What do S tier and A tier actually mean?

Where it came from

The S/A/B/C/D scale traces back to Japanese academic grading, where S — commonly read as “Special” — sits above A. Fighting-game communities adopted it to rank characters, mobile games spread it further, and today it’s the standard shorthand for “which of these is better” on any topic — brands, food, movies included.

What each rank means

• S

  The top shelf — the picks you can't leave out of the conversation. Keep it to one to three entries per list or the rank loses its meaning.

• A

  Excellent. Not quite S-tier impact, but a confident recommendation that almost never disappoints.

• B

  Solid. Strengths and weaknesses roughly cancel out — most entries in any honest list end up here.

• C

  Situational. Only justified under specific conditions like price or personal taste.

• D

  Hard to recommend — clearly better alternatives exist.

• F

  The bottom. Hidden by default in the tierize builder; expand to six rows when you need it.

Three rules for a tier list people trust

1. Spend S sparingly. If half the list is S, it’s not a ranking — it’s a list. Keeping S rare is what makes every other rank persuasive.
2. Pick one criterion and say it out loud.“Value for money” and “pure taste” rank the same items completely differently. The tierize builder lets you attach a note to each item explaining why it earned its rank.
3. Fewer than six items isn’t a tier list yet.With too few entries the ranks stop meaning anything — start from a template with items pre-filled to get past six quickly.

Pyramid vs. grid: why the shape matters

Classic tier makers use a grid: one horizontal row per rank, with unlimited slots in each. Nothing stops you from parking ten items in S, and that is exactly how most grid tier lists turn into plain lists with colored stripes.

tierize defaults to a pyramid because the geometry enforces the rule that matters most: top ranks must stay small. The apex only physically fits a couple of items, so building the list forces the real question — what actually deserves the top — instead of letting everything float upward.

A table layout is also available for topics with many items or comment-heavy comparisons, and you can switch between the two after publishing.

Frequently asked questions

How many items belong in S tier?

Around 10–20% of the total is the usual instinct. On a nine-item list that means one or two, three at the outside. Beyond that the line between S and A blurs and the whole ranking loses its bite.

What is the difference between a tier list and a ranking?

A ranking forces a strict first-to-last order; a tier list groups items of similar quality. When second and third place are effectively tied, a tier list lets them share a rank honestly instead of manufacturing a difference — the debate shifts from “what number” to “which group,” which reads far better with many items.

Why is F tier hidden by default?

For most topics F drifts from information into insult, and in practice few lists use it. The builder starts with five rows (S through D); topics that genuinely need an F can expand to six rows in the settings.