What Does Tier List Mean?
"Tier" is an English word meaning "level," "layer," or "rank." A tier list is a chart that classifies items into multiple levels and ranks them accordingly.
Typically expressed as "S, A, B, C, D" or "Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3," with higher ranks indicating better evaluations. The S rank is said to stand for "Special" or "Super" and often represents the highest rating.
Unlike simple rankings, tier lists do not assign order within the same tier. This allows for grouping items that are "roughly equivalent in evaluation."
Tier Rank Examples
History and Spread of Tier Lists
The origin of tier lists is primarily attributed to overseas fighting game communities. They emerged naturally as a way to discuss and share character strengths in competitive games.
Later, they spread to many genres including MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas) and trading card games. They became shared worldwide through strategy wikis, video streaming, and social media.
In recent years, the "tier list" format has become popular outside of gaming. It has become established as a culture of ranking and enjoying anything from food to movies and music.
Main Uses of Tier Lists
Game Character Strength Evaluation
Used to compare and evaluate character or weapon performance in competitive games and RPGs. Helpful for information sharing among players and as guidance for beginners.
Card Game Deck Rankings
In trading card games, tier lists are used to evaluate deck types and individual card strengths. Characteristically updated as the meta changes.
Ranking Everyday Things
On social media, a culture has spread of ranking and sharing personal favorites like food, movies, and artists. Popular as a means of expressing personal tastes and values.
Business and Marketing Applications
Tier-format evaluation methods are applied in business scenes for product comparisons, customer segmentation, and prioritization. Visually clear and effective as a decision-making aid.
How to Make a Tier List (5 Steps)
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Step 1: Decide What to Evaluate
First, clarify what you want to rank. Choose comparable subjects like game characters, food, or movies.
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Step 2: Define Your Criteria
Decide the perspective for evaluation, such as "strength," "versatility," or "preference." Ambiguous criteria can lead to inconsistency later.
- 3
Step 3: Set Up Your Tiers (Ranks)
Five tiers (S, A, B, C, D) are common, but you can adjust based on the number of items and purpose. Some add SS or F tiers.
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Step 4: Place Each Item
Classify each item into appropriate tiers based on your criteria. If unsure, set it aside temporarily and adjust after seeing the whole picture.
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Step 5: Review and Adjust
Check the overall balance and adjust as needed. Make sure no tier is too crowded and evaluations stay consistent with your criteria.
Things to Keep in Mind When Reading Tier Lists
Creator's subjectivity is included: While tier lists may be based on data, they ultimately reflect the creator's judgment and preferences. Understand that they are not absolute truths.
Evaluations change with the meta: Especially in gaming, evaluations can change significantly with updates or environmental shifts. Check the creation date and whether it's current.
Reference multiple tier lists: Don't take just one tier list at face value. Comparing multiple sources gives you a more objective view.
Create a Tier List on Our Site
With our "Tier List Maker," anyone can easily create tier lists. Drag and drop images to arrange them, save the completed tier list as an image, or share it on social media.
- ✓Free to use
- ✓No registration required
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- ✓Save images & share on social media
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What does S-tier mean?
A.S-tier is said to stand for "Special" or "Super," representing the highest rating above A-tier. This notation spread from Japanese gaming culture and is now used worldwide.
Q.What is the difference between tier list and tier ranking?
A.They essentially mean the same thing. "Tier list" is the common English term, while "tier ranking" is sometimes used in Japan. Both refer to a chart that ranks items by tier.
Q.How do you pronounce tier?
A.In English, "tier" is pronounced similar to "tear" (as in a drop from your eye). It means "level," "layer," or "rank." It's used adjectivally like "This character is S-tier."
Q.What is the best tool to make tier lists?
A.We recommend our "Tier List Maker." It's free to use in your browser, and you can easily create tier lists by dragging and dropping images.