1. Maraqua Maraqua is arguably the most organized team in the AC. However, the change in the system messed that organization up.
I expect that organization to re-emerge, causing this team to do extremely well in this cup.
Additionally, there is a chance of an all-star group joining this team, in my opinion. If this happens, expect them to do just as well, or even #1.

After amendments:
Up one, due to BV drop.

2. Darigan Citadel Darigan is, and always has been a powerhouse team. I expect nothing to change in that realm.
Coming in 4th last year will limit their freeloader gains, causing no foreseeable drop in performance.
I expect to see this team come back with similar performance as last year.

After amendments:
Up one, due to BV drop.

3. Brightvale Brightvale is an incredibly small team with a good amount of dedicated players. This is obviously a good combination.
I also expect an all-star group to join this team, which will spring this team onto the podium.
However, this team is a bit of a wild card (as all small teams are). I could see this team placing anywhere between 1-10.

After amendments:
Down three.
I still have pretty high hopes in this team. I still expect an all-star group to join them, but I'm starting the doubt the raw strength of all-star groups alone.
I could still see them getting first, but I expect 3rd to be much more likely.

4. Kiko Lake This is a tiny team, with many hardworking members.
I also expect an all-star group to join them. All-star groups always affect small teams the most, which is the primary reason I'm placing them this high.
Even if they don't receive an all-star group, I still expect this team to place at least 6th.

After amendments:
No change.

5. Krawk Island As always, Krawk Island will be an enormous team with a lot of power behind it.
Coming in 7th last year will reduce the number of freeloaders, but the theme will always attract many.
This place is assuming no change to the tournament system. Krawk Island was arguably the team that hated the new system the most; this resulted in loss of morale. I fear that no change will equal loss in morale from the get-go.
If the system does change, I expect KI to easily be in the top 4.

After amendments:
No change.

6. Meridell This team has gone up in the standings steadily for four years now.
However, the team's status has changed; they used to be very small, but now they will likely be much larger due to coming in 3rd last year (and having the reputation for constantly improving year after year).
It is hard to say how much this time size change will affect them. I still predict this team to be very powerful, nonetheless.

After amendments:
No change.

7. Mystery Island Mystery Island is a very small team, which will exacerbate the freeloaders they gain from finishing in 2nd.
Additionally, I expect STEALTH to leave them, which will make problems even worse for them.
Given, they did gain many loyal, hardworking members last year, so I don't expect an astronomical drop.

After amendments:
No change.

8. Kreludor Winners Curse
Additionally, since KD is a very small team, I expect the amount of freeloaders they obtain to weigh them down even further, such as what happened to Virtupets last year.
If SOTAC decides to stick around another year (doubtful), I expect a top 6 finish.

After amendments:
Up Three.
Just lessening the affects of the winners curse.
Freeloaders are becoming smarter. They'll attach themselves to other teams than KD.
I'm still predicting freeloaders to demolish this team, just not as much as before.

9. Lost Desert Lost desert was a team who truly did not deserve the 5th place rank they received last year.
That said, they were still a decent team, and I expect nothing to change in that realm.
I predict a more reasonable finish, based on their true strength.

After amendments:
Down one, due to KD rise.

10. Tyrannia Prior to the war, I would have put this team in the top 4. I thought an all-star group would join their small team, pushing them nearly to the top.
However, the war happened. This will cause many freeloaders to join them, causing the inevitable drop. Additionally, this will greatly reducing their likelihood of receiving an all-star group.

After amendments:
Down one, due to KD rise.

11. Terror Mountain I can't see anything really coming or going for this team. I expect a very similar performance as last year.
This team has POTENTIAL for an all-star group, but I think other teams have a much better chance on receiving one over Terror Mountain.

After amendments:
Down one, due to KD rise.

12. Haunted Woods They were a pretty terrible team last year, and they were by far the largest beneficiaries of the bracket system.
I see no foreseeable improvements for them, and I expect them to get a placement that actually represents how they did in the cup.
(sorry if this one seems extremely mean XD)

After amendments:
No change.

13. Roo Island Roo Island is simply a bit of a has-been team, in my opinion.
I don't see any growth in support from last year, and I don't see a real large fan base anymore.
I'm not throwing out a chance of a rebound though. They are another wildcard.
I could realistically see them placing anywhere between 8th and dead last.

After amendments:
Up four.
After seeing a pretty large number of RI supporters commenting about my original 17th place prediction, I realized that I underestimated this teams size.
There is perhaps some chance for them after all.
Although, they are still a wild card. Anywhere between 8th and 16th is possible, in my opinion.

14. Virtupets I predict the "Shenkuu affect" to take place with VP.
I expect them to stay down in the rankings for at least this AC, with slight improvements in the next AC.
They are a bit of a wildcard though.
I could also see them keeping their pre-AC VII zest, while dropping most of the freeloaders, and seeing a dramatic increase.
I could see this team could place anywhere between 4th and 15th...

After amendments:
No change.

15. Moltara I expect more slow improvement from this team.
The "new team" vibe is mostly gone, which will prevent most freeloaders from choosing this team.
Again, no major improvements, but a slow steady one. Possibly similar to VP's journey to #1? Who knows...

After amendments:
Down Two.
After examining the boards for a bit, I see no difference in the team's fan-base this year.
I expect a very similar year as last year.

16. Faerieland I see a small improvement from last year.
I expect them to lose all of the extra freeloaders that they gained from the plot two years ago.
However, their theme attracts too many freeloaders which will hurt them, as always.

After amendments:
Down one, due to RI rise.

17. Shenkuu This team seems to have lost their powerhouse status.
I don't see many people switching to them and/or joining them with intent to make all-star. Also, their ninja theme does attract many freeloaders.
I can't see this team improving from last year at all.

After amendments:
Down one, due to RI rise.

18. Altador I fear Altador will suffer the same fate as always: poor performance.
Being the home team, they pick up a ton of freeloaders.
I can't think of any reason to rank this team any higher, sadly.

After amendments:
No change.