Why each class is in its tier: 2019 update!

[Luccan]

They actually put cleric in tier two. Which is odd. Also archivist in tier three. Which is inexplicable. And, as you note, favored soul in tier four. Which is hyper-inexplicable. What an odd set of ratings.

I mean, if they really think the cleric spell list is bad enough to drop a prepared full-caster from T1, I guess those follow, sort of. Except that an archivist can access druid spells, which are the main reason druid should be T1, so yeah, inexplicable.

Edit: Actually yeah, I have more questions. Apparently the Spirit Shaman is T2 because it doesn't have the same class features as a druid, not because of the limits on spells prepared. Wild Shape and Animal Companion don't put you on T1 if your spell list isn't good enough to be there on its own. Also, Ranger somehow rates in a lower tier than the other two half-caster martials.