The title was suppose to be a stab at ICP's song "Miracles", lol @ disclaimers.
This thread may not be needed but I've been studying for hours for my Psychology test and need a break. I want to explain to everyone what a tier list is, how they're formed, and some recent topics such as Maxter winning The Gamer's Edge with Stryker. I need to make it clear that I don't think you guys don't know any of this, I just thought it would be good to have all of this clearly (or at least close to clearly) defined and so it can be referenced.
How Tier Lists are formed:
In every fighting game there's going to be a tier list. But how are the tier lists formed? It's always been a little different for MK for reasons I'm not quite sure of. However, tier lists should be formed the same way. And the way they are formed, is primarily based on match-ups. The match-ups will always be out of 10. So you will never see a ratio higher or lower than 10, it will always equal 10. For instance 7:3 is correct, 7:4 would be incorrect since that would be out of 11. The first number added up for all match-ups is what determines the place on the tier list of the specific character.
Example - Say a game has 5 characters. A, B, C, D and E. To form a tier list, we need to know the match-up numbers. Mirror matches will always be 5:5.
A vs A = 5:5 - B vs B = 5:5 - C vs C = 5:5 - D vs D = 5:5 - E vs E = 5:5
A vs B = 7:3 - B vs A = 3:7 - C vs A = 4:6 - D vs A = 5:5 - E vs A = 6:4
A vs C = 6:4 - B vs C = 2:8 - C vs B = 8:2 - D vs B = 6:4 - E vs B = 3:7
A vs D = 5:5 - B vs D = 4:6 - C vs D = 6:4 - D vs C = 4:6 - E vs C = 5:5
A vs E = 4:6 - B vs E = 7:3 - C vs E = 5:5 - D vs E = 4:6 - E vs D = 6:4
So what we would then do is add up all the first numbers for each character.
A = 27 - B = 21 - C = 28 - D = 24 - E = 25
So the tier list would look like this:
1. C
2. A
3. E
4. D
5. B
Or it would be grouped in tiers, like A+ tier, B tier, etc. But since I used Letters it would be kinda confusing.
Now, just because B is bottom tier, the absolute worst, it doesn't mean that the character is necessarily bad or can't win. All the tier list shows is that based on the match-ups, B doesn't have very many match-ups in his favor. It actually says nothing about the ability of the character or it's potential. Tier Lists constantly change because match-ups change once you learn new tech or figure more shit out about the game.
If B were to win a tournament, it doesn't always mean that B's match-ups have changed. However, you would look into them more. If B started winning more tournaments or placing high, you would look at the character's B had to face. If it was all terrible match-ups for B (ex C), you would re-evaluate the match-up. But this has to be based on consistency.
Regardless of it being based on numbers, the match-ups themselves are fairly subjective. One top player can feel the match-up is 5:5 while the other feels it's 7:3. This is the tricky part and where arguments are born. I'm not 100% sure how they come to an agreement, but in that specific situation they of course would discuss it, then probably agree on a middle ground 6:4.
Even with all of this, all tier list show you is how the characters match-up on paper. It doesn't show character ability, or the ability of a player. B could have hidden potential and end up the #1 character in the game as more things about B are figured out as the game progresses. Tier Lists are rarely, if ever, set in stone.
_________________________________________________________
My point is, just because Maxter won a tournament with Stryker, it doesn't mean people were wrong in saying Stryker was low-tier. Like wise it doesn't mean Stryker is now top 5 or even top 10. Because tier lists aren't based on the ability of the character or the player, but how many good/bad match-ups that character has. If low tiers start placing high consistently, the match-up numbers are likely to change which bring that characters placing in the tier list higher. As far as I know, everyone already knew Kitana has a bad match-up against Stryker. So him winning the tournament with Stryker, in this situation, won't change his placing in the tier list AT ALL. Because the match-up didn't change, he only used Stryker in the Grand Finals vs Kitana which the match-up is already in his favor.
This thread may not be needed but I've been studying for hours for my Psychology test and need a break. I want to explain to everyone what a tier list is, how they're formed, and some recent topics such as Maxter winning The Gamer's Edge with Stryker. I need to make it clear that I don't think you guys don't know any of this, I just thought it would be good to have all of this clearly (or at least close to clearly) defined and so it can be referenced.
How Tier Lists are formed:
In every fighting game there's going to be a tier list. But how are the tier lists formed? It's always been a little different for MK for reasons I'm not quite sure of. However, tier lists should be formed the same way. And the way they are formed, is primarily based on match-ups. The match-ups will always be out of 10. So you will never see a ratio higher or lower than 10, it will always equal 10. For instance 7:3 is correct, 7:4 would be incorrect since that would be out of 11. The first number added up for all match-ups is what determines the place on the tier list of the specific character.
Example - Say a game has 5 characters. A, B, C, D and E. To form a tier list, we need to know the match-up numbers. Mirror matches will always be 5:5.
A vs A = 5:5 - B vs B = 5:5 - C vs C = 5:5 - D vs D = 5:5 - E vs E = 5:5
A vs B = 7:3 - B vs A = 3:7 - C vs A = 4:6 - D vs A = 5:5 - E vs A = 6:4
A vs C = 6:4 - B vs C = 2:8 - C vs B = 8:2 - D vs B = 6:4 - E vs B = 3:7
A vs D = 5:5 - B vs D = 4:6 - C vs D = 6:4 - D vs C = 4:6 - E vs C = 5:5
A vs E = 4:6 - B vs E = 7:3 - C vs E = 5:5 - D vs E = 4:6 - E vs D = 6:4
So what we would then do is add up all the first numbers for each character.
A = 27 - B = 21 - C = 28 - D = 24 - E = 25
So the tier list would look like this:
1. C
2. A
3. E
4. D
5. B
Or it would be grouped in tiers, like A+ tier, B tier, etc. But since I used Letters it would be kinda confusing.
Now, just because B is bottom tier, the absolute worst, it doesn't mean that the character is necessarily bad or can't win. All the tier list shows is that based on the match-ups, B doesn't have very many match-ups in his favor. It actually says nothing about the ability of the character or it's potential. Tier Lists constantly change because match-ups change once you learn new tech or figure more shit out about the game.
If B were to win a tournament, it doesn't always mean that B's match-ups have changed. However, you would look into them more. If B started winning more tournaments or placing high, you would look at the character's B had to face. If it was all terrible match-ups for B (ex C), you would re-evaluate the match-up. But this has to be based on consistency.
Regardless of it being based on numbers, the match-ups themselves are fairly subjective. One top player can feel the match-up is 5:5 while the other feels it's 7:3. This is the tricky part and where arguments are born. I'm not 100% sure how they come to an agreement, but in that specific situation they of course would discuss it, then probably agree on a middle ground 6:4.
Even with all of this, all tier list show you is how the characters match-up on paper. It doesn't show character ability, or the ability of a player. B could have hidden potential and end up the #1 character in the game as more things about B are figured out as the game progresses. Tier Lists are rarely, if ever, set in stone.
_________________________________________________________
My point is, just because Maxter won a tournament with Stryker, it doesn't mean people were wrong in saying Stryker was low-tier. Like wise it doesn't mean Stryker is now top 5 or even top 10. Because tier lists aren't based on the ability of the character or the player, but how many good/bad match-ups that character has. If low tiers start placing high consistently, the match-up numbers are likely to change which bring that characters placing in the tier list higher. As far as I know, everyone already knew Kitana has a bad match-up against Stryker. So him winning the tournament with Stryker, in this situation, won't change his placing in the tier list AT ALL. Because the match-up didn't change, he only used Stryker in the Grand Finals vs Kitana which the match-up is already in his favor.
