I really enjoyed the whole crypt-analysis rabbit hole… right up until the moment I hit "publish" and immediately felt that familiar Tremere chill: something was missing. Of course it was. I'd only studied the crypt, and completely ignored the library which, in VTES terms, is like evaluating a vampire solely by their portrait and never asking what they actually do.
So consider this post my belated correction ritual. The one where I stride back into the chantry with extra scrolls, nod gravely, and pretend this was the plan all along. Honestly, if my next Tremere evaluation ever comes up, I'm bringing these charts like they're sacred tablets. You know, to show results.
For this round I looked at all tournament-submitted decks again from the last two years (not just winners). That's 870 decks across 30 tournaments. A proper sample big enough to feel like a census of the damned. You find the results of my analysis below:
Most-played cards per type
First, I ranked the top 20 most-played cards within each type (multiplied by num of copies).
This is basically the game's "greatest hits album". The cards people reach for automatically, like a Ventrue reaching for a title or a Nosferatu reaching for… something you really don't want to know about. If a card sits at the top here, it's not just popular, it's a pillar of how people think the game should be played (how silly of me, mere neonate to assume I understand the strategies of the Elders).
Action (top 20)
1. Govern the Unaligned: 2347
2. Platinum Protocol, The: 569
3. Break the Bonds: 510
4. Kindred Spirits: 510
5. Thing: 455
6. Enchant Kindred: 392
7. Deep Song: 356
8. Magic of the Smith: 245
9. Embrace, The: 232
10. Computer Hacking: 228
11. Entrancement: 223
12. Bum's Rush: 209
13. Shroud of Decay: 198
14. Hunter's Mark: 162
15. Line Brawl: 154
16. Childe of the Revolution: 146
17. Scouting Mission: 106
18. Unleash Hell's Fury: 103
19. Flurry of Action: 90
20. Graverobbing: 88
Action Modifier (top 20)
1. Lost in Crowds: 849
2. Conditioning: 775
3. Freak Drive: 692
4. Elder Impersonation: 535
5. Earth Control: 483
6. Faceless Night: 482
7. Voter Captivation: 452
8. Revelation of the Serpent: 367
9. Spying Mission: 352
10. Mirror Walk: 331
11. Cloak the Gathering: 319
12. Bonding: 290
13. Forgotten Labyrinth: 286
14. Memory Rift: 285
15. Seduction: 276
16. Forced March: 265
17. Confusion: 254
18. Instantaneous Transformation: 254
19. Foreshadowing Destruction: 234
20. Visions of Gehenna: 231
Action Modifier/Combat (top 20)
1. Swallowed by the Night: 631
2. Resist Earth's Grasp: 242
3. Deny: 99
4. Rapid Change: 68
5. Plasmic Form: 65
6. Obedient Flesh: 56
7. Fae Contortion: 45
8. Force of Personality: 39
9. Form of the Cobra: 38
10. Hide the Mind: 31
11. Shadow Boxing: 26
12. Breath of Thanatos: 19
13. Swiftness of the Stag: 17
14. Slake the Thirst: 14
15. Form of the Serpent: 11
16. Mirror Image: 7
17. Occlusion: 4
18. Predator's Transformation: 4
19. Taking the Skin: Minion: 2
Action Modifier/Reaction (top 20)
1. Form of the Bat: 398
2. Murmur of the False Will: 141
3. Sense the Sin: 79
4. Scalpel Tongue: 75
5. Touch of Clarity: 72
6. Eldest Are Kholo, The: 70
7. Aura Absorption: 43
8. Ominous Chorus: 41
9. Spectral Divination: 35
10. Random Patterns: 17
11. Blood Awakening: 11
12. Gift of Sleep: 11
13. Provision of the Silsila: 9
14. Quicksilver Contemplation: 9
15. Unexpected Coalition: 9
16. Ishtarri Kholo: 1
Action/Combat (top 20)
1. Touch of Valeren: 43
2. Monstrous Form: 28
3. Steely Tenacity: 11
4. Elemental Stoicism: 4
Action/Reaction (top 20)
1. Ensconced: 1
Ally (top 20)
1. Nephandus: 238
2. Spectral Servitor: 215
3. Carlton Van Wyk: 102
4. Nocturn: 94
5. Rock Cat: 70
6. Aggressive Corpse: 61
7. Bone Shambler: 55
8. Infernal Servitor: 40
9. Shambling Hordes: 37
10. Mylan Horseed: 36
11. War Ghoul: 36
12. Emerald Legionnaire: 35
13. Renegade Garou: 33
14. Ponticulus: 32
15. Reanimated Corpse: 31
16. Asanbonsam Ghoul: 25
17. Saatet-ta: 24
18. Ossian: 22
19. Underbridge Stray: 19
20. Veneficti: 19
Combat (top 20)
1. Form of Mist: 893
2. Earth Meld: 803
3. Majesty: 725
4. Taste of Vitae: 635
5. Immortal Grapple: 582
6. Hunger of Marduk: 423
7. Pursuit: 406
8. Psyche!: 350
9. Concealed Weapon: 320
10. Carrion Crows: 275
11. Torn Signpost: 213
12. Disarm: 203
13. Aid from Bats: 201
14. Blur: 189
15. Target Vitals: 179
16. Roundhouse: 165
17. Rego Motum: 163
18. Donnybrook: 157
19. Dust Up: 157
20. Diversion: 154
Combat/Reaction (top 20)
1. Evil Eye: 8
Conviction (top 20)
1. Strike with Conviction: 17
2. React with Conviction: 14
3. Second Sight: 13
Equipment (top 20)
1. Heart of Nizchetus: 378
2. .44 Magnum: 304
3. Living Manse: 168
4. Bowl of Convergence: 119
5. Ivory Bow: 95
6. Sniper Rifle: 82
7. Cooler: 55
8. Saturday-Night Special: 54
9. Kevlar Vest: 45
10. Signet of King Saul, The: 40
11. Assault Rifle: 38
12. Camera Phone: 36
13. Blood Tears of Kephran: 34
14. Codex of the Edenic Groundskeepers: 32
15. Learjet: 32
16. Sargon Fragment, The: 31
17. Sport Bike: 29
18. Flash Grenade: 28
19. Blade of Bellona: 26
20. Gran Madre di Dio, Italy: 26
Event (top 20)
1. Unmasking, The: 162
2. Scourge of the Enochians: 99
3. Narrow Minds: 95
4. Dragonbound: 62
5. FBI Special Affairs Division: 44
6. NRA PAC: 41
7. Bitter and Sweet Story, The: 38
8. Uncoiling, The: 29
9. Nightmares upon Nightmares: 21
10. Slow Withering, The: 12
11. NSA Trio: 8
12. Waiting Game: 8
13. Fourth Cycle, The: 7
14. Veil of Darkness: 6
15. Blood Weakens: 4
16. Break the Code: 4
17. Hunger Moon: 3
18. Inconnu Tutelage: 2
19. Rising, The: 2
20. Dr. Marisa Fletcher, CDC: 1
Master (top 20)
1. Villein: 2189
2. Ashur Tablets: 1013
3. Dreams of the Sphinx: 941
4. Vessel: 690
5. Direct Intervention: 455
6. Wider View: 452
7. Zillah's Valley: 450
8. Information Highway: 395
9. Giant's Blood: 335
10. Parthenon, The: 261
11. Dabbler: 232
12. Pentex(TM) Subversion: 226
13. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum: 206
14. Blood Doll: 195
15. Archon Investigation: 193
16. Perfectionist: 192
17. Wash: 191
18. Effective Management: 187
19. Coven, The: 183
20. Powerbase: Montreal: 181
Political Action (top 20)
1. Kine Resources Contested: 630
2. Camarilla's Iron Fist: 405
3. Parity Shift: 377
4. Banishment: 228
5. Consanguineous Boon: 152
6. Anarchist Uprising: 125
7. Ancilla Empowerment: 123
8. Reckless Agitation: 107
9. Revolutionary Council: 79
10. Reins of Power: 69
11. Ancient Influence: 62
12. Political Stranglehold: 60
13. Eat the Rich: 46
14. Autarkis Persecution: 39
15. Neonate Breach: 37
16. Anathema: 34
17. Alastor: 31
18. Rumors of Gehenna: 25
19. Conservative Agitation: 23
20. Disputed Territory: 20
Power (top 20)
1. Vigilance: 10
2. Rejuvenate: 5
3. Champion: 4
4. Discern: 4
5. Inspire: 2
6. Hide: 1
Reaction (top 20)
1. Deflection: 1966
2. On the Qui Vive: 1437
3. Telepathic Misdirection: 1289
4. Eyes of Argus: 1070
5. Organized Resistance: 1045
6. Bait and Switch: 822
7. Second Tradition: Domain: 592
8. Delaying Tactics: 477
9. Deep Ecology: 359
10. My Enemy's Enemy: 342
11. Visions of Zapathasura: 277
12. Obedience: 224
13. Eagle's Sight: 197
14. Party Out Of Bounds: 191
15. Protection Racket: 153
16. Enhanced Senses: 145
17. Eyes of the Wild: 140
18. Cats' Guidance: 123
19. Guard Dogs: 120
20. Sense the Savage Way: 116
Retainer (top 20)
1. Raven Spy: 158
2. Mr. Winthrop: 53
3. Homunculus: 42
4. D'habi Revenant: 34
5. Feral Hound: 24
6. Crypt's Sons: 18
7. Dog Pack: 16
8. J. S. Simmons, Esq.: 16
9. Tasha Morgan: 12
10. Hatch the Viper: 11
11. Owl Companion: 10
12. Revenant: 7
13. Razor Bat: 6
14. Jackie Therman: 5
15. Marijava Ghoul: 4
16. Omael Kuman: 4
17. Childling Muse: 3
18. Robert Carter: 3
19. Charnas the Imp: 2
20. Masquer: 2
Deck penetration
Next I looked at deck penetration: how many decks include at least one copy of a given card.
This view answers a different question. The first list is about volume, this one is about reach. Some cards are like pop stars: tons of copies in fewer decks. Others are like elevator music: they're everywhere, quietly shaping your evening whether you notice them or not.
Action (top 20 by penetration)
1. Govern the Unaligned: 255/870 decks (29.3%)
2. Entrancement: 126/870 decks (14.5%)
3. Magic of the Smith: 78/870 decks (9.0%)
4. Enchant Kindred: 68/870 decks (7.8%)
5. Aranthebes, The Immortal: 57/870 decks (6.6%)
6. Deep Song: 56/870 decks (6.4%)
7. Platinum Protocol, The: 49/870 decks (5.6%)
8. Bum's Rush: 48/870 decks (5.5%)
9. Thing: 48/870 decks (5.5%)
10. Constant Revolution: 42/870 decks (4.8%)
11. Unleash Hell's Fury: 40/870 decks (4.6%)
12. Break the Bonds: 38/870 decks (4.4%)
13. Under Siege: 37/870 decks (4.3%)
14. Judgment: Camarilla Segregation: 34/870 decks (3.9%)
15. Army of Rats: 32/870 decks (3.7%)
16. Kindred Spirits: 31/870 decks (3.6%)
17. Rewilding: 31/870 decks (3.6%)
18. Shroud of Decay: 31/870 decks (3.6%)
19. Hunter's Mark: 30/870 decks (3.4%)
20. Field Training: 29/870 decks (3.3%)
Action Modifier (top 20 by penetration)
1. Conditioning: 222/870 decks (25.5%)
2. Lost in Crowds: 213/870 decks (24.5%)
3. Elder Impersonation: 189/870 decks (21.7%)
4. Faceless Night: 181/870 decks (20.8%)
5. Spying Mission: 131/870 decks (15.1%)
6. Cloak the Gathering: 122/870 decks (14.0%)
7. Earth Control: 122/870 decks (14.0%)
8. Foreshadowing Destruction: 121/870 decks (13.9%)
9. Freak Drive: 119/870 decks (13.7%)
10. Enkil Cog: 118/870 decks (13.6%)
11. Bonding: 92/870 decks (10.6%)
12. Voter Captivation: 92/870 decks (10.6%)
13. Seduction: 87/870 decks (10.0%)
14. Forgotten Labyrinth: 80/870 decks (9.2%)
15. Veil the Legions: 69/870 decks (7.9%)
16. Forced March: 63/870 decks (7.2%)
17. Perfect Paragon: 61/870 decks (7.0%)
18. Mirror Walk: 60/870 decks (6.9%)
19. Aire of Elation: 59/870 decks (6.8%)
20. Monkey Wrench: 58/870 decks (6.7%)
Action Modifier/Combat (top 20 by penetration)
1. Swallowed by the Night: 187/870 decks (21.5%)
2. Resist Earth's Grasp: 65/870 decks (7.5%)
3. Rapid Change: 34/870 decks (3.9%)
4. Deny: 24/870 decks (2.8%)
5. Force of Personality: 20/870 decks (2.3%)
6. Hide the Mind: 18/870 decks (2.1%)
7. Obedient Flesh: 18/870 decks (2.1%)
8. Plasmic Form: 17/870 decks (2.0%)
9. Form of the Cobra: 14/870 decks (1.6%)
10. Fae Contortion: 9/870 decks (1.0%)
11. Breath of Thanatos: 6/870 decks (0.7%)
12. Shadow Boxing: 6/870 decks (0.7%)
13. Slake the Thirst: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
14. Form of the Serpent: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
15. Swiftness of the Stag: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
16. Mirror Image: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
17. Occlusion: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
18. Predator's Transformation: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
19. Taking the Skin: Minion: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Action Modifier/Reaction (top 20 by penetration)
1. Form of the Bat: 119/870 decks (13.7%)
2. Murmur of the False Will: 63/870 decks (7.2%)
3. Scalpel Tongue: 29/870 decks (3.3%)
4. Touch of Clarity: 23/870 decks (2.6%)
5. Sense the Sin: 22/870 decks (2.5%)
6. Ominous Chorus: 12/870 decks (1.4%)
7. Aura Absorption: 8/870 decks (0.9%)
8. Spectral Divination: 8/870 decks (0.9%)
9. Eldest Are Kholo, The: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
10. Gift of Sleep: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
11. Random Patterns: 6/870 decks (0.7%)
12. Blood Awakening: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
13. Provision of the Silsila: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
14. Quicksilver Contemplation: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
15. Unexpected Coalition: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
16. Ishtarri Kholo: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Action/Combat (top 20 by penetration)
1. Touch of Valeren: 11/870 decks (1.3%)
2. Steely Tenacity: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
3. Monstrous Form: 6/870 decks (0.7%)
4. Elemental Stoicism: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
Action/Reaction (top 20 by penetration)
1. Ensconced: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Ally (top 20 by penetration)
1. Carlton Van Wyk: 100/870 decks (11.5%)
2. Mylan Horseed: 36/870 decks (4.1%)
3. Nephandus: 31/870 decks (3.6%)
4. Ponticulus: 27/870 decks (3.1%)
5. Spectral Servitor: 26/870 decks (3.0%)
6. Saatet-ta: 23/870 decks (2.6%)
7. Ossian: 22/870 decks (2.5%)
8. Veneficti: 19/870 decks (2.2%)
9. Tye Cooper: 16/870 decks (1.8%)
10. Vagabond Mystic: 14/870 decks (1.6%)
11. Infernal Servitor: 13/870 decks (1.5%)
12. Nocturn: 12/870 decks (1.4%)
13. Double Deuce: 10/870 decks (1.1%)
14. Muddled Vampire Hunter: 9/870 decks (1.0%)
15. Aggressive Corpse: 8/870 decks (0.9%)
16. Rock Cat: 8/870 decks (0.9%)
17. Renegade Garou: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
18. Underbridge Stray: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
19. War Ghoul: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
20. Asanbonsam Ghoul: 6/870 decks (0.7%)
Combat (top 20 by penetration)
1. Form of Mist: 167/870 decks (19.2%)
2. Earth Meld: 150/870 decks (17.2%)
3. Taste of Vitae: 146/870 decks (16.8%)
4. Majesty: 135/870 decks (15.5%)
5. Immortal Grapple: 76/870 decks (8.7%)
6. Pursuit: 75/870 decks (8.6%)
7. Psyche!: 64/870 decks (7.4%)
8. Donnybrook: 63/870 decks (7.2%)
9. Blur: 51/870 decks (5.9%)
10. Concealed Weapon: 51/870 decks (5.9%)
11. Disarm: 51/870 decks (5.9%)
12. Rego Motum: 50/870 decks (5.7%)
13. Claws of the Dead: 42/870 decks (4.8%)
14. Target Vitals: 42/870 decks (4.8%)
15. Quickness: 41/870 decks (4.7%)
16. Carrion Crows: 40/870 decks (4.6%)
17. No Trace: 39/870 decks (4.5%)
18. Hidden Strength: 36/870 decks (4.1%)
19. Hunger of Marduk: 35/870 decks (4.0%)
20. Sideslip: 35/870 decks (4.0%)
Combat/Reaction (top 20 by penetration)
1. Evil Eye: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Conviction (top 20 by penetration)
1. Strike with Conviction: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
2. React with Conviction: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
3. Second Sight: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
Equipment (top 20 by penetration)
1. Heart of Nizchetus: 297/870 decks (34.1%)
2. Bowl of Convergence: 116/870 decks (13.3%)
3. Ivory Bow: 92/870 decks (10.6%)
4. .44 Magnum: 80/870 decks (9.2%)
5. Sniper Rifle: 62/870 decks (7.1%)
6. Kevlar Vest: 40/870 decks (4.6%)
7. Signet of King Saul, The: 40/870 decks (4.6%)
8. Living Manse: 32/870 decks (3.7%)
9. Sargon Fragment, The: 31/870 decks (3.6%)
10. Gran Madre di Dio, Italy: 26/870 decks (3.0%)
11. Codex of the Edenic Groundskeepers: 25/870 decks (2.9%)
12. Blood Tears of Kephran: 24/870 decks (2.8%)
13. Palatial Estate: 24/870 decks (2.8%)
14. Sport Bike: 23/870 decks (2.6%)
15. Cooler: 22/870 decks (2.5%)
16. Shilmulo Tarot: 22/870 decks (2.5%)
17. Treasured Samadji: 18/870 decks (2.1%)
18. Camera Phone: 16/870 decks (1.8%)
19. Leather Jacket: 16/870 decks (1.8%)
20. Helicopter: 15/870 decks (1.7%)
Event (top 20 by penetration)
1. Scourge of the Enochians: 97/870 decks (11.1%)
2. Narrow Minds: 89/870 decks (10.2%)
3. Unmasking, The: 82/870 decks (9.4%)
4. Dragonbound: 62/870 decks (7.1%)
5. FBI Special Affairs Division: 44/870 decks (5.1%)
6. Bitter and Sweet Story, The: 37/870 decks (4.3%)
7. NRA PAC: 32/870 decks (3.7%)
8. Uncoiling, The: 27/870 decks (3.1%)
9. Nightmares upon Nightmares: 21/870 decks (2.4%)
10. Slow Withering, The: 12/870 decks (1.4%)
11. NSA Trio: 8/870 decks (0.9%)
12. Waiting Game: 8/870 decks (0.9%)
13. Fourth Cycle, The: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
14. Veil of Darkness: 5/870 decks (0.6%)
15. Blood Weakens: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
16. Break the Code: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
17. Hunger Moon: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
18. Inconnu Tutelage: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
19. Rising, The: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
20. Dr. Marisa Fletcher, CDC: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Master (top 20 by penetration)
1. Villein: 523/870 decks (60.1%)
2. Dreams of the Sphinx: 506/870 decks (58.2%)
3. Wider View: 352/870 decks (40.5%)
4. Direct Intervention: 343/870 decks (39.4%)
5. Giant's Blood: 334/870 decks (38.4%)
6. Vessel: 263/870 decks (30.2%)
7. Information Highway: 235/870 decks (27.0%)
8. Pentex(TM) Subversion: 203/870 decks (23.3%)
9. Coven, The: 179/870 decks (20.6%)
10. Powerbase: Montreal: 170/870 decks (19.5%)
11. Archon Investigation: 159/870 decks (18.3%)
12. Garibaldi-Meucci Museum: 159/870 decks (18.3%)
13. Carfax Abbey: 154/870 decks (17.7%)
14. Fame: 142/870 decks (16.3%)
15. Secure Haven: 136/870 decks (15.6%)
16. Ashur Tablets: 135/870 decks (15.5%)
17. Anarch Railroad: 133/870 decks (15.3%)
18. Club Illusion: 129/870 decks (14.8%)
19. Wash: 120/870 decks (13.8%)
20. Monastery of Shadows: 119/870 decks (13.7%)
Political Action (top 20 by penetration)
1. Kine Resources Contested: 142/870 decks (16.3%)
2. Camarilla's Iron Fist: 118/870 decks (13.6%)
3. Ancilla Empowerment: 116/870 decks (13.3%)
4. Anarchist Uprising: 112/870 decks (12.9%)
5. Parity Shift: 109/870 decks (12.5%)
6. Banishment: 97/870 decks (11.1%)
7. Reins of Power: 69/870 decks (7.9%)
8. Ancient Influence: 62/870 decks (7.1%)
9. Political Stranglehold: 60/870 decks (6.9%)
10. Revolutionary Council: 52/870 decks (6.0%)
11. Reckless Agitation: 44/870 decks (5.1%)
12. Consanguineous Boon: 33/870 decks (3.8%)
13. Neonate Breach: 32/870 decks (3.7%)
14. Eat the Rich: 31/870 decks (3.6%)
15. Rumors of Gehenna: 22/870 decks (2.5%)
16. Disputed Territory: 19/870 decks (2.2%)
17. Anathema: 17/870 decks (2.0%)
18. Autarkis Persecution: 12/870 decks (1.4%)
19. Conservative Agitation: 12/870 decks (1.4%)
20. Alastor: 10/870 decks (1.1%)
Power (top 20 by penetration)
1. Champion: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
2. Discern: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
3. Rejuvenate: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
4. Vigilance: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
5. Hide: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
6. Inspire: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Reaction (top 20 by penetration)
1. On the Qui Vive: 470/870 decks (54.0%)
2. Deflection: 327/870 decks (37.6%)
3. Delaying Tactics: 270/870 decks (31.0%)
4. Telepathic Misdirection: 258/870 decks (29.7%)
5. Eyes of Argus: 222/870 decks (25.5%)
6. My Enemy's Enemy: 161/870 decks (18.5%)
7. Bait and Switch: 159/870 decks (18.3%)
8. Organized Resistance: 136/870 decks (15.6%)
9. Second Tradition: Domain: 108/870 decks (12.4%)
10. Deep Ecology: 84/870 decks (9.7%)
11. Visions of Zapathasura: 67/870 decks (7.7%)
12. Eagle's Sight: 60/870 decks (6.9%)
13. Protection Racket: 57/870 decks (6.6%)
14. Obedience: 46/870 decks (5.3%)
15. Enhanced Senses: 45/870 decks (5.2%)
16. Guard Dogs: 44/870 decks (5.1%)
17. Party Out Of Bounds: 40/870 decks (4.6%)
18. Redirection: 40/870 decks (4.6%)
19. Cats' Guidance: 38/870 decks (4.4%)
20. Eyes of the Wild: 33/870 decks (3.8%)
Retainer (top 20 by penetration)
1. Mr. Winthrop: 53/870 decks (6.1%)
2. Raven Spy: 51/870 decks (5.9%)
3. Homunculus: 22/870 decks (2.5%)
4. Crypt's Sons: 17/870 decks (2.0%)
5. J. S. Simmons, Esq.: 16/870 decks (1.8%)
6. Tasha Morgan: 12/870 decks (1.4%)
7. Dog Pack: 7/870 decks (0.8%)
8. D'habi Revenant: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
9. Feral Hound: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
10. Jackie Therman: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
11. Omael Kuman: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
12. Owl Companion: 4/870 decks (0.5%)
13. Childling Muse: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
14. Marijava Ghoul: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
15. Revenant: 3/870 decks (0.3%)
16. Charnas the Imp: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
17. Murder of Crows: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
18. Robert Carter: 2/870 decks (0.2%)
19. Ghoul Retainer: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
20. Giuseppe, Gravedigger: 1/870 decks (0.1%)
Distinct cards per type
Finally, I wanted to understand how much of the card pool is actually alive in competitive decks (cards found / total cards in type).
So I counted the number of distinct cards per type that appear across the dataset. This shows which types are sprawling forests of variety, and which ones are more like a small Camarilla council meeting where the same faces show up every time.
Action: 215/467
Action Modifier: 127/267
Action Modifier/Combat: 19
Action Modifier/Reaction: 16
Action/Combat: 4
Action/Reaction: 1
Ally: 66/116
Combat: 192/406
Combat/Reaction: 1
Conviction: 3/3
Equipment: 100/163
Event: 24/40
Master: 318/523
Political Action: 89/177
Power: 6/14
Reaction: 81/201
Retainer: 27/52
Looking at the numbers above, it seems that for most card types, roughly half of the available pool is seeing play. That strikes me as both intriguing and genuinely healthy for the game. It suggests VTES isn't trapped in a tiny "best-in-slot" bubble, there's real variety within each type, and meaningful choices to be made when building decks. In short: the library is big, but it's not a museum, a lot of it actually gets used.
And that's where I'll leave this little library autopsy for now. I'm curious what you make of these patterns. Do they confirm what you expected, or did anything surprise you? If you spot trends I missed, have theories about why certain types are deeper or narrower, or just want to yell "you forgot that card!", drop a comment or reach out on discord. I'd love to hear your take.
The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.
Custodian Hargrave
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