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
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