You’re staring at the screen, and the pressure is real. Cookie Run: Kingdom just handed you a literal god-tier character for free, but there’s a catch. You have to pick just one. If you mess this up, you’re stuck with a power-crept relic while everyone else is zooming past you in the Arena. That’s the core of the Might of the Ancients CRK system—a generous, yet surprisingly stressful, feature that lets players recruit one of the game's legendary Ancient Heroes by completing a series of missions.
Honestly, the meta changes so fast in CRK that advice from three months ago is basically prehistoric. Back when Hollyberry Cookie was the only way to survive, the choice was easy. Now? With the introduction of Awakening forms and the sheer dominance of certain specialized teams, the "best" pick isn't just about who looks the coolest or who has the highest power rating on paper. It's about who actually keeps your team from exploding in World Exploration Episode 18.
The Reality of the Might of the Ancients CRK Selection
The system isn't just a "click and claim" deal. It’s a commitment. When you start Might of the Ancients, you choose a hero—Pure Vanilla, Hollyberry, or Dark Cacao—and they join your roster in a limited capacity. You can't use them in every single game mode immediately. You have to grind through "Missions of Light" to fully unlock their potential and eventually keep them permanently.
What most people get wrong is thinking they should pick their favorite character. Don't do that. In a game where resources like Star Jellies and Toppings are finite, you need a carry. You need a Cookie that functions as the backbone of your progression.
Dark Cacao: From Zero to Actual King
For the longest time, Dark Cacao was the "don't pick him" option. He was slow. He was fragile. He just didn't do enough. Then, Devsisters dropped the Awakened Dark Cacao update. Suddenly, he wasn't just viable; he became the most terrifying unit in the game.
If you are a new player or a returning veteran looking at the Might of the Ancients CRK options, Dark Cacao is currently the objective "meta" choice. His ability to reduce enemy max HP and apply injury is vital for high-level PvE and virtually mandatory for top-tier Arena ranks. When you evolve him into his Dragon Lord form, he stops being a frontline tank and starts being a tactical nuke. He shreds shields. He ignores defense. He makes the current "Triple Tank" meta possible.
Pure Vanilla: The Safety Net You Might Not Need
Pure Vanilla is the classic. He’s the OG healer. His shields are massive, and his raw healing output is theoretically the highest in the game. You'll see him recommended in every old guide because, for two years, he was the only way to beat the harder stages of the Crispia continent.
But here’s the tea: we have Snapdragon now. We have Mystic Flour Cookie (if you're lucky). We even have Cream Ferret. The game is flooded with incredible supports and healers that don't take up your precious Ancient slot. If you pick Pure Vanilla through Might of the Ancients CRK, you're getting a very safe, very reliable healer, but you're sacrificing the offensive pressure that Dark Cacao or Hollyberry provides. He’s great for the Beast-yeast episodes where the damage is constant, but he won't help you climb the Arena ladder as effectively as he used to.
Hollyberry: The Wall That Won't Move
Hollyberry Cookie is the middle ground. She’s the definition of a "meat shield." Her skill absorbs a portion of the damage dealt to your other Cookies, which is huge for keeping glass cannons like Black Pearl or White Lily alive.
Is she better than Dark Cacao? Usually, no. Not right now. But if you already pulled a Dark Cacao from the Gacha and you're looking for your second Ancient, Hollyberry is the sturdiest choice. She’s incredibly forgiving. If your Toppings aren't perfect or your lab researches are low, Hollyberry fixes those mistakes by just being difficult to kill.
Why The Second Phase Changes Everything
Devsisters eventually added a second "volume" to the Might of the Ancients CRK called Prodigal Dragon. This added Golden Cheese Cookie into the mix. This is where things get complicated.
Golden Cheese is a Ranged damage dealer who literally refuses to die. When her HP hits zero, she turns into a sarcophagus, deals damage, and then pops back out. She is the queen of the "one-shot" counter meta. If you have already finished the first Might of the Ancients and are moving into the second phase, Golden Cheese is almost always the correct answer. Her burst damage is indispensable for the Golden City episodes and high-end guild battles.
Avoid These Common Newbie Mistakes
- Ignoring the Missions: You don't "own" the Cookie until the missions are done. If you stop playing halfway through, you've wasted the slot.
- Bad Topping Synergy: Don't just slap Searing Raspberries on everyone. Dark Cacao needs Solid Almonds (Damage Resist) to survive long enough to cast his skill. Pure Vanilla needs Swift Chocolates (Cooldown) so he can spam shields.
- The "Cool" Factor: You might love the aesthetic of the Ancient Cacao Kingdom, but if your team needs a tank and you pick a healer, you're going to hit a wall at Stage 12-30.
The Might of the Ancients CRK isn't just a handout; it's a foundation. Most players struggle in the mid-game because they spread their resources too thin across too many "okay" Epic cookies. By focusing on one Ancient and building a team around them—like a "Scam Team" for gingerbrave or a "Standard Comp" with Burnt Cheese—you save months of grinding.
The Verdict on Your Choice
If you want to win in the Arena right now, pick Dark Cacao. His Awakened form is too dominant to ignore. He carries through both story mode and competitive play.
If you find your team is dying instantly and you can't seem to keep anyone's health bar green, Hollyberry is your best friend. She’s the simplest to use and requires the least "big brain" strategy to be effective.
Only pick Pure Vanilla if you genuinely have zero good healers. If you don't have Rockstar, Parfait (with Magic Candy), or any of the Safeguard cookies, then yes, Pure Vanilla will save your account. Otherwise, he's a luxury you can't afford to prioritize over a top-tier tank.
Moving Forward with Your Ancient
Once you've made your selection in the Might of the Ancients CRK menu, your priority should be the Missions of Light. These missions often require you to use the Ancient Cookie in specific stages or level them up to a certain point.
- Focus all your Star Jellies on your chosen Ancient first; an underleveled Ancient is worse than a maxed-out Rare.
- Save your Radiant Shards to unlock Topping presets specifically for this hero.
- Check the Hall of Ancient Heroes regularly. You can use your Might of the Ancients pick to "boost" your other units, effectively raising your entire team's level cap without spending millions of Jellies.
The meta will shift again. It always does. But the Ancients are designed to be the pillars of the game. Even when they fall out of the top spot, Devsisters usually introduces a new Soul Jam or an "Awakening" mechanic to bring them right back to the top of the pile. Pick for the long haul.
Actionable Next Steps:
Log in and check your progress in the "Missions of Light" tab immediately. If you haven't picked yet, choose Dark Cacao to capitalize on the current Awakened meta. Once selected, prioritize farming "Solid Almond" M-tier toppings from World Exploration stages—specifically 8-29 or 9-9—to ensure your new Ancient has at least 40% Damage Resist. This single stat is the difference between a legendary hero and a crumbled cookie.