In my previous post I already confessed my full-blown addiction to VDB, so if you also enjoy staring at tables of numbers and whispering "interesting…" to yourself at 11 p.m., this post is very much for you. I've only been playing VTES for about 4-5 months, so my insights will never rival those players who were around when Jyhad was still new and mysterious. Still, I'm convinced a fresh perspective can sometimes spot patterns others overlook, like a Ventrue neonate earnestly explaining cryptocurrency to elders who invented compound interest.
Lately I've been spending a lot of time browsing tournament-winning decks from 2025. Partly because I want to learn what actually works at high-level play, and partly because I'm always hunting for inspiration. You know the feeling: "Oh, that looks fun. I could absolutely build something like that". Then reality hits. Some of those decks rely heavily on crypt cards from older groups, and unless you've been hoarding cardboard since the late '90s, getting those cards as a neonate is… optimistic. For most of us, groups 5, 6, and 7 are the realistically accessible ones, with a few notable exceptions (looking at you, Stanislava Gangrel deck). Yes, you can always print cards that can solve this problem.
So I took a closer look. I gathered all decks that won tournaments in 2025, focused only on the 13+1 original VTM clans (no antitribu or bloodlines this time, tabletop preferences die hard), and counted how many wins each clan had. Then I filtered out any decks that used crypt cards from groups 1–4, leaving me with a ratio showing how often winning decks rely solely on G5–G7 vampires.
Here's what I found, with a bit of thematic commentary along the way:
Banu Haqim
The assassins claimed 16 tournament wins, and every single one used recent crypt cards. Efficient, modern, and entirely uninterested in nostalgia, exactly how you'd expect a clan of professional killers to operate.
Brujah
With 15 wins, and 14 of them using recent vampires, the Brujah prove once again that rebellion doesn't mean being stuck in the past. Turns out you can rage against the system and keep your card pool up to date.
Gangrel
The big surprise. 60 wins total, but only 34 with recent crypts. Gangrel clearly value their elders, so why evolve when your ancestors are still punching just fine?
Hecata
11 wins, all with recent vampires. Death, it seems, adapts quickly. Necromancers clearly understand the importance of keeping their paperwork (and their crypt) current. Necromancy being retired and having access to Oblivion also helps, I guess.
Lasombra
Out of 20 wins, 15 used recent vampires. The clan of shadows has embraced modern darkness, though they still keep one foot firmly planted in the past. Very on-brand.
Malkavian
18 wins, but only 9 with recent crypts. Half the time they're prophetic visionaries, half the time they're clinging to ancient lunacy. Exactly as planned. Probably. I don't know. Next!
Ministry
With 13 wins and 12 using recent vampires, the Ministry proves that faith-based manipulation benefits greatly from modern marketing.
Nosferatu
A tragic 5 wins, with only 2 using recent crypts. Apparently, living in the sewers makes it harder to upgrade your vampire lineup.
Ravnos
19 wins, 15 with recent vampires. The tricksters have clearly reinvented themselves, proof that survival sometimes means burning the old playbook and writing a new one.
Salubri
Only 4 wins, but all with recent vampires. Rare, refined, and future-facing. Also worth watching closely, especially with new blood on the horizon.
Toreador
A strong showing with 25 wins, 21 of them using recent crypts. Style may be eternal, but it clearly benefits from a modern refresh (the 30th edition deck does a lot of heavy lifting here).
Tremere
A painful 6 wins, and only 2 with recent vampires. Either the elders are still doing all the work, or the Warlocks are stubbornly clinging to the old grimoires. As a Tremere fan, I choose to believe it's all part of a very long-term plan.
Tzimisce
22 wins, 18 with recent vampires. Evolution is kind of their thing, so it's no surprise they've embraced newer crypts with enthusiasm. Having access to Protean also helps, I guess.
Ventrue
8 wins, split evenly between old and new crypts. The clan of kings clearly believes experience and tradition still matter, though perhaps a little modernization wouldn't hurt.
So to summarise:
Banu Haqim, Hecata, and Salubri rely entirely on recent vampires.
Brujah, Ministry, Toreador, Tzimisce, Ravnos, and Lasombra use recent crypts at least 75% of the time.
Malkavian, Ventrue, Nosferatu, and Tremere lean heavily on vampires from lower groups, sometimes more than half the time.
Of course, a deck is more than just its crypt. This analysis doesn't touch library cards at all, and I can easily imagine older vampires pairing beautifully with newer tech, or the other way around. Still, if you're a new neonate looking to build something competitive without selling a kidney for out-of-print cards, this paints a hopeful picture. Banu Haqim, Hecata, Brujah, Ministry, Toreador, Ravnos, and likely Salubri very soon, all look like solid, accessible choices. That's a pretty healthy spread and plenty of room for experimentation.
The game never ends, only pauses. I'll see you at the next move.
Custodian Hargrave
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