History Main / RandomPowerRanking

*** In reference to the 'threat level = bounty' idea, among groups with relatively similar power levels, the highest bounties tend to go to the most AxCrazy. Examples include Donquixote Doflamingo of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and Eustass Kid of the Worst Generation. This makes sense since, all other things being equal, someone who goes around slaughtering people ForTheEvulz would be considered more of a threat than someone who raids the occasional merchant ship.

** While they were useful in other ways (e.g. finding people, keeping oriented without a map, ''[[SubspaceAnsible FTL communication]]''), the downsides to scouters included that they weren't discreet, and [[AttackItsWeakPoint became obvious targets]], leaving the characters who relied on them at a handicap against those who knew how to sense energy. Another was that they meant that those using them often checked once, and didn't check again until prompted, leaving the scouters' users prone to deception by those who knew how to depress and raise their power level. ''Another'' drawback was that skilled, higher-end fighters could outperform a simple number assigned to them, so they weren't entirely reliable. ''Yet another'' drawback was that their power measurement [[ExplosiveInstrumentation could be overwhelmed]] if measuring a [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale sufficiently high power level or a dramatic power up]].

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* In ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'', Peter Venkman invents a bunch of technobabble to describe a ghost that includes referring to it as a "Class V." The ''Ghostbusters'' roleplaying game makes this legitimate, creating an entire system of classes with Roman numerals.
** The ranking system here doesn't necessarily rate how difficult a ghost is at handling. Rather, it's just a simple system for categorizing ghosts. For example, the only difference between Class III and Class IV is if the ghost can remember its name, Class VI are non-human, and Class VII are metaspecters (that is, demons, deities, and the like). Classes III through VI aren't necessarily progressively more powerful, smart, or difficult to handle, just less and less human.

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* The ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' has Object Classes, the main four being Safe, Euclid, Keter and Thaumiel. The first three take into account how hard an [=SCP=] is to contain, not how powerful or dangerous it is. Safe means that an object can be easily and reliably contained. Euclid indicates a less easily contained object, [=SCPs=] that can move and think on their own are generally Euclid at a minimum. Keter is used for objects that are extremely difficult or costly to contain or cannot be contained in a reliable way (for example any object in space is likely a Keter by default), but again, they need not be dangerous ''per se''. Thaumiel is outside of this hierarchy and refers to [=SCPs=] used to contain other [=SCPs=]. More unusual Object Classes exist, but these are rarely used and lack formal definitions.
** Put another way: if you can put it in a simple lockbox and be sure that it will not be getting out, it's probably Safe; if you can't be sure what will happen if you put it in a lockbox, it's Euclid; if you cannot put it in a lockbox because it is in space or another dimension or the lock requires a regular human sacrifice to keep working, it's Keter; and if the object ''is'' the lockbox, it's Thaumiel.

** Its uselessness [[InvokedTrope was precisely the point]]. Even after the [[PhysicalGod Sourcerers]], Wizards were still relatively [[BewareTheSuperman powerful]] and [[AmbitionIsEvil ambitious]]. Since every rank has a maximum capacity applied (eg. only eight Level 8 wizards at any given time), it encourages a [[YouKillItYouBoughtIt Darwinist approach]] to rank ascension. In the end, Wizards ended up fighting each other for meaningless titles instead of, say, enslaving the {{Muggles}} and so on.

* ''VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame'' showed the different classes of ghosts whenever you scanned them. Class I was pathetic, not even needing to be captured, just dispersed with the proton pack. Class III's and up require capture, but III's aren't a big deal. Class V's are somewhat nasty. Class VIII's are huge and dangerous, capable of incapacitating a Ghostbuster with one hit, and are usually deities or otherwise superpowered. There's only one Class IX in the game, and it's the final boss.

** While they were useful in other ways (e.g. finding people, keeping oriented without a map, ''[[SubspaceAnsible FTL communication]]''), the downsides to scouters included that they weren't discreet, and [[AttackItsWeakPoint became obvious targets]], leaving the characters who relied on them at a handicap against those who knew how to sense energy. Another was that they meant that those using them often checked once, and didn't check again until prompted, leaving the scouters' users prone to deception by those who knew how to depress and raise their power level. ''Another'' drawback was that skilled, higher-end fighters didn't could outperform a simple number assigned to them, so they weren't entirely reliable. ''Yet another'' drawback was that their power measurement [[ExplosiveInstrumentation could be overwhelmed]] if measuring a [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale sufficiently high power level or a dramatic power up]].

* In the Manga version of ''Manga/SailorMoon S'', the Witches 5 have levels assigned to them. Eudial is level 78, Mimete is level 40, Tellu is level 404, and Viluy and Cyprine are level 999.

* [[VideoGame/FatalFury Garou: Mark of the Wolves]] gives you a rating after each round you win. They go C, B, A, AA, S, SS, SSS, and MIRACLE. You have to destroy your opponent in roughly five seconds to even have a shot at the higher two rankings.

** ImprobablePowerDiscrepancy along with elements of PowerCreep over the course of the [[LongRunner Long Running]] series also contribute. As such, there are countless examples with respect to a creature's stats being disproportionately high or low in relation to other cards. A simple [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=129596 Horseshoe Crab]] can defeat [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=221892 a group of armed and trained elven warriors]]. A [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=373578 badass warrior]] of AncientGrome would be defeated by a ''[[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=sanctuary%20cat house cat]]''.

* Character Point scores in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' are sort of a power ranking but since they measure absolutely everything about the character using them as rankings turns out completely random. The classic example is the 1000CP accountant who can mentally collate spreadsheets with all the money going through multinational corporation but will probably lose a fight to a 50CP thug. Even then, certain characters (like [[CallahansCrosstimeSaloon Mickey Finn]]) are explicitly "off the scale" and can't be assigned numbers.

* Character Point scores in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' are sort of a power ranking but since they measure absolutely everything about the character using them as rankings turns out completely random. The classic example is the 1000CP accountant who can mentally collate spreadsheets with all the money going through multinational corporation but will lose a fight to a 50CP thug.
** Unless [[AwesomeByAnalysis he]] [[WeakButSkilled outwits]] him.

* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
** Servants themselves aren't given a single arbitrary Rank, but their individual parameters are. The arbitrary part is because each parameter is the sum result of various unmeasured factors -- ATK (attack) Rank is influenced by arm strength and weapon power.
** And individual Noble Phantasms also receive their own ranking based, roughly, on how much destruction they are capable of causing with a single use; anti-personnel, anti-army, anti-castle, or anti-''world''. The last referring to Noble Phantasms that directly interfere with ''reality'', especially in a large area -- overwriting it (EMIYA), tearing a hole in it (Gilgamesh), or large-scale RealityWarping (Qin Shi Huang) have all been seen.

** And individual Noble Phantasms also receive their own ranking based, roughly, on how much destruction they are capable of causing with a single use; anti-personnel, anti-army, anti-castle, or anti-''world''. The last being classified as capable of ending all life on Earth.

* All jutsu and missions in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' are ranked. Usually this scale goes D, C, B, A, S. Jutsu rankings indicate ease of learning and personal risk to the user, and a few Jutsu like rope escape and transformation are E-ranked. In the case of missions, however, it's a bit more realistic, as there is an organization giving out the rankings for a plausible purpose (assignment of missions to appropriately ranked ninja and charging of appropriate fees), and the rankings are shown to be mistaken on occasion (Tazuna lies about how dangerous protecting him is because the Land of Waves can't afford an A-rank mission).
** The ranking of village-affiliated ninja themselves, however, is limited to a four tier system of chain-of-command: Genin ("low ninja"), Chuunin ("middle ninja"), Jounin ("high ninja"), and Tokubetsu Jounin ("specialist high ninja"; despite how it sounds is actually lower ranked than a regular Jonin). This is sensible -- a village promotes a ninja who has proven he has gained the combat experience necessary to lead other ninja; this naturally goes hand-in-hand with becoming stronger, but a ninja can (and has) become the superior officer of more powerful ninja who were not ready to take command. However, if a ninja never takes the promotion tests, they will go unpromoted despite being appropriately qualified -- as Naruto himself proves, being absent when all of his friends retook and passed the Chunnin Exam, and thus remains a genin.
** There's also the Kage rank, which theoretically is supposed to go to the absolute no questions strongest ninja in the village. In practice, however, Konoha at least is decided by a majority vote of the village's Jonin and then waiting for approval from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. If you're severely lacking in the ability to mix it up with people who can legitimately claim to be Kage tier, but are incredibly famous, then you can get the position no questions asked.

* In the ''FireEmblem'' games, a character's ability to use a type of weapon (sword, lance, axe, bow) was ranked by S, A, B, C, D, and E, with S as the highest and E as the lowest.

* The ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' has Object Classes, the main four being Safe, Euclid, Keter and Thaumiel. The first three take into account how hard an [=SCP=] is to contain, not how powerful or dangerous it is. Safe means that an object can be easily contained - the rule of thumb is that if it can be contained by locking it in a box and leaving it alone, it's Safe. Euclid indicates a less easily contained object. [=SCPs=] that can move and think on their own are generally Euclid at a minimum. Keter is used for objects that are extremely difficult to contain, but again, they need not be dangerous ''per se''. Thaumiel is outside of this hierarchy and refers to [=SCPs=] used to contain other [=SCPs=]. More unusual Object Classes exist, but these are rarely used and lack formal definitions.

** Someone might be stuck in their current placement because the opponent(s) that they must defeat to advance just so happened to perfectly counter their abilities, or vice versa. Ayato becomes the top-ranking student of Seidoukan after defeating the previous holder of that rank, Kirin, but it's not because he is necessary a superior fighter, but rather because Kirin didn't take advantage of his time limit and was unaware of his true fighting style.[[note]]Ayato's FantasticFightingStyle, Amagiri Shinmei-''ryuu'', was developed by {{samurai}} for use on the battlefield, and allows him to be a MultiMeleeMaster (he finishes her by grappling). Toudou-''ryuu'', used by Kirin, is a post-Bakumatsu style meant for one-on-one dojo matches, giving her CripplingOverspecialization.[[/note]] Ayato even notes that this tactic would only work once (Kirin diversifies her repertoire as a consequence of this duel and their subsequent SempaiKohai friendship, which would make a rematch interesting).
** There are those that do not participate in duels either because they wish to hide their true strength, or because they don't care about it. [[TheGunslinger Saya]], for example, is roughly as powerful as 5th-ranked [[KillItWithFire Julis]], but is unranked.
** There are alternate power ranking charts on various fan websites, but every site uses its own formula and a lot of it is based on fan preferences, so results can be pretty wild.

* ''LightNovel/TheAsteriskWar'': There is an official ranking system of student battle skills and every participating student's names are recorded in a ranking book. This led to those recorded on the first page as "Page Ones", who get special privileges at their schools. Its repeatedly mentioned that this is not an accurate representation of the strength of each character, since multiple factors can determine your placement in the rankings. Examples:

** There are those that do not participate in duels either because they wish to hide their true strength, or because they don't care about it. [[TheGunslinger Saya]], for example, is roughly as powerful as 5th-ranked [[KillItWithFire Julis]], but is completely unranked.
** There are even various power ranking charts on various fan websites, but every site uses its own formula and a lot of it is based on fan preferences, so results can be pretty wild.

*** The entire reason for introducing the scouters and subsequently power levels was to show how silly it was. The villains constantly get the shaft because of their over reliance on battle power to determine who'd win.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'' uses a bounty system as a rough power ranking: The Marines issue a bounty on a pirate relative to the threat the Marines believe he represents. Inaccurate as it may be, it works because the characters believe in it; enough that pirates with high bounties can make lesser pirates pee their pants with their mere presence, and you get lines like "How could pirate X beat pirate Y? X Has a mere 50 million bounty while Y has 150 million! It can't be!" Of course, it's a direct tribute to Dragonball's power ratings.
** Your bounty is directly related to how much the World Government wants you off the seas. This doesn't necessarily have to relate to strength but it generally does, with notable exceptions like Nico Robin, who received a 79 million Berry bounty at the age of 8 for being able to read Poneglyphs, rather than being a strong fighter. This fact is directly exploited by Blackbeard, who, despite being one of the strongest men in the world, had a bounty of 0, due to staying off the radar until he was ready to make his move.
*** In reference to the 'threat level = bounty' idea, among groups with relatively similar power levels the highest bounties tend to go to the most AxCrazy. Examples include Donquixote Doflamingo of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and Eustass Kid of the Worst Generation. This makes sense since, all other things being equal, someone who goes around slaughtering people ForTheEvulz would be considered more of a threat than someone who raids the occasional merchant ship.
*** It's been stated that the most wanted man in the world is the Revolutionary Dragon. This probably has little to PowerLevels and more to do with the fact that he's the head of an organization that wants to violently overthrow the World Government. Basically he's the most wanted by the World Government in the same way that Osama Bin Ladin was the most wanted by the U.S. Government.

** A more random version is the numbers within the Level 5's. They aren't combat strength, although, with a few exceptions, it works as such. They seem to be an indication of how important they are to research. For instance, Misaka (ranked 3rd) and Mugino (ranked 4th) are by all appearances mostly equal in raw power (Mugino might even be more powerful in terms of pure destructive force), but Misaka's abilities have far more broad applications, and she can do a lot more with them. Meanwhile, Misaki (ranked 5th), has MindControl abilities that some would consider more effective and impressive than either of the aforementioned two, yet she's ranked lower. And Gunha is ranked 7th, the lowest, simply because nobody (including himself) has ''any idea'' what his power is or how it works. The only thing that's clear is that the #1 (Accelerator) and #2 (Kakine Teitoku) rankings are very obviously deserved: Accelerator is so broken that no one, not even Misaka, is even capable of touching him, and he can theoretically do virtually anything she can do, with even more power and precision; while Kakine's powers are so strong and versatile that he once fought off multiple other Level 5's at the same time, and he's capable of actually harming Accelerator, though the latter still destroyed him in combat.

* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', we actually rarely hear about rankings other than the S ranked members. However, it's somewhat subverted in that while the likes of Gray and Natsu are presumably A rank, they've both taken down S ranked mages without much difficulty and Erza admits to Jellal that an enraged Natsu is probably on par with her and Makarov agrees during the Laxus arc. They're wrong, of course, but Erza is just incomparably badass.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', [[NebulousEvilOrganisation the Guild of Calamitous Intent]] ranks their villains on an "Equally Matched Aggression Level" in order to make sure that they are paired with an appropriate nemesis. The system was started after a [[BoisterousWeakling overconfident villain]] attempted to kidnap Rusty Venture as a child and was [[CurbStompBattle very quickly murdered]] by [[PsychoForHire the Action Man]]. The system is based on the power and threat the villain poses to their adversary; the Monarch was ranked "9 or 10" when he had an army of {{Mooks}}, a floating fortress, and his [[HypercompetentSidekick his wife]] backing him up, but after he lost all of that and was left with just the equipment on his back and his old top henchman, he dropped to a 4 (and that was pushing it), though he managed to bring himself up to a 6 after a lot of trying. Augustus St. Cloud, an out-of-shape rich guy with a lot of old movie props who lost a fight to [[RetiredBadass an arthritic old woman]], was considered a 1.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', [[NebulousEvilOrganisation the Guild of Calamitous Intent]] ranks their villains on an "Equally Matched Aggression Level" in order to make sure that they are paired with an appropriate nemesis. The system was started after a [[BoisterousWeakling overconfident villain]] attempted to kidnap Rusty Venture as a child and was [[CurbStompBattle very quickly murdered]] by [[PsychoForHire the Action Man]]. The system is based on the power and threat the villain poses to their adversary; the Monarch was ranked "9 or 10" when he had an army of {{Mooks}}, a floating fortress, and his [[HypercompetentSidekick his wife]] backing him up, but after he lost all of that and was left with just the equipment on his back and his old top henchman, he dropped to a 4 (and that was pushing it), though he managed to bring himself up to a 6 after a lot of trying. Augustus St. Cloud, an out-of-shape rich guy with a lot of old movie props, was considered a 1.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', [[NebulousEvilOrganisation the Guild of Calamitous Intent]] ranks their villains on an "Equally Matched Aggression Level" in order to make sure that they are paired with an appropriate nemesis. The system was started after a [[BoisterousWeakling overconfident villain]] attempted to kidnap Rusty Venture as a child and was [[CurbStompBattle very quickly murdered]] by [[PsychoForHire Action Man]]. The system is based on the resources the villain has at their disposal: A villain with an army of henchmen and their own base counts as a Level 10 while a villain with nothing but the costume they're wearing and one henchman counts as a Level 4.

* Due to a combination of this and GameplayAndStorySegregation some of the cards in Magic: the Gathering for the legendary creatures from the varies novels tend to be all over the place. The standard example is that Gerrard Capashin, the hero of several of the novels, has a card that would lose in a straight up fight to most if not all of the foes he defeated over the course of the storyline. Moreover, due to balance reasons and the fact that 1/1 is the smallest a creature can get you can end up with bizarre situations like a dragonfly successfully killing an elite soldier.

** The DC equivalent to the OHOTMU, "Who's Who" used Superman as a vague baseline for upper-tier powerhouses ("As strong as", "not as strong as," "stronger than," etc.)