This is a collaborative project that anyone who is interested can help work on.
I started us off by copy+pasting the Xbox/PS3/PC tier list for Spyro's Adventure to use as our starting point, though I imagine the new characters, variants and any possible tweaks to existing characters in 'Giants will lead to many changes across the board, and it's up to you lot to research and discuss all this new stuff so we can make this Tier list as good as it can be.
EDIT: Helpful battle/research tips: (With thanks to Earth-Dragon and Tashiji)
"if you are going to "test", make sure control is random, arenas are random, and you don't have anything to prove or disprove."
"Ensure your opponent is as good at the game as you are, and possibly avoid items and power-ups."
"Ensure equal levels, and full-heroics-completed if possible. 0-vs-0 heroics if not."
EDIT: IMPORTANT ADVICE ON HOW TO POST IN THIS THREAD:
I've started ignoring posts which only say "Character X should be in Y tier, character P should be in Q tier, etc" I appreciate all contributions anyone can make here, but I can only make actual changes to the tier list based on opinions which are supported with reasons, particularly ones that state why a character should be in a certain tier by COMPARING THAT CHARACTER'S PERFORMANCE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF OTHER CHARACTERS in that tier, the tiers below and the tiers above.
Stuff to Know:
- We are mostly concerned with PvP / Arena Rumble Mode here, not single player! Please remember this.
- The basic idea is that each upgrade path of every character, and any variants that impact on gameplay, are listed individually. Currently, Series 2 variants are listed as seperate entities (marked "S2") but LightCore variants and Legendary Variants are not. The Giants are included on the same list amongst the other Skylanders.
- There is currently only one list for all versions the game. Seperate tier lists for certain versions will be made if any differences are discovered.
- The characters in each tier are listed in NO PARTICULAR ORDER (that means no such thing as "upper" or "mid" B Tier, etc)… for now? At a later date we could try to order them by ability if people feel up to it.
- Do not make “Power of the Skylander depends on the person using it, different people have different play styles, etc” comments here. The disclaimer below addresses these issues.
- The Tier List assumes all characters to have completed an equal number of Heroic Challenges, the effects of which being otherwise negligible. If a character tangibley benefits so much more/less from heroic challenges that it changes their tier, we may make a separate entry for that character with all heroic challenges completed and that character with none.
- See also: Nibelilt's Tier List Clarifications Thread! //forum.darkspyro.net/spyro/viewposts.php?topic=60463
FINAL DISCLAIMER: Of course, these tier lists, as with any tier list for any game, are only meant to be taken as guidelines for the purely objective ability of each Skylander in an imaginary situation where the two opponents are of equal skill. In a real life situation, different people have different skills, strategies and play styles, so you should always remember that its these factors that ultimately decide the effectiveness of each Skylander you use. You should go by your personal play styles and use the Skylanders you like instead of going by everything on these tier lists!
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The Tier List
S Tier - (Overpowered+broken characters)
Double Trouble / Channeler
Double Trouble S2 / Channeler
Drill Sergeant S2 / Megadozer
Terrafin S2 / Sandhog
Terrafin S2 / Brawler
Bash S2 / Granite Dragon
Swarm / Barberous Avenger
Ignitor / Soul of the Flame
Ignitor S2 / Soul of the Flame
Flameslinger S2 / Pyromancer
Thumpback / Anchor's A-Yay
Stump Smash S2 / Nut Crafter
Chop Chop S2 / Undead Defender
Hex S2 / Bone Crafter
Eye-Brawl / Eye Brawler
Eye-Brawl / Eye For An Eye
A Tier - (Very Good Characters that aren't broken.)
Voodood / Marauder
Ninjini / Swords of Might
Ninjini / Ancient Djinn Magic
Drobot / Master Blaster
Drobot S2 / Master Blaster
Sprocket / Operator
Bouncer / I-Beam Supreme
Bash S2 / Pulver Dragon
Terrafin / Brawler
Terrafin / Sandhog
Prism Break S2 / Crystaleer
Prism Break S2 / Prismancer
Dino-Rang / Grand Boomerang Master
Crusher / Rock Grinder
Crusher / Rubble Master
Whirlwind S2 / Tempest Dragon
Flameslinger S2 / Marksman
Eruptor S2 / Volcanor
Hot Head / The Burninator
Hot Head / Oil Baron
Slam Bam S2 / Blizzard Brawler
Wham-Shell / Captain Crustacean
Chill / Ice Lancer
Thumpback / Up Close And Personal
Stump Smash S2 / Smash 'n Bash
Zook / Floral Defender
Zook S2 / Floral Defender
Stealth Elf / Pook Blade Saint
Stealth Elf S2 / Pook Blade Saint
Tree Rex / Treefolk Charger
Tree Rex / Lumbering Laserer
Fright Rider / Joust Jockey
B Tier - (Good Characters)
Spyro / Blitz Spyro
Double Trouble / Conjurer
Double Trouble S2 / Conjurer
Wrecking Ball S2 / Ultimate Spinner
Pop Fizz / Mad Scientist
Drobot / Clockwork Dragon
Drobot S2 / Clockwork Dragon
Bouncer / Robot Rocketeer
Bash / Granite Dragon
Bash / Pulver Dragon
Flashwing / Super Shards (Opinions tend to vary on this one.)
Flashwing / Super Spinner
Whirlwind / Tempest Dragon
Sonic Boom / Medea Griffin
Sonic Boom S2 / Medea Griffin
Lightning Rod S2 / Typhoon Titan
Swarm / Wasp Stormer
Ignitor S2 / Blademaster
Sunburn / Flame Lord
Hot Dog / Burning Bow-Wow
Zap S2 / Tesla Dragon
Gill Grunt S2 / Water Weaver
Gill Grunt S2 / Harpooner
Slam Bam / Blizzard Brawler
Slam Bam S2 / Glacier Yeti
Camo / Vine Virtuoso
Camo / Melon Master
Shroomboom / Paramushroom Promotion
Shroomboom / Barrier Boost
Cynder / Nether Wielder
Cynder / Shadow Dancer
Cynder S2 / Nether Wielder
Cynder S2 / Shadow Dancer
Chop Chop S2 / Vampiric Warrior
Hex / Bone Crafter
Hex S2 / Shade Master
Fright Rider / Lance a Lot
C Tier - (Decent, Competitive Characters)
Spyro S2 / Sheep Burner
Spyro S2 / Blitz Spyro (Due to a glitch, his charges do not stun.)
Voodood / Elementalist
Wrecking Ball / Ultimate Spinner
Pop Fizz / Best of the Beast
Drill Sergeant / Megadozer
Drill Sergeant S2 / Battledozer
Prism Break / Crystaleer
Prism Break / Prismancer
Dino-Rang / Earthen Avenger
Sonic Boom / Siren Griffin
Sonic Boom S2 / Siren Griffin
Whirlwind S2 / Ultimate Rainbower
Jet-Vac / Vac-Packeteer
Sunburn / Blaze Dragon
Eruptor / Volcanor
Eruptor S2 / Magmantor
Flameslinger / Pyromancer
Ignitor / Blademaster
Hot Dog / Pyro Pooch
Zap S2 / Slime Serpent
Gill Grunt / Water Weaver
Chill / Frozen Fury
Stump Smash / Nut Crafter
Stealth Elf S2 / Forest Ninja
Zook / Artilleryman
Zook S2 / Artilleryman
Hex / Shade Master
Ghost Roaster / Fear Eater
Ghost Roaster / Skull Master
Chop Chop / Vampiric Warrior
D Tier - (Below-Average Characters)
Spyro / Sheep Burner
Wrecking Ball S2 / Total Tongue
Trigger Happy / Golden Money Bags
Trigger Happy S2 / Golden Money Bags
Trigger Happy S2 / Golden Frenzy
Boomer / Demolition Troll
Sprocket / Gearhead
Whirlwind / Ultimate Rainbower
Lightning Rod / Lord of the Lightning
Lightning Rod / Typhoon Titan
Lightning Rod S2 / Lord of the Lightning
Warnado / Eye of the Storm
Warnado / Wind Master
Jet-Vac / Bird Blaster
Flameslinger / Marksman
Zap / Tesla Dragon
Zap / Slime Serpent
Slam Bam / Glacier Yeti
Stump Smash / Smash ’n Bash
Stealth Elf / Forest Ninja
E Tier - (Bad Characters)
Wrecking Ball / Total Tongue
Trigger Happy / Golden Frenzy
Boomer / Clobber Troll
Drill Sergeant / Battledozer
Eruptor / Magmantor
Gill Grunt / Harpooner
Wham-Shell / Commander Crab
Chop Chop / Undead Defender