It has been one round since the 'Vampir' skirmishes saw a shake-up in their matchmaking rules. While the initial rounds were dominated by Gold-tier brackets—essentially dumping grounds for servers with a zero-win record—the latest server shuffling has shifted the atmosphere. We are seeing a higher concentration of Platinum-tier servers with a single victory under their belts. Simultaneously, the Diamond and Platinum brackets are throwing up some fascinating matchups. I have taken the liberty of analysing the upcoming fixtures and the clans likely to participate.

General Group Matchmaking Forecast

First, let us look at the Vampir general server group. The three Diamond brackets share a common theme. In bracket 1, 'KkabuneunFamily'; in bracket 2, 'Abigail'; and in bracket 3, 'Cheongyeok' are all currently on a winning streak. Their challengers—'Gimyo-han-saram-deul', 'Goryeo', and 'Fair Trade Commission'—have recently notched up three consecutive wins. It is a classic 'top dog vs. challenger' narrative. I am particularly keeping an eye on bracket 3, where 'Fair Trade Commission' faces a test; they famously ended the unbeaten run of 'Line-deul-ui-Line' last time out. Now, they are up against another long-standing winner, and it will be interesting to see if they can strike again.

In Platinum bracket 3, I expect a showdown between HOUND and Oyeom. HOUND looked invincible when restricted to intra-world matchmaking, though they wobbled slightly once the server pools expanded. However, they found their rhythm again in the last skirmish. Meanwhile, Oyeom secured their first-ever victory in that same round. It is a clash between a multi-title veteran and a fresh-faced debutant.

The second chart splits into two distinct camps: clans that recently broke their maiden win, and those that have hit a bit of a dry spell. The former includes 'Chamgyoyuk', 'Wolseok', 'Urinmalloanhae', 'Maxim', 'Draken', 'Geomseon', and 'Naeil'. That is over half the field. Ever since the system was tweaked to account for previous match data, we have seen this surge in variety. It is a welcome change, as it finally provides a path to victory and points for clans that were previously left out in the cold.

Then there are the laggards: 'Seon-guja', 'Jeontuminjok', 'Line-deul-ui-Line', 'Gwisin', and 'Geomeungisadan'. They failed to win their last skirmish, and the stakes for the next round feel significantly heavier for them. This upcoming win is crucial for points recovery and determining their future bracket placement. A loss here likely spells relegation to the Gold bracket. In that sense, Platinum bracket 7 is shaping up to be a real bloodbath.

Streamer Group Matchmaking Forecast

Next, let us break down the expected participants for the Vampir streamer group. Only one Diamond bracket remains, and it is set to be a clash between 'Myth' and 'Vampire Clan'. Their histories diverged after the first server transfer; 'Myth' has been piling up points since the dawn of these skirmishes, while 'Vampire Clan' has been on a tear since the transfer period. It is a 7-win veteran versus a 3-match win streak. The next result will either extend 'Myth's' reign to three straight or gift 'Vampire Clan' their fourth.

Platinum bracket 1 looks to be a baptism of fire for Bite. They earned their first-ever win last time out and are now hunting for a second consecutive victory. They will not have it easy, though, as 'Seoul Metropolitan' is not about to roll over. Having secured two wins since the first server transfer, they are looking for a hat-trick. I, for one, am eager to see how this unfolds.

The Gold 1 and 2 brackets carry a different kind of weight. 'Oscar 3', 'Damir 3', and 'Ridel 3' have yet to taste victory in the skirmishes. Whoever wins here will be the first to plant their server's flag in the winner's circle. It seems to be part of the grand design for Vampir to ensure every server gets at least one win under its belt. I am curious to see which server finally rings the bell and manages to escape the Gold bracket.