• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 00:12
CEST 06:12
KST 13:12
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash10[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy18ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book20
Community News
$5,000 WardiTV TLMC tournament - Presented by Monster Energy0GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding0Weekly Cups (May 30-Apr 5): herO, Clem, SHIN win0[BSL22] RO32 Group Stage3Weekly Cups (March 23-29): herO takes triple6
StarCraft 2
General
Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Weekly Cups (May 30-Apr 5): herO, Clem, SHIN win Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - Presented by Monster Energy What mix of new & old maps do you want in the next ladder pool? (SC2)
Tourneys
$5,000 WardiTV TLMC tournament - Presented by Monster Energy GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL Season 4 announced for March-April StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Frigid Storage Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026]
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 520 Moving Fees Mutation # 519 Inner Power Mutation # 518 Radiation Zone
Brood War
General
Who is Ny[kS]? Pros React To: JaeDong vs Queen ASL21 General Discussion [BSL22] RO32 Group Stage so ive been playing broodwar for a week straight.
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL21] Ro24 Group F Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [ASL21] Ro24 Group E
Strategy
What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game General RTS Discussion Thread Darkest Dungeon
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread The Chess Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread NASA and the Private Sector Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT] Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Loot Boxes—Emotions, And Why…
TrAiDoS
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Electronics
mantequilla
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2115 users

Why do people talk about unit "tiers"? - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 Next All
Overpowered
Profile Joined January 2011
Czech Republic764 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:28:41
March 31 2011 17:26 GMT
#21
Its from another RTSs. For ex. in Company of Heroes it was very popular. There were no builds like

9pylo
12gate
14gas
16pylon

etc. but

T1(v,b,mg,v) -> T2(p,g,p) -> T4.
This exactly was T2 centered Wehrmacht build, but whatever.
V stands for Volksgrenadiers, B for bike, MG for MG, P for PaK and G for grenadiers.

Tiers were even used in BW...Its just how it is. It is used everywhere. But in SC2 it is little bit irrelevant.
Just another gold Protoss...
Warillions
Profile Joined November 2010
United States215 Posts
March 31 2011 17:28 GMT
#22
On April 01 2011 02:17 bokeevboke wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 01 2011 02:01 Silmakuoppaanikinko wrote:
On April 01 2011 01:54 lcl wrote:
its pretty easy to tell with Protoss and terran too

tier 1 is buildings that require only minerals
tier 2 requires gas (starport robo council, factory starport)
Tier 3 requires an additional building (fleet beacon, support bay, armory, fusion core)

its very clearly divided ^^
So hellions are the same tier as RAVENS?

And thors are higher tier than ravens? Makes no sense, ravens need as much tech as thors

Tiers make no sense, especially not when comparing different races. One base thor and one base colossus are quite viable, one base ultra is impossible,even two base ultra is. Ultras have a lot longer a tech route same with brood lords.

BC's, carriers, brood lords, ultras, are true late game units, thors and colossi can be fielded from one base.

To say that thors are the same tier as BC's is also nonsense, BC's are obviously higher.

And that doesn't even account for the fact that a chargelot is a completely different unit than a zealot, same with burrowed roaches..


Ravens require tech lab, hence its tier 3. Medivac/Viking - tier 2.



Dude stop saying units have tiers, do u see anywhere that blizz has put units into tiers? Get off the noob bandwagon and makin stuff up cause u think it may be right. This game has nothing to do with tiers, its just different units with diff roles. I wish the word "tier" didn't exist
Silmakuoppaanikinko
Profile Joined November 2010
799 Posts
March 31 2011 17:28 GMT
#23
On April 01 2011 02:17 bokeevboke wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 01 2011 02:01 Silmakuoppaanikinko wrote:
On April 01 2011 01:54 lcl wrote:
its pretty easy to tell with Protoss and terran too

tier 1 is buildings that require only minerals
tier 2 requires gas (starport robo council, factory starport)
Tier 3 requires an additional building (fleet beacon, support bay, armory, fusion core)

its very clearly divided ^^
So hellions are the same tier as RAVENS?

And thors are higher tier than ravens? Makes no sense, ravens need as much tech as thors

Tiers make no sense, especially not when comparing different races. One base thor and one base colossus are quite viable, one base ultra is impossible,even two base ultra is. Ultras have a lot longer a tech route same with brood lords.

BC's, carriers, brood lords, ultras, are true late game units, thors and colossi can be fielded from one base.

To say that thors are the same tier as BC's is also nonsense, BC's are obviously higher.

And that doesn't even account for the fact that a chargelot is a completely different unit than a zealot, same with burrowed roaches..


Ravens require tech lab, hence its tier 3. Medivac/Viking - tier 2.
Okay, so ravens and bc's are bot tier 3? Makes no sense, BC's require an extra building.

Also, marauders require a tech lab, so they are tier 2 now. Marauders same tier as medivacs and vikings?

Makes no sense, no matter how you bend, twist, or turn it, tiers don't exist.
Workers and town centres are the ultimate counter to turtles.
Offhand
Profile Joined June 2010
United States1869 Posts
March 31 2011 17:33 GMT
#24
^^ So stalkers and sentries would be tier two by your same logic semantics?

abominable
Profile Joined March 2011
101 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:40:29
March 31 2011 17:34 GMT
#25
how can you say it applies to zerg and nothing else? the units can be compared race to race almost exactly.

tier 1 = spawning pool = barracks = gateway

tier 1 = roach warren = tech lab = cyber core

***need gas income 1-2 base***

tier 2 = hydra den = factory = robo/twilight council

tier 2 = spire = starport = stargate

tier 2 = infestation pit = armory = robo bay

***need a lot of gas income usually 3 or more base***

tier 3 = hive/ultra cavern/greater spire = fusion core = fleet beacon/templar/shrine



this is not an exact science, but if you say 'tier 2 terran unit' it's pretty feckin obvious that he's referring to units that are the same tech level as hydra/muta... in other words factory/starport units.

saying it doesn't work is just being stubborn and argumentative.

tier = tech level. yes the races do have tiers, end of story.
TangYiChen
Profile Joined March 2011
Korea (South)195 Posts
March 31 2011 17:34 GMT
#26
Just a way for some people to make it look like they sound smart. Nothing more really, except in zerg's case where you can actually see different "tiers" (hatch, lair, hive tech).
Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
Overpowered
Profile Joined January 2011
Czech Republic764 Posts
March 31 2011 17:35 GMT
#27
On April 01 2011 02:28 Silmakuoppaanikinko wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 01 2011 02:17 bokeevboke wrote:
On April 01 2011 02:01 Silmakuoppaanikinko wrote:
On April 01 2011 01:54 lcl wrote:
its pretty easy to tell with Protoss and terran too

tier 1 is buildings that require only minerals
tier 2 requires gas (starport robo council, factory starport)
Tier 3 requires an additional building (fleet beacon, support bay, armory, fusion core)

its very clearly divided ^^
So hellions are the same tier as RAVENS?

And thors are higher tier than ravens? Makes no sense, ravens need as much tech as thors

Tiers make no sense, especially not when comparing different races. One base thor and one base colossus are quite viable, one base ultra is impossible,even two base ultra is. Ultras have a lot longer a tech route same with brood lords.

BC's, carriers, brood lords, ultras, are true late game units, thors and colossi can be fielded from one base.

To say that thors are the same tier as BC's is also nonsense, BC's are obviously higher.

And that doesn't even account for the fact that a chargelot is a completely different unit than a zealot, same with burrowed roaches..


Ravens require tech lab, hence its tier 3. Medivac/Viking - tier 2.
Okay, so ravens and bc's are bot tier 3? Makes no sense, BC's require an extra building.

Also, marauders require a tech lab, so they are tier 2 now. Marauders same tier as medivacs and vikings?

Makes no sense, no matter how you bend, twist, or turn it, tiers don't exist.

They clearly do exist in Zerg race (Hatch, Lair, Hive), but they cant be applied on Terran and Protoss. They are as I said very good label in different games, but SC2 is not one of them. But I guess you guys know what people mean by "Terran beats Protoss T3 with mass T1". It is not accurate, but I htink you understand. So, whats the problem?
Just another gold Protoss...
Shaman.us
Profile Joined May 2010
United States319 Posts
March 31 2011 17:35 GMT
#28
I'd say its just a simple way of referring to simple tech choices, and provide a distinction between basic units and the expensive tech units that take a little time to get out.
Shaman.233
blabber
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States4448 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:43:29
March 31 2011 17:35 GMT
#29
On April 01 2011 02:28 Silmakuoppaanikinko wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 01 2011 02:17 bokeevboke wrote:
On April 01 2011 02:01 Silmakuoppaanikinko wrote:
On April 01 2011 01:54 lcl wrote:
its pretty easy to tell with Protoss and terran too

tier 1 is buildings that require only minerals
tier 2 requires gas (starport robo council, factory starport)
Tier 3 requires an additional building (fleet beacon, support bay, armory, fusion core)

its very clearly divided ^^
So hellions are the same tier as RAVENS?

And thors are higher tier than ravens? Makes no sense, ravens need as much tech as thors

Tiers make no sense, especially not when comparing different races. One base thor and one base colossus are quite viable, one base ultra is impossible,even two base ultra is. Ultras have a lot longer a tech route same with brood lords.

BC's, carriers, brood lords, ultras, are true late game units, thors and colossi can be fielded from one base.

To say that thors are the same tier as BC's is also nonsense, BC's are obviously higher.

And that doesn't even account for the fact that a chargelot is a completely different unit than a zealot, same with burrowed roaches..


Ravens require tech lab, hence its tier 3. Medivac/Viking - tier 2.
Okay, so ravens and bc's are bot tier 3? Makes no sense, BC's require an extra building.

Also, marauders require a tech lab, so they are tier 2 now. Marauders same tier as medivacs and vikings?

Makes no sense, no matter how you bend, twist, or turn it, tiers don't exist.

terran:
tier 1: barracks units
tier 2: factory/starport units that require no extra building
tier 3: factory/starport units that require extra building
or could be straight up barracks -> factory -> starport. Hard to say. Also not sure what ghosts would fall under. I think most would consider them tier 2?

protoss:
tier 1: gateway units units that require no extra building (outside cybernetics core)
tier 2: robo/stargate units that require no extra building
tier 3: gateway/robo/stargate units that require extra building

zerg:
tier 1: hatchery units
tier 2: lair units
tier 3: hive units

sound good?
blabberrrrr
Deleted User 47542
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
1484 Posts
March 31 2011 17:36 GMT
#30
Why are people over complicating such a simple thing.. Tiers are just basically based on tech.
Lennon
Profile Joined February 2010
United Kingdom2275 Posts
March 31 2011 17:36 GMT
#31
On April 01 2011 01:54 lcl wrote:
its pretty easy to tell with Protoss and terran too

tier 1 is buildings that require only minerals
tier 2 requires gas (starport robo council, factory starport)
Tier 3 requires an additional building (fleet beacon, support bay, armory, fusion core)

its very clearly divided ^^


I disagree. Protoss tier 1 is warpgate units regardless of how much gas they cost.
riff
Profile Joined December 2010
United States113 Posts
March 31 2011 17:39 GMT
#32
Unit tiers simply refer to the tech and resource requirements (minerals, gas, time) necessary to produce certain kinds of units. That's it. The way some people talk about unit tiers, you would think that Starcraft 2 was Age of Empires (or insert other RTS here).
There is no teacher but the enemy. No one but the enemy will tell you what the enemy is going to do. No one but the enemy will ever teach you how to destroy and conquer. Only the enemy shows you where you are weak. -Mazer Rackham
Klive5ive
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United Kingdom6056 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:44:41
March 31 2011 17:39 GMT
#33
It's really not that hard. This is how I would describe it.

For Terran:
Factory = tier2
Starport = tier3
Addons don't count but buildings add .5
So ghost is 1.5, Thor is 2.5, BC is 3.5

For Brotoss:
Gateway = tier1
Robo = tier2
Stargate = tier3
Same as Terran so Stalkers are 1.5, Colo is 2.5, HT is 2.5, Carrier 3.5

But it's only really a guide that you can use to compare some things. Not set in stone but makes it easier to explain some points you are trying to make.

Don't hate the player - Hate the game
randplaty
Profile Joined September 2010
205 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:43:07
March 31 2011 17:41 GMT
#34
Tiers were used in both BW and WC2. They're just generalizations for tech. They don't fit every unit and they don't work all the time, but they are useful as generalizations. People shouldn't take them so seriously AND people shouldn't just throw them away.

Tier 1 = units that come from building only one structure (rax, gateway, hatch tech)
Tier 2 = units that come from building the second structure (robo, factory, lair tech)
Tier 3 = anything above that

Again, they don't work exactly in every situation, and it's debatable whether one unit belongs one one tier or another, but they are useful for generalizations and overall strategic thinking. Just like categories for other things (cars: trucks, SUVs, crossovers, sedans, sports cars) (races: black, white, asian) there are going to be things that fit and things that don't fit, but it doesn't mean you throw out the generalization completely.
Insanious
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada1251 Posts
March 31 2011 17:43 GMT
#35
Its different for each race...

Terran

T1 = Marines
T1.5 = Marauders and Hellions
T2 = Tanks, Vikings, Medivacs, banshees
T3 = Ravens, Thors, BCs, Ghosts

Zerg:

T1 = Zerglings
T1.5 = banes, roaches
T2 = Hydras, Mutalisks, Corrupters, overseers
T3 = Broodlords, Ultralisks, Infestors

Toss:
T1 = Zealot
T1.5 = Stalkers, Sentries
T2 = Observers, Immortals, DTs, Pheonix, Void Rayx, warpprism
T3 = HT, Collosus, Carrier, Mothership

Those are the tiers...

T1 = Needs only 1 building to make (Ex. Rax, Spawning pool, etc..)
T1.5 = Needs a tech building + starting building (Ex. Roach waren, Cyber core, tech lab)
T2 = Needs another tech building/ a new production facility (Ex. Robo bay, Lair, Factory)
T3 = Needs at least 3 building to be made (Ex. Ghosts need Rax, Tech lab, Ghost accademy. Ultras need Spawning pool, Hive, Ultralisk Cavern, Mothership needs Cyber core, Stargate, Fleetbeacon, Nexus)
If you want to help me out... http://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4b82744b816d3
Zurles
Profile Joined February 2009
United Kingdom1659 Posts
March 31 2011 17:43 GMT
#36
does it actually matter, it's just something people say instead of saying "better units" higher tier means more tech can't you just accept it as a general term and stop nerding everything up?
Ownos
Profile Joined July 2010
United States2147 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:43:41
March 31 2011 17:43 GMT
#37
It's from Warcraft 2. Each tier representing the level of tech that's provided by the level of the town hall which is the same mechanic the zerg hatcheries use. This can't be translated too well for protoss and terran.
...deeper and deeper into the bowels of El Diablo
Kazeyonoma
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2912 Posts
March 31 2011 17:45 GMT
#38
bad terminology being propogated amongst QQ's is bad.
I now have autographs of both BoxeR and NaDa. I can die happy. Lim Yo Hwan and Lee Yun Yeol FIGHTING forever!
CosmicSpiral
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States15275 Posts
March 31 2011 17:46 GMT
#39
It's a simple, generalized way of noting how much investment one puts within the tech trees of each respective race.
WriterWovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.
freetgy
Profile Joined November 2010
1720 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-31 17:47:32
March 31 2011 17:46 GMT
#40
well partly

take HT for example, those are >>> Tier 3
logic applys the same for i.e Broodlords or BCs
Are Thors and BCs on the Same tier?...
Prev 1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
PiGosaur Cup
00:00
#76
PiGStarcraft623
EnkiAlexander 72
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft623
WinterStarcraft354
RuFF_SC2 197
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 5803
Shuttle 79
Noble 30
NaDa 15
Icarus 7
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K569
taco 405
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox1988
C9.Mang0498
AZ_Axe453
Other Games
summit1g12924
Maynarde111
ViBE73
Nina26
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick981
BasetradeTV225
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• practicex 30
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV757
League of Legends
• Lourlo1187
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
4h 48m
Kung Fu Cup
6h 48m
Replay Cast
19h 48m
The PondCast
1d 5h
CranKy Ducklings
1d 19h
WardiTV Team League
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
WardiTV Team League
3 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
[ Show More ]
BSL
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
WardiTV Team League
4 days
BSL
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Wardi Open
5 days
GSL
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Elite League 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
Nations Cup 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W2
IPSL Spring 2026
Escore Tournament S2: W3
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
RSL Revival: Season 5
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.