This is Lan Pitt’s list:
http://www.newsarama.com/18781-top-10-x-men-lineups-of-all-time.html
If I had to arrange his list, I would have started with Peter David’s X-Factor. Besides the Doc Samson issue, it never really did anything for me.
What I was mostly interested in, was which members showed up the most.
Wolverine, six times: New, Magneto, Outback, Blue Team, Astonishing, All New All Different
Cyclops, five times: New, First Class, Blue Team, Astonishing, All New All Different
Colossus, five times!
Jean Grey, four times: New, First Class, Gold Team, All New All Different
Beast, four times: New, First Class, Blue Team, Astonishing,
Storm, four times: Magneto, Outback, Gold Team, All New All Different
Nightcrawler, three times: Excalibur, Magneto, All New All Different
Kitty Pryde, three times: Excalibur, Magneto, Astonishing
Rogue, three times: Magneto, Outback, Blue Team
Psylocke, three times: Magneto, Outback, Blue Team
Then there are those on only two lists: Wolfsbane, Emma Frost, Havok, Forge, Jubilee, Angel/Archangel, Iceman
How interesting if the two times group formed a book? Several of those characters have never spent much time together. Emma/Havok would be interesting to see without Scott in the room. Warren/Bobby don’t have much history besides the First Class, Defenders and Gold Team, a lot more time apart than together. I could do without Forge, and he is busy with Cable’s X-Force. I know, ideally, Peter David would be the writer of this team, but I can’t decide if this would be a core title or more of a satellite title. It does feature both Emma and Havok, so in my brain, it is a A-list book, but the rest of the members are holding it back. Plus, the roster is all over the place. Havok is running his own Avengers team, Emma is co-leading Uncanny X-Men, Angel has no memories and with Iceman, both are at the Jean Grey School, not even sure what is happening to Wolfsbane. Last I heard, she was looking for her child she had with the wolf prince. Forge is with X-Force and Jubilee is already on an A-list book.
I apparently ran with that idea. It would have to wait until after Battle of the Atom, plus that roster would never exist. I completely forgot Emma and Bobby, which I am pretty sure they haven’t worked together for an extended period of time since she had control of his body. I also can’t decide if Wolfsbane being on this team automatically makes this a B-Team or not. She was on Wolverine’s X-Force, so she has been to the big league, but she doesn’t stay there long. Also not sure of this is a field team or more if a rag tag group used in a mini to further the larger plot? Has to be the second one, as what could keep them together, the success of their first mission most likely.
I think the general rule to making a classic roster is:
Have Kitty Pryde (of course) and Nightcrawler
At least one of the First Class members, I prefer Cyclops
At least one from the All New All Different team, besides Nightcrawler
That at least gives you four members, so throw in no more than four more members and have a good time.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 