How we rank
Loadout Meta is a meta-ranking: instead of relying on one reviewer’s opinion, we collect the verdicts of many independent reviews and summarize them in one place. We never copy reviews. We record each source’s verdict, summarize in our own words and link to the original so you can read it yourself.
Two scores, one tier
Pro score (0–100). The average of the verdicts from independent professional reviews, each converted to a 0–100 scale. A 9/10 becomes 90, 4.5/5 becomes 90, and so on. The tier is based on the Pro score only.
Player score (0–100). How players feel about the product after actually using it, based on community discussions and user feedback. It catches things lab reviews can miss, like long-term durability, quality control and comfort over months. Where it’s built on fewer than five community sources, we label it Early.
The tiers
| Tier | Pro score | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| S | 92–100 | The meta. Best in class, buy with confidence. |
| A | 80–91 | Excellent. A small trade-off keeps it off the top. |
| B | 70–79 | Solid value, great for a specific budget or grip. |
| C | 60–69 | Outclassed. Only worth it on a deep discount. |
Within a tier, products are ordered by score, so a 98 ranks above a 93 even though both are S tier.
Didn’t make the cut. Noteworthy products that score below 60, often hyped launches that disappointed, are listed separately under the tier list.
Ranking pending. A product needs at least three pro reviews before it gets a tier. Brand-new launches show as pending until enough verdicts are in.
Split verdicts
When the Pro score and the Player score differ by 15 points or more, the product gets a Split verdict badge. Sometimes players love a product that looks average on paper, like an older budget favorite. Sometimes pros rate a product highly that players report problems with over time. The product page explains the gap.
Budget tiers
We borrow from Counter-Strike’s economy: Eco is budget gear that punches above its price, Force buy is the sweet spot most players should aim for, and Full buy is no-compromise endgame gear.
Independence and affiliate links
Some “Check price” links are affiliate links (marked with ). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never affect scores or tiers.* The numbers come from the sources listed on each product page. See our affiliate disclosure.