Code S Tiers (S5)

Each Code S player is grouped Into one of six tiers which are as follows:

Tier 1 (Ro2) - These are the tip top players, the ones whose expectations are to take home a gold. Main title contenders.

Tier 2 (Ro4) - In a way, this is actually a sub branch of tier 1. They are still title contenders, but not quite on the level of the Tier 1 players.

Tier 3 (Ro8) - For these players, a semifinals appearance isn't necessarily out of the question, however it would be surprising if they won the championship.

Tier 4 (Ro16) - The cutting line for championship contention. It would be an upset if any of these players made it to the quarterfinals.

Tier 5 (Ro32) - Players not expected to get out of the first group stage but are expected to return to Code S next season.

Tier 6 (Code A) - Players who do not belong in Code S.

Note: The placements in parentheses are not projected placements, but soft placement caps.

Tier 1: Pretty simple, these are the most amazing players in Starcraft right now. They were the 4 semifinalists last season, although that isn't necessarily the reason I chose these four.

Tier 2: The size of this tier shows just how stacked Code S is becoming. You could make a case for each of these players being in Tier 1. Parting's recent hype, Squirtle's past run, Seed's S3 championship, Creator's performance in non-GSL events, Hero's strong overall play, MKP and DRG being MKP and DRG, Symbol's and Leenock's resurgence, and Roro's Kespa Hype. But in the end I feel like everyone in this tier is more comparable to each other than the 4 in Tier 1, and I can't pick just 1 in the group that stands out above the rest. I don't trust my bias with Parting, Squirtle has not been super gosu lately, Seed might be the closest but I'll wait for him to prove me wrong (again), Creator still hasn't broken through in the GSL, Hero has not separated himself from the other Protosses, MKP and DRG are not playing like MKP and DRG (at least not 100%, although MKP did have a good run recently), Symbol needs to show he can take it past the Ro8, Leenock has been good but not great, and Roro is still too new to say (I actually wonder if I might be reaching to put him in Tier 2).

Tier 3: I originally only had 5 tiers, but I created another one for Polt and Gumiho who definitely don't belong in Tier 4, but IMO don't quite belong in Tier 2 either. Although I admit I'm not entirely confident in that assessment...Hyun I kinda of just threw in here. He has shown Tier 2 level play, but this is also his first time in Code S and nerve issues have been a problem for him in the past. So I just snuck him in here.

Tier 4: Ah, the Kespa players. Truthfully, I'm mostly unsure just how good they are, so Tier 4 seems like a safe place to put most of them. Maru I may be overestimating, but Ryung has been a solid player for a long while. Curious has shown Tier 2 level skill, but when we think of Code S and Curious, we think of Ro16.

Tier 5: The lower level Terrans that snuck into Code S through the Up and Downs. And Bbyong who has nothing to show for his record outside of making Code S. I had Yoda on the bottom tier last season, but since he made it here again, perhaps he's here to stay. Happy showed some good results last season, enough to make me think he at least deserves to be here. Sniper and Keen have been to the Ro16 in the past, but with the talent increasing around them, they're dropped to Tier 5.

Tier 6: Yeah, they made it here, but I doubt they're here to stay. None of these names are ones you would associate with Code S, and there's plenty of hungering eyes in Code A that are looking to, and probably will, take their spots next season.

Note: These Tiers were made before groups A and B played.

-The average Tier number is 3.25

-The average Tier numbers for each race is:
P: 3
T: 3.7
Z: 2.8

-The average Tier number for each group is:
A: 3
B: 3.75
C: 3.75 (kinda skewed though)
D: 3
E: 2.5
F: 3.25
G: 3.25
H: 3.75