Predicting the participants for the Raven 2 Ancient Citadel rankings usually involves a deep dive into previous match-ups, guild scale, combat power, and alliance dynamics. The results, however, often boil down to one of two things: server domination by 'line' alliances or the quiet evaporation of guilds. Following the 30th match, we noted a high number of guilds that either dwindled to a single player or simply ceased to exist. We have broken down the content based on these two factors.

Analysis of Expected Guilds for the 31st Ancient Citadel

Groups 1 and 2: A forecasted sweep by the Lux World

The line-up of top-tier guilds in the Lux World is certainly eye-catching. If you have been playing Raven 2 for a while, the names ROYAL and Animal Crossing will be familiar; they have effectively occupied the world. These are the usual suspects we see recurring on the Ancient Citadel match-up boards.

The alliance landscape is largely bifurcated. The 'Animal Crossing' branch guilds are clustered in the Salus server, while groups like ROYAL Mushin and Royal M are bundled under the 'Royal Alliance 2' banner, with some scattered elsewhere. For now, it is safe to view these two alliances as the primary power brokers in Lux.

The crux of the matter lies in their sheer size and server distribution. While the comparatively smaller Animal Crossing alliance has consolidated in a single server, the Royal Alliance has spread its reach across multiple servers. This is likely a calculated move to exploit the Ancient Citadel bidding rules—after all, a single server can only host a maximum of four guilds. Since having a massive headcount is a strategic advantage in the Citadel, this explains why the server transfer season is so pivotal.

Groups 3–5: A nightmare for participant analysis

The next group is where things get genuinely murky. We are looking at Nox, Kerum, and Mare worlds, all of which displayed complex behavior during the 30th Ancient Citadel. In the previous match, while most areas were packed, Group 3 (Nox vs. Kerum) showed notably low engagement; not a single guild successfully bid for the Battlefield of Life and Vegetation. While the Chuseok holiday might have been the culprit for a week of rest, we have to keep all possibilities on the table.

The real headache, however, stems from the 30th Ancient Citadel bidding results. Many of the participating guilds now rank below 50th or are essentially hollow shells with no members. The 'aabb - SUN - Seopung' guild, which participated in Kerum Mors, is a prime example. Given these variables, predicting the line-up for Nox and Kerum is a fool's errand.

It is true that Mare World also has its fair share of shrunken guilds post-match. However, Mare showed higher participation in the 30th Ancient Citadel than the other two, and their bidding patterns are far more readable. With groups like Fides' Destruction, Mors' Immortality, and Metus' Romance v, the scene is dominated by guilds that thrive on alliance play. Keeping an eye on these specific movements is your best bet.

Vita and Sola: A hotbed of diverse alliances

Vita and Sola worlds promise some genuinely interesting competition. They feature a diverse array of alliances, and the power balance varies clearly from server to server. In Vita, the 'Suspicious' and 'TOP' alliances are the ones to watch. You might be surprised to see the Animal Crossing name pop up again here, but these two guilds have operated independently from the main Animal Crossing alliance for several seasons. They appear to have used the recent server transfer window to bolster their ranks.

For Sola, it is better to look at things on a server-by-server basis. Salus has 'noname', Honor has 'Myth', and Metus has the 'VC' alliance topping the charts. Naturally, all of them successfully secured entry tickets in the last Ancient Citadel.

That said, the powerhouses in Vita and Sola don't seem to be at each other's throats. The guild icons for these alliances were consistent within their respective worlds—for instance, the 'Suspicious' and 'TOP' alliance guilds in Vita all shared a pink lion icon. If this signifies a world-wide monopoly similar to Lux, we can expect the next match-up to mirror the 30th Ancient Citadel.

The thrill of the match-up!

Our analysis confirms that Raven 2 is frequently defined by specific 'lines' monopolizing servers. However, there is a fascinating exception: the Sola-Dolor world. The image shows the status of guilds that won bids in the last match. All four are independent, representing different tiers. While there was no clear winner, it has been a long time since we saw such a genuine individualistic structure.

Among them, 'Sabangpalbang' has alliance members, but they didn't hit the battlefield. One wonders if it was a deliberate choice to skip the bid or if they simply got squeezed out by the competition. We shall see if these four can hoist the flag of victory this time around.

Ancient Citadel Content Analysis

While compiling the expected participants for this Ancient Citadel, we stumbled upon some interesting data. The 30th match saw many guilds ranked in the 50s and 90s jumping into the fray. While seeing a diverse range of guilds participating is generally a positive sign, as of October 14th, most of those guilds had withered away, with many failing to maintain even five members. Given the entry requirements for the Ancient Citadel, it is highly probable that these players jumped ship immediately after the bid or the match ended.

Conversely, some servers saw notably low participation from top-tier guilds—even those that are usually fixtures on the Ancient Citadel match-up board. While the former is a common occurrence, the latter is rare. It leaves plenty of room for interpretation; perhaps these top guilds simply decided to take a week off. The bidding process seems to be getting more complex by the day.

PVP Ranking Analysis

It has been two weeks since we last checked the Raven 2 PVP rankings, and it seems the Chuseok holiday provided plenty of time for carnage. Stagnant ranks and KDA stats have finally surged. The top spot goes to 'Cantabile', who racked up 189 kills, 1 assist, and 1 death. Their home, Mare World, showed higher PVP ranker density and KDA performance than other servers, with several players sitting at the top of the global charts.

Terra and Kerum worlds tell a different story. In specific servers, global top-tier rankers appeared in clusters—Terra's Metus and Kerum's Salus being the prime examples. Terra, in particular, managed to get four rankers into the Top 20. It really highlights how distinct the PVP climate is from server to server.

On a final note, Raven 2 is gearing up for guild-versus-guild competition content, specifically the Guild Battle and the subsequent Guild Championship. The first tournament stage was the Ancient Citadel, and I still remember how the community was ablaze with anticipation and competitive spirit. We look forward to seeing if this news will reignite that same fire among the players.