Welcome back to the [Meca Ranking] for 'Seven Knights Re:BIRTH' (SKRB). Since Lu Bu hit the scene, the Arena has been hit by a proper storm. His arrival has completely shattered the delicate balance of team compositions. The offensive-meta is enjoying a golden age once again, while the magic-meta—having taken a heavy counter-punch—has seen its pick rates plummet to the floor. Let's dive into the shifting meta with our team composition charts.

The 'Lu Bu' effect: A total dominance in pick rates

Lu Bu has sent a seismic shift through the Arena. He arrived with a 78% pick rate, crushing all incumbents to claim the top spot. Naturally, his presence has dragged the pick rates of other offensive heroes up with him. 'Branz & Bransel' jumped by 61% P, Kagura by 61.7% P, and Kyle by 59% P, leaving the top of the chart firmly in the hands of offensive heroes.

With the classic 'Magic-Offensive-Defensive' triangle in ruins, the only ones barely clinging to life are the defensive compositions. Though, to be fair, these aren't your typical defensive teams anymore; they look more like a Frankenstein of universal-type units. The meta is currently led by the universal trio of 'Sun Wukong, Phalanus, and Gelidus', with Rudy and Rosie added to satisfy the defensive/support requirements for Phalanus's synergy.

For those playing at home, these defensive teams used to be countered by magic-meta squads. While they’ve been thoroughly suppressed by Lu Bu, making a comeback with defensive units is easier said than done. Unless you’ve meticulously fine-tuned your setup, Lu Bu will dismantle you with ease. Dabbling with a mediocre build is a one-way ticket to a losing streak. If you’re climbing past the Master rank, I strongly suggest sticking to a Lu Bu-based offensive build. Check out this week's 'Best Picks' section for the details.

Formations and Pets: Preparing for the 'Lu Bu Mirror Match'

With high-tier matchmaking essentially turning into a Lu Bu mirror-match festival, top-ranked players are busy tinkering with formations and pets to squeeze out every bit of win-rate percentage. I suspect plenty of them are also busy re-rolling their gear stats behind the scenes.

Formations are currently a split between default and balanced styles, while Erin remains the pet of choice. Her pick rate surged by 52.3% P, mirroring the rise of the offensive heroes. Meanwhile, some players are opting for Yu to counter the high-sustain defensive teams. Defensive players are trying to find a way out with 'Karam, Lu, and Pike', but it’s frankly not enough to topple Lu Bu.

Best Picks of the Week

The 'Ultra-Offensive' build: More win conditions with Lu Bu

The offensive-meta’s best entry has been cemented. The ultra-offensive lineup featuring 'Kyle, Branz & Bransel, and Lu Bu' as the primary damage dealers looks set to rule the meta for the foreseeable future. Lu Bu’s inclusion has effectively shattered the shackles of restrictive hero requirements; the 'if X offensive heroes are present' condition is now effectively a free-for-all synergy.

Supporting these glass cannons are heroes dedicated to survival and buffs. Kagura provides the firepower boost and survivability, while Elysia handles the status ailment clean-up. As mentioned, this build boasts a massive win rate against magic-meta teams, making it a solid choice for the Total War mode. Alternatively, you could split your forces by mixing in old-school stalwarts like Fina or Trude. Adjust according to your current roster and gear situation.

Total War: Pick of the Week

The sole leader at Round 10: 'Lion B'

Lu Bu is pulling his weight in Total War as well. As we push toward Round 11, most high-ranking players have integrated him into their squads. We analyzed the 5-team lineup of 'Lion B', who currently holds the top spot at Round 10. The teams are, in order: 'Phalanus Defensive - Lu Bu Offensive - Milia Magic - Kris Instant Death - Sun Wukong Defensive'.

The second team—the Lu Bu offensive squad—is a variation of our arena best pick, minus Elysia. Instead, Ace has been brought in for his anti-heal capabilities, specifically to improve win rates against defensive compositions. Elysia, in turn, found a home in the fifth team, the Sun Wukong defensive squad. Aside from Aragon, the fifth team is built around self-healing, further bolstered by extra recovery and status cleanse.

While magic-meta teams have hit rock bottom in the Arena, the Milia magic team in the third slot remains alive and well in Total War. This is the classic 5-mage setup that dominated before Lu Bu’s arrival. It’s optimized for Milia’s 'Magic Bond' passive, leaving no room for support-type heroes like Orly. They’ve even equipped Yu to handle those pesky defensive teams.

Seven Knights Re:BIRTH User Poll

We’re expecting real-time Arena battles to hit SKRB sooner rather than later. With the basic rules laid out, we polled our adventurers on which deck they’d ban if they were facing 'Offensive, Magic, or Defensive' setups in real-time.The results came in as 'Defensive - Magic - Offensive' in order of preference for bans.

Coincidentally, this poll was taken before Lu Bu arrived, so the situation has changed drastically. Offensive teams were at 18.2% in third place back then, but I reckon the results would be entirely different now. Keep this shifting meta in mind when the real-time ban-pick system finally lands.

SKRB is hosting a special Lunar New Year event. You can now set your wish list for the 5 original Seven Knights. Since these pick-up opportunities are rare, plenty of players are taking their shot. You’re guaranteed one of your two wish-listed heroes after 100 summons, so choose wisely. Who are you hoping to pull? Let us know in the poll, and we’ll reveal the results in next week’s Meca Ranking. Adieu!