What Is a Tier List? — Meaning, S Tier Definition, and 50 Ideas to Try
Tier list meaning, the origin of S tier, and 50 ideas to rank — from anime to fast food. Built around the free tier list maker.
Tier List Meaning — What Does "Tier List" Mean?
A tier list is a ranking system that places items into labelled groups (tiers) ordered from best to worst. The standard labels are S, A, B, C, D — where S stands for "Super" or "Special" and represents the highest tier. Unlike a numbered ranking (1st, 2nd, 3rd), a tier list lets multiple items share the same rank, which makes it perfect for comparing things that don't have to be linearly ordered. That's the simplest tier list definition: labelled groups, items inside, S on top.
The History of Tier Lists
Tier lists started in the early-1990s fighting game community. Players on text-based gaming forums needed a quick way to discuss Street Fighter II character matchups, and grouping characters into tiers became the standard shorthand. The format was popularized on GameFAQs and Smashboards in the 2000s, then jumped from competitive gaming into anime, sports, food, and pop culture in the 2010s. Today, tier lists are a mainstream internet format used on Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch every day.
What Does S Tier Mean?
The "S" in S tier comes from the Japanese school grading system, where 秀 (shū, "excellent") sits above the standard A–F grades. Japanese arcade culture adopted it for high scores and character rankings, and the convention crossed over into Western gaming forums via fighting games. In a tier list, S tier means the best of the best — items that are dominant, exceptional, or irreplaceable.
The tiers descend from there: A tier = great but not elite, B tier = good and reliable, C tier = average, D tier = below average, and optionally F tier = bad. Some lists add SS or SSS above S for extreme outliers. That's the full tier list ranks explained picture.
What Can You Make a Tier List About? — 50 Tier List Ideas
Tier lists work for anything you can compare. Here are 50 starting points across five categories:
Gaming (10): video game characters, Pokémon starters, Genshin Impact units, Brawl Stars brawlers, Smash Bros fighters, Marvel Rivals heroes, Call of Duty weapons, Minecraft mobs, game soundtracks, retro consoles.
Anime (10): anime series, anime openings, anime studios, anime villains, anime endings, shonen protagonists, seasonal anime, manga series, One Piece arcs, Naruto characters.
Movies & TV (10): MCU films, horror movies, animated Disney films, Netflix originals, HBO series, sci-fi films, comedy shows, Pixar films, TV show seasons, movie directors.
Music (10): Taylor Swift albums, K-pop groups, rap albums by decade, music festivals, rock bands, music streaming platforms, music videos, Grammy winners, band eras, one-hit wonders.
Food & Life (10): fast food chains, pizza toppings, world cuisines, energy drinks, coffee shops, snack brands, streaming platforms, airlines, phone brands, programming languages.
How to Make Your Own Tier List in 60 Seconds
Pick a topic, open the image tier list maker for visuals or the text tier list maker for words, drag your items into S/A/B/C/D, and click Download. For the full walk-through with tips, read our step-by-step guide on how to make a tier list. No login, no watermark, ready to share in under a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'tier list' mean?
A tier list is a ranking that groups items into labelled tiers (S/A/B/C/D) from best to worst.
What does S tier mean?
S tier means the highest rank — 'Super' or 'Special'. It's reserved for items considered the best of the best.
Who invented tier lists?
Tier lists originated in the 1990s fighting game community, where players ranked characters by competitive strength.
What's the difference between S tier and A tier?
S tier is elite — the best of the best. A tier is excellent but not quite top-level.
Are tier lists just opinions?
Yes and no. Competitive tier lists (gaming, sports) use objective data like win rates and stats. Personal tier lists are pure preference.
Related Templates
Anime Series Tier List — Rank Every Show From S to D Tier
Rank 20 of the most-debated anime series using this free tier list maker. From long-running shonen giants like One Piece and Naruto to modern masterpieces like Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen, drag each series into the tier where you think it belongs. Add your own favourites, rename the tiers, change the colors, and export your finished anime tier list as a clean PNG to share on Reddit, Discord, or Twitter. No sign-up, no watermark — just your honest anime rankings. Also works as an anime character tier list if you swap in character names instead, or as a seasonal anime ranking for any year or cour.
Pokémon Starter Tier List — Which Starter Is the Best of All Time?
Every Pokémon generation has one question that divides the fandom forever: which starter is the best? This Pokémon tier list comes pre-loaded with 20 starters spanning generations 1 through 8. Drag Charmander, Froakie, Rowlet, and the rest into the tier they deserve — based on your childhood loyalty, competitive viability, or pure design taste. Add starters from Scarlet & Violet or any game, and export a crisp PNG to settle the debate on r/pokemon, Discord, or YouTube. No account needed.
Fast Food Chains Tier List — Which Chain Belongs in S Tier?
20 of the biggest fast food and fast casual chains pre-loaded. Drag McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, and the rest into S, A, B, C, or D tier based on food quality, value, speed, variety, or your personal loyalty. Add regional chains not on the list — Whataburger fans, this is your moment — and export a PNG to start the debate on Reddit, TikTok, or Instagram. No account needed.