What Does S Tier Mean? Tier List Letters Explained

By KT Apps · Updated October 16, 2026

What S tier means

S tier is the top rank in a tier list, above A. It is reserved for the very best: items that stand out even among the good ones. Calling something S tier in conversation is simply high praise, the equivalent of "top of the list".

In competitive games, S tier usually means the strongest characters, weapons or strategies in the current version of the game. In personal lists, such as favourite foods or films, it means personal favourites. The meaning always depends on the rule the list is using.

What each tier usually means

Exact meanings vary from list to list, but most people read the standard tiers like this:

• S: exceptional. The best of the best, often only a few items.
• A: excellent. Very strong choices, just short of S.
• B: good. Solid and reliable, worth picking.
• C: average. Fine, but nothing special.
• D: below average. Usable, with clear weaknesses.
• F: the bottom. Avoid, or the ones the list-maker likes least.

Some lists add tiers above S, such as SS or S+, for items that are in a class of their own. Others skip E, following the familiar school-style grades A, B, C, D and F.

Why S comes above A

The letter S is generally traced to grading systems in Japanese video games and media, where an S rank appears above A for an outstanding performance. It is often explained as standing for "special" or "superior", although there is no single agreed origin.

Games such as action and racing titles have long rated players' runs with letter grades topped by S. Players then borrowed the scale to rank characters in fighting games, and tier lists spread from competitive gaming communities to anime, food and everyday topics on social media.

Choosing tiers for your own list

You can use the standard letters or your own labels. A few practical tips:

1. State your rule in the title, such as "ranked by competitive strength" or "ranked by how often I eat it". It changes what S means.
2. Keep S small. If a third of the list is S tier, the label stops meaning anything.
3. Match the number of tiers to the size of the list. A list of ten items often only needs three or four tiers.
4. Use descriptive names when letters would confuse your audience, for example "Always", "Sometimes" and "Never".
5. Keep the colour gradient: warm colours for the top and cool colours for the bottom are instantly readable.

Ways to make a tier list compared

Paper or whiteboard

Draw the rows and move sticky notes around. Great for debating with friends in person, less great for sharing online.

Spreadsheet or slides

Colour the label cells and type items next to them, or build rows from shapes in slide software. Fully flexible, but slow to rearrange and awkward with images.

Tier list maker

Rows, an item pool, drag and drop and image export are built in, and custom tier names and colours are usually a tap away. This is the quickest option once you know what you want to rank. Our guide on how to make a tier list covers the full process.

How to set up S to F or custom tiers in Tier

Tier starts with the standard rows and lets you change them:

1. Open Tier. The board shows S, A, B, C, D and F in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, with an Item Pool underneath.
2. Tap a tier label to rename it, for example to S+ or "Must try", or to pick a different colour from the palette.
3. Use Add Tier for an extra row, such as SS above S, or delete tiers you do not need.
4. Add text or image items to the pool and drag them into the tiers.
5. Export the finished list as a PNG to share. Reset Tiers Only restores the default S to F rows if you want to start over with the same items.

Tier works in the browser and on iPhone and Android.

Frequently asked questions