What Is a Tier List? Here’s What You Need to Know

Ever wondered what is a tier list and why are they so used by gamers all around the world for pretty much any game out there? Well, in this article that’s exactly what we will cover.

So without further ado, let’s get started first with a quick intro:

Introduction to Tier Lists

If you’ve ever played a game that has a ranked mode, then you’ve probably seen or heard of tier lists. A tier list is just a list of things arranged by how good they are. It’s like a power ranking for video games, but instead of using stats or performance metrics to compare things, it uses perceived value and player preference.

A tier list can be made for anything from characters in a fighting game to champions in an online multiplayer battle arena (MOBA). But what exactly is one? How do they work? And why should you care? Let me break it down:

What are tier lists?

Tier lists are used in gaming and other competitive fields as a way to compare items or characters.

The word “tier” comes from the world of fighting games, where it refers to the power level of characters. A low-tier character has to work harder than high-tier ones in order to win matches, generally because they lack some key skill or ability that makes them useful.

Tier lists can be made for anything from characters in a fighting game (like Guilty Gear Strive), League of Legends Best Champions, and Dota 2 heroes, to cards in collectible card games like Hearthstone, and each type has its own unique ranking system for determining whether something is “high” or “low” on that list.

For example, some tiers use numbers while others use letters; some have more than one tier between “high” and “low”; some do not have tiers at all!

But whatever format they come in though, tier lists are useful because they allow players to quickly see which items or characters are “higher” or “lower” in power than others.

For example, if you’re playing a MOBA game and don’t know what character to pick for your next match, looking at that game’s tier list can help you decide which one is most likely to win based on their stats and abilities.

What are tier lists used for?

Tier lists are useful for people who want to see how different characters stack up against one another in combat. They’re also helpful for developing strategies and deciding which characters should be selected for a team.

Tier lists are invaluable for ranking teams or individual players in any game or sport where competition exists.

The lists are generally divided into tiers, with each tier representing a specific level of skill.

The higher the tier, the more skilled the character is considered to be. A player can use this information to determine which characters they want to use in a competitive setting and how their fighter or team will stack up against others with similar skill levels.

What are tier lists made for?

Tier lists can be made for anything, from characters in a fighting game to regular non-gaming content such as gaming laptops tier list, best Sodas, chips, or whatever else you have in mind.

But mainly though, tier lists are for games.

There are many different types of competitive ranking systems. In fighting games, a tier list is used to rank characters against each other.

Characters that are low on the tier list are considered weak and ineffective, while those who are high on it have more utility and power (though they might not win every match).

In MOBAs, a similar system is in place: you have an overall champions pool that contains all playable heroes in any given game mode or map (e.g., Pokemon Unite tier list).

A tier list then goes through these heroes and ranks them from highest to lowest using various criteria like damage output or crowd control ability.

In RPGs or other strategy games with character customization options (e.g., Fire Emblem or NieR Reincarnation), you can even create tier lists for weapons and other items from the game not just for the characters or classes available!

Are tier lists helpful?

A tier list is a list of characters, champions, heroes, or items that are better than others. They help you decide what to use when you are playing a fighting game, or another game with characters.

Tier lists are especially helpful when you have to decide if you want to spend a ton of money or resources buying a certain item, hero, or champion. And so players usually want to know if it’s worth it before they start investing too much into characters that could prove to be useless down the line.

The tier list can be a good place to start when you are unfamiliar with a game. It can help you decide which characters or items are better than others.

The list should be updated regularly as new content is released, so it’s important to check back often if you want the most accurate information possible.

What does each tier mean on a tier list?

Tier Rankings Meaning in a Tier List

Tier lists usually have 3 or more “tiers”. From the very best (top) to the lowest (at the bottom). Tiers are basically ranks.

Here’s a common tier list ranking system:

S Tier Meaning – What does S Tier stands for?

The S tier rank stands for super or superb, and in general these are the best-ranked items, characters, or heroes on a list. Sometimes you will encounter tier lists with an S+ or S++ rank, meaning that those are even more overpowered than the “regular” S-ranked characters.

A Tier Meaning – What does A Tier stands for?

The A tier is usually where we rank the characters or items that are still very good and viable in a current competitive setup, yet they have just a couple of flaws or weaknesses that can’t quite make them as overpowered as the S-tier.

B Tier Meaning – What does B Tier stands for?

The middle-of-the-road rank for characters that are neither excellent nor complete trash. Sometimes the B tier can also be called the mid-tier or Tier 2 (depending on the game).

C Tier Meaning – What does C Tier stands for?

The C tier is where we rank items or champions that are slightly below average. Usually, the heroes or items ranked here aren’t really used that much in competitive settings at the top level, or simply don’t have good enough stats or abilities to warrant investing in them or dedicating time to acquire or learn how to play them.

D Tier Meaning – What does D Tier stands for?

The D stands for characters or items that are really not good and should not be used unless you have no other options but them. Usually, these are for those characters or items that haven’t been updated in a while or don’t have good enough redeemable features to warrant their usage.

F Tier Meaning – What does F Tier stands for?

The F tier rank stands for… really bad items, characters, heroes, champions, or whatever else you’re ranking. The bottom of the barrel, the worst of the bunch, the ignored ones, the ones who everyone else forgot even exist. Yeah, you get the point. These are not good and shouldn’t be used, ever. Unless… you have no other choice, or you want to troll or have some fun.

So, as you can see it’s quite simple really, the higher the tier, the better that character is. The lower the tier, the worse that character is. Characters can also be separated into “categories”. These are groups of characters who are similar in one way or another.

For example, a fighting game might have a list of “fast” characters and another list of “slow” characters.

Tier lists are useful because they help you make decisions about what to pick for your team or character based on their relative strength.

Final thoughts: What is a tier list?

A tier list is a ranking of characters in a video game. By definition, it’s subjective.

This means that the people who make these lists have their own opinion on what constitutes “top tier” or “best character”, which can sometimes vary from person to person, but at its core, a tier list is just a way for players to find out which characters they should be playing with if they want to win more matches.

Tier lists are usually generated by players and competitive communities. The list is based on how many people like a character or an item, how well they work in competitive matches, and how commonly they are used by the pros.

As I’ve said previously though, tier lists don’t necessarily have to be just about video games, they can be made for all sorts of things, such as a tier list for the best candy, or best fast foods, or best car brands, etc.

There are numerous websites where you can create your own tier lists such as TierMaker or TierLists.com or you could browse sites that have already created their own tier lists for various things such as games, as we do here at Meta Tier List.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed this article and learned more about what is a tier list. And now here’s a list of popular games that we have created our very own rankings for the best characters in the game:


Check our tier lists for games, explore our gaming guides, or read the META gaming news. You could also like us on Facebook and follow us on Google News and Twitter to stay updated with our content.

About Stephen

Stephen - Meta Tier ListStephen has immersed himself in the world of gaming for over 20 years, starting his journey in the 90s with SEGA consoles. With a passion for hack and slash action RPG games, he finds himself drawn to titles like Torchlight, Grim Dawn, and Path of Exile. Stephen's love for FPS games is equally strong, as he honed his skills starting with the legendary CS 1.6 and continues to dominate in CS:GO. Destiny 2 has also captured his heart, with an impressive 1,000 hours invested in each of these games (yes, each!). When he's not slaying virtual monsters or leading his team to victory, you can find Stephen exploring the latest gaming trends and sharing his insights with fellow gamers.