What Do S, A, B, C, D, and F Tiers Mean?

In a tier list, S, A, B, C, D, and F are ranking grades from best to worst, with S as the top tier, above A. They're based on academic letter grades, with an extra "S" rank added on top for the truly exceptional. Here's what each tier means and how to use them so your list stays consistent.

The tiers, from best to worst

• S tier: the best. Standout, top-of-the-class, must-have. S stands for "Superb" (and in its original Japanese gaming context, "Special"). Reserve it for genuine elites.
• A tier: excellent. Among the best, just a notch below S. Most people would be thrilled with anything here.
• B tier: good. Solid and reliable. Not the best, but you'd happily pick it.
• C tier: average. Middle of the pack. Fine, unremarkable, gets the job done.
• D tier: below average. Weak options you'd avoid if you had a choice.
• F tier: the worst. Failing. The bottom of the barrel, actively bad.

Why is S above A?

If these are letter grades, why isn't A the top? The "S rank" comes from Japanese games and media, where S was used as a grade above A to mark something beyond excellent: a perfect score, a hidden best rank, a special class. As tier lists spread through gaming communities worldwide, that S-above-A convention came with them. So a tier list isn't quite the school grading scale; it's the school scale with a "better than an A" rank bolted on top.

Common variations

The six standard tiers cover most lists, but you'll see variants:

• S+, SS, or SSS: extra rows above S for ranking the very best of the best.
• Dropping F: many lists stop at D, since "failing" can feel harsh for casual topics.
• Custom labels: plenty of tier lists rename the rows entirely ("Goated," "Mid," "Trash") while keeping the same top-to-bottom idea.

The grades are a convention, not a rule. What matters is that everyone reading the list understands higher = better.

How to use the tiers consistently

The fastest way to make a tier list meaningless is to rank on a shifting standard. A few guidelines:

• Pick one axis. Are you ranking by power, enjoyment, or quality? Choose one and apply it to every item.
• Keep S rare. If a third of your items are S-tier, the top rank stops signaling anything. S is for the few true standouts.
• Let the middle be the middle. Most things are B or C. That's normal. A list where everything is S or F usually isn't honest.
• It's okay to leave a tier empty. No real F-tier? Leave it blank.

Put the tiers to work

Now that the ranks make sense, the fun part is filling them in. Our free tier list maker starts with the standard S–F rows, and lets you rename, recolor, add, or reorder them for your topic. Add your items (with images if you like), drag them into place, and share a live link.

Ready? Here's how to make a tier list start to finish, or just start one now.