How we build a tier list we actually trust

Tier lists are everywhere and most of them are opinions dressed as facts. We try to do a little better.

Before ranking anything, we play enough to hit the point where choices matter. Early-game power means little; we care how a unit performs when the pressure is on.

We test units in isolation and in combos, because some pieces are weak alone and terrifying together. A tier list that ignores synergy is half a list.

We also note context. A tower that's top-tier on open maps can be useless on winding ones, so we say when a ranking depends on the situation.

Then we revisit after updates. Balance patches change everything, and a stale tier list is worse than none at all.