What is a tier list and why create it with mind maps?
A tier list is a ranking system that originally comes from video game culture. It organizes elements like video game characters, movies, or strategies into hierarchical categories or tiers. The most well-known categories are S-tier (the best tier), A-tier, B-tier, and so on down to F-tier. Think of it like a school grading system, only reversed – S stands for "super" or "supreme."
Tier lists can also be useful in other areas:
Teams and project managers: Prioritize tasks, ideas, or new features
Teachers and learners: Structure and categorize learning content by importance
Product managers: Evaluate features or strategic options for development
Why are mind maps the perfect tool for your tier list? Simple: they make hierarchies and relationships visible at a glance. Instead of working in a boring table, you see your rankings as a vibrant, colorful structure. You can move elements via drag-and-drop when your opinion changes. With online mind maps, your entire team works simultaneously on the same ranking – perfect for collaborative decisions. And the best part: mind maps encourage brainstorming and help you truly gather all relevant information before finalizing your evaluation.
Basics of online mind mapping
An online mind map tool works like a digital canvas where you visually organize your thoughts. Unlike paper mind maps, you can access them from anywhere and collaborate with others. For tier lists, this offers crucial advantages.
The basic building blocks of a mind map are quickly explained:
Mind map: A visual representation that starts from a central topic and branches out
Online mind map: The cloud-based version that you can edit from any device
Central idea: The center point of your mind map – for a tier list, this could be: "Best Product Ideas 2026"
Branches: The main categories extending from the center – your different tiers (levels)
Sub-branches: The individual elements in each tier
Online mind mapping makes creating tier lists particularly effective. Multiple people can simultaneously evaluate and discuss elements. You access the same tier list from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Colors and symbols help you clearly distinguish the different categories from each other. And when your tier list is finished? Share it with one click or export it as an image.
These features make online mind maps the ideal tool for strategic planning – whether you're looking for the best marketing strategy or selecting the next big feature for your product.
Steps to build a ranking with a mind map tool
Building a tier list with a mind map tool follows a clear process. With these five steps, you'll create a meaningful ranking that supports your decisions.
1. Identify your topic
Start with the question: What do I want to evaluate or prioritize? The central topic forms the center of your mind map. From here, you organize all other elements.
Concrete examples of topics:
Marketing strategies for the next quarter
Project ideas for product development
Study topics for an important exam
Place this topic in the center of your mind map. Everything else builds on it.
2. Gather relevant elements
Now comes the brainstorming phase. Collect all elements you want to evaluate – without organizing them yet. Create mind map branches for each element that comes to mind.
Practical tips for successful brainstorming:
Work alone or in a team: Online mind map tools enable collaborative idea gathering in real time
Don't censor yourself: Write down everything that could be relevant first
Use the notes function: Add comments or additional information to individual elements
At this stage, it's about completeness, not perfection. You can always remove or consolidate elements later.
3. Organize elements into hierarchies
Now you divide your collected elements into tiers. The classic tier list structure looks like this:
S-tier: The absolute top elements, indispensable and outstanding
A-tier: Very good options that you would recommend
B-tier: Solid mid-tier candidates
C-tier: Average, usable with limitations
D-tier or F-tier: The weakest options
You can adapt this structure. Some use only three tiers (High, Medium, Low), others add plus and minus gradations (A+, A, A-). Move elements via drag-and-drop into the appropriate categories. Use different colors for each tier – this makes your mind map clearer.
4. Refine the categories
Time for fine-tuning. Critically review each placement: Does this element really belong in A-tier or rather in B-tier?
Get feedback from others. Share your mind map with the team and gather different opinions. New perspectives often reveal blind spots. Document your decisions with notes – why does element X land in S-tier? These justifications are gold for strategic planning and later discussions.
When new information emerges, adjust the placements. A good tier list lives and evolves.
5. Review and adjust
The final check ensures your tier list is coherent. Review the logic: Does the ranking make sense to outsiders? Are there contradictions?
Consider different perspectives in the team. Sometimes there are good reasons for different evaluations – document these. Prepare your tier list for presentation. Use your tool's presentation mode or export the mind map as a PDF.
It evolves with new insights – and that's exactly what makes it so valuable.
Key tips for visualizing your tier list
A well-designed ranking communicates your evaluations at first glance. With these visualization tips, you make your tier list not only informative but also visually appealing.
1. Use colors for categories
Assign each tier its own color – green for S-tier signals "top," red for F-tier shows "weak."
Choose intuitive color assignments. Most people associate green with positive and red with negative. Pay attention to strong contrasts between colors so your tier list remains readable even in presentations. Use your mind map tool's color palette function for a professional, consistent design.
2. Add symbols or emojis
Symbols make your tier list more vibrant and informative. A star marks absolute favorites, a lightning bolt shows fast or dynamic options, a question mark identifies elements still to be discussed.
Most online mind map tools offer extensive symbol libraries. With one click, you add appropriate icons and give your tier list additional layers of meaning.
3. Experiment with connections
Connections show relationships between elements of different tiers. Perhaps two B-tier strategies combine perfectly into an A-tier combination? Or an S-tier element only works with certain other elements?
Use different line types for different relationships. Solid lines for direct dependencies, dashed lines for optional connections. This additional information layer makes your tier list especially valuable for complex decisions.
4. Consider multiple perspectives
Tier lists are often subjective – and that's okay. Different stakeholders have different priorities. A feature might be C-tier from a developer's perspective (complicated to implement), but S-tier from a customer's perspective (urgently desired).
Create multiple versions if needed or use sub-branches for different evaluation criteria. The comment function documents differing opinions. In strategic planning, these different perspectives are especially valuable – they prevent tunnel vision and lead to more balanced decisions.
Team collaboration and using a ranking tier list website approach
Online mind map tools work similarly to specialized ranking tier list website platforms, but offer more flexibility. You can not only create your tier list but also collaboratively develop it and integrate it into larger projects.
1. Share your mind map for feedback
Sharing your tier list is incredibly simple. You have various options:
Public link: Anyone with the link can view your tier list
Editing rights: Team members can actively contribute
Comment rights: External parties give feedback without changing the structure
Send the link via email or share it directly in Microsoft Teams. The version history function shows who made which changes when. Set clear permissions – not everyone should be able to change everything.
2. Comment and discuss in real time
Real-time collaboration changes how teams create tier lists. While one person discusses why feature X belongs in A-tier, another can already record the arguments as a comment.
Team members see changes immediately. This prevents misunderstandings and accelerates decisions. The online mind map becomes a living discussion space where ideas are directly visualized.
3. Create shared action steps
A tier list is only the beginning. Concrete actions emerge from your evaluations. Turn S-tier elements into tasks: "Implement feature X by Q3" or "Start strategy Y next week."
Link your mind map with project management tools for seamless implementation. The tier list becomes the decision basis for meetings and workshops. In the strategic planning process, it forms the bridge between evaluation and action.
How to start your first mind map project for rankings
You now have all the tools to create your first tier list. The most important steps again in brief: Define your topic, gather all relevant elements, organize them into categories or tiers, refine the evaluations, and share the result with your team.
MindMeister makes this process especially easy. You start in seconds – no installation, no complicated setup. The intuitive interface guides you through every step. Your team works together on the same tier list from anywhere. And when evaluations change? Flexibly adapt your ranking to new insights.
Create tier lists faster with MindMeister
