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How to Create Your First Tier List

Getting Started

Creating a tier list on VerseDB is easy and fun! This guide will walk you through every step of creating and publishing your first tier list.

Time needed: 10-15 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

  • ✅ Have a VerseDB account (create one here)
  • ✅ Verify your email address
  • ✅ Be logged in

Step 1: Navigate to Create Page

Go to the tier list creation page:

Step 2: Choose Your Content Type

Select what type of content you want to rank:

Available Content Types

Series

  • Rank comic series/volumes
  • Example: "Best Batman Series"

Issues

  • Rank individual comic issues
  • Example: "Top 10 First Issues of All Time"

Characters

  • Rank heroes, villains, supporting cast
  • Example: "Most Powerful X-Men"

Teams

  • Rank superhero teams
  • Example: "Best Avengers Lineups"

Publishers

  • Rank comic publishers
  • Example: "Current Publisher Rankings"

Tip: Choose a content type you're knowledgeable about and passionate about!

Step 3: Add Title and Description

Title

Make it clear, specific, and engaging:

❌ Avoid:

  • "My List"
  • "Comics"
  • "Best Characters"

✅ Good Examples:

  • "Best Spider-Man Runs (1990-2020)"
  • "Most Underrated Marvel Characters"
  • "Top 20 X-Men Issues Ranked"
  • "Best Justice League Rosters by Era"

Tips:

  • Keep it under 100 characters
  • Be specific about scope/timeframe
  • Make it searchable

Description (Optional but Recommended)

Explain your ranking criteria and context:

What to include:

  • Your ranking criteria (story quality, art, impact, nostalgia)
  • Any limitations or rules (e.g., "Only including pre-2000 series")
  • Personal biases to note
  • What makes something S-tier vs F-tier

Example Description:

Ranking the best Batman ongoing series based on story quality, 
art consistency, and lasting impact on the character. Only 
including main Batman titles (not Detective Comics or spin-offs). 
My S-tier = genre-defining runs that elevated the character.

Step 4: Set Up Your Tiers

VerseDB provides default tiers (S, A, B, C, D, F), but you can customize them!

Default Tier Setup

The system starts with 6 tiers:

  • S Tier (Red)
  • A Tier (Orange)
  • B Tier (Light Orange)
  • C Tier (Yellow)
  • D Tier (Light Green)
  • F Tier (Gray)

Customization Options

  • Rename tiers – Change "S" to "God Tier" or "Must Read"
  • Change colors – Pick any hex color for each tier
  • Add tiers – Create up to 10 tiers total (minimum 2)
  • Remove tiers – Delete tiers you don't need
  • Reorder tiers – Drag to change tier order

Common Custom Tier Names:

  • God Tier, Great, Good, Okay, Bad, Trash
  • Must Read, Excellent, Solid, Meh, Skip
  • 🔥, 👍, 😐, 👎, 🗑️
  • Masterpiece, Great, Average, Poor, Terrible

Step 5: Add Items to Your Tiers

Now for the fun part – adding content to your tiers!

How to Add Items

  1. Search for content using the search bar
  2. Select items from the search results
  3. Drag items into the appropriate tier
  4. Reorder within tiers by dragging up/down

Search Tips

  • Type series names, character names, etc.
  • Search results filter by your chosen content type
  • Can search by title, creator, publisher
  • Results show covers/images for easy identification

Organization

  • Each tier can hold up to 20 items
  • Items are displayed in the order you place them
  • Drag to reorder items within a tier
  • Move items between tiers anytime

Adding Context

While adding items, consider:

  • Why does this deserve S-tier?
  • What makes this better than the one below it?
  • Am I being consistent with my criteria?

Step 6: Set Privacy Settings

Choose who can see your tier list:

Public (Recommended for finished lists)

  • ✅ Visible to everyone
  • ✅ Appears in search results
  • ✅ Can be voted on and commented on
  • ✅ May be featured if popular
  • ✅ Earns XP from community votes

Private (Good for drafts)

  • ✅ Only you can see it
  • ❌ Hidden from search
  • ❌ No voting or comments
  • ✅ Can change to public later
  • ✅ Perfect for works-in-progress

You can change privacy settings anytime from the edit page.

Step 7: Preview and Publish

Before publishing:

Final Checklist

  • ✅ Title is clear and specific
  • ✅ Description explains your criteria (if applicable)
  • ✅ All tiers have appropriate items
  • ✅ Items are in the right order
  • ✅ Tier names/colors represent your vision
  • ✅ Privacy setting is correct

Preview

  • Check how your tier list looks
  • Verify tier colors are readable
  • Make sure images/covers are loading

Publish

  • Click "Create Tier List" button
  • You'll be redirected to your new tier list page
  • Earn 10 XP immediately for creating it!

Step 8: Share Your Tier List

After publishing, you can:

Share Options

  • Copy direct link – Share URL anywhere
  • Share on social media – Built-in share buttons
  • Embed – Get embed code for websites (Pro feature)
  • Show friends – Send link directly

Promote Your List

  • Post in VerseDB community forums
  • Share in relevant Discord servers
  • Tweet with #VerseDB hashtag
  • Add to your profile

Managing Your Tier Lists

View Your Tier Lists

Go to https://versedb.com/tier-lists/dashboard to see:

  • All your tier lists (public and private)
  • Vote counts and scores
  • Edit and delete options
  • Analytics (views, engagement)

Edit Your Tier List

  • Click "Edit" button on your tier list page
  • Make changes to items, tiers, title, description
  • Save changes anytime
  • Changes are live immediately

Delete Your Tier List

  • Go to edit page
  • Click "Delete Tier List" button
  • Confirm deletion
  • Warning: This cannot be undone!

Tips for Your First Tier List

Start Small

  • Don't try to rank 100 items your first time
  • Start with 10-20 items you know well
  • You can always add more later

Be Consistent

  • Apply the same criteria to all items
  • Don't let recency bias affect old classics
  • Rank based on quality, not just favorites

Don't Overthink It

  • There's no "wrong" ranking
  • This is your personal opinion
  • You can always edit later

Engage with Feedback

  • Read comments on your list
  • Consider valid criticisms
  • Update your rankings as you learn more
  • Explain controversial choices

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Vague Titles

Bad: "My Tier List"
Good: "Best Marvel Events (2000-2020)"

❌ No Description

Add context so people understand your criteria

❌ Too Many Items

Keep it focused – quality over quantity

❌ Inconsistent Criteria

Mixing "personal favorites" with "objectively best" creates confusion

❌ Leaving Tiers Empty

If you don't need all 6 tiers, remove the empty ones

Earning XP from Tier Lists

Creating tier lists earns you XP:

  • Creation: 10 XP when published
  • 10 votes: +50 XP bonus
  • 50 votes: +100 XP bonus
  • 100 votes: +250 XP bonus
  • 500 votes: +500 XP bonus

Total possible: 910 XP per tier list!

What's Next?

Now that you've created your first tier list:

Ready to create? Start your first tier list now!

Need Help?

If you run into issues:

Happy ranking! 🎯

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Customizing Tiers and Colors

Learn how to customize tier names, colors, and structure to make your tier lists unique and visually appealing.

Tier List Privacy Settings and Sharing

Control who can see your tier lists and learn the best ways to share them with the community.