IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a Pizza TOPPING tier list. We are not discussing crusts or sauces at this time. The basic pizza is described within the topic.
Smogon is all about the tiering process so I think it's time we tackle something near and dear to all of out hearts -- pizza toppings. I realize that pizza toppings vary very wildly but this is a basic tier list. For our list we will be considering many different aspects of the topping. Certain pizza toppings are good enough to be built around or even stand alone. These toppings will obviously find their place higher up in the list than other toppings. Certain toppings are very niche and offer great support for the larger toppings but bring very little to the table themselves and will be placed appropriately. Extra cheese and sauce are not considered toppings because they make up the pizza body. The standard pizza that we will be assuming that the toppings are placed on will be a thick crust, red sauce, and mozzarella cheese pizza.
Remember to be civil in discussion! Just because you main it doesn't make it good; no spamming how much you think Anchovies are S-tier. Also just because something is low tier doesn't mean it isn't worth trying. Who knows, you might be the one to show us all how wrong we all are about pineapple.
S-Tier
Pepperoni
Sausage
These two classic toppings find themselves as the undisputed strongest pizza toppings of the bunch. They both bring a high amount of flavor (and sodium) to the table and work great by themselves. We struggled to find a vegetarian option that could stand alone as well as these two.
High Tier
Mushroom
Olives
Bacon
Spinach
All 4 of these toppings find themselves lacking a certain something that make them S-tier but still offer a good amount of flavor. These toppings function very well by themselves on a pizza but need a little bit of help from other flavors to make them truly shine. Mushrooms and Bacon are extremely good assist toppings as well and will lend themselves very well to almost any pizza.
Mid Tier
Chicken
Pineapple
Onions
Artichoke Hearts
Sun-dried tomatoes
These toppings need to be a part of something bigger. Standalone, they simply do not make a strong pizza. In the case of chicken, it needs better support to make itself stand out. Pineapple and onions themselves offer a nice flavor and are often one dimensional. Artichoke hearts bring a nice flavor but need other vegetarian support to kick it up a bit.
Low Tier
Ham
Jalapenos
Tomatoes
Ground Beef (Hamburger)
These toppings are often very polarizing. They may contribute to a pizza as a whole but do not offer anything too special. Tomatoes simply make the pizza soggy and bland. Jalapenos and anchovies are very controversial and by sheer virtue that they only work for a certain few dropped into low tier. Ham is a special case. By itself, ham is a very boring topping but when paired with pineapple the pair gets a significant boost.
drcossack tier
Bell Peppers
Anchovies
Never going to see this on any of my pizzas.
Bans
Ham + Pineapple (The Huy Proposal)
Ham and pineapple are underwhelming toppings on their own, but when sharing the same pizza they create an overcentralising force on pizza toppings. Both Ham and Pineapple will still be allowed on separate pizzas, but having Ham with Pineapple on the same pizza is now banned.
I know this list is missing some toppings so feel free to start a discussion about your topping so we can find an accurate place for it.
Smogon is all about the tiering process so I think it's time we tackle something near and dear to all of out hearts -- pizza toppings. I realize that pizza toppings vary very wildly but this is a basic tier list. For our list we will be considering many different aspects of the topping. Certain pizza toppings are good enough to be built around or even stand alone. These toppings will obviously find their place higher up in the list than other toppings. Certain toppings are very niche and offer great support for the larger toppings but bring very little to the table themselves and will be placed appropriately. Extra cheese and sauce are not considered toppings because they make up the pizza body. The standard pizza that we will be assuming that the toppings are placed on will be a thick crust, red sauce, and mozzarella cheese pizza.
Remember to be civil in discussion! Just because you main it doesn't make it good; no spamming how much you think Anchovies are S-tier. Also just because something is low tier doesn't mean it isn't worth trying. Who knows, you might be the one to show us all how wrong we all are about pineapple.
S-Tier
Pepperoni
Sausage
These two classic toppings find themselves as the undisputed strongest pizza toppings of the bunch. They both bring a high amount of flavor (and sodium) to the table and work great by themselves. We struggled to find a vegetarian option that could stand alone as well as these two.
High Tier
Mushroom
Olives
Bacon
Spinach
All 4 of these toppings find themselves lacking a certain something that make them S-tier but still offer a good amount of flavor. These toppings function very well by themselves on a pizza but need a little bit of help from other flavors to make them truly shine. Mushrooms and Bacon are extremely good assist toppings as well and will lend themselves very well to almost any pizza.
Mid Tier
Chicken
Pineapple
Onions
Artichoke Hearts
Sun-dried tomatoes
These toppings need to be a part of something bigger. Standalone, they simply do not make a strong pizza. In the case of chicken, it needs better support to make itself stand out. Pineapple and onions themselves offer a nice flavor and are often one dimensional. Artichoke hearts bring a nice flavor but need other vegetarian support to kick it up a bit.
Low Tier
Ham
Jalapenos
Tomatoes
Ground Beef (Hamburger)
These toppings are often very polarizing. They may contribute to a pizza as a whole but do not offer anything too special. Tomatoes simply make the pizza soggy and bland. Jalapenos and anchovies are very controversial and by sheer virtue that they only work for a certain few dropped into low tier. Ham is a special case. By itself, ham is a very boring topping but when paired with pineapple the pair gets a significant boost.
drcossack tier
Bell Peppers
Anchovies
Never going to see this on any of my pizzas.
Bans
Ham + Pineapple (The Huy Proposal)
Ham and pineapple are underwhelming toppings on their own, but when sharing the same pizza they create an overcentralising force on pizza toppings. Both Ham and Pineapple will still be allowed on separate pizzas, but having Ham with Pineapple on the same pizza is now banned.
I know this list is missing some toppings so feel free to start a discussion about your topping so we can find an accurate place for it.
