Greetings. Welcome to the 'Seven Knights Re:BIRTH' (hereafter SKRB) Replay. This monthly column dissects hero combinations and meta shifts. We'll use the PLAY section for recommended loadouts, while the PAUSE section hits the brakes to analyse the volatile shifting meta in detail.

Furthermore, our Fast Forward (FF) section offers a glimpse into upcoming content. Whether you're a veteran looking for a white paper on the current PvP landscape or a fresh adventurer seeking a growth guide, this Replay aims to be your essential manual. Let's peel back the first layer of September.

September Hero Formations by Content

The PLAY section covers hero combinations for every mode in SKRB, from the PvE staples in Growth Dungeons to the high-stakes battlegrounds of Total War and Guild Wars. If a new hero or meta shift shakes things up, we'll dive into the details in the PAUSE section. Let's start with the Arena.

'Magic-type Heroes & Speed Gear' Distribution is the Key!

The Apex of Arena Meta: 'Platon' Magic Deck

Platon is currently a fixture in every PvP corner. To understand how Platon reached this status, one must look at Melkire. Debuting in late June, Melkire is a sustained damage dealer who suppresses enemies with the exclusive 'Magic Backflow' debuff. Despite the strict requirement of fielding three Magic-type heroes, Melkire's raw power has kept the pick rate high.

Adventurers mostly utilised Melkire for Adventure and the Infinite Tower. Because Melkire's kit thrives against high-defense and high-HP targets, strategies involving status effects became the norm. Melkire was a mandatory pick for the secondary party in Adventure runs. This trend inevitably bled into the Arena, where Melkire began dismantling defensive decks—until Platon arrived.

Platon possesses a unique passive that deals fixed damage to all enemies every four times Platon is hit. Crucially, this triggers Platon's own Magic Backflow, and when an enemy falls, Platon spreads the debuff further. The synergy between these mechanics is unparalleled in the Arena. Not only is Platon's fixed damage lethal against defensive setups, but when combined with the Magic Backflow, the combination becomes virtually unstoppable.

It's become a running joke among adventurers that 'if Platon uses a skill, you've already lost.' As long as the rest of the team inflicts status effects and Platon simply endures the hits, victory usually follows. Currently, a configuration swapping one Magic-type hero for Colt is gaining popularity. Platon serves as the anchor for all PvP content, including Total War and Guild Wars.

The only drawback is the difficult management of Magic-type heroes and speed gear. While the Arena only requires five heroes, content like Total War and Guild Wars demands more complex loadouts. In Total War, the combination featuring the old Seven Knights Juri has become the meta, while in the three-person Guild War parties, Platon now acts as a support for Jupy and Colt.

October: 'Advent Expedition' Update Incoming

The 100-day anniversary livestream and developer notes have shed light on the Advent Expedition. It is a new guild-based PvE challenge where players face illusions of the Four Lords summoned by the God of Destruction. Once all illusions are cleared, the final boss, the God of Destruction, can be challenged. The rewards include Four Lords heroes and gear, and the developers have hinted at the release of the fan-favourite hero 'Ace' to coincide with the update.

As this is PvE content, adventurers are already debating which heroes will be most effective. The final battle against the God of Destruction is a competitive mode that ranks players based on total DPS, and the prospect of additional rewards has the community on high alert.

New heroes from the 'Hidden Adepts' are expected to shine here, with many predicting they will be essential for the final boss encounter. Since the broadcast mentioned that one of the two will be useful for farming, expectations are understandably high.