Really, it's not Tier 3 default is it? The way how I'm perceiving is that "Tier 3" = Tier Fairness? Rite? However, when you're with your buddies, you're Tier4-9001?
Don't think of it in Tiers. You can do a lot of crazy things with your magic, but you're not automatically guaranteed the ability to defeat 5 swordsmen.