How I see things:
SSS: Unblockable fireball: (currently only corrupted Shinnok has this); (fast:startup/recovery, plus on block, hits mid, neutral-punch like chip, MB for unblockable version)
SS: fast, safe, fast recovery projectiles / zoning tools: (Note that zoning tools that are not fast, not safe, not fast recovery projectiles / zoning tool is not on this tier)(I can only think of Kano's Knife(also hits mid), Not saying Kano is overall SS) reason ofcourse you can't punish what's out of reach even if you blocked, if it's recovery is faster, they simply block or whiff if you try to answer with a fireball/teleport too; builds-up meter, for me fun & frustrating for the enemy, almost forgot to mention its unbreakable too.
S: Frame trap, plus on block: you deal damage while they can't; lower than SS cause it's breakable and mostly have to come face-to-face.
A+: Blocking: lower than all of the above cause obviously you don't deal damage while you take some, and you can't punish cause they're+ on block or worse zoned-out, on the plus side, you can punish things that are not the above list like unsafe moves. works on all ranges lol.
A: fast mix-ups and high damaging combos: lower than block cause you won't deal enough damage if they blocked/guessed right and can be punished. not all mix-ups cause there are some that are slow like Jason Slasher F42
B: Grabs/throws: Only works face-to-face, fixed-damage to hard-knockdown; I know you'll refute somewhere along the lines of "But throws counter Blocking" yeah but as I said throws only works face range, also after they're knocked-down they have plenty of options, armored-wakeups, pokes, etc. highly susceptible to zoning and long enough pokes; simply gives more time & options to reply than the above list for the fixed damage.
C: Breaking & X-moves: Obviously cause they cost meter, everyone has them that's why they're low tier but cringe at their cost; for the sake X-move are risky.
Note: All of the above can be a special / non-special type of move. Note I might miss some elements like Tele's it's mostly matter if it's safe or + on block, depending on it's data sheet or how you use them it either falls to S or A. pokes are A. just understand where would they probably categorize in.
Reference: Kung Lao has decently fast, safe, fast recovery projectile; not exactly frame-trap but good enough on block; fast mix-ups and ofcourse high damaging combos. A throw that is just fun to use over and over and can last hit with a brutality, fairly doable Grab/throw out of his tele.
Pre-nerf Tanya: she had SS type w/c is fast, safe, fast recovery projectiles / zoning tools. thou there can be answers like some air-drop tele like mileena, it can be baited.
tl;dr: Fast, safe, fast recovery projectiles / zoning tools; and plus on block are king.
