[Meca Ranking] It is time to dissect the Ancient Citadel ranking results for Raven 2. The leaderboard this week is packed with familiar faces. First, 'NoPpaGeu', which manages several sub-guilds, secured a four-peat victory in the Primeval Battlefield. They entered the Group 5 Primeval Battlefield with 'NoPpaGeu', 'NoPpaGeu2', and 'NoPpaGeu3' in tow. While raw numbers don't strictly guarantee a 100% win rate in the Ancient Citadel, having at least three guilds pooling their resources is undoubtedly a massive nudge to their odds.

The 'AnimalCrossingWelcome' guild has achieved a three-peat win. We have interviewed this guild twice before on KookminTree, and they have consistently delivered sharp analyses of the current game meta. They are a deeply methodical and passionate group, and after roaming various servers to rack up points, they have posted a '3/3/1/1' record this week.

The situation with 'RoyalDaNaeKkeo' is a bit convoluted, as the name overlaps with two other famous guilds. The original 'DaNaeKkeo' is a veteran from the Solara world, now settled in Mare-Fides. They first started accumulating points during the second Ancient Citadel and hold one of the most impressive multi-win records. This time, they entered the Group 2 Elemental Battlefield.

In Raven 2, the word 'Royal' easily reminds one of the 'ROYAL' coalition that once dominated the Mare world. With that coalition having significantly downsized recently, the sudden appearance of a guild bearing the 'Royal' name naturally sparks suspicion of a connection. While pinning down the exact relationship is tricky, keeping one's guard up is hardly a bad idea. Note that 'RoyalDaNaeKkeo' is based in Vita-Fides, but assuming they are unrelated to the original 'DaNaeKkeo' just because of the world difference would be premature; alliances often transcend world boundaries in the Ancient Citadel.

The 'VeteranClub' feels rather similar. There was a time when a coalition recycling the 'Veteran' name and the 'VeteranCLUB' guild existed, both of which vanished much like the ROYAL coalition. It is possible we are witnessing a restructuring or a revival, which certainly gives us plenty to chew on. Expect the competitive landscape of the Ancient Citadel to become increasingly tangled for a while.

Ancient Citadel Victory Ranking

The exploits of Raven 2's powerhouses have left a mark on the Ancient Citadel victory rankings. The 3rd-ranked 'Kings' secured a win in the Battlefield of Life, reaching a record of '8/0/2/0'. If they snatch a single win in the Elemental Battlefield, they will rise to 2nd place in multi-win records. It will be interesting to see if they can climb the ladder in the next match.

Both 'NoPpaGeu' and 'AnimalCrossingWelcome' used their recent victories as a springboard into the Top 10, landing in 7th and 8th respectively. This is largely because the barrier to entry for the Top 10 spiked after the 23rd Ancient Citadel, where the floor was set by the 'Romantic' guild's '3/0/0/1' record—a daunting height indeed. However, both guilds diligently collected their 'flags of victory' to prepare for this leap. This is exactly why one should never underestimate the importance of records from the lower-tier battlefields.

What about the veteran guilds that didn't quite make the top tier? 'GZone' reached '2/4/0/0' and 'Valentine' hit '2/3/0/1' following their Elemental Battlefield wins. They have clearly built up enough of a track record in the lower brackets; a single win in the Primeval Battlefield would be enough to catapult them into the Top 10.

Ancient Citadel Content Analysis

The most critical factor in the 24th Ancient Citadel was the server transfer tickets sold between July 2 and July 8. This shift effectively cooled the dominance of the Mare world. Ever since the Ancient Citadel matching rules were tweaked, the Mare world felt like a 'group of death,' packed with powerhouse guilds and coalitions like sardines. Consequently, the Primeval Battlefield groups were disproportionately filled with Mare-affiliated guilds, leading to a monopoly where they claimed the top spots while others were pushed to lower-tier battlefields.

Post-transfer, the balance of power across worlds has become significantly more equitable. Take a look at the home worlds of the Primeval Battlefield victors: all seven worlds in the Korean region have managed to secure at least one win. This is the first time such a result has occurred since the matching rules were revised.

Of course, some worlds still hold more sway than others. Lux, Nox, Kerum, and Vita guilds have been ringing the bells of victory more frequently. Terra, Mare, and Solara have fewer winning guilds, though Mare and Solara have relatively bright prospects; the former has many guilds that successfully bid for high-tier battlefields, and the latter has fielded teams in every single battlefield. We can look forward to a much tighter competition this season.

Raven 2 Guild Contribution Analysis

The ripples of the server transfer are also felt in the guild contribution rankings. While contributions are rising steadily, we see guilds everywhere with new signboards, new leaders, and new server homes. For instance, last week's top guild was 'MareGuard' led by 'ShieldHeroSunGuard'. This week, that spot is occupied by 'RoyalDaNaeKkeo' and 'ROYALMungYiAppa'. It seems many guilds packed their bags just before the July 7 count. You can use this as a reference to track which guilds moved where by comparing it to last week's chart.

Furthermore, it is evident that the guilds previously clustered in Mare have dispersed. Vita, Solara, Kerum, and Lux are now appearing more evenly across the board. Wait, there are no Terra guilds on the chart? The highest-ranked Terra guild is 'BeraGaBong' at 31st place, with roughly 13 billion in contribution. It seems Terra might struggle in the Ancient Citadel for the time being.