I have staged a coup of the Why Tier X's are in Tier X series of threads with a complete list. My hope is to free JaronK the burden of now a 3rd and a maybe 4th 'tier system for classes' thread. This will save the discussion of tiers themselves for the tier thread. Concern over specific classes can go here.

Let me know if I am missing any non-variant base class in 3.5. I intend to include them all.

I do not claim to intimately know or play each class. The work I have done is completely at the mercy of the boards and my be changed, so please try to keep indignation to its lowest. Any balance concerns are considered after the dirty handbook fixes.

You will notice that the upper tiers are casters. If you are looking for all casting classes, feel free to look here.

Finally, I will try to keep up with the discussion and add mention about specific class features when needed; hence the two posts per tier.


Coloring Key for optimizing the base classes:
Too simple or too few options: It is just about as powerful or weak as it is going to be even after optimization so it's not worth the effort. For low tier classes this means you can't stretch it into higher tiers as easily. For upper tiers its nice that you probably won't suck that much even if you are fairly new.
Some complexity, some options: You get out what you put in. Heavy optimization won't be as obvious as blue colored, but it will be noticable. Consider this normal 'stretchiness' to go up or down a tier dependent on the build and player. JaronK noticed that optimization bumps up or down a tier - two for classes on the edge or with more extensive cheese. This is normal.
Too complex or too many options: You get more than what you put in. You really need to understand how this class works. For high tier classes this is bad because you can't start cold and be the epitome of tier 1. For lower tier classes this is actually a good thing because if you try, you can pull it up more than normal. However it might be frustrating to get past the learning curve.


Tier Outline
6(3+3NPC): Aristocrat, Commoner, Divine Mind (CP 9), Warrior, Samurai (CW 6), Truenamer (TM 198)

5(14+2NPC): Battledancer (DC 26), Divine Mind (with Web Enhancements), Eidolon (Gh 16), Expert, Fighter, Healer (MH 8), Knight, Lurk (CP 13), Magewright (ECS 256), Mariner (LotT 13), Mlar (Dungeon Magazine 100 256-257 githyanki section), Monk, Ninja (CAd 5), Noble (DCS 50), Paladin, Samurai (with Imperious Command feat), Soulborn (MoI 25), Soulknife, Swashbuckler (CW 11)

4(18+1NPC): Adept, Barbarian, Dragonfire Adept (with Breath Effects), Dragon Shaman (PHB2 11), Fighter (Dungeon Crasher variant), Jester (DC 36), Hexblade (CW 5), Marshal, Master (WotL 21), Montebank (DC 42), Nightstalker (Races of Ansalon 156), Ranger, Rogue, Savant (DC 45), Scout (CAd 10), Spellthief, Sohei (OA 27), Totemist, Warlock (CArc 5), Warmage (CArc 10)

3(16): Ardent (CP 5), Bard, Beguiler (PHB2 6), Binder (TM 9), Crusader (ToB 8), Dread Necromancer (HH 84), Duskblade (PHB2 19), Factotum (Du 14), Incarnate (MoI 20), Psychic Rogue (with powers), Psychic Warrior, Ranger (Wildshape variant), Shadowcaster (TM 111), Shugenja (CD 10), Swordsage (ToB 15), Warblade, Wilder,

2(9): Binder (with Online Vestiges), Death Master (DC 31), Favored Soul (CD 6), Mystic (DCS 47), Psion, Sha'ir (DC 51), Shaman (OA 23), Sorcerer, Spirit Shaman (CD 14), Wu Jen (CArc 14)

1(6): Archivist, Artificer (ECS 29), Cleric, Druid, "Erudite" variant Psion (with Spell to Power ACF), Wizard

Other(12): Aberrant Paragon (DragMag332 45), Eidoloncer (Gh 17), Drow Paragon, Dwarf Paragon, Elf Paragon, Gnome Paragon, Half-Dragon Paragon, Half-Elf Paragon, Half-Orc Paragon, Halfling Paragon, Human Paragon, Kobold Paragon, Orc Paragon, Tiefling Paragon



Tier Relative Amount Breakdown: (missing a few classes, feel free to recalculate)
6: 8.3% with NPCs, 4.5% without
5: 22.2% with NPCs, 21.2% without
4: 26.3% with NPCs, 27.2% without
3: 22.2% with NPCs, 24.2% without
2: 12.5% with NPCs, 13.6% without
1: 8.3% with NPCs, 9% without

Displayed in groups of 2:
6&5: 30.6% with NPCs, 25.8% without
4&3: 48.6% with NPCs, 51.5% without
2&1: 20.8% with NPCs, 22.6% without

Results:
The mode is Tier 4 which JaronK suspected might be the 'default' level of power a PC should have, followed by Tier 3. Notice that when NPC classes are considered Tier 3 and 5 tie for second place, making us even more sure that Tier 4 is truly the norm. Tier 6 and 1 have the same number of outliers when NPC classes are considered, which is good because each is considered 'broken' albeit in opposite manners. Furthermore the mostly non-casting Tier 5 makes up a greater chunk than the all full caster classes of Tier 2, perhaps indicating greater hesitation with 9th level spells and powers.

Abbreviations for Table 1: United, PHB Skills
A = Appraise
Ba = Balance
Bl = Bluff
Cl = Climb
Co = Concentration
Cr = Craft
DS = Decipher Script
Dm = Diplomacy
DD = Disable Device
Dg = Disguise
EA = Escape Artist
F = Forgery
GI = Gather Information
HA = Handle Animal
He = Heal
Hi = Hide
I = Intimidate
J = Jump
L = Listen
MS = Move Silently
OL = Open Lock
P = Profession
R = Ride
Se = Search
SM = Sense Motive
SH = Sleight Of Hand
SL = Speak Language
Sc = Spellcraft
Sp = Spot
Su = Survival
Sw = Swim
Tu = Tumble
UM = Use Magic Device
UR = Use Rope


Abbreviations for Table 2: Separate or non-PHB Skills
AH = Autohypnosis
IF = Iajitsu Focus (OA 58)
KA = Knowledge (Arcana)
Ke = Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
KD = Knowledge (Dungeoneering)
KG = Knowledge (Geography)
KH = Knowledge (History)
KL = Knowledge (Local)
KNa = Knowledge (Nature)
KNo = Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty)
KPs = Knowledge (Psionics)
KR = Knowledge (Religion)
KPl = Knowledge (The Planes)
Ps = Psicraft
PA = Perform (Act)
PC = Perform (Comedy)
PD = Perform (Dance)
PK = Perform (Keyboard Instruments)
PO = Perform (Oratory)
PP = Perform (Percussion Instruments)
PSt = Perform (String Instruments)
PW = Perform (Wind Instruments)
PSi = Perform (Sing)
TS = Truespeak (ToM 195)
UP = Use Psionic Device


Table 1: United, PHB Skills

Class

A

Ba

Bl

Cl

Co

Cr

DS

Dm

DD

Dg

EA

F

GI

HA

He

Hi

I

J

L

MS

OL

P

R

Se

SM

SH

SL

Sc

Sp

Su

Sw

Tu

UM

UR

Aberrant Paragon

Bl

Cl

Co

Dm

EA

Hi

I

MS

SM

Su

Aristocrat

A

Bl

Dm

Dg

F

GI

HA

I

L

R

SM

SL

Sp

Su

Sw

Adept

Archivist

Ardent

Artificer

Barbarian

Bard

Battledancer

Ba

Cl

EA

Hi

J

L

MS

OL

SH

Sw

Tu

Beguiler

Binder

Cleric

Commoner

Cl

Cr

HA

J

L

P

R

Sp

Sw

UR

Crusader

Dragonfire Adept

Death Master

Divine Mind

Cl

Co

Cr

J

P

R

Sw

Dragon Shaman

Dread Necromancer

Drow Paragon

Druid

Duskblade

Dwarf Paragon

Eidolon

Ba

Bl

Co

Hi

I

SM

Sp

Eidoloncer

Co

Sc

Elf Paragon

Erudite

Expert Any 10

Any 10

Factotoum

A

Ba

Bl

Cl

Co

Cr

DS

Dm

DD

Dg

EA

F

GI

HA

He

Hi

I

J

L

MS

OL

P

R

Se

SM

SH

SL

Sc

Sp

Su

Sw

Tu

UM

UR

Favored Soul

Fighter

Cl

Cr

HA

I

J

R

Gnome Paragon

Half-Dragon Paragon

Half-Elf Paragon

Half-Orc Paragon

Halfling Paragon

Healer

Co

Cr

Dm

HA

He

P

SM

Sc

Su

Hexblade

Human Paragon

Incarnate

Jester

Kobold Paragon

Knight

Cl

HA

I

J

R

Sw

Lurk

Magewright

Co

Cr

HA

P

Sc

Mariner

Ba

Bl

Cl

Cr

EA

GI

J

P

SL

Sp

Su

Sw

Tu

UR

Marshall

Master

Mlar

Co

Cr

P

Sc

Su

Monk

Ba

Cl

Co

Cr

Dm

EA

Hi

J

L

MS

P

SM

Sp

Sw

Tu

Montebank

Mystic

Nightstalker

Ba

Bl

Co

Cr

Dm

DD

EA

GI

Hi

L

MS

OL

P

Se

SH

Sc

Sp

Su

UM

UR

Ninja

Ba

Bl

Cl

Co

Cr

Dg

EA

Hi

J

L

MS

OL

Se

SM

SH

Sp

Sw

Tu

Noble

A

Bl

Dm

GI

I

L

P

R

SM

SL

Orc Paragon

Paladin

Co

Cr

Dm

HA

He

P

R

SM

Psion

Psychic Rogue

Psychic Warrior

Ranger

Rogue

Samurai

Co

Cr

Dm

I

R

SM

Savant

Scout

Sha'ir

Shadowcaster

Shaman

Shugenja

Sohei

Sorcerer

Soulborn

Bl

Cl

Co

Cr

Dm

GI

HA

He

I

P

R

Sc

Sw

Soulknife

Cl

Co

Cr

Hi

J

L

MS

P

Sp

Tu

Spelltheif

Spirit Shaman

Swashbuckler

Swordsage

Tiefling Paragon

Totemist

Truenamer

Co

Cr

UM

UR

Warblade

Warlock

Warmage

Warrior

Cl

HA

I

J

R

Sw

Wilder

Wizard

Wu Jen

Divine Mind (before Mind's Eye updates):
Why its Defunct:

• worst 'progression' and 'list' in the game.
• Epic spells 10 levels too late is laughable, like crossing the finish line years after the race was over.
• The auras are too small too early. Party formations make you a lovely AoE target.
• Due to your sorry progression, you can't PrC to a 3.5 class without losing 6th level powers

Truenamer
Why its Defunct:

• WotC just discovered the best flavor in the game. "Quick let's screw up the mechanics!" They said to one another.
• The main problems are with the mechanics of truenaming. There is no reason for the Law of Sequence to exist. It's like demanding Sorcerers may not spam fireball (You can't cast that! The fireball from last turn is still burning!)
• The Truenaming check for items and creatures should NOT be x2 CL or CR. Where you succeeded at level 1, you will fail at level 20.
• Can do some fairly neat things, but its simply not worth the effort. If you need to abuse polymorph or an item familiar to function, well, that's a problem.
• You have some awesomely fluffed PrC options. Too bad you will still suck when you take them.

Samurai (without Imperious Command)
Why its Defunct:

• The best part is not being this class - falling and being a Ronin is this class's best schtick.
• Code of Conducts are bad. Except this class is so bad, breaking the CoC is actually good.
• Decent class skills - except you probably are dumping int to intimidate or smite and damage with your sucky weapons.
• Class features that act as feats are not psy-ref'able. Even then your improved and greater TWF (for sucky weapons) comes too late anyways.

PrC's:
Exotic Weapon Master: 1 level gets the Exotic Blow ability, which is very solid PA damage.
Ronin: Mentioned earlier.
Kensai: The Samurai is one of the few classes with all Kensai class skills, and the oath of service meshes well with the samurai's vow.  It's not THAT exciting, but it is a very flavorful class, and choosing your own weapon enhancements is a lot of fun.
Knight Protector: This will make you more of a tank, though none of the features are awesome (as a sidenote, you gain Tower Shield proficiency without knowing any other shields!)
Knight of the Iron Glacier (FB): C'mon.  It already requires EWP: Bastard Sword, and you KNOW you want to ride a giant rhinoceros!
Bloodstorm Blade (TOB): First, it requires MCing into warblade, which is better than samurai.  Second, it will let you change your EWP: Bastard Sword to any other weapon - and the same should apply to your other subpar feats that specify only a bastard sword and short sword.  Besides, throwing weapons as a full melee attack is just awesome. -Akalsaris



Warrior:
Why its Defunct:

• Its just a chasis with full BAB
• Allows you to fake continuing as an ex-paladin (but not with the awesome that are Blackgaurds)

Aristocrat:
Why its Defunct:

• The highest starting gold (4d8x10 gp) doesn't matter if you start higher than level 1
• Diplomancy in an NPC class-only campaign is like being the prettiest patient at the full-body, severe burn ward

Commoner:
Why its Defunct:

• It is supposed to be; peasants aren't supposed to be awesome.
• Too bad for WotC we take the silly commoner only Chicken-infested flaw seriously. Be purple and name yourself Gonzo.
• Survivor at level 2? *Shrug*