What Does S Tier Mean? S, A, B, C, D & F Tiers Explained
Updated July 2026 · 4 min read
S tier means the very best — a rank above A. If something is "S tier", it's exceptional, best-in-class, top of the top. The scale runs S, A, B, C, D, and sometimes F, from best to worst. But why does a letter that isn't even in the normal grading alphabet sit above A? The answer comes from Japan.
Where S tier comes from
Japanese schools and universities have long used a grading scale where S sits above A as a mark of exceptional achievement. Japanese video games adopted the convention: arcade and console titles from the late '80s and '90s — racing games, rhythm games, action games — graded your performance at the end of a level, and a perfect run earned an S (or even SS) rather than a mere A. As competitive gaming communities began building character strength rankings in fighting games, they borrowed the same scale, and the "tier list" as we know it was born. From there it spread through esports, streaming, and meme culture to rank absolutely everything.
What the S stands for
There's no single official answer, and that's part of the charm. The most cited candidates: Special, Superb, Super, or the Japanese word saikou (最高, "the best"). Whichever origin story you prefer, the meaning in practice is identical: S outranks A.
Every tier, explained
| S | Exceptional. Best-in-class, no real flaws. Reserve it for the true top — an S tier with ten items convinces nobody. |
| A | Excellent. Great with minor flaws; would recommend without hesitation. |
| B | Good. Solid and enjoyable, but clearly a step below the best. |
| C | Average. Fine. Neither impressive nor bad — the middle of the pack. |
| D | Below average. Noticeable problems; hard to recommend. |
| F | The worst. Failed. Some lists skip E entirely and jump straight to F, echoing school grades. |
Variations exist: some communities stack S+ or SS above S for even finer distinctions, and casual lists often rename tiers entirely ("God tier", "Mid", "Trash"). The structure matters more than the labels — ordered rows, best on top.
Using the S-F scale in your own tier list
Every TierPOP tool starts you with the classic S, A, B, C, D rows, and you can rename any tier or add more. If your items have images — game covers, posters, food photos — use the tier list maker with images. Ranking abstract things like ideas, names, or habits? The text tier list maker skips image hunting entirely. New to the whole thing? Start with our step-by-step guide to making a tier list.
FAQ
- What does S tier mean?
The highest rank in a tier list — a level above A, for exceptional, best-in-class items. - What does the S stand for?
No official answer — Special, Superb, Super, or Japanese saikou (最高, "the best") are the usual candidates. - Is S tier better than A tier?
Yes. Best to worst: S, A, B, C, D, F. - What do the other tiers mean?
A = excellent, B = good, C = average, D = below average, F = the worst.
Put the S-F scale to work