This week, the threshold to enter the rankings for Game of Thrones: Kingsroad sits at 144,502—a modest increase of just 3,135 from last week. The view from the summit, however, is a different story. The top-ranked player has seen a massive surge of 11,195, hitting 234,067. The gap between the elite and the rest of the pack is widening, with the leaders showing growth more than three times that of the lower ranks.

A golden ratio for the Elite Hideout

The Knight class is flexing its muscles, claiming six spots in the top 10 Raid rankings. Much of this success stems from 'Morale Boost,' a versatile skill that handles everything from triggering unique effects and increasing crit chance to boosting skill damage and debuffing enemy defense. It pairs beautifully with the 'Corso Scholar's Letter' hero relic, which has recently gained traction for its ability to reduce rage consumption for 'Fighting Spirit,' cementing the Knight's position.

The Mercenary class is making a bold push in the Elite Hideout rankings. With four more Mercenaries joining the top 100, we have reached a perfect golden balance: 34 Mercenaries, 33 Knights, and 33 Assassins. Given the Mercenary's ability to deliver consistent damage compared to Raid scenarios, this upward trend looks set to continue.

The featured Elite Hideout this week is 'Old Town: Shaded Monastery.' While requirements vary by server, you will need to clear Stage 15 within 10 minutes to break into the top 100. For a spot in the top 10, that jumps to clearing Stage 20 in under 5 minutes. To pull this off, stop huddling with your party; scatter at the early forks to pick off enemies individually. Check the image below for the branching paths.

The quiet rise of the Corso Scholar's Letter

The Corso Scholar's Letter has been gaining steam for the past two weeks. Assassins are the biggest fans, with a 50% adoption rate, while Knights and Mercenaries are sitting at 30%. It is easy to see why: it offers damage increases that outshine legendary relics, plus extra attack power and crit chance upon upgrading.

Class-specific relics follow closely behind. Knights have opted for the 'Smiling Knight's Chipped Sword,' while Assassins favour 'Rhaegar's Ruby.' Interestingly, Assassins are choosing Rhaegar's Ruby for the sheer convenience, even at lower upgrade levels. Mercenaries, meanwhile, are prioritising raw damage by choosing the common legendary relic 'Ice Hilt' over their own class-specific gear.

As for active relics, 'Bloody Towel' and 'Warrior's Son Skull' have been the gold standard since launch. A curious detail, though, is how slot preference changes by class. Mercenaries tend to put Warrior's Son Skull in the first weapon slot and Bloody Towel in the second. Knights and Assassins do the exact opposite, placing the Bloody Towel in the first slot—a telling hint at their preferred weapon loadouts.