Diving into the Identity V Alice Storyline Launch
What's the Deal with the Alice Storyline?
Ever wonder what it'd be like if Alice Deross (that's Journalist for you vets) stepped in for Orpheus? She does, in Ashes of Memory—totally free for everyone. She pokes around the banquet hall, study, guest room, botanical gardens. Dropped with the 2.0 update on April 20, 2023, it even revamps the UI around her Prelude song.
Hit the manor menu post-launch. Knock out those investigations to unlock lore. And keep tabs on Manor Career—it updates November 27, 2025, at 00:00.
Launch Dates and Patch Lowdown
Ashes of Memory Chapter 1: April 20, 2023. Cage of Yesteryear: November 27, 2025, after 240min maintenance starting 08:00 UTC+8. Season 40 kicks off then too. Manor Career refreshes at 00:00.
Log off before maintenance hits. Servers should be good post-12:00 UTC+8—check for Queen Bee. Snag that Season 40 S-rarity Thief - Scepter of Deceit from 3 daily ranked matches.
Identity V echoes top up for new events on BitTopup: competitive pricing, instant top-ups, secure transactions, 24/7 support, global servers, 5min delivery, top user ratings.
Breaking Down the New Manor Chapters
How These Manor Chapters Actually Work
Queen Bee's no joke—Predatory drains 12 survivor energy, bumps her speed +15% for 2s; Synergy gives +10% vaulting. Perception swarm clocks 15 m/s up to 28m; Stinger hits for 35 energy at 0.5x damage.
Test that swarm range in customs first. Dodge those 12 energy drains with solid 60s kiting. Exploit her vaulting boosts against her.
How They Slot into Matches
Season 40 bumps EXP cap to 400 (up from 390), cuts Character Knowledge inheritance, adds new rank treasures. You get +1 rank point against higher hunters, +2 for Against the Impossible.
Grind 3 daily ranked for those treasures. Inherit knowledge before the Season 40 reset. Aim for 3+ escapes to bag +9 points.
Ranked Meta Right Now—A Quick Snapshot
Survivors Crushing It Pre-Launch
S-tier leads with Antiquarian, Priestess, Mechanic, Seer (think decoding, 60s+ kiting, rescue/healing/stunning). A-tier: Mercenary (>60s kiting), Forward (rugby stun), Prospector (magnet pulls).
Queue Mechanic for remote decoding. Pair with Forward for those clutch stuns.
Hunters Owning Pre-Launch
S+: Breaking Wheel (35/35), Dream Witch (35/35). S-tier: Queen Bee, Peddler, Hullabaloo, Night Watch, Nightmare. A-tier: Guard 26 (31), Naiad (30).
Main S-tier for consistent 35/35 scores. Switch to Queen Bee after Nov 27.
How Survivor Picks Are About to Shift Post-Alice
Survivors on the Rise
Mechanic + Priestess duo shines (remote decode/portals). Merc + Seer tanks with shields. Antiquarian + Forward locks down control. 4-player stacks? Go Balanced (Forward/Mercenary/Mechanic/Seer) or Decoding Daredevils (decoders + Knee Jerk).
Form Mechanic + Priestess for 3+ escapes. Lean on Seer shields against Queen Bee.
(Editor's take: These duos feel like they were made for the new meta—I've seen betas where they straight-up flip games.)
Who's Dropping Off—and Why
B-tier Grave Keeper tanks hard against 6 energy/s Hive Cluster (12 m/s, 18s CD). Win rates scream 60s kiting; draws net 2 escapes (0 points), losses hit -8.
Swap Dancer for Prospector. Steer clear of Barmaid versus that Synergy vaulting.
buy Identity V echoes online global via BitTopup: global support, <5min delivery, secure, competitive prices, 24/7 service, high ratings.
Hunter Tweaks and Who's Next in Line
Buffed Hunters Stealing the Show
Queen Bee vaults to S-tier with Reciprocate (15 energy fly, 18s CD), Reflexive Sting (25 energy), Hive Cluster. She joins Bloody Queen (33), Geisha (33); IJL Fall 2025 Week 6 (Nov 29-30 UTC+9) tested it out.
Direct those Perception swarms early. Chain Hive for 6 energy/s drains.
Hunters Getting Left Behind
D-tier: Hell Ember (5), Nightmare (6). C-tier: Evil Reptilian (15), Gamekeeper (16). B-tier: Violinist, Bloody Queen—weakened after Wu Chang/Bonbon nerfs.
Ban D/C-tier in customs. Counter with Prospector against Axe Boy.
Fresh Tier List Post-Alice Drop
S-Tier Survivors for Ranked Grind
Antiquarian, Priestess, Mechanic, Seer. Newbies: Doctor/Coordinator/Explorer. Intermediate: Mechanic/Perfumer. Advanced: Priestess/Seer.
Master Seer for 60s kiting. Queue those Advanced duos.
S-Tier Hunters, Broken Down
Queen Bee S-tier across all modes; S+: Breaking Wheel/Dream Witch. Pocketgamer's Dec 1, 2025 update slots in Peddler.
Prioritize Queen Bee post-launch. Land those 35 energy Stingers.
Crunching Win Rates and Stats
Beta Data Predictions
60s kiting's king; 3+ escapes = +9 win points. Queen Bee drains 12 energy; Season 40 caps at 400 EXP.
Kite those loops versus swarms. Track +1/+2 underdog points.
Metrics You Gotta Watch
Prospector repels Geisha; Forward dashes Axe Boy. Log win rates after Nov 27.
Tweak comps for 60s averages. Slot Knee Jerk for decoders.
Player Strats and Solid Counters
Leveling Up Against New Mechanics
Top duos: Mechanic + Priestess. Comps: Balanced or Kite Squad.
Scout the hunter pre-chase. Decode safer with Grave Keeper (-15%).
Common pitfalls? Don't sleep on that 28m swarm—Season 39 Knee Jerk buffs help. EXP caps at 400.
Team queue up. Prep those 3 dailies.
What the Community's Buzzing About—Pro Takes
IJL Fall 2025 had SZ, AXIZ, QTD running picks; Queen Bee's shaking things. Pocketgamer tiers pulled from tourneys.
Catch Week 6 Nov 29-30 UTC+9. Poll your duos.
Wrapping Up: Prep Tips to Dominate
Meta snapshot: Antiquarian tops survivors; Queen Bee S-tier hunters.
Practice Queen Bee counters. Stack 4-player comps. Grind Season 40 dailies.
FAQ
What is the Identity V Alice Storyline?
Alice Deross explores Oletus Manor in Ashes of Memory, launched April 20, 2023, free.
When does Cage of Yesteryear launch?
November 27, 2025, post-08:00 UTC+8 maintenance, Manor Career 00:00.
How do new Manor Chapters affect ranked?
Queen Bee S-tier swarm control; 60s kiting for +9 win points.
Which survivors rise post-launch?
Antiquarian, Priestess, Mechanic, Seer; Mechanic + Priestess duos.
Will Queen Bee dominate hunters?
S-tier: 12 energy drains, 15 m/s swarms; joins Breaking Wheel/Dream Witch.
Best prep for ranked shifts?
Balanced comps (Forward/Mercenary/Mechanic/Seer), 3 dailies treasures, swarm counters.
