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Exploding Penguin -> Class Tier List (Rankings) (7/21/13) (7/21/2013 11:04:13)
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This is a tier list of all the classes, which ranks them from 1-6 based on matchups with other classes in 1v1.
As always, please note that this is a great portion of opinion supported by research, blah, blah, blah... basically it's just my opinion that I created from lots of data collecting through playing ED.
So the way this works is I matchup each class to every other class, for a total of 5 class matchups for all 6 classes. Each matchup will be ranked +1, -1, or +/-0. After deciding all these matchups, I will then rank the classes based off of their total matchup score.
BH Matchups
BH v. BH = +/-0
BH v. TM = -1
[This is because TM can essentially make shadow arts useless with their large deflectable attack options, have a more consistent energy flow controller, and have a low-energy costing shield to smoke.]
BH v. Merc = +1
[Mercs rely a lot on blockable attacks such as zerker and static smash, which normally result in blocks since the BH has shadow and smoke. Bunker is one of the only exceptions, but it has a 2 turn cooldown so BHs can easily predict and prepare themselves for this situation.]
BH v. CH = -1
[CH can EMP BH, and then BH will follow up with an EMP resulting in each player losing almost all their energy. This ends up in a blood lust vs. passive armor, which normally results in a tank win. However, if an EMP exchange does not occur, malf will counter the effectiveness of the BH's EMP and smoke, and defense matrix given CH's support synergy will be more than a viable counter against smoke anyways.]
BH v. BM = +1
[In this matchup, whoever runs out of energy first will lose because BH will depend on its smoke to mess up BM, but BM will depend on bludgeon, intimidate, and reflex. However, BH has EMP which will ruin a BM, whereas BM can't do anything to a BH's energy.]
BH v. TLM = +/-0
[TLM has many of its important skills based off of blockables, including atom smasher, frenzy with rage, etc... A BH with a strong enough smoke and an EMP can stop instant threats such as support-artillery strikes and tank surgical strikes. However, with this seemingly strong advantage given BH's high natural block chance, it's still a hard to decide winner because TLMs will drag on the fight to the endgame, where it will be another tank v. bloodlust class. A BH can either end it quickly and win with a TLM or drag on the fight to an almost impossible to win endgame.]
TM Matchups
TM v. TM = +/-0
TM v. BH = +1
TM v. Merc = +/-0
[TMs require energy for their high offensive play, even when they aren't doing class cannon. Because of the fact that Merc v. TM will result in an energy lock of no one getting enough energy to do anything, a TM would seemingly lose in endgame fights that are dragged on this long. However, early-game damage rushes from TM can easily mess up a Merc because of Merc's lack of defensive buffs and TM's ability of applying consistently high damage over a span of multiple turns. Mix this with the fact that Merc's only got field medic for healing and intimidate is fairly weak, and TMs will win more in the early game.]
TM v. BM = -1
[Really depends on the build. A caster TM can possibly beat a BM in endgame fights where casters excel at because of their tankiness countering blood lust, the high tech to deflect deadly aim, and the fact that reroute can't be stopped by BM. However, TM, with their early rushing builds, can sometimes overpower a BM, but normally will lose to the massive numbers that BMs hit with deadly aim, bludgeon, and even intimidate. BM also has a very strong counter to malfunction as well. Overall, though, I'd have to say TM will have a slight disadvantage against BM.]
TM v. CH = +1
[Malfunction will seal EMP, technician is an extremely strong counter to CH's malfunction as well, and assimilation seals static charge. Not to mention that shadow arts does almost nothing because assimilation can't be stopped by blocks and TMs will rely more on deflectables. After a CH runs out of energy TMs will dominate with repeated healing from reroute and assimilation, and glass cannon TMs can just power on through plasma armor as if it were nothing, and turn the game into a possible win or loss with a bludgeon or lucky block. Overall, TM has the advantage because of its ability to seal so many of CH's skills and to also be able to just power right on through plasma armor.]
TM v. TLM = -1
[TLM will probably win in this matchup. Assimilation and caster TMs are easily sealed by repeated atom smashing, and high base tech + blood shield should prove more than an effective defense against TM glass cannons. Also, frenzy is a very viable counter as glass cannons have weak defenses, thus fueling frenzy's lifesteal effects.]
Merc Matchups
Merc v. Merc = +/-0
Merc v. BH = -1
Merc v. TM = +/-0
Merc. v. TLM = +/-0
[Both will just get into an endgame given static smash followed up by atom smashing. At that point anything could happen given they're similar classes]
Merc v. CH = +/-0
[Bunker is a great damage dealer to CHs because of their naturally lower defense, but they will block static smash a lot and can EMP. In the end, it'll probably become another endgame, and result in a similar situation as TLM]
Merc v. BM = -1
[As of now with static smash, mercs will normally play into an endgame. However, BM as a class excels at endgames with their strong basic attacks such as the well-mentioned Deadly Aim + blood lust combo. In most cases, the merc will either have a 50/50 chance of winning or end up in a hard-to-win endgame.]
CH Matchups
CH v. CH = +/-0
CH v. BH = +1
CH v. TM = -1
CH v. Merc = +/-0
CH v. BM = +1
[CH will normally win this because of their EMP and debuff which work very well together against BMs, much like how BH's smoke + emp works well. However, it really does depend on the BM's sidearm damage type and block luck from bludgeon. If the BM has a phys sidearm and strong deadly aim, the fight could go either way, but normally a BM would be at a disadvantage.]
CH v. TLM = +/-0
[this just turns into another endgame wait with EMP + atom smasher, or malf + blood shield and atom smasher to stop potential threats such as field medics and massacre. However, malfunction will be targeting the higher invested stat of tech while TLM has no define target damage type, so this kind of matchup could have mixed results]
BM Matchups
BM v. BM = +/-0
BM v. BH = -1
BM v. TM = +1
BM v. Merc = +1
BM v. CH = -1
BM v. TLM = +1
[TLM's main goal for good win ratios is to go for endgame waits. However, BMs that have their amazingly strong endgame play can't be stopped by this, and rage bludgeon will penetrate through mineral armor for massive damage as well. While TLM does have more tech in many cases for deadly aim deflections, BM will still have a definite advantage in this matchup]
TLM Matchups
TLM v. TLM = +/-0
TLM v. BH = +/-0
TLM v. TM = +1
TLM v. Merc = +/-0
TLM v. CH = +/-0
TLM v. BM = -1
Some Side Notes
-Those with naturally lower stat investment in certain stats such as tech and dex namely (because of passive armors) are more susceptible to certain debuffs because of diminishing return. For example, malfunction which removes 30 tech will take way more resistance from somebody with 40 tech than it will from somebody with 70. This is important when considering and thinking about a debuff's true effect in matchups.
-I mostly took into account the highest win rate builds, not necessarily the most popular or the fastest as of now
-This tier list is definitely subject to change as other people's opinions come in, and balance changes from the devs are made to the game
-This tier list is very opinion-based, so don't suppose anything I said here I'm stating as solid fact. These are just well-guided judgements based off of information gathered from the game.
The Tier List
Woohoo, time for the tier list, the moment you've all been waiting for and some people who probably skipped all the text just to get to this point.
Top Tier:
1. CH (+1)
2. BM (+1)
Middle Tier:
3. BH/TM (+/-0)
4. BH/TM (+/-0)
5. TLM (+/-0)
Low Tier:
6. Merc (-2)
Now, for some notes on the tier list
-Slots 3 and 4 are arguable because BH and TM both have their strengths and weaknesses that are very different. However, both come close to each other in terms of balance.
-The order actually makes a difference; I believe CH is better than BM and BH/TM is better than TLM.
-The pluses and the minuses next to the class are the Match-up rating of each of the classes, earlier fully diagnosed and explained in the topic
-I was shocked when I first saw the results of the tier list too! But this is what happens when a single core ruins balance, and overused builds like glass cannons cloud people's visions of what's overpowered and what's now.
-This tier list may not be accurate in terms of win ratios and such today mainly because some classes are favored far more than others, thus giving those classes with an advantage over the more abundant classes an advantage. However, if there were equal players of all 6 classes, then it is supposed that this tier list would be close to accurate.
-The tier list is not going to make a humongous difference in win ratio. As an estimate, I'd have to say 90% of wins would be a player's skill and what the player does, and only 10%- will actually be the tier list's ranking helping win ratios.
Some Q&A for Fun
Q: OMGWTFBBQHAXORZ Why is merc last? I thought it was a good class in 1v1 now...
A: Unfortunately, the addition of a single skill didn't save merc from the underpowered pit it was stuck in. The lack of a counter to debuffs is a huge disadvantage, especially given how strong debuffs are in Omega, and intimidate does little to help. Double strike's nerf also made it near unusable.
Q: NO WAY! CH is so underpowered!
A: Actually, even though static charge is virtually useless unless raged on in very special circumstances, CH still has a good grip of the fight because they can tank against other debuffs with a passive AND a very, very strong defensive buff while also debuffing (debuffs are pretty OP right now, in my opinion). CHs can also use EMP with their support synergy letting them start first to seal opponents' skills in early turns.
Q: Why are so many people BHs and TMs then if BM and CH are better on this list?
A: First of all, this list is a lot of opinion. Second of all, those people are ones who strive for high win counts, not those who strive for good win/loss ratios. This list is for which classes have the highest potential for good win/loss ratios.
Q: Why is TLM weaker than BH/TM even though they have the same rating? Same with the top tier as well.
A: Because TLM lacks an unpredictable offensive measure when it desperately needs it in certain places, especially in 2v2 when needing the kill in an early turn. However, TLMs have good strategies for dragging out fights into endgames, and most debuff classes are weak at those points. CH is better than BM because BM's placement is based off of its wide range of counter options to debuffs and offensive builds, as well as its strong fundamentals with deadly aim + blood lust which wrecks endgame classes like TLM and Merc who don't have debuffs. However, BM has little to no control over energy flow whereas CH has a very strong grip of it with static charge rage and EMP.
...So that basically finishes this topic up! I would love to hear about anyone's feedback, opinions, thoughts, and any other stuff like that!
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