tier list of versions:
1: 1.12.2 solid performance, by far most common for modding and has dependable forge versions and mod support
2: 1.8.9 best version for pvp, ill always use this on pvp servers because 1.9 and after just sucks in every way. 1.8.9 also has some decent modding support
3: 1.16.5 best “newer” version. plenty of new features with solid performance and plenty of mods on both forge and fabric. having both forge and fabric mods is special to these newer versions which is cool, and even with multiple modloaders 1.16.5 has consistently good performance (for me at least). also it has hd heads and will be the glory version of tf for me, thats what i think about when i think of playing tf. would be higher but it doesnt have the same level of support as 1.12.2 and it has post 1.9 pvp
4: 1.7.10 super old and i wouldnt use it except for classic mods like the og mcheli. before 1.12.2 this was the best but it has been replaced by 1.12.2. still good tho for mods that were abandoned and not ported to 1.12.2
1.10.2 was a popular one for like 5 seconds, 1.14.4 too, but 1.13 never really got anything, 1.15 had the same deal, and 1.17 and newer dont have great support/performance