Call of Duty: Characters Overview

The Call of Duty franchise has introduced 618 characters across decades of games, timelines, universes, and alternate realities—from WWII soldiers and futuristic operatives to undead fighters and comic book crossovers. This compact guide presents every known CoD character in a one-line format to help fans and lore explorers identify key figures quickly and easily. This overview keeps it fast, simple, and reference-ready.

Characters in Call of Duty

The Call of Duty a sprawling universe filled with deep lore, unforgettable heroes, complex villains, and branching timelines across wars, countries, and dimensions. Over the years, CoD has introduced 618 characters — from main protagonists like Alex Mason and Captain Price, to lesser-known operatives, antagonists, and fan-favorite multiplayer icons.

This includes:

• Cod characters rooted in real history and fictional conspiracies
• Call of Duty characters unique to Zombies mode, each tied to supernatural lore
• Multiplayer-only operators, some inspired by global special forces or crossover celebrities
• Recurring figures in Black Ops, Modern Warfare, World at War, Ghosts, and beyond

With over 600+ CoD characters across campaigns, multiplayer, and Zombies, many are tied to unlockable rewards — from story milestones to seasonal content. If you want to skip the grind and unlock gear faster, CoD Boosting services for BO6 and Warzone can help you jump straight into high-tier rewards tied to your favorite Call of Duty characters.

Main Protagonists CoD Characters

In this section, we spotlight the main protagonists across the Call of Duty franchise — the central figures you control or follow in each major campaign. These heroes, soldiers, operatives, and icons represent the core of COD narratives across the decades.

There are 77 confirmed main protagonists in the Call of Duty franchise — below is a streamlined table highlighting the most important and recognizable ones, each with a short note on their role. Most Popular Main Protagonists in Call of Duty:

Character	Description
Alejandro Vargas	Mexican Special Forces leader in Modern Warfare II reboot.
Alex Keller	CIA operative aiding Task Force 141 in Modern Warfare 2019+.
Andrews	Player character in COD: WWII campaign missions.
Arthur Kingsley	British paratrooper and Vanguard’s lead hero.
Charles "Chuck" Walker	US Army protagonist in Finest Hour.
Derek "Frost" Westbrook	Delta Force operator in MW3.
Farah Karim	Rebel commander fighting oppression in Modern Warfare reboot.
Frank Woods	Black Ops icon, Mason’s close ally.
Jason Hudson	CIA operative across Black Ops campaigns.
John "Soap" MacTavish	SAS veteran in MW trilogy.
John Price	SAS captain and Modern Warfare legend.
Lucas Riggs	Aussie demolition expert in Vanguard.
Michael Rooker	Actor appearing as himself in Zombies mode.
Michael Shaw	Campaign lead in Modern Warfare mobile content.
Paul Jackson	USMC squad member in COD4: Modern Warfare.
Player (Black Ops III)	Custom cyber soldier in BO3 campaign.
Polina Petrova	Soviet sniper in Vanguard, based on real WWII women.
Gary "Roach" Sanderson	Task Force 141 operative in MW2.

Character	Description
Alex Mason	CIA operative, mind control victim in Black Ops.
Bell (Cold War)	Amnesiac CIA operative central to Black Ops Cold War.
Bohater Wojciech	Polish infantry protagonist in COD3.
C. Miller	US Marine in Pacific campaign of World at War.
Camille "Rousseau" Denis	French resistance fighter in WWII.
Dimitri Belikov	KGB agent working with Bell in Cold War.
Dimitri Petrenko	Soviet soldier in World at War.
Grigori Weaver	CIA handler in Black Ops series.
Jack Mitchell	Ex-USMC turned Atlas soldier in Advanced Warfare.
Kate Laswell	CIA handler and ally to Price in MW reboot.
Kyle "Gaz" Garrick	SAS operator turned Task Force 141 member.
Logan Walker	Ghosts’ silent protagonist.
Nick Reyes	Captain of UNSA in Infinite Warfare.
Ronald "Red" Daniels	American infantryman in COD: WWII.
Simon "Ghost" Riley	Fan-favorite TF141 member with tragic past.
Rodolfo Parra	Mexican SF ally in MW2 reboot.
Viktor Reznov	Soviet war hero turned anti-hero in BO/WaW.
Wade Jackson	Fighter pilot in Pacific campaign of Vanguard.

These were the most recognized main protagonists in the franchise. For the full list of all 77 Call of Duty protagonists, click here Protagonists.

Supporting & Secondary CoD Characters

While Call of Duty's main protagonists get the spotlight, it’s the supporting characters who fill the world with depth, emotion, and tension. From loyal squadmates and intelligence officers to rogue agents and rebel fighters, these figures often serve as the backbone of major campaigns and multiplayer stories. Some are unforgettable companions in battle, while others vanish after a mission — yet all contribute to the franchise's iconic status.

In the huge list of Call of Duty characters, especially in Black Ops, Modern Warfare, and older World War games, many supporting characters play bigger roles than they first seem. Some started as side characters and later became main heroes in sequels or reboots — like Grigori Weaver or Kate Laswell. Others stayed loyal teammates or memorable allies, even if they didn’t survive the war.

Below is a list of the most popular and important supporting characters in the Call of Duty franchise.

• Grigori Weaver: CIA operative, Black Ops series; lost his eye to Dragovich, key ally to Mason.
• Jason Hudson: Cold War CIA handler for Mason and Woods, known for moral ambiguity.
• Kate Laswell: Intelligence officer guiding Task Force 141 in Modern Warfare reboot.
• Farid: CIA double agent in Black Ops II, involved in a tragic loyalty dilemma.
• Kamarov: Russian informant and rebel leader in Modern Warfare series.
• Elias T. Walker: Father of Logan and Hesh in Call of Duty: Ghosts, Ghost Team commander.
• Lerch: Shadow Company enforcer and Warzone antagonist.
• Russell Adler: Cold War CIA operative, Black Ops Cold War, leads secret operations.
• Lawrence Sims: Sassy CIA field operative and tech expert under Adler in BOCW.
• Helen Park: MI6 analyst in Black Ops Cold War, cool-headed and tactical.
• Ilona: Former Spetsnaz and loyal ally in Advanced Warfare.
• Derek “Frost” Westbrook: Delta Force operative in MW3, survives Operation Kingfish.
• Joseph Bowman: Woods' right-hand in Black Ops, suffers a grim fate in captivity.
• Samantha Maxis: Originally from Zombies lore, now a recurring character with major narrative impact.
• Sergei Kozin: Mysterious prisoner and Maxis’ protector in Black Ops Cold War.
• Rodolfo Parra: Loyal Mexican special forces operative and partner to Alejandro Vargas.
• Laswell’s Shadow Contacts: Various off-the-books agents across Modern Warfare ops.

We’ve spotlighted some of the most notable supporting characters across the series. You can find the complete list of secondary Call of Duty characters here - Playable Characters.

Villains & Antagonists CoD Characters

The Call of Duty franchise has no shortage of unforgettable villains — from cold-blooded warlords to backstabbing commanders and global terrorists. These Call of Duty characters often drive the main conflict, shaping missions, betrayals, and major plot twists across campaigns.

Some villains are central to entire story arcs, like Vladimir Makarov in Modern Warfare or Raul Menendez in Black Ops. Others, like Imran Zakhaev or General Shepherd, leave their mark with iconic betrayals and brutal endings. This section highlights the most dangerous, feared, and famous villains in COD history — including those returning in the Black Ops 6 timeline.

• Vladimir Makarov: Ruthless ultranationalist terrorist leader and main Modern Warfare villain.
• Imran Zakhaev: Soviet-era antagonist who triggers World War III in the original MW trilogy.
• General Shepherd: Betrays Task Force 141 in MW2 to spark a global war.
• Raul Menendez: Charismatic but deadly anti-globalist insurgent in the Black Ops series.
• Frederick Steiner: Nazi scientist behind mind control experiments in Black Ops.
• Dragovich: Soviet war criminal and main antagonist of Black Ops.
• Gabriel Rorke: Former Ghost turned antagonist in Call of Duty: Ghosts.
• Victor Zakhaev: Son of Imran Zakhaev, continues the family’s terrorist legacy.
• Manuel Noriega: Real-world dictator featured as an ally-turned-enemy in Black Ops II.
• Stitch (Vikhor Kuzmin): Ex-KGB agent and primary Cold War villain in Warzone’s narrative.

These were the most infamous villains in Call of Duty history — but many more exist. Browse the full villain roster here - Antagonists.

Multiplayer & Black Ops Zombies CoD Characters

Not all COD characters are tied to the campaign. Many fan-favorite Operators and fighters exist solely in Multiplayer or Zombies modes, offering unique backstories, gear, and abilities without appearing in traditional story arcs. Some are original creations inspired by real-world special forces; others are wild crossovers from movies, comic books, and even pro athletes.

In Zombies, characters range from quirky scientists and soldiers to time-traveling legends like Richtofen or Tank Dempsey. They’re often trapped in supernatural chaos — fighting off undead hordes, completing dark rituals, or navigating twisted dimensions tied to the Dark Aether.

• Tank Dempsey: Fan-favorite Zombies hero — brash U.S. Marine with a vendetta against undead.
• Edward Richtofen: German scientist obsessed with the multiverse and Element 115.
• Nikto: Cold and masked Operator with a revenge arc in Modern Warfare.
• Morte (Sergio Sulla): Stylish gunslinger Operator from Italy, exclusive to Multiplayer.
• Ruin (Donnie Walsh): Specialist in Black Ops 4 known for his Gravity Slam ability.
• Spectre: Blade-wielding stealth Operator featured in Black Ops III.
• Wraith (Freya Helvig): Covert assassin involved in Warzone and Zombies narrative events.
• Lerch (Marcus Ortega): Leader of Shadow Company in Warzone — brutal and imposing.
• Kitsune (Kaori Tanaka): Cyberpunk-style hacker seen in Black Ops Cold War.
• Zoe “Roze” Helms: Elite Operator with iconic all-black skin — popular in competitive play.

Check out the full list of multiplayer and Zombies characters here - Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies Characters.

Characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

The Black Ops series is one of the most expansive and lore-rich in the entire Call of Duty franchise. With its mix of Cold War intrigue, mind control experiments, shadowy CIA programs, and time-warping Zombies content, the Black Ops timeline includes some of the most iconic Call of Duty characters ever created.

As Black Ops 6 introduces new operatives and revives familiar names, many players are also diving into Ranked Play to put their skill (and knowledge of these characters) to the test. So, BO6’s Ranked Play is now a key part of the multiplayer experience — with exclusive seasonal rewards tied to your rank.

• Alex Mason: CIA operative and the main protagonist of BO1 — brainwashed in MK-Ultra experiments.
• Frank Woods: Mason’s battle-hardened ally — gruff, loyal, and a mainstay across multiple games.
• Jason Hudson: Cold, calculated CIA handler — integral to Mason and Woods' missions.
• David Mason: Son of Alex Mason and lead character in Black Ops II — continues the family legacy.
• Russell Adler: New face in Cold War — ex-CIA with mysterious motives, ties to Perseus plot.
• Bell: Mind-controlled operative in Cold War — whose past is shaped by player choices.
• Grigori Weaver: Russian-American CIA agent, returns in Cold War and BO6 — heavily tied to Dark Aether.
• Park & Lazar: MI6 agents and Cold War operatives — key roles in deniable operations.
• Viktor Reznov: Soviet soldier and psychological ghost — blurs the line between ally and illusion.
• Menendez (Raul): Complex villain from BO2 — charismatic leader of Cordis Die movement.
• Perseus: Codename for the Soviet spy network — central to Cold War and BO6 campaigns.

These are just the standout names from the Black Ops timeline. You can find the full Black Ops character database here - Characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Modern Warfare Series CoD Characters

The Modern Warfare saga is home to some of the most iconic Call of Duty characters ever created. Starting with Captain Price in the original trilogy, and continuing through the Reboot timeline (2019–2023), these characters form the backbone of Task Force 141 and Shadow Company — two of the most powerful factions in the franchise.

• Captain John Price: Legendary SAS leader and recurring main protagonist across all Modern Warfare games.
• Soap MacTavish: Loyal and tough Scottish operative — fan-favorite since MW2.
• Simon “Ghost” Riley: Skull-masked elite soldier with a mysterious past — became a breakout star in MW2.
• Gaz (Kyle Garrick): Reboot-era British operative who joins Task Force 141 after a strong debut.
• General Shepherd: Once a trusted superior — turned major antagonist in both timelines.
• Farah Karim: Freedom fighter and leader of Urzikstan rebels — joins the main team in MW2019.
• Alex Keller: CIA operative turned war hero — sacrifices and later returns in Rebirth storyline.
• Graves (Phillip Graves): Shadow Company commander — known for betrayal and his role in MWII.
• Kate Laswell: CIA handler supporting TF141 — strategic and politically savvy.
• Nikolai: Russian contact and logistics expert — provides essential support to the team.

Here we covered the essential characters from the Modern Warfare series. Explore the complete Modern Warfare character lineup here - Modern Warfare Call of Duty characters.

Conclusion

Understanding the full spectrum of personalities adds real context to every mission, betrayal, and battle. From main heroes like Alex Mason and Captain Price to lesser-known operatives and Zombies specialists, every figure has helped shape the legacy of the Call of Duty characters you fight beside (or against).

In total, there are 618 playable characters across the franchise — each adding depth to its storytelling, gameplay mechanics, or multiplayer flair. If you’re looking to focus on the gameplay and skip repetitive grinding, BO6 Boosts can help you stay ahead — especially when new characters or events drop each season.

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• 17.04.2025 - Call of Duty: Characters overview published.