The tier list is a queue, not a shopping list

A tier is a forecast, not a verdict

Every tier on this site is an opinion built from match data and a coaching review. Data finds the lines that place well; the review removes lines that only win in lobbies nobody plays in. A tier moves when both agree, so the list is a forecast for the next few games, not a promise about yours.

That distinction matters because a forecast changes with the lobby. S-tier means the line is strong and visible, so expect two or three players per lobby to try it. The same line at A in a lobby that leaves it alone is the better bet.

• S: strong, and everyone can see it
• A: strong when the lobby lets you take it
• B: fine with a good opener, weaker when forced
• C: narrow — needs exact items or an early high roll
• X: situational, not bad — it wins when the situation matches

Count the lobby before you commit

Tier lists rank lines; the lobby decides between them. Scout on 2-1 and again on 3-1: who is holding your carry, who slammed your items, who is leveling on your curve. Two players already on the S line turn it into a reroll race you did not choose.

The comp page lists what the line needs — carry, items, augments and the stage you should be stable. If those do not match your board and bench, the tier is not talking about your game yet.

• Two or more players on the same S line: take the free line instead
• None of the line’s items on your bench: that is a pivot, not a plan
• An X-tier comp with its items and opener is a real pick, not a last resort

Checkpoints, not a chase

Use the comp stages as checkpoints. At 3-2, does your board look like the comp’s 3-2 — the same units, the same items, the level it expects? If yes, keep going. If not, fix the board you have instead of forcing the page.

Re-read the list when the patch or the data moves, not every game. Chasing every tier change costs more gold than any single comp choice.