Do you know what a tier list is, or have you come across the term on YouTube, Reddit, or X without being entirely sure what it covers? In this guide, you'll get a clear definition, the history of how the format spread, the typical S+ to E ranking system, and a practical way to build your own.
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Definition – What does a tier list mean?
A tier list is a visual ranking where characters, items, foods, or just about anything else is placed into lettered layers to show how strong, popular, or well-liked each entry is. The English word tier covers the idea of a layer, row, or level, and the list is meant to share a personal take on the best characters in a group. A tier list is never 100% objective, which is part of why the format sparks so much discussion.
Most tier lists use colored layers with a letter ranking [S+, S, A, B, C, D, E]. A specific character or item is placed in one of those rows to signal where it stands, from standout favorites at the top to entries the maker actively dislikes at the bottom.
Tier lists are common in most competitive gaming communities, especially among fans of fighting games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Super Smash Bros. Fighting game professionals often defend their tier lists passionately, while casual players frequently disagree with them, and that tension is half the fun.
In recent years the format has spread well beyond competitive gaming. People now build tier lists for favorite characters, waifus, favorite foods, and almost any other topic where opinions get loud. Most of these lists end up starting friendly arguments in the comments.
Origin – Where did tier lists come from?
The exact origin is fuzzy, but a few early examples are well documented. One of the first lists to circulate online was a character ranking for the game Tekken, posted on March 25, 2005. Even before that, players in arcades and forums already enjoyed debating who the strongest fighters in a game were.
Four years later, on May 8, 2009, an anonymous user on 4chan shared an Idolmaster list on a Japanese imageboard. That post helped popularize the format for ranking anime characters.
On May 17 of the same year, an Urban Dictionary user named Yello River defined the top row of a tier list as God Tier, describing it as abilities that are almost divine.
The following year, on August 28, 2010, a FunnyJunk user called Scrumpulate posted a tier list of college subjects, which expanded the format well beyond games and anime.
How do players view tier lists?
Fighting game professionals consult tier lists regularly. The format has also become standard in FPS shooters, MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota 2, and hero shooters like Overwatch and Paladins.
Whenever a competitive game receives a balance patch, the first round of community debate is usually about how the changes will shift the tier list. The same thing happens when a new character, ability, or weapon is added, since every fresh option needs a row.
Some tournament players deliberately pick lower-ranked characters to gain an edge. Because opponents prepare for the strongest picks, choosing a low-tier character and mastering it can become a real surprise factor.
Popular divisions of the tier list
Letter rankings are now the standard way to build a tier list, but a few older labels are still worth knowing.
God Tier – The very top of the list, reserved for characters whose power goes far beyond the rest. Many fans skip this row on purpose, because putting anyone there can feel like it breaks the game. In some competitive scenes, God Tier characters are even restricted in tournaments.
Top Tier – The strongest characters in the game, but not as overwhelming as God Tier. In modern letter-based lists, these usually sit in the S and A rows.
Middle Tier – Characters that are solid in some areas but cannot quite reach the top. They typically land in the B and C rows.
Low Tier – Characters with serious disadvantages that often get overlooked. They usually fall into the D row or below.
Trash Tier – The bottom of the list, where characters that are widely considered weak, annoying to play against, or simply unpopular end up. Seeing a personal favorite in this row is a classic source of online arguments.
Some lists refine the letter system further with [S+, S-, A+, A, A-], and others use custom labels for the rows. Both approaches are common and there is no single correct way.
How to make your own tier list
Today, the default format runs from S+ down to whatever letter you want, with S+ as the God Tier or Top Tier. Lists can be drawn vertically or horizontally, and most follow the orientation of a traditional table.
Here is what a blank traditional tier list looks like before you start filling it in:
You can build one on sites like:
TierMaker is the one I reach for most often. It already comes loaded with the images of the topic you want to rank, and you can rename each row however you like. Others prefer to draw one in Paint or a simple text editor, and a few mobile apps handle the same job on a phone.
You can build a tier list for fun or for serious community debate. If you want yours to be taken seriously, get to know every entry first and try not to let personal bias decide a row. Sometimes your favorite character is simply not as strong as you would like, and a popular community list will reflect that honestly.
My tier lists
Here are the tier lists I built and shared on the site so you can see the format in action.
Japan tourist attractions tier list
Anime tier list
Favorite waifus tier list
The most searched tier lists on the internet
What do people actually make tier lists about? Here is a list of the games, anime, and other topics that come up most often in searches and discussions.
- Genshin Impact
- Genshin Impact Weapons
- Genshin Impact 1.1
- Mobile Legends
- Mobile Legends Adventure
- League of Legends Champions
- League of Legends Items
- League of Legends ADC
- League of Legends Mid Lane
- League of Legends Jungle
- TFT (Teamfight Tactics)
- TFT Comps
- TFT Items
- Dota 2
- All Star Tower Defense
- All Star Roblox
- Dragon Ball
- Dragon Ball Legends
- Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Bleach
- Boruto
- Brawl Stars
- Brawlhalla
- Blox Fruits
- Clash Royale
- Call of Duty Mobile
- Champions Legion
- Danganronpa
- Disney
- Dead by Daylight
- Epic Seven
- Elsword
- Eternal Return
- Exos Heroes
- Exos Heroes Global
- Five Nights at Freddy's
- Fortnite
- Fate/Grand Order
- Final Fantasy Td
- Fire Emblem Heroes
- Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
- For Honor
- Grand Chase
- Guardian Tales
- AFK Arena
- Arena of Valor
- Archero
- Hearthstone
- Honkai Impact
- Heroes of the Storm
- Hero Cantare
- Hunter x Hunter
- Haikyuu
- Healer Shadowlands
- Hades
- Illusion Connect
- Idle Heroes
- Identity V
- Injustice 2
- Injustice
- Idola
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
- JoJo Stands
- JoJo Parts
- Jump Force
- Games
- Football Players
- King's Raid
- King of Fighters All Star
- King of Fighters 2002
- My Hero Academia
- Demon Slayer
- King Piece
- Shinobi Life 2 – Bijuu
- Shinobi Life 2 – Elements
- Shinobi Life 2 – Genkai
- Shinobi Life 2 – Kekkei Genkai
- Lost Ark
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Marvel Future Fight
- Minecraft
- Elder Dragon Highlander (MTG)
To see how the format usually plays out in practice, here is a YouTube video of how creators record their tier list videos:
Which tier list would you build first, and which row would your favorite end up in?
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