Making Fanfiction Tournament with characters in different tiers. Should optional equipment, preparation, animalistic intelligence, character absorbed

[FreshStart1619]

I'm thinking about making a crossover fanfiction with different franchises and placing each character in those franchise their respective tier. The issue is that characters have optional equipment and preparation that puts them in completely different tiers from their base. If one character is in tier 8 in their base but has a gun that they sometimes use to harm beings in tier 2, would it be fair to put that character in the same tier? Would it be fair if one character wasn't allowed to have optional equipment and preparation but others do? Also some characters have animalistic intelligence. Should a monster that can't really think for itself be allowed in a tournament? Characters also can be in a different tier if they've absorbed or fused with another character? Should those powers be allowed? Interested in hearing thoughts