How ranking works
ScopeCraft is a directory. The order of a list is a sorting choice, not a verdict that one community is the best server on the internet.
Recommended
The default directory sort puts verified listings first, then sorts by vote count, then by name. Verification here means the listing was marked verified in ScopeCraft. It is not a Mojang endorsement. A Founding Server badge is cosmetic and is not part of this sort.
Votes
A vote is cast on a server's page with a Minecraft username and a short check, so the same person cannot vote again straight away. Votes help active listings rise. They do not describe uptime, world age, or whether a base will survive the month.
Trending
Trending sorts by votes cast in the last seven days. A new server can move up without beating a large server's all-time total. With few votes, trending and recommended look similar. That is honest, not a hidden boost.
Most players
This sort uses the player count from the latest successful status check. Servers that have never answered a check sink below ones that have. It is a snapshot, not an average.
ScopeScore
ScopeScore is not published yet. When it is, it will be a 0–100 figure with a breakdown you can read, based on signals ScopeCraft actually stores, such as status checks and listing detail. It will not be a paid score.
Sponsored placements
ScopeCraft does not sell placement today. If it does later, a paid position will be labelled Sponsored. Paying will not change ScopeScore, reviews, vote totals, uptime, or player counts.