Tier list

In gaming, a tier list is a list that ranks each character in order of their potential to win under tournament conditions, based on analysis of the metagame. Tier lists are commonly made for competitive fighting games, as well as strategy games that involve a selection of usable characters, such as Pokémon. The metagame of each game in the Smash series encompasses all currently known techniques and strategies that have proven useful during tournament matches, thus, the tier list for each game ranks and measures the expected competitive performance of every character, based upon analysis of these techniques and strategies. The most widely accepted tier lists in the english speaking community are those produced by the Smash Back Room.

Individual matchups affect, but do not ultimately determine characters' tier list rankings. Often, a particular character will carry a supposed advantage over another character who ranks higher on the tier list — such a matchup is known as a counter. For example, suppose Pichu held an advantageous matchup against Fox but suffered from matchups poorer than Fox's against every other character in Melee. While it would be considered a counter to Fox, Pichu would still be ranked lower than Fox on the tier list. Thus, if two players at the top of the known metagame played a match with Fox and Pichu, the tier list alone could not predict the outcome of the match. Furthermore, tier lists do not rank characters relative to the numerical average of their matchup scores.

SSB tier list
The following is the Super Smash Bros. tier list produced by the Smash Back Room. It is current as of September 28 2009. 

Melee tier list
The following is the eleventh Smash Back Room Super Smash Bros. Melee NTSC tier list. It is current as of December 31, 2010.

Note on Brawl Tier List
Due to circumstances, the Brawl tier list is going to be banned from use from Smash Back Room and Smash Wiki. This does not concern the gameplay though, as the tier list will be redone. Since this does not concern anyone, the only way tier lists now can be proven is by public vote, not limited vote as to referring to only people from the Back Room.