My understanding of a Tier 2 deck is one that is played semi-regularly, does relatively well and wins big events occasionally. Personally I'd rather win with a Tier 2 deck against a field of Tier 1 decks to expand the field and gain a greater sense of fulfillment. What is a Tier 2 deck though? I'd guess League of Assassins belongs up there. Maybe Squadron Supreme we can put there. These decks don't rely on team ups and if played by a capable player should and have done pretty well. What about Common Enemy and Evil or New Medical School? Are they Tier 1 or Tier 2? What about decks who've had isolated good showings like FF Toys or MKKO? Is Spider friends Tier 2? What would you guys say are the tier 2 decks or what decks are on the cusp of becoming Tier 2?

Squadron equips is definitely Tier 1.

It's hard to define a Tier 2 deck, but I'm guessing it's any deck that is good, but doesn't manage to get the top spots consistantly in major tournaments.

This also does make Tiers look stupid, but whatever it's Vs.

Tier 2 is a deck that can win against the dominant decks (TNB, CS, TT, Avengers Reserves), but not consistently enough to win a tournament that is filled with said decks.

A lot of Tier 1 decks were once Tier 2 until someone tweaked them just right to get them over the hurdle.

For example I would say that Thunderbolt Tactics is Tier 2 right now, looking for that right tweak to become Tier 1. The question is whether or not said tweak even exists.

Hmmmm, maybe we could define Tier 2 decks as decks that can handle a few other deck types. But not certain ones (hence them not winning many top 8s)

Like... a combat based decks that were able to beat CS, but never made it that far cause they got beat by Combo decks in the early rounds.

I dunno

I'd have to say that X-stall is a tier 2 deck...tier 2 decks are decks that can win but arnt very consistant and still need that tweak so that they can pull it out in a PCQ

The best Teir 2 Deck The Brave and the Bold

Would you qualify Arkham as Tier 2? I mean, with the JLA stuff, they'll probably be registered as Tier 1 shortly, but as of now, what are they rated? My deck works on occassion, just needs... well, it needs JLA. :p

i would put arkham at in the between tier 2 and tier 3. But it has promise to be tier 1

Here's one man's interpretation of the tier system:

Tier 1: This deck you WILL expect to be playing against in a major tournament. This will be the deck you worry about having to beat as you'll play against a few, and they'll be the decks you have to play against in the later rounds [assuming you've done well]. You expect these decks to do well, and appear in large numbers.

Tier 2: These are known archetypes that aren't considered to be the top tier ... they'll show up, but not in as large numbers. Either the deck is formerly top tier and on it's way down, or it's a new deck that's on it's way up, but many feel it's too inconsistent or difficult to be top tier. In many cases these decks will be succesful because they aren't seen in large numbers ... to many of these decks in the meta will lead to people packing hate cards against them ... So unlike tier 1, the LESS people playing a particular tier 2 deck the better in some ways.

Tier 3: These would be known archetypes that just don't work anymore ... ussually because they have an especially bad match up with the top tier deck, or hate cards being packed make it unplayable ...

Then there is Rogue decks and Jank decks [which are two sides to the same coin ... except Rogue decks are succesful and Jank decks aren't]. A succesful rogue deck may become an archetype and then become either tier 1 (like in the case of the Avengers Reservist build ... although it would only be considered Rogue because the archetype didn't exist before Avengers was legal for Golden Age ...) but mostly tier 2 (because the deck does well against the top tier deck, but not so much as to push the tier 1 deck off the top of the mountain) or tier 3 [in that the deck is a 'one trick pony' that required the element of suprise to work ... so it would see very little play but could see success when someone can read the meta correctly.]

I agree with Kovacs. To expand a bit, with each $10k and PC these tiers are redefined. A deck may be tier 1 in one environment, like New School in PCNY, but tier 2 in an unfriendly environment. TNB is a good example of this, always bouncing up and down.

Tier 1 currently - Titans, Curve Sentinels, Avengers Reservist, Squadron Supreme.

Tier 2 - MKKO, Kang Bang, TNB, Doom-a-bomb, League of Assassins, the Schools, FFun, GLEE.

Tier 3 - Fantastic Bumbercars, Big Brotherhood, Xavier's Dream, Rigged Elections.

I think tiers only represents tournament competition, so decks that have not existed on the tourny scene would not really qualify, but represent "potential" for a tier. I would say Arkham is potential tier 2, X-Men is potential tier 3, and Sinister Syndicate is potential tier 0.

Even with Secret Origins, Arkham wont make Tier one. too many damn off-curve decks. *sigh* although the ability to search for Scarecrow against FOE decks is great.

for Arkham agaist off Curve you can play Mad Hatter, and take thier 2 drops. Not to mention the new Poison Ivy can take thier 2 also.

I dont care what anyone says.

Arkham still sucks.

There I said it. Good-day.