How to Tier (Arkham Version)

As the title says, I will be talking about my standards on how to Tier fictional characters. I will mostly be focusing on Tiers past Tier 2 where several wikis branch off on how to scale verses.

For lower end tiers, I generally use most wiki's naming of the tiers (mostly Scarlet Wiki). However, I do not follow the values written on VSBW or CSAP. I refer to these baseline values for the tiers.

With that being said, let's delve into the meat of the blogpost. 

Views on Dimensionality 

To put it bluntly, I do not think Dimensionality is the best way to tier fictional characters.
Dimensions are defined as the number and type of independent directions or "degrees of freedom" that a space or universe possesses. They are axes that indicate where things go. In contrast, energy is a scalar value meaning it has magnitude (power) but no inherent direction. Meanwhile, Dimensions are entities with direction but no inherent magnitude. In other words, Dimensions are, by definition, have nothing to do with energy or power at all. They are effectively just other axes/directions that redirect the energy, they do not increase the energy output, as energy is not dimensional but scalar. What this grants is range, not power.

I think it's also important to note that Wikis that tend to use Dimensionality to scale verses use a very specific model for Dimensionality. CSAP is the one wiki that actually cites what philosophy and model of Dimension they use to scale verses, that being the Hausdorff Dimension, infinity in regards to projective geometry and M-Theory. In this way, they hold entirely different axioms from the standard Physics view that most scientists currently accept, and assume the same for all verses. 

Furthermore, fictional verses aren't very consistent with how they portray Dimensionality either. For example, in the Paper Mario franchise the characters are all 2D and even occasionally 1D. This doesn't mean Mario's energy output suddenly became infinitely lower, it just means he gained access to a different axis of movement to get around areas. Another example is Mr. Game and Watch from Super Smash Bros. He is noted to be a 2D Being but can contend with the other 3D characters. 

As a side note, there have been studies in which higher dimensions have been theorized to be able to be observed in real life. Other experts have also explained the 5th Dimension without using the "infinitely transcendent" interpretation that many cling onto. There have been also recent theories in which it's suggested that the Universe may have been in a Lower-Dimensional state due to its extreme temperatures in the past. The point being that dimensions are still being studied in real life, with powerscaling interpretations not being consistent with them. In fact, M-Theory and the Hausdorff Dimension are themselves theoretical and not 100% proven to exist in reality. 

However, I do not think Dimensionality is useless, quite the opposite really. For example, a 5th Dimensional Being is inherently beyond the range of a 3rd Dimensional Being. If the 3D character has no hax or feats of interaction with other axes, then they cannot actually touch the 5D character. Thus, the higher dimensionality becomes the ultimate defense in which they will never be able to truly affect the 5D character. 

Views on Temporality 

Most powerscaling wikis use a certain view on Time when scaling verses, often described as being another dimensional axis. Thus, most scalers use the space-time continuum model (3D+1D) to argue for 4D. While this seems fair at first, it becomes muddy when you consider that not all verses explicitly regard Time as a "dimension" closely related to space. Nor is Time explicitly only a dimension in all theories/philosophies pertaining to it. 

To put in another way, Time being a dimension only makes the most sense (as of now) in our cosmology because of scientific discipline. This does not mean every fictional verse also follows the same idea. In fact, some verses' creation stories have Time created separately from space. This is not to say space is also included, because Time is created separately. Meaning that the classic 3D+1D model would not be applicable here. 

I believe it would also be fallacious to assume all verses have Time as a dimension. I believe it's best to assume that they follow Time simply being a constant progression of events, due to that being the most basic interpretation. However, there are some verses that do have evidence of Time being a dimension which would then make the assumption unneeded. 

In Sonic The Hedgehog the official Tailstube channel directly states how Time is just "one dimension of reality". This proves that in the cosmology of Sonic, Time is a dimension in reality similar to space, making the 3D+1D model applicable here. Another example is in Bleach where the Theory of Relativity is noted to not just be a theory, but an actual cosmological force. The Theory of Relativity combines space and time explicitly, making Time the "4th Dimension" in a sense. 

There's also the concept of a so-called 'Hypertimeline' (inspired from Hypertime from DC), in which there's a higher temporal dimension that governs the "lower" axis of time, as well as determining change within space. In typical Dimensional Tiering fashion this would be 5th Dimensional, 3 spatial axes + 2 temporal axes. Regardless if there is one temporal axis or multiple, they are ultimately dimensional axes and as such do not correlate with AP on my system. 

Views on 'Beyond Dimensionality'

You may be wondering: If I don't consider dimensional axes to be important for AP in this system, then what do I think about Beyond Dimensionality? Pretty simple, I consider it to be the ultimate defense to energy based attacks without being necessarily related to raw durability.

Recall previously when a 3D character could not fully affect a 5D character due to being unable to reach the axes required to affect them. Now imagine that no matter how many dimensions/axes (even infinite) you can affect, you fail to even begin to touch an Outerversal Being (specifically BDE Type 3 on VSBW). No matter how strong you are, no matter how much power, no matter how many dimensions you can reach, you'll never be able to touch them. Because you lack the range to reach the State of an Outerversal character entirely. 

In other words, this difference has little to do with energy/power and far more to do with Ontology, the study of being. The Beyond Dimensional character simply has a far more inaccessible ontology, in which a special range that goes beyond dimensional constraints is required to interact with them. To reiterate, this is not necessarily a power difference, but a range difference. 

How do you Tier? (Part 1) 

Since I do not use dimensionality for AP at all in my system, there are major differences on how I tier things starting as early as Tier 2. On multiple wikis they have the tier Low 2-C as 'Universe Level+' separate from the Tier 3-A 'Universe Level' which is defined as affecting the entirety of space in the Universe, without directly affecting Time.

This reasoning seems flawed to me, as the model that these wikis use implies that if space is destroyed, then so is Time because the two are intrinsically connected. Additionally, the energy required to actually destroy all space in the Universe would most likely create OR be comparable to a hypothetical Supermassive Black Hole that would consume the Universe. So I do not think there is a significant difference between 'Universe Level' and 'Universe Level+' beyond range.  

Regardless, since I do not assume that Time is necessarily a dimension, the feat of destroying all the space in a Universe and its contents would still end up being Universe Level. If Time is a dimension and is also affected, then that simply becomes a range feat in which a temporal axis is affected, not an AP feat. This also applies to tiers like 2-C and 2-B, 'Low Multiverse Level' and 'Multiverse Level'. 

Tier 2-A is where this becomes a little complicated. 2-A is usually considered 'Multiverse Level+' because it encompasses an infinite amount of universes. I agree with the prospect of infinite universes, but what I also believe that an infinite universe itself would also qualify. Why? Because the extent to which an infinite multiverse and an infinite universe is the same infinity. 

For a simple but effective explanation on Set Theory and Cardinality, I suggest watching this video by Vsauce. To reiterate, in Set Theory there is an idea of "larger infinities" that encompass sets larger than another 'lesser' infinity. For example, the set of all even numbers is infinite but lesser than the set of all real numbers. Wikis like VSBW apply this to structures within their system, my opinions on such are for a different blog, but the idea is pretty clearly defined. 

It is often assumed that an infinite amount of universes is "larger" than a spatially infinite universe, however, this is not the case. There is no evidence to suggest that the cardinality of the multiverse is higher than the universe, because both have the same cardinality. Cardinality is not something tied to the number of universes. Even if each universe in the multiverse was infinite, that wouldn't magically raise their cardinality to another level. Thus, unless otherwise stated or inferred, I consider affecting an infinite universe and an infinite multiverse to be the same tier, but perhaps different ranges. 

So to summarize, I accept and follow these tiers:

Low 2-C: Universe Level

2-C: Low Multiverse Level (2-100 Universes) 

2-B: Multiverse Level (100 and beyond Universes)

2-A: Infinite Universe Level (Infinite Multiverse and Universe both qualify)

You can potentially split 2-B into Low to High subtiers but I kept it one for simplicity. Also, I am aware that the name for 2-A is misleading but I sadly could not come up with a better one. That may change in the future. 

How do you Tier? (Part 2) 

"Realer than real..."

To put it bluntly, my standards for Tier 1 are based on fundamentality and infinity. That is to say, realms or characters that are more fundamental and infinite in comparison to the Physical Reality.
The Physical Reality may include things like universes, any amount of dimensional axes (doesn't have to be infinite), distance, direction or other types of quantitative measurements. Furthermore, there are realms that are even more fundamental than these metaphysically infinite realms and may also encompass as well, being more infinite in the process. These are the 2 main sub-tiers I accept, or two levels of fundamentality, for Tier 1 with their own differences that I will go over. 

This may sound similar to VSBW's 1-A - Outerverse Level and High 1-A - High Outerverse Level but the difference is that these realms are not defined as being vaguely "more qualitative" than physical reality, but literally infinitely vaster than Physical Reality. For one of the tiers, being beyond dimensionality isn't a requirement either. I am aware that this may sound confusing, so I will use examples to illustrate how this works beyond my description of it. 

Metaphysical Infinity

In the Bayonetta verse, the Universe is made up of the Trinity of Realities (World of Light, Darkness and Chaos), in which Time is reflected unto them infinitely. The World of Chaos is in actuality made up of Infinite Universes stacked over each other, making it an infinite multiverse. This is relevant because there is a realm that encompasses all realities including the Trinity and beyond, the Ginnungagap.

The Ginnungagap is a prime example of a Metaphysically Infinite construct. It encompasses the physically infinite multiverse(s) and is literally encompassing all of it, similar to how the Universe encompasses the Earth. Meaning it's "larger" than the physically infinite multiverse while being metaphysical itself. By definition it is metaphysically infinite. 

There is no need to have infinite dimensions in the cosmology to qualify for this tier, only an infinite physical magnitude and a metaphysically larger space is required. However, this would consequently mean that if a verse lacks extra dimensions in their physically infinite space, then the character may be unable to affect characters that are higher dimensional, having more axes than they can reach. These higher dimensional beings are not stronger than metaphysical infinity AP, but their extra axes prevent them from receiving the full AP, thus they are protected from being one-shotted. 

To counter this weakness, Metaphysically Infinite characters may also have the range to affect realms beyond the scope of all dimensions. In other words, they have "Outerversal" range and metaphysically infinite AP, allowing them to one-shot higher dimensional beings that do not have the durability to withstand the potency of the attack. Metaphysically Infinite realms may also be implied or stated to be beyond the scope of dimensional axes themselves, granting anyone who scales "Outerversal" range as well. Beyond dimensionality is not a requirement, but may be a significant advantage if the opponent is higher dimensional. 

Conceptual/Essential Infinity

The Sphere of Gods is a realm in DC that contains living archetypal, platonic ideas like the New Gods and other entities. It's pure possibility, the fundamental power of creation and belief. It is heavily implied that everything in the "material world" are emanations from itself, something that backs up the realm being akin to Plato's World of Forms. It is separate from any planes of reality below itself and is more real than everything it supersedes. It is also infinite in scope. 

What I described is the perfect (no pun intended) example of a realm that is conceptually/essentially more fundamental and infinite than the material/physical realm. This would be far superior to Metaphysical Infinity, as those realms are only beyond the physical plane with respect to the physical plane that they are encompassing. They are not beyond all absolute notions/forms that govern all of reality like Conceptually/Essentially Infinite realms are. 

Unlike metaphysically infinite realms, these realms have to be beyond dimensions by default. Why? Because they are realms that contain the fundamental notions of everything in the physical reality, these notions are not just ideas, but are more akin to Platonic Forms that govern the rest of reality. The concept of space in general, as dimensionality is an aspect of space, is also included. No amount of spatial construction would reach these realms. Meaning they should be "Outerversal" in range by default, as they are the absolute component of reality. 

These realms, of course, would also have to be implied or stated to be infinite in scope as well and overlaps, encompasses or oversees lower planes of reality. 

Q&A 

Q: "Can Higher Dimensional Beings have Conceptual/Metaphysical Infinity Range/AP?"

A: Of course. The dimensionality of the character does not matter in regards to their AP. However, them being capable of affecting realms in that range does not mean conceptual/metaphysical range is required to affect them. They are ultimately still dimensional themselves, and thus can be interacted with, although conceptual/metaphysical AP is required to actually harm them ^_^

Q: "My verse has a Metaphysically Infinite realm but it's not 'Outerversal range', is that okay?" 

A: As I mentioned before, yes that's perfectly fine. The only limitations is that this realm isn't necessarily beyond the scope of all dimensionality, it only encompasses the physical reality it governs. The physical reality may or may not have extra dimensions. This means a Higher Dimensional Character can theoretically survive attacks on a Metaphysically Infinite level if the AP does not fully interact with them. 

Q: "What about realms that are beyond these Conceptually Infinite realms? What tier are they?" 

A: The tier would promptly be named 'Meta-Conceptually Infinite' (thank you Imp), but I didn't mention them partly because they aren't very prominent in fiction. Verses like DC and Marvel can be argued to have realms that are of this tier, but most verses typically end their fundamental hierarchy at 'Conceptual Infinity'. 

Q: "What if a Metaphysically Infinite realm encompasses another Metaphysically Infinite realm?"

A: That realm would technically be 'infinitely larger' than the other metaphysically infinite realm. I have not decided how to describe it officially but it's certainly a higher tier, but it doesn't grant Conceptually Infinite AP as that has its own requirements. If a realm encompasses a conceptually infinite realm then it's just metaconceptually infinite. If a metaconceptual realm encompasses another metaconceptual realm, everything I said about metaphysically infinite should also apply.