A tier list for Dissidia is nearly impossible to create, because the huge variety in equipment and ability setups make nailing down a particular character to a particular tier something that can't accurately be done. There are a couple outstanding characters, and a couple that fall by the wayside, but overall, it's anyone's game, and I really wish people would just let it stay that way.

Take Garland. Only an average fighter, but with the right gear and ability setup, he becomes one of the most overpowered fighters in the game, as his EX Mode lets him ignore enemy attacks completely, and he can stay in it constantly.

A huge number of the characters rise or fall depending not just on player skill, but on the particular setup the player is using. And since, as you admit "no one likes tier lists", why the heck do you insist on foisting one off on us, in four different threads, and not even include all the characters?

You claim to "assume character mastery", but the list certainly doesn't seem to match up that way, because there are plenty of character setups that can absolutely slaughter Gabranth in any situation, and Kefka can get in a lot of trouble as well with his low maneuverability.