Vampir has recently shaken things up with a new matchmaking protocol for its server shuffles. Now, even standard groups are tiered based on their past performance in the skirmishes, categorised into Diamond, Platinum, and Gold brackets. To keep things snappy, each bracket pits two servers against one another, with the competition trimmed down to a preliminary and a final round. So, which servers are generating the most buzz in this new landscape? KookminTree has crunched the numbers.

Standard Group Matchup Forecast

Diamond Bracket: A clash of pride between two-win clans from last season

The Diamond bracket is essentially a gauntlet for clans that secured two victories in the previous Vampir skirmish season. It is where the top dogs who dominated their respective groups come to clash. However, don't let the stats fool you; the weight behind those numbers varies significantly. Some clans have been grinding out victory points for quite some time. Consequently, aside from Group 3, you won't find many matches with a massive gap in points. Standouts include Abigail in Group 2, Lines of Lines in Group 5, and Cheongyeok in Group 6. In these groups, the narrative is firmly set as a battle between the established titans and the hungry challengers.

In Groups 1 and 2, the gap between the undefeated clans and their challengers is relatively slim. The former sees the 5-win clan 'Strange People' while the latter faces the 6-win 'Pioneer'. Group 5 also shows a narrow margin with 'Fair Trade Commission' holding 5 wins, but there is an interesting detail to note here. Both clans made use of special items during the last server migration. 'Fair Trade Commission' was locked in a rivalry with 'War Tribe' on the same server before moving and going on a winning streak. It will be fascinating to see how they fare in the upcoming skirmish.

Gold Bracket: Many clans hunting for their first taste of victory

The Gold bracket features clans that failed to secure any points in the previous skirmish season. While one might expect a Platinum bracket to sit between the Gold and Diamond tiers, the recent Vampir clan points have polarized into either 'undefeated' or 'zero wins'. At the time of compilation, a staggering number of clans had no recorded victories.

However, Groups 1 and 4 present a different picture. While they didn't ring the bells of victory last season, they are home to veterans with multiple past titles. In Group 1, both 'War Tribe' and 'Package Hero' fit this bill. 'War Tribe' hasn't updated its point tally since the very first skirmish two seasons ago, while 'Fair Trade Commission' from the same server moved elsewhere after their second skirmish victory. As for 'Package Hero', they previously enjoyed a four-win streak. When these two meet on the narrow bridge of battle, who will be flying the flag of victory?

In Group 4, all eyes are on HOUND from the Duncan 1 server. Aside from the Blood Race server 'Enoch', Duncan is the most recently opened server in Vampir. For the past four skirmishes, the three servers within Duncan have been battling amongst themselves. HOUND went on a winning spree there, but their momentum took a hit once they were matched against the legacy servers. It remains to be seen if they can carve out a new path to victory in this fresh environment.

Vampir Groups 7 through 12 also house a large number of zero-win clans. Groups 10 and 12, in particular, are carrying high expectations for their next outing. Group 10 is likely to see a clash between 'HoneyJamVampir' and 'CommanderZ'. Notably, 'CommanderZ' enjoyed a three-win streak up until two seasons ago. After taking a season off, this is their prime opportunity to announce their return with a win.

The Enoch server is a limited-run 'Blood Race' server. It will undergo server migration from January 28 to February 3, and will be shut down the following day, February 4. This makes the upcoming match the final skirmish. Currently, 'Eyebrow Moon' from Server 1 has managed to hoard points. If they pull off a win in the next skirmish, they will close out their run with a respectable two victories. Keep an eye on whether 'Eyebrow Moon' claims the title of the final victor.

Streamer Group Matchup Forecast

Moving on, let's break down the skirmish brackets for the Vampir streamer groups. The Diamond bracket is intriguing in both Groups 1 and 2. It feels like a shonen manga, with similar servers bumping into each other. Group 1 achieved its first victory and a two-win streak in the last set of matches, giving off the aura of an emerging powerhouse. The clan that wins the next skirmish will hit a three-win streak. They have truly met their match.

Group 2 is a bit of an anomaly. 'Myth' managed one win last season, but based on various clan factors, they were placed in Diamond Group 2. However, their cumulative skirmish record sits at 5 wins, which is one more than 'Seoul Metropolitan City'. It’s a high-stakes duel to see who hits 6 wins first or if they end up locked in a draw.

In the Gold bracket, Group 2's 'ROYAL It's Mine' and 'Blood Suckers' are in the same boat. Both clans have two past skirmish wins under their belts, but have since faced a long dry spell. It’s high time for them to return to the ranks of multi-win clans. They are up against 'Mad Dogs' and 'Coup'. Among them, 'Mad Dogs' actually has a lower level compared to other ranker clans on their server, yet they secured 1st place through sheer cumulative experience. I suspect they have a few tricks up their sleeves for this skirmish.