Hello my fellow WoN members, I thought it'd be interesting if I went ahead and layed out a tier list for those that are interested in the current metagame. Remember, this is all in my opinion, and feel free to disagree, agree, or put in your own input.

In each individual tier, from top to bottom is best to worst in that tier. For the most part, these are just characters in general with their common item, but some characters like HIkaru are garbage without their only item, and good with say something like his Clan Item.

Anyways, as of 1/30/12

S Tier A.K.A God Tier: This tier contains unarguably the best characters in this game. These characters are incredibly powerful and this is with their sole power alone, combined with allies, they become even better.

Jyouzu
Ryu


A+ Tier A.K.A High Top Tier: This tier contains the next batch of best characters. These character would be good enough to enter S tier, but they're not quite up to par with S tier, so they are ranked in A+ tier.


Jun



A Tier A.K.A Top Tier: Characters in this tier are hands down on the upper end of useful characters. These characters aren't quite as well as the upper tiers when it comes to being alone.

Kurai
Yukigaaru
Asami
Eien
Shoji (With Warbanner of resistance only)
Niwa
Hikaru


A- Tier A.K.A Bottom Top Tier: Characters in this tier are still incredibly useful characters, however the tiers above keep them in a lower tier. Do not be fooled, as this is still A rank territory.

Toge
Jatai
Yume
Kao
Sasori
Sainan

B+ Tier A.K.A High High Tier: Characters in this tier are above the above average. These characters can function perfectly and be extremely good when used correctly. They are kept in lower tiers due to the characters in higher tiers.


Tadashi
Hana
Nori
Takeo
Toraji
Ken
Youko

B Tier A.K.A High Tier: Characters in this tier are close to what we call 'average'. They're not quite average yet, but they're not quite as average as the characters more below.

Karasu
Amaya
Ikuchi
Kame
Kamiko
Yuurin
Hai
Jikkousu
Yuudai
Hahen
Isshou
Akira

B- Tier A.K.A Bottom High Tier: Yet again, this is the final stop in B Territory before we head into a more average range.

Jinsei (With Fire Arrows only)
Daiki
Nozuchi
Tori


C+ Tier High Mid Tier: While characters in this tier may be average, they are just slightly better than those that are dead average characters.

Megami
Nobuo
Takeko
Yuzuki


C Tier: These characters are exactly what they're called. Average. Nothing special, nothing bad, just average.

Jomon
Yugana
Jinsei (Without Fire Arrows)
Akira (With Book of Mentality only)
Tadao (With clan item)
Arasoi
Saigai

C- Tier A.K.A Low Mid Tier: This is the final check in C Territory. These characters aren't good enough to be average, but they're not bad enough to be bad.




Shoji


D+ Tier A.K.A High Low Tier: Characters in this tier are bad, but better than the worst. At this point, character here and below are not worth using.

None at the moment.

D Tier Low Tier: Bad.

Tadao

D- Tier Low Low Tier: Bad.

None at The moment.

F+ Tier High Bottom Tier: Bad.

None

F Tier Bottom Tier: Bad.

None at the moment.

F- Tier Low Bottom Tier: Bad

None



Well then, let's see how balance and the metagame stacks up in general.

Characters in S Territory: 2/47
Character in A Territory: 15/47
Characters in B territory: 21/47
Characters in C territory: 11/47
Characters in D Territory: 3/47
Characters in F Territory: 0/47

: These numbers might be off, because in certain instances, a character is placed in two different tiers.

So, in general, WoN mostly has characters in The C - A range. This is a great thing, it shows that the metagame is kind enough to cater to a great amount of characters without it overworking Top or Bottom tier characters.

Current Metagame Style: As usual, the metagame constantly changes when an update, patch, etc is released. It's clear in almost any type of game with a metagame that a certain style shines through as the most effective way of winning. Currently in the WON metagame, a lot of that style revolves around spiking. Quick and easy damage is in my opinion the strongest style of this game right now. Unfortunately, it has been this way for quite a while in my opinion. With things like Toge, Jyouzu, WoO, etc, it's hard to stray from easy and accessible damage for relatively low cost.

What kind of changes do I foresee happening in region 3? Perhaps more counters, new effects, higher HP characters, but until then, enjoy your spike-centered metagame.


Current Top Tier Teams:

Toge, Megami, Yukigaaru. 1 A, 1 A, 1 C.
Ryu, Jun, Kurai. 1 S, 2 A.
Jyouzu, Yukigaaru, Takeo/Jinsei. 1 S, 1 A, 1 B / 1 C


Current best character, imo.:

Jyouzu

Explanation and analysis: Hold on. You really need me to explain why I feel Jyouzu is the best current character? Let me break it down softly and slowly with in-depth analysis.

Bloodletter Stab: There, I just explained it. This is the single best skill in the game. How is that this skill is so amazing that I never stop ranting about it? First off, let's look at what it does. First of all, it costs one random. One random. You will ALWAYS be able to use this skill so long as you have a single god damn energy in your pool. Secondly, the damage it brings about. It deals 20 AFFLICTION damage over the course of 4 turns. Affliction. Damage. I don't care who you are, unless you have pain killers, A kit, or Jinsei, you will be taking damage no matter what. As if that wasn't enough, what else does it do? It increases ally damage by 5 FOR THOSE ENTIRE. FOUR. TURNS. I'm sorry, did I say ally? I meant ALL damage. So hold up, now we're dealing 5 damage per turn, and increasing each individual skill used by 5 as well. See, then there's this neat little thing called warbanner of offense that ALSO increases damage by 5.

Wow, so all of this off of a single skill that cost a single random.

Turn 1: BS, WoO activation. 5 damage
Turn 2: Twin Heavens. WoO activation. BS activation. 20 damage + 5 (WoO) + 5 (BS) + 5(BS) = 35 damage.
Turn 3: Wakizashi Strike. WoO activation. BS activation. 45 damage +5 (WoO) + 5 (BS) + 5 (BS) = 60 damage.

5 + 35 + 60 = 100. Congratulations Jyouzu, you have successfully killed more than 90% of characters on your own.

I know what you're thinking. Plenty of ways to stop it, right? Sure, I agree, but that doesn't stop your allies from taking advantage of BS as well. BS will NEVER have a negative output, as it will always deal 5 affliction damage, on. its. own.

Kunai dealing 10 damage? I don't think so. With BS around, that damage is bumped to 25. 25 free damage. how does that sound to you?

Tanto dealing 15 damage? Nah. He's got a buddy known as BS, bumps his damage up to 30. 30 damage for 1 random.

It's too easy. It's too easy being Jyouzu. I don't understand why you all don't see it, but I do.



Just like in any other game, the best teams are created from the best characters. Such is the life of a metagame.

Its a nice table, however you know that it's really relative... Anyway, It's well done overall, I just wouldn't put Hikaru without the clan item in a so low level... In the last 4 days I got one time +18 and two times +15 in point ladders with a team based in him without his VI.

Nice list, Roach. 'Im glad you brought it up.

Overall it's a good list, but Tadao is worth a bit more overall. The only move of his which is actually bad, is his single enemy spike. His Aoe is probably the best in the game when prepped and the anti stun buff is beyond "useful" in most situations.

THat said he also has a few crippling downsides, but not enough to drag him down THAT far.

I think Kurai belongs in the A- tier. He isnt good A+ wise as a character imo.
Hikaru seems REALLY dragged down without his VI. Bring it up to a C- at least.

As a whole, the tiers are about correct.

Jatai in the A tier kind made me think wtf for a moment.

She is good but not that freaking good.

I disagree on 2 things.

First : I think Ikuchi should be put in C or even D tier instead of B. Most people really cannot use him properly or he just sucks.

Second : Tadao deserves to be on the B tier, with or without his Clan Item. He is one of the cheapest and most flexible chars out there item wise. His stun is cheap, and he works in many teams (melee, aoe, stun, anti counter - with his Clan Item, bypassing invul, etc.)

The rest of them i agree. Although Jatai i think is not that good to be on the A tier. B tier or A- is sufficient for her.

Well done really. Though I think Kame and Amaya should be moved down one and Yuudai should be moved up since Amaya and Kame are hard to use and Yuudai is beastly.

This also shows how badly Tori needs to be reworked, she pretty much only has one preset strategy with her skills Were you attack, attack, attack make yourself un-killable, attack, heal, repeat. And that is only assuming you repeatedly get the right energy which is unthinkable. Needs rework bad.

Changes:

Jatai moved down to A- tier.
Yuudai moved up to B tier.
Tadao wiith clan item moved up to c tier.
Tadao w/out clan item moved up to D tier.
HIkaru without clan item moved up to D tier.

I refuse to move HIkaru without clan item and Tadao in general up any further.

You really can not tell me how often you see Tadao in general, and then see Hikaru without his clan item. Unless your fighting complete noobs.

Changes:

Jatai moved down to A- tier.
Yuudai moved up to B tier.
Tadao wiith clan item moved up to c tier.
Tadao w/out clan item moved up to D tier.
HIkaru without clan item moved up to D tier.

I refuse to move HIkaru without clan item and Tadao in general up any further.

You really can not tell me how often you see Tadao in general, and then see Hikaru without his clan item. Unless your fighting complete noobs.

I agree fully with the list now

May I say Yuudai and Yuudai - VI are completely different in terms of power.

Yuudai - VI Should be in B Tier or High C Tier.

May I say Yuudai and Yuudai - VI are completely different in terms of power.

Yuudai - VI Should be in B Tier or High C Tier.

I disagree. Yuudai is in a sense, a lot like Yukigaaru.

While Katana may be his best item, he is rather versatile with items like Kunai, Throw shuriken, etc.

Second : Tadao deserves to be on the B tier, with or without his Clan Item. He is one of the cheapest and most flexible chars out there item wise. His stun is cheap, and he works in many teams (melee, aoe, stun, anti counter - with his Clan Item, bypassing invul, etc.)

=/=

Changes:

Biggest change, S Tier no longer exists
Ryu moved down to A tier, from S tier
Jun now no longer in S tier
Toge moved down to A- tier, from S tier
Hahen moved to the bottom of B tier
Ken moved to A+ tier, from C- tier
Arasoi moved to C tier, from C- tier
Sainan moved to C+ tier, from C- tier.

Bumpu~ Also, Added Eien to... let's say B- tier.

Either C+ or B-, what do you guys say?

Added a 'current best character' section.

Don't forget, as stated, this is all in my own personal opinion based on my experience of being a top ranked player.