Tier list ranks in order

Tier list ranks in order (S to F)

Here is the standard tier list rank order, from best to worst. The one twist people trip on: S sits above A, not below it.

So the full tier list letters in order read: S, A, B, C, D, and then F (or sometimes E before F) for the very bottom. Everything flows from the alphabet once you accept that S has been bolted on above A.

Is S or A tier better?

S tier is better. It is deliberately placed above A to mean "beyond the top grade". If a plain A were the ceiling, there would be nowhere to put the truly exceptional picks — so S exists to crown them. In s a b c d tier meaning terms: S is elite, A is great, and the rest descend from there.

What does each tier mean?

• S tier — the elite. Reserve it for the few things that are a clear cut above.
• A tier — excellent picks that narrowly miss S.
• B tier — good, solid, no real complaints.
• C tier — average and forgettable; the default middle.
• D tier — below average, with clear weaknesses.
• F tier — the worst; actively bad or a hard skip.

For the deeper story behind each letter, see what does S tier mean and tier list letters explained.

Where the letters come from

The ranking grew out of Japanese grading systems and the fighting-game scene, where S (for Special or Superior) was added above A to mark the standout characters. If you want the full background, our pillar guide covers what a tier list is from the ground up.

Do you have to use S–D?

Not at all. The letters are a convention, not a rule. Plenty of people rename the rows — "Goated", "Mid", "Trash" — or add extra tiers. See funny and creative tier names for ideas, and how many tiers a tier list should have if you are deciding how many rows to use.