The Crypt doesn’t lie (but I counted wrong): Popularity revisited

My previous post about clan popularity sparked a really fun discussion on the VTES Discord and it made me realize I had committed the ultimate Tremere neonate mistake: I rushed to publish shiny results before properly triple-checking them, cross-referencing them, and performing at least one unnecessary ritual over a spreadsheet. Classic.

The community pointed out something obvious in hindsight: counting how many different clan cards appear in decks tells you about diversity, but it doesn't tell you your real odds of running into a given clan or vampire. If one deck runs a clan with 1-of vampires scattered everywhere, and another runs 6 copies of the same monster, those "occurrence counts" aren't the same kind of threat. So I went back to the data, did the responsible Warlock thing (transformations, lookups, and mildly suspicious muttering), and cooked up a few new angles that actually answer the question I thought I was answering.

Result 1: Clan presence by total copies

Same pool of decks: all submitted tournament lists from the last two years. This time, instead of just counting whether a clan appears, I sum all crypt cards by clan and multiply by the number of copies. In other words, this ranks clans not just by "how often they show up", but by how likely you are to see them across tables. If a clan is popular and people run many copies of their key vamps, they'll jump up here and your odds of meeting them in the wild go way up.

2024
  Tzimisce: 498
  Gangrel: 443
  Malkavian: 422
  Ministry: 376
  Toreador: 347
  Brujah: 326
  Banu Haqim: 316
  Ravnos: 280
  Tremere: 244
  Tremere antitribu: 203
  Lasombra: 177
  Baali: 139
  Nosferatu: 131
  Malkavian antitribu: 122
  Giovanni: 114
  Gargoyle: 105
  Salubri: 104
  Ventrue: 94
  Ventrue antitribu: 87
  Toreador antitribu: 78
  Samedi: 57
  Nosferatu antitribu: 54
  Gangrel antitribu: 51
  Brujah antitribu: 49
  Osebo: 44
  Harbinger of Skulls: 42
  Caitiff: 41
  Kiasyd: 39
  True Brujah: 32
  Nagaraja: 31
  Blood Brother: 24
  Salubri antitribu: 19
  Guruhi: 17
  Daughter of Cacophony: 15
  Ishtarri: 14
  Ahrimane: 13
  Pander: 10
  Innocent: 4
  Visionary: 4
  Defender: 3
  Abomination: 2
  Martyr: 2
  Avenger: 1
  Judge: 1
  Redeemer: 1

2025
  Gangrel: 465
  Lasombra: 437
  Tzimisce: 425
  Malkavian: 400
  Ministry: 384
  Toreador: 368
  Banu Haqim: 313
  Ravnos: 277
  Tremere antitribu: 258
  Hecata: 231
  Brujah: 194
  Gargoyle: 191
  Baali: 152
  Tremere: 137
  Ventrue: 126
  Nosferatu: 115
  Salubri: 89
  Malkavian antitribu: 82
  Kiasyd: 80
  Toreador antitribu: 80
  Caitiff: 69
  Gangrel antitribu: 48
  Harbinger of Skulls: 46
  Samedi: 46
  Ventrue antitribu: 40
  True Brujah: 38
  Pander: 32
  Nosferatu antitribu: 27
  Salubri antitribu: 24
  Blood Brother: 23
  Brujah antitribu: 22
  Guruhi: 14
  Giovanni: 13
  Nagaraja: 11
  Ahrimane: 10
  Ishtarri: 7
  Osebo: 4
  Visionary: 4
  Defender: 3
  Innocent: 3
  Martyr: 3
  Daughter of Cacophony: 2
  Judge: 1

Result 2: Most-played individual vampires

Next, I zoomed in on the crypt itself. I wanted to know which specific vampires are showing up most often, so I summed copies by vampire across all those decks. This answers the real horror question: “Which faces am I statistically doomed to see?”

2024 (top 50)
  Adrino Manauara: 97
  Ángel Guerrero: 92
  Tupdog: 91
  Kuyén: 59
  unnamed, The: 53
  Branimira: 49
  Vivian VI: 49
  Aline Gädeke: 47
  Casey Snyder: 45
  Stanislava: 44
  Sergio Bueno: 43
  Antonio d'Erlette: 42
  Diana Iadanza: 42
  Kassandra Tassaki: 40
  Clara Hjortshøj: 39
  Elisha Tucker: 39
  Kamile Paukstys: 38
  Sreelekha: 37
  Malgorzata: 36
  Marialena: 35
  Theo Bell: 35
  Roberto Rivamonte: 34
  Atiena: 33
  Gathii: 33
  Valeriya Zinovieva: 33
  Phaibun: 32
  Leumeah: 31
  Massimiliano: 31
  Ingrid Rossler: 30
  Kasim Bayar: 30
  Lord Tremere: 30
  Lutz von Hohenzollern: 29
  Gilbert Duane: 28
  Mistress Fanchon: 28
  Warmaksan: 28
  Catalina Vega: 27
  Farah Sarroub: 27
  Doc Martina: 26
  Saku Pihlajamäki: 26
  Annabelle Triabell: 25
  Alexander Silverson: 24
  Andi Liu: 24
  Arishat: 24
  Nonu Dis: 24
  Anson: 23
  Crystal Lynn: 23
  Shalmath: 23
  Abraham Mellon: 22
  Elen Kamjian: 22
  Gabrielle di Righetti: 22

2025 (top 50)
  Tupdog: 165
  Antonio d'Erlette: 100
  Ángel Guerrero: 73
  Adrino Manauara: 63
  Kuyén: 62
  Casey Snyder: 57
  Diana Iadanza: 57
  Yewon Ong: 50
  Vivian VI: 47
  Kassandra Tassaki: 44
  Massimiliano: 43
  Warmaksan: 43
  unnamed, The: 43
  Juliet Parr: 42
  Sergio Bueno: 42
  María del Toro: 41
  Alexander Silverson: 40
  Branimira: 40
  Kamaluddin: 37
  Oluwafunmilayo: 37
  Elisha Tucker: 36
  Gnaeus Aemilius Augustinus: 36
  Alek König: 35
  Gathii: 35
  Kasim Bayar: 35
  Farah Sarroub: 34
  Stanislava: 34
  Phaibun: 33
  Andi Liu: 32
  Arishat: 31
  Keith Moody: 31
  Azucena: 30
  Roberto Rivamonte: 30
  Sreelekha: 30
  Nergal: 29
  Crystal Lynn: 28
  Gebeyehu Abdu: 28
  Indira: 27
  Kamile Paukstys: 27
  Lutz von Hohenzollern: 27
  Mora, the Death Seer: 27
  Abraham Mellon: 26
  Marialena: 26
  Aintzane Arriaga: 25
  Khadija Al-Kindi: 25
  Marcel: 25
  Rinaldo Albizzi: 25
  Anneke: 24
  Anson: 24
  Dafina Hanganu: 24

 

Result 3: Top 3 vampires per clan

Finally, because my inner researcher wasn't done and my inner Tremere refuses to stop once the chalk circle is drawn, I pulled the top three most played vampires for each clan. This is the "signature roster" view, aka. the vamps each clan seems to be leaning on as their go-to stars.

 2024
  Abomination: Lorrie Dunsirn (2)
  Ahrimane: Howler (4), Cynthia Ingold (3), Siamese, The (3)
  Avenger: John "Cop90" O'Malley (1)
  Baali: unnamed, The (53), Arishat (24), Horde, The (17)
  Banu Haqim: Kassandra Tassaki (40), Kasim Bayar (30), Warmaksan (28)
  Blood Brother: Ági (6), Dorka (4), Gabi (4)
  Brujah: Aline Gädeke (47), Theo Bell (35), Atiena (33)
  Brujah antitribu: Armin Brenner (6), Hektor (5), Fairuza (4)
  Caitiff: Count Zaroff (6), Eddie Gaines (6), Maldavis (ADV) (5)
  Daughter of Cacophony: Scout Youngwood (9), Harlan Graves (2), Hillanvale (2)
  Defender: Jack "Hannibal137" Harmon (2), Xian "DziDzat155" Quan (1)
  Gangrel: Kuyén (59), Casey Snyder (45), Stanislava (44)
  Gangrel antitribu: Hartmut Stover (14), Enkidu, The Noah (10), Aksinya Daclau (9)
  Gargoyle: Tupdog (91), Alabástrom (5), Verbruch (3)
  Giovanni: Guillaume Giovanni (14), Rudolfo Giovanni (7), Bez Dunsirn (6)
  Guruhi: Nana Buruku (7), Lucian, the Perfect (5), Nangila Were (4)
  Harbinger of Skulls: Capuchin, The (20), Agaitas, The Scholar of Antiquities (9), Egothha (4)
  Innocent: Béatrice "Oracle171" Tremblay (4)
  Ishtarri: Undele (9), Ayo Igoli (3), Shasa Abu Badr (1)
  Judge: François "Warden" Loehr (1)
  Kiasyd: Arcadian, The (9), Isanwayen (8), Pherydima (6)
  Lasombra: Ambrosio Luis Monçada, Plenipotentiary (17), Montano (16), Ermenegildo, The Rake (10)
  Malkavian: Lutz von Hohenzollern (29), Gilbert Duane (28), Alexander Silverson (24)
  Malkavian antitribu: Dolphin Black (11), Jackie (10), Korah (10)
  Martyr: Travis "Traveler72" Miller (2)
  Ministry: Vivian VI (49), Sergio Bueno (43), Elisha Tucker (39)
  Nagaraja: Anu Diptinatpa (11), Asguresh (9), Veejay Vinod (7)
  Nosferatu: Alonso Petrodon (10), Jacques Rouge (10), Nikolaus Vermeulen (10)
  Nosferatu antitribu: Cailean (8), Beast, The Leatherface of Detroit (6), Julio Martinez (5)
  Osebo: Massassi (18), Homa (5), Khalu (4)
  Pander: Christine Boscacci (3), Royce (3), Feo Ramos (2)
  Ravnos: Sreelekha (37), Roberto Rivamonte (34), Gathii (33)
  Redeemer: Leaf "Potter116" Pankowski (1)
  Salubri: Saulot, The Wanderer (19), Abaddon (17), Ilonka (10)
  Salubri antitribu: Nuriel (8), Ariel (3), Michaela (3)
  Samedi: Mambo Jeanne (13), Angel Chavarria (10), Baroque (8)
  Toreador: Diana Iadanza (42), Catalina Vega (27), Annabelle Triabell (25)
  Toreador antitribu: Jost Werner (10), Sheila Mezarin (7), Greta Kircher (6)
  Tremere: Lord Tremere (30), Mistress Fanchon (28), Gabrielle di Righetti (22)
  Tremere antitribu: Antonio d'Erlette (42), Malgorzata (36), Orlando Oriundus (14)
  True Brujah: Shalmath (23), Al-Muntathir, God's Witness (5), Nehemiah (4)
  Tzimisce: Adrino Manauara (97), Ángel Guerrero (92), Branimira (49)
  Ventrue: Arika (14), Marcus Vitel (14), Alice Chen (8)
  Ventrue antitribu: Neighbor John (14), Owain Evans, The Wanderer (14), Blackhorse Tanner (8)
  Visionary: Jennie "Cassie247" Orne (3), Paul "Sixofswords29" Moreton (1)

2025
  Ahrimane: Effie Lowery (4), Muricia (3), Darlene Killian (1)
  Baali: unnamed, The (43), Arishat (31), Nergal (29)
  Banu Haqim: Kassandra Tassaki (44), Warmaksan (43), Oluwafunmilayo (37)
  Blood Brother: Karl (3), Mark (3), Ági (3)
  Brujah: Dmitra Ilyanova (24), Adana de Sforza (16), Aline Gädeke (15)
  Brujah antitribu: Amelia (3), Sarah Brando (3), Frederick the Weak (2)
  Caitiff: Eddie Gaines (7), Antoinette DuChamp (6), Franciscus (6)
  Daughter of Cacophony: Aimee Laroux (1), Rosemarie (1)
  Defender: Jack "Hannibal137" Harmon (2), Xian "DziDzat155" Quan (1)
  Gangrel: Kuyén (62), Casey Snyder (57), Massimiliano (43)
  Gangrel antitribu: Hartmut Stover (12), Enkidu, The Noah (10), Xendil Charmer (6)
  Gargoyle: Tupdog (165), Alabástrom (8), Verbruch (6)
  Giovanni: Guillaume Giovanni (4), Ignazio Giovanni (2), Accorri Giovanni (1)
  Guruhi: Lucian, the Perfect (6), Nana Buruku (5), Nangila Were (2)
  Harbinger of Skulls: Erlik (9), Angelique (5), Capuchin, The (5)
  Hecata: Alek König (35), Gebeyehu Abdu (28), Mora, the Death Seer (27)
  Innocent: Béatrice "Oracle171" Tremblay (2), Inez "Nurse216" Villagrande (1)
  Ishtarri: Undele (7)
  Judge: Erick "Shophet125" Franco (1)
  Kiasyd: Isanwayen (23), Arcadian, The (17), Dame Hollerton (11)
  Lasombra: Yewon Ong (50), María del Toro (41), Kamaluddin (37)
  Malkavian: Juliet Parr (42), Alexander Silverson (40), Andi Liu (32)
  Malkavian antitribu: Jackie (12), Apache Jones (10), Midget (9)
  Martyr: Travis "Traveler72" Miller (3)
  Ministry: Vivian VI (47), Sergio Bueno (42), Elisha Tucker (36)
  Nagaraja: Sennadurek (6), Anu Diptinatpa (2), Asguresh (2)
  Nosferatu: Alonso Petrodon (15), Belinde (12), Dowager, The (8)
  Nosferatu antitribu: Julio Martinez (4), Raphael Catarari (4), Stick (4)
  Osebo: Abiku (1), Homa (1), Kamaria (1)
  Pander: Huang, Blood Cultist (5), March Halcyon (5), Royce (5)
  Ravnos: Gathii (35), Phaibun (33), Roberto Rivamonte (30)
  Salubri: Abaddon (17), Saulot, The Wanderer (14), Ilonka (9)
  Salubri antitribu: Qawiyya el-Ghaduba (4), Uriel (4), Nuriel (3)
  Samedi: Angel Chavarria (16), Mambo Jeanne (9), Marie-Pierre (7)
  Toreador: Diana Iadanza (57), Anneke (24), Anson (24)
  Toreador antitribu: Jost Werner (11), Greta Kircher (9), Miller Delmardigan, Teacher of Bahari (5)
  Tremere: Lord Tremere (14), Carna, The Princess Witch (13), Mistress Fanchon (11)
  Tremere antitribu: Antonio d'Erlette (100), Keith Moody (31), Jacob, The Glitch (19)
  True Brujah: Shalmath (21), Nehemiah (7), Al-Muntathir, God's Witness (5)
  Tzimisce: Ángel Guerrero (73), Adrino Manauara (63), Branimira (40)
  Ventrue: Lodin (Olaf Holte) (18), Graham Gottesman (17), Alice Chen (11)
  Ventrue antitribu: Neighbor John (8), Owain Evans, The Wanderer (6), Blackhorse Tanner (5)
  Visionary: Jennie "Cassie247" Orne (3), Paul "Sixofswords29" Moreton (1)

These new angles make the picture a lot sharper and the results are not quite the story I was telling myself before. Once we count actual copies, 2024 turns into a distinctly Tzimisce-shaped year. If you attended tournaments last year, odds are you saw more fleshcrafting than you bargained for, with Gangrel close behind and Malkavians still very present, just not wearing the crown. It's like I showed up expecting a clown parade and instead found a biotech conference run by feral survivalists.

Then 2025 comes along and says, "hold my shadow". Gangrel take the lead, Lasombra rocket up into second, and the Tzimisce remain stubbornly glued to the top tier which feels very on-brand for a clan that refuses to die, literally or statistically. The Ministry and Toreador sit right behind the big four, quietly reminding everyone that snakes and silk shirts are still excellent tools in the Eternal Struggle. And the Malkavians? Still everywhere, still dangerous, just no longer the automatic headline act in this particular view.

To me, the biggest revelation is how much this shifts "expected opponents". If you're prepping for tournament play, you're not just planning for chaos and cleverness, you're planning for claws, shadows, and questionable anatomy projects as the most likely tablemates. Which, honestly, feels like a very 2025 meta mood. So take these datasets, squint at them like a Tremere reading bad omens in someone else's blood, and see what you conclude: are these rankings about raw clan power, about a few superstar vampires skewing the numbers, or about players chasing the newest toys? Either way, the crypt is speaking and it's definitely not whispering.

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Madness leads the pack: Clan trends from the last two years

I often browse the VTES Tournament Winning Deck Archive to see what's dominating the meta. But while that archive tells us what wins, it doesn't necessarily show us what's popular.

With my first tournament coming up in January, I got curious: what are the odds of facing certain clans? Which vampires are strutting confidently onto tabletops, and which ones are gathering dust, plotting their comeback in the crypt?

Fueled by scientific curiosity (and maybe a mild obsession), I decided to find out.

Being a software engineer comes with certain powers, the kind that make you think, “Yes, I could automate that.” So I did.

I wrote a script that scraped and analyzed every reported tournament deck list from the last two years (approx 30 events). Then I counted every crypt card in the decks and grouped them by clan and minion group. The result? A snapshot of which vampires actually walk the Earth in competitive play. Wanna see the data? Of course you do! Well today is your lucky day, dear reader:

2024
  Malkavian 109 (G1: 3, G2: 15, G3: 13, G4: 20, G5: 29, G6: 25, G7: 4)
  Gangrel 86 (G1: 1, G2: 10, G3: 10, G4: 1, G5: 20, G6: 44)
  Toreador 86 (G1: 7, G2: 11, G3: 4, G4: 8, G5: 15, G6: 21, G7: 20)
  Tremere 71 (G1: 2, G2: 9, G3: 12, G4: 14, G5: 22, G6: 9, G7: 3)
  Brujah 70 (G1: 3, G2: 3, G3: 1, G4: 10, G5: 18, G6: 35)
  Tzimisce 67 (G2: 7, G3: 5, G4: 6, G5: 7, G6: 42)
  Ministry 59 (G2: 3, G3: 1, G4: 6, G5: 9, G6: 40)
  Tremere antitribu 56 (G2: 10, G3: 16, G4: 27, G5: 3)
  Nosferatu 50 (G1: 4, G2: 5, G3: 2, G4: 5, G5: 12, G6: 22)
  Banu Haqim 49 (G2: 5, G3: 1, G4: 7, G5: 13, G6: 23)
  Malkavian antitribu 38 (G2: 6, G3: 8, G4: 17, G5: 7)
  Ventrue 36 (G2: 7, G3: 11, G4: 6, G5: 6, G6: 6)
  Lasombra 35 (G2: 8, G3: 6, G4: 13, G5: 7, G6: 1)
  Giovanni 34 (G2: 6, G3: 6, G4: 7, G5: 10, G6: 5)
  Gangrel antitribu 31 (G2: 8, G3: 9, G4: 7, G5: 7)
  Ravnos 31 (G2: 3, G3: 4, G4: 1, G7: 23)
  Caitiff 28 (G1: 2, G2: 5, G3: 11, G4: 3, G5: 6, G6: 1)
  Ventrue antitribu 28 (G2: 3, G3: 9, G4: 13, G5: 3)
  Baali 26 (G2: 3, G5: 4, G6: 19)
  Toreador antitribu 21 (G2: 6, G3: 6, G4: 6, G5: 3)
  Brujah antitribu 18 (G2: 2, G3: 2, G4: 8, G5: 6)
  Nagaraja 18 (G2: 1, G4: 2, G5: 5, G6: 10)
  Nosferatu antitribu 15 (G2: 4, G3: 3, G4: 5, G5: 3)
  Salubri 13 (G2: 1, G4: 4, G7: 8)
  Harbinger of Skulls 10 (G2: 2, G3: 1, G4: 1, G5: 5, G6: 1)
  Kiasyd 10 (G4: 7, G5: 3)
  Osebo 10 (G3: 2, G4: 5, G5: 3)
  Samedi 10 (G5: 4, G6: 6)
  Gargoyle 9 (G2: 1, G3: 6, G5: 1, G6: 1)
  Pander 8 (G2: 4, G3: 4)
  Ishtarri 6 (G4: 2, G5: 4)
  True Brujah 6 (G4: 1, G5: 1, G6: 4)
  Salubri antitribu 5 (G4: 1, G5: 2, G6: 2)
  Blood Brother 4 (G2: 1, G5: 1, G6: 2)
  Daughter of Cacophony 4 (G4: 1, G5: 1, G6: 2)
  Guruhi 4 (G4: 4)
  Ahrimane 2 (G2: 1, G4: 1)
  Abomination 1 (G4: 1)
  Avenger 1 (G4: 1)
  Defender 1 (G4: 1)
  Innocent 1 (G4: 1)
  Judge 1 (G4: 1)
  Martyr 1 (G4: 1)
  Redeemer 1 (G4: 1)
  Visionary 1 (G4: 1)

2025
  Malkavian 106 (G1: 3, G2: 11, G3: 10, G4: 16, G5: 18, G6: 36, G7: 12)
  Toreador 88 (G1: 10, G2: 13, G3: 4, G4: 6, G5: 11, G6: 21, G7: 23)
  Gangrel 86 (G2: 7, G3: 12, G4: 2, G5: 26, G6: 39)
  Tzimisce 64 (G2: 9, G3: 9, G4: 5, G5: 6, G6: 35)
  Tremere antitribu 61 (G2: 1, G3: 22, G4: 35, G5: 3)
  Ministry 60 (G2: 7, G3: 3, G4: 4, G5: 6, G6: 40)
  Lasombra 57 (G2: 4, G3: 7, G4: 11, G5: 7, G6: 28)
  Brujah 55 (G1: 2, G2: 5, G3: 3, G4: 10, G5: 14, G6: 21)
  Banu Haqim 47 (G2: 3, G3: 2, G4: 1, G5: 9, G6: 32)
  Tremere 42 (G2: 3, G3: 6, G4: 10, G5: 11, G6: 9, G7: 3)
  Ventrue 41 (G1: 2, G2: 3, G3: 5, G4: 8, G5: 12, G6: 10, G7: 1)
  Nosferatu 40 (G1: 2, G2: 1, G3: 4, G4: 5, G5: 9, G6: 19)
  Ravnos 36 (G2: 3, G3: 3, G5: 1, G6: 3, G7: 26)
  Malkavian antitribu 33 (G2: 2, G3: 7, G4: 17, G5: 7)
  Caitiff 28 (G1: 6, G2: 6, G3: 7, G4: 1, G5: 7, G6: 1)
  Baali 27 (G2: 1, G4: 2, G5: 6, G6: 18)
  Hecata 25 (G6: 25)
  Gangrel antitribu 23 (G2: 3, G3: 9, G4: 8, G5: 3)
  Gargoyle 18 (G3: 13, G5: 2, G6: 3)
  Toreador antitribu 16 (G2: 6, G3: 5, G4: 4, G5: 1)
  Ventrue antitribu 15 (G2: 3, G3: 3, G4: 9)
  Kiasyd 14 (G4: 8, G5: 6)
  Harbinger of Skulls 11 (G2: 1, G3: 2, G4: 5, G5: 2, G6: 1)
  Pander 11 (G2: 9, G3: 2)
  Salubri 11 (G4: 4, G7: 7)
  Nosferatu antitribu 10 (G2: 2, G3: 1, G4: 6, G5: 1)
  Brujah antitribu 8 (G2: 5, G3: 1, G4: 1, G5: 1)
  Samedi 8 (G5: 3, G6: 5)
  True Brujah 8 (G2: 1, G4: 2, G5: 1, G6: 4)
  Giovanni 7 (G2: 3, G3: 1, G4: 1, G5: 2)
  Nagaraja 7 (G4: 3, G5: 1, G6: 3)
  Guruhi 4 (G4: 4)
  Salubri antitribu 4 (G4: 1, G5: 2, G6: 1)
  Ahrimane 3 (G4: 2, G5: 1)
  Blood Brother 3 (G2: 2, G6: 1)
  Ishtarri 3 (G5: 3)
  Innocent 2 (G4: 2)
  Osebo 2 (G4: 1, G5: 1)
  Daughter of Cacophony 1 (G4: 1)
  Defender 1 (G4: 1)
  Judge 1 (G4: 1)
  Martyr 1 (G4: 1)
  Visionary 1 (G4: 1)

The numbers don't lie, they just judge! In 2024, the Malkavians were the undisputed stars of the show,  clearly proving that madness and method make a lethal combo. Gangrel came in second, likely because claws are still an acceptable problem-solving tool. Toreador followed close behind, proving once again that fashion and efficiency can coexist, at least when it comes to bleeding for two with style.

By 2025, the same trio still ruled the tables. Apparently, insanity, wilderness, and ego remain the holy trinity of VTES success.

Meanwhile, the Tzimisce slipped from fourth to sixth place, perhaps they're busy redecorating their crypts (flesh takes time to sculpt). Tremere antitribu rose impressively in 2025, overtaking their Camarilla cousins. The Sabbat's darker warlocks seem to have found their stride, which, frankly, feels rude.

And then there's my beloved Tremere. Respectable as always, but not exactly setting the tournament scene on fire (metaphorically speaking, of course, since pyromancy is very much our thing). They hold steady in the mid-table range: respected, reliable, and probably too busy double-checking rituals to chase meta trends. The kind of clan that would rather take notes on the winning deck than play it.

Other interesting shifts: Lasombra climbed significantly in 2025, perhaps emboldened by their Camarilla alliance (or just enjoying better lighting). Ventrue remained as stoic as ever, not the most common, but still showing up to every event looking like they own it. Brujah stayed strong too, because nothing says consistency like punching the problem until it goes away.

These numbers don't just reveal what's popular. They tell stories. They whisper trends. And if you listen closely, you can hear the collective sigh of every Tremere player saying, "Fine. We'll win next year. Once the rituals are done".

And now I'll throw the ball to you, dear reader: take a good look at the numbers and see what you think they're saying. Are Malkavians popular because they're genuinely top-tier, or because everyone secretly wants permission to be chaotic? Is the Lasombra rise a real meta shift or just people discovering how fun it is to punch politics into submission? And where do you think the Tremere sit in all of this: sleeping giant, reliable mid-tier, or quietly waiting for the stars to align? I'd love to hear your theories, hot takes, and wildly confident conclusions. 

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Third Tradition: Progeny

The night Henry Woolcott embraced his chosen mortal began more like an execution than a ceremony. The ancient Ventrue lord stood in the sanctum of his estate, surrounded by centuries of trophies from battles waged in boardrooms and back alleys. His expression, carved from cold marble, betrayed neither pride nor sentiment. The Prince's permission to sire was a rare and grueling privilege, one that Woolcott had fought decades to earn. Among the Ventrue, the Third Tradition was not taken lightly; to create progeny was to declare that one's legacy deserved continuation. Only those who had proven unwavering loyalty, flawless discretion, and impeccable judgment were ever granted such a right. And Woolcott, with his iron will and iron reputation, had waited until his choice was undeniable.

The chosen mortal stood across from him, pale, trembling, yet with a spark of resolve that had caught the elder's attention months ago. Woolcott had observed him from the shadows of society: a disciplined mind, a ruthless ambition, and a will that bent but never broke. These qualities were not luxuries but necessities, for the Embrace was no gift. It was a burden wrapped in eternity. He had no patience for weak heirs or fragile souls; a Ventrue's progeny had to be built for command, not merely survival.

The Embrace itself unfolded with ritual precision. Woolcott moved like a judge delivering sentence, his presence suffocating in its certainty. The mortal did not flee, did not plead, only clenched his jaw as the elder's teeth breached his artery, as life ebbed away under the touch of death. When the final breath slipped free, Woolcott opened his own wrist, letting the thick, ancient vitae fall like drops of law onto the newly fallen. It was a moment of absolute silence, the kind that devoured everything around it. With each swallow, the mortal severed his ties to humanity and bound himself to Woolcott’s lineage, to the curse, to the clan, to the expectations heavier than stone.

When the fledgling rose, unsteady but alive in ways that defied mortality, Woolcott regarded him with the judgment of a monarch and the scrutiny of a sculptor. The responsibility of a sire was immense: to shape, to discipline, to refine. The clan allowed no darlings of sentiment and no mistakes. As dawn crept near, Woolcott placed a firm hand on the young Ventrue's shoulder, not gentle, but claiming. The Prince had granted permission; the Third Tradition had been honored; and now another heir to the throne of shadows stood ready to be forged. For in the world of the Ventrue, progeny was not family. Progeny was legacy, and legacy was everything.

So, you want to create new vampires, huh? Ambitious. That's exactly what Third Tradition: Progeny is for. A little paperwork, a bit of unholy bureaucracy, and suddenly you've got yourself a brand-new minion. Mechanically, it's a +1 stealth card that lets you add another body to the board. And if you can somehow top them up with blood, you've just grown your own personal intern, ready to start blocking next turn. Efficient and slightly horrifying, the perfect Camarilla combo.

The downside? Your freshly minted vampire is about as capable as a hungover ghoul. No disciplines, no abilities, just wide-eyed enthusiasm and a vague sense of purpose. Unless, of course, you've stocked your deck with discipline master cards, in which case you can mold them into something useful. It's basically unpaid vampire internship, but with more biting.

Curious, I did what any good neonate does when confused: I checked the tournament-winning decks and learned, that quite a few of them use this card. Why? I have no idea. Clearly, the elders know something I don't. Maybe there's a hidden strategy, or maybe it's just an elaborate long con to make me waste my pool. Either way, I respect it.

In theory, I love the card (and the artwork). In practice, I'm not sure it hits the same high notes as the First or Second Traditions. But considering it's found in decks that actually win tournaments, I'm clearly missing something. Perhaps one day I'll understand the hidden art of creating progeny that don't immediately embarrass their sire. Until then, I'll keep admiring this card the way a Prince admires a new fledgling: with equal parts fascination and deep, existential concern.

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Second Tradition: Domain

Lord Henry Woolcott stood with his progeny atop the balcony of his ancestral estate, the city sprawling beneath them like a carefully arranged chessboard. His posture was rigid, his presence suffocating in its authority. "This is your domain", he said, not as a boast, but as an inevitability carved into the young Ventrue's future. Below, mortal lives flickered aimlessly, unaware that their fates lay in the hands of creatures who ruled from the shadows. To the clan of kings, the Second Tradition was more than territory, it was the essence of survival.

Woolcott explained that to hold a domain was to shoulder a burden no lesser blood could comprehend. Every movement within it - mortal, kindred, or otherwise - had to be accounted for. A single unknown variable could unravel centuries of influence. The elder's eyes swept across the rooftops with predatory precision. "None may challenge thy word while in thy domain", he reminded, not as reassurance but as warning. Authority meant nothing if the ruler did not know every inch of what he ruled. Power unused or unguarded was power surrendered.

He pressed the point with ruthless clarity: a domain was a citadel only as strong as its keeper's vigilance. A Ventrue who failed to monitor their territory invited betrayal, Masquerade breaches, and the slow erosion of status, sins far more unforgivable than simple weakness. The young Ventrue felt the gravity of it settle over him like armor and chains at once. Responsibility was not optional; it was the price of legacy.

As the night waned, Woolcott turned away from the city lights, leaving his progeny to contemplate the silent kingdom below. Domain was not a privilege, he had learned, but the battleground on which one's worth was tested every night. And if he wished to stand among the Ventrue - the rulers, the organizers, the architects of order - he would guard his domain with the same relentlessness that his sire had shown: absolute, unchallenged and eternal.

I have a particular fondness for Second Tradition: Domain. It's a card that radiates authority, the kind of authority that doesn't need disciplines to back it up, just a title. Any Prince or Justicar can wield it, no fancy powers required. It's the ultimate "because I said so" card.

Mechanically, it's a lifesaver for decks that don't swim in Auspex, the undisputed king of intercept. A quick dive into tournament-winning lists shows how popular it is (as long as you've got titled vampires on the payroll). What I love most, though, is the menace it brings to the table. The moment you see a Prince sitting across from you, you can almost feel them waiting for you to act, ready to spring the old Domain trap. It's like catching a burglar mid-sentence with, "Excuse me, do you have a permit to bleed in my city?"

The card does exactly what you'd expect from the Second Tradition: it enforces order with impeccable flavor. Catching trespassers red-handed in your own territory? Yupp! The artwork captures that sense perfectly: that split-second when arrogance meets authority.

Sure, the meta might not be too kind to Camarilla decks right now, but that's never stopped me from playing what I love. My Ventrue and Toreador princes will continue to uphold their laws, defend their domains, and politely ruin your evening in the process. 

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

First Tradition: The Masquerade

I’ve decided to start a little mini-series on the Six Traditions. One post for each, exploring both their lore and their VTES versions. Each entry will include a short story inspired by my old Vampire: The Masquerade TTRPG chronicles, followed by my thoughts on the corresponding card. Think of it as part nostalgia, part card commentary, and mostly an excuse to talk about vampires doing ridiculous things.

 

Let's start with First Tradition: The Masquerade.

In the heart of an ancient manor veiled by mist and centuries of secrets, Lord Henry Woolcott stood before his progeny. His presence alone bent the air,  an aura of iron discipline, sharpened by centuries of rule. The young Ventrue, pale and uncertain, dared not meet his sire's cold sapphire gaze. Around them, portraits of long-dead aristocrats seemed to watch, silent witnesses to the continuity of blood and power. Henry's voice was low, resonant, and precise, each word measured like a blade drawn across glass. He spoke not merely of survival, but of dominion and the Masquerade, he explained, was the shield that preserved that dominion from the grasping hands of the mortal herd.

He moved through the chamber as he lectured, his movements deliberate, like a monarch pacing his throne room. To Henry, the First Tradition was not a rule, but a doctrine carved into the marrow of their existence. Without it, the proud Ventrue lineage would be reduced to ash and myth, hunted like beasts by those they once ruled. "The Masquerade", he said, tracing a gloved finger over the edge of a silver goblet, “is not restraint. It is sovereignty.” Every gesture, every glance, every whisper in the mortal world was to be calculated, cultivated. The young one was to learn not only to hide the beast, but to wear the mask of nobility so flawlessly that none would ever suspect what fangs lay beneath.

When the fledgling dared to ask why such secrecy mattered, Henry turned upon him with the stillness of a predator before the strike. His face became something statuesque and dreadful. "Because we are kings in shadow", he said, his tone barely above a whisper, yet more dangerous than any shout. "And kings who reveal their thrones to the mob are torn down by their own subjects". It was not a lesson in morality, but in rule: a warning that power unmasked was power lost.

As the night waned, the young Ventrue finally understood the weight of the First Tradition. It was not fear of discovery that bound them, but pride, the unbroken lineage of rulers who commanded even the night itself. Henry stood before the great window, the city lights flickering below like offerings to a forgotten god. "Discipline is our gift", he murmured, almost to himself, "and order our curse". Behind him, his progeny bowed low, the lesson carved deep into his immortal soul. From that night forward, he would carry the Masquerade not as a shackle, but as a crown.

This card is just awesome. The idea that you can force other players into a brutal choice (either skip their turn or swallow two pool damage three times) is deliciously cruel. I can't imagine anyone willingly passing a turn in VTES, which makes this card pure chaos in the right hands.

It's a shame, though, that I've only seen a handful of decks that actually use it. I get it,  it’s tricky to play politically, and you need allies at the table to make it land properly. Without the right support, it risks turning into that awkward moment when you call for a vote and everyone just stares at you. (I've been there. Multiple times. Sybren still hasn’t recovered.)

If I were to design my own First Tradition: The Masquerade, I'd probably tie it to hunting.  Maybe granting extra stealth for hunt actions or punishing careless feeding attempts that risk exposing the Kindred. Something that captures the eternal struggle of keeping the beast hidden while trying not to starve to death.

Still, even if this version doesn't see a ton of play, I love what it represents. It's flavourful, thematic, and perfectly embodies the tension between secrecy and survival. It's a card that says, “You can keep your secrets… but it's going to cost you.”

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Dream big, bleed hard: prepping for my first tournament

I've been officially a VTES neonate for about four months now. My journey started with the V5 box set and its five decks, the perfect starter kit for someone who enjoys the lore and the Camarilla. I'm fairly confident with the rules at this point, though I'm sure I still mess up a timing window or two. Thankfully, the official VTES Discord has a neonate channel, a safe haven where fledglings like me can ask what might objectively be ridiculous questions without being immediately staked. The community there has been wonderful: patient, funny, and endlessly helpful.

If there's one thing I've noticed, though, it’s that I'm miles behind when it comes to custom deckbuilding. It turns out you need more than enthusiasm and an Excel sheet to make something brilliant. You need dozens of games, bruises, and a little healthy trauma first.

And now, the big news: I've registered for my first VTES tournament, happening in Cambridge, UK in January. My kids are excited for Santa in December; I'm equally excited for my own personal Christmas in January.

Here's the problem: I really, really don't want to embarrass myself. Up until now, all my games have been with friends, you know,  low-stakes, high-chaos affairs where the only real rule was "have fun and always blame bad luck". Not once have I actually won a game, but apparently that's part of the neonate experience.

I've built a few decks I might bring to the tournament, and I'm hoping to secure a few more test games before the big day. I haven't decided which one I'll play yet, though I'm already leaning toward two potential candidates. I'll share my final choice after the tournament, not because I think my deck will terrify the competition, but because it's less awkward to post your list once the losing is out of the way. Still, who knows? Maybe I'll even score a VP or two. (Who am I kidding? But hey, dream big, right?)

As any good Tremere/Ventrue hybrid would, I have a plan.
Step one: Study. I've been reading tournament reports, watching videos, and listening to experienced players discuss the new Sabbat meta. I didn't understand half of what they said, but they sounded very confident and that's enough for me.

Step two: Tweak my decks. I want to make sure I can respond to common threats, though that's easier said than done when you've only played a handful of matchups and don't even own an Anarch deck. I'll keep the adjustments modest. After all, part of the fun is sitting down across from a deck you don't understand and pretending you do.

Step three: Organization. I've started my own card database, cataloging what I have and what I desperately want. I'm also making a wishlist of cards to hunt down at the event, ideally through trading, although that might be challenging, since my current collection mostly consists of "commons and optimism". Still, the thought of card trading in person thrills me.

I don't really know what to expect on the big day. I don't have a mentor or a friend guiding me into the scene, so this feels less like "joining a tournament" and more like being a Tremere neonate transferred to a new chantry, nervously trying to figure out who's in charge and where the fire exits are. My main goals? Have fun, make friends, and not accidentally call a Prince "Baron".

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave

Confessions of a Camarilla traitor

So… confession time.

I preordered the Sabbat decks.

It started innocently enough. A few hours on the Black Chantry website, reading card spoilers, pretending to be objective. I even made a poll on the VTES Discord, asking which deck excited people the most. The winner? Path of Caine. The one I wasn't planning to buy. Naturally.

I, on the other hand, had been eyeing the Path of Power and the Inner Voice deck from the very beginning. So, like any reasonable adult, I bought two copies of it. And one of the Path of Caine deck too. You know. For research.

Now, here's the thing: I feel a little dirty. I've always been a proud Camarilla loyalist. The idea of buying a Sabbat deck felt like wearing your rival's colors in public. But the artwork… those cards look so good. Every time I saw one, my Camarilla devotion flickered like a faulty neon sign in a storm.

My brain, ever helpful, began rationalizing: "The Path of Power and the Inner Voice deck  (or POPATIV, because everything sounds cooler as an acronym) has Lasombra (now Camarilla), Brujah (used to be Camarilla, until they rage-quit the organization), and Ventrue (eternal Camarilla icons). So technically, this is a Camarilla deck… just with, you know, Sabbat branding".

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Anyway, I chose POPATIV for several reasons. First, it's a political deck, and I love table politics. The glorious art of convincing someone to do something catastrophically stupid for "the greater good". Second, I liked the crypt. Aaradhya caught my attention immediately, unlocking after political actions is just chef's kiss for a schemer like me.

Then there's Antonio, immortalized as Damian in the game, which is incredibly cool. Imagine working for the VTES community for years and then literally becoming a vampire in it. Honestly, that's better than any elder's boon or childe allowance. I am jealous. Üresség also looks interesting, and while my inner Ventrue/Tremere instinctively sneers at Brujah (we've had our disagreements throughout history), I can't deny that the card opens up delicious possibilities.

Last but not least, Concordia, the poster girl for the deck. There's something deeply intriguing about her. Maria Loren's artwork captures a mix of allure and danger that feels exactly right for the Sabbat. She looks like someone who could charm you into a deal and then make you regret signing it. I love it.

 

The library is equally fascinating. Dominant Personality, Día de los Muertos, and Relentless make political actions easier to pass, but my personal favorite is Unthinkable Humiliation. The name alone perfectly captures my entire experience playing Ventrue politicians so far.

I'm not diving into deckbuilding just yet. I'll wait and watch what the elders (and the actual good players) do first. Once I see how POPATIV performs, I'll start experimenting, probably fusing my two decks into something terrible and wonderful that will either dominate the table or crash spectacularly trying. Antonio already shared some deck ideas, I might build one of those.

Either way, I'll make sure to document it for posterity, or for the archives of Unthinkable Humiliation, whichever fits best.

The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.

Custodian Hargrave