging fates for Vita and Mare

First, let us look at the Vita and Mare worlds, which will participate in groups 1 and 2. Their atmospheres were polar opposites at the time of data collection. Vita appears to have seen an exodus of top-tier guilds, likely relocating elsewhere during this transfer window. That said, some original heavyweights remain, and rising stars are starting to emerge—notably 'MommySaysDontLogOn' and 'Kkur' from Metus. Then there are guilds like 'Actempo', which, despite a smaller headcount, boast a dense concentration of top-ranked players.

Mare, meanwhile, is clinging to its title as the ultimate warzone in Raven 2. Each server here is packed with large-scale guilds. Fides server is particularly interesting, housing renowned names like 'ShinhwaRed' and 'DaNaeKkeo'. Interestingly, these guilds have shrunk to 10 and 15 members, respectively. Are they simply regrouping? Do not let your guard down before the bidding results are official; they might just bolster their ranks at the eleventh hour.

Kerum and Solara: The power of alliances

The Solara world faces a fresh chapter. Previously confined to the fiercely contested groups 5–7 alongside two other worlds, it has now shifted to groups 3 and 4, setting up a 1-on-1 showdown with Kerum. For context, in the 23rd Ancient Citadel, both worlds only entered the Primal, Elemental, and Life battlefields. Given the high volume of guild transfers, I am curious to see if this shift in the roster will rattle the bidding dynamics.

I have also spotted a curious commonality between Kerum and Solara: several familiar faces that frequently appear in the Ancient Citadel rankings remain, while others like 'JudgementDay' have climbed the ranks by exploiting the transfer window. New, burgeoning alliances are also popping up, such as 'Yeonriji' in Kerum and 'Hellgate' in Solara. Could this signal the arrival of new 'line' guilds and intensifying competition? I am eager to see how the next matches play out.

Is Lux returning to its glory as a warzone?

The Ancient Citadel groups 5–7 in Raven 2 shuffle three worlds at a time. This round, we have Lux, Nox, and Terra. It is a refreshing mix. The real story here is Lux; once a chaotic hotspot for high-profile guilds and alliances early in the year, it saw a massive exodus during the second quarter, leading to a rather somber atmosphere.

This server transfer has flipped the script, with ranker alliances flocking back to Lux. Among them are 'NoPpakku', 'Valentine', 'Romantic', and 'GodAndTogether', all recently active in Vita. The real focal point is the Lux-Metus server, where the newly arrived 'MuHon' and 'MuHon2' guilds have joined the 'HORIZON' alliance. Curiously, their alliance mark is identical to that of the 'Dandan' alliance. Are they just the same group under a different name? It is hard to say for sure, so let us watch this space.

Terra faces a new environment

The Terra world shares a similar vibe to Nox. While many guilds and alliances have departed for greener pastures, the old guard remains firm. Many such stalwarts can be found in Fides, Honor, Metus, and Dolor. Furthermore, existing guilds are filling the gaps and climbing the ranks. It seems like a solid foundation, and I expect some intense clashes in the coming Ancient Citadel.

Exciting matchups ahead!

I am particularly looking forward to the group 5–7 matchups between Lux, Nox, and Terra. With Lux gathering powerhouses and Nox and Terra seeing more departures, we are looking at a classic 'David vs. Goliath' scenario. However, world-to-world competition may well focus on the Elemental and Life battlefields. Back in June, many Raven 2 guilds frequently employed strategies to avoid major alliances by targeting lower-tier battlefields to secure a guaranteed win. Expect some very cunning bidding wars.

Furthermore, some worlds in Nox and Terra opted out of the Vegetation battlefield during the 22nd Ancient Citadel, a trend especially prominent in group 4. It remains to be seen if they will stick to this strategy post-transfer or if hunting for empty battlefields will pay off. Keep a close eye on the matches and the post-transfer bidding habits of these guilds.

Ancient Citadel content analysis

The Raven 2 server transfer season officially ends at 23:59 on July 8, with guild transfers closing slightly earlier at 23:49. Each account and guild is provided with two transfer vouchers.

During a previous guild interview, I learned of a clever bit of subterfuge: some guilds use their two opportunities to mask their true intentions. They might temporarily relocate to a decoy server to scout other guilds' movements before making a final dash to their true destination. It truly is not over until the fat lady sings. I have seen ranker guilds change their homes even after our ranking articles were published. My advice to all you Ancient Citadel enthusiasts? Stay vigilant until the very last second.

Raven 2 guild contribution analysis

The server transfers have shaken up the Raven 2 guild contribution chart. The former 4th-place guild, 'BucksCoin', has dropped out of the Top 20, while the Mare world has come to dominate the upper echelons. In the Top 10, only 8th-place 'Romantic' (Lux) and 10th-place 'CoolGuys' (Nox) are not affiliated with Mare. While not shown in the chart, Mare also holds a massive share of the 21st–30th spots. It really seems like the most active guilds in Raven 2 have converged on Mare.

In the June Ancient Citadel, Mare had a reputation as a 'group of death'. Most guilds matched against them avoided the Primal battlefield, opting for the Elemental or Life fields instead. If this trend holds, Mare's influence on the overall bracket is only going to grow.