Top 10 Call of Duty Characters You Need to Know

Call of Duty has been the leading first-person shooter for over two decades. It's not just for its gameplay but for memorable characters and stories.

Following, I will introduce Call of Duty best 10 characters to you. Maybe you could unlock special content and resources through Call of Duty Mobile Top Up if you're playing it.

Roles in Call of Duty

Characters in Call of Duty are divided into three main categories:

Playable characters:

These are the characters you can directly control and play. You control everything they do — running, shooting, following orders, surviving firefights.

For example, in Modern Warfare, you are Soap. In Black Ops, you’re Alex Mason. What they see, you see. What they go through, you go through. Your choices carry the mission and stories forward.

Supporting characters:

Your teammates, commanders, or allies. You can’t directly control them, but they are important. They cover you in firefights, share intel, or give orders.

Villains:

These are the bad guys. Your key enemies with their own motives and purposes. They may plan attacks, create conflicts, take hostages, or betray your team. It is they who make the game exciting and tense. Your mission is to capture them and kill them.

Top 10 Call of Duty Characters

1. Captain Price

Captain John Price is one of the most iconic characters in the Modern Warfare series. He leads Task Force 141 and first appeared in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in 2007. He’s known for his calm, strong leadership and that signature mustache.

You’ll find Price in almost every Modern Warfare game. In the original trilogy, he was the guy leading the charge, pulling off insane ops. In the newer games, he’s more like a mentor.

No matter how bad things get, Price always brings the team back together. His leadership isn’t about shouting the loudest but making the right call under pressure.

He is dedicated to protecting the world and has overcome impossible odds again and again. This cements his status as one of the best Call of Duty characters.

2. Simon "Ghost" Riley

Ghost may be the most iconic Call of Duty character. His skull-patterned balaclava and mysterious background stimulate players' imaginations.

Ghost first appeared in Modern Warfare 2. When the series was rebooted in Modern Warfare, he returned in Modern Warfare II as an important member of Task Force 141.

Ghost doesn’t say much, which just proves that the most effective soldiers don't need to be conspicuous. He wears a skull mask, keeps his head down, and gets the missions done. Ghost always keeps calm and professional when others are loud or reckless.

As a big fan of Call of Duty, I’ve always liked Ghost because he feels real. Unlike other loud heroes and over-the-top moments in this game, he’s quiet but always shows up at the right time.

When I choose Ghost in multiplayer, it’s not just because the mask looks cool. He represents what a real operator should be — focused, loyal, and ready to die for the mission.

3. John "Soap" MacTavish

Soap is Captain Price’s most trusted teammate in many games. He starts as a new soldier in Call of Duty 4, but he quickly proves his worth. You’ll never forget him once you hear his Scottish accent and see his signature mohawk.

Soap first appeared in the original Modern Warfare games and later came back in a new version of MWII. I played through the original trilogy, and I found Soap's journey from rookie to commander easy to relate to. By the time of Modern Warfare 2, he’s not just following the order, but making calls professionally.

He wasn’t just a normal teammate, but the one who had your back when things went wrong. His story shows that being a hero is not just about surviving or getting credit. It is about doing the right thing, even if it costs a lot.

4. Frank Woods

Master Sergeant Frank Woods is a battle-scarred Vietnam War veteran in Black Ops. Woods is definitely one of the funniest characters. But more than that, he’s a real soldier who never gives up, no matter how tough things get.

He has many quotes, such as “Looks don’t count for shit in the jungle,” and “I've got your back, Mason.” Woods appears across multiple Black Ops games, and you can actually see him get older over time.

His friendship with Alex Mason is the core of the original Black Ops story. If you’ve played Black Ops, you will know Woods isn’t just a side character—he’s the voice of reason in a world full of lies.

His loyalty and raw honesty make him one of the most human characters in the series. For veteran players, Woods feels like the older brother who’s seen it all and still fights.

5. Alex Mason

Alex Mason is the protagonist of the original Black Ops game. He's a brainwashed operative caught in Cold War conspiracies. His story involves the famous "numbers" mystery.

Mason returns in Black Ops Cold War as both a playable character and supporting figure. He bridges generations of players familiar with different timelines.

Playing through Mason’s missions, I realized that war isn’t just about guns and explosions. Some of the hardest fights happen inside your head.

Mason’s story feels different because you will never be sure what’s real and what’s not. That sense of confusion was something most shooter games didn’t do back then.

6. Vladimir Makarov

Makarov stands as one of gaming's most notorious villains. As leader of the Ultranationalists, he masterminded global conflicts across multiple games. His airport massacre in Modern Warfare 2 is still one of gaming's most controversial moments.

As a villain, Makarov works because he’s not just evil for the sake of it. He believes in his cause, which makes him more dangerous. Every mission related to Makarov feels heavier because he’s always three steps ahead.

7. Viktor Reznov

Viktor Reznov originates in Call of Duty: World at War as a Soviet commander. He’s loud, passionate, and full of fire.

Reznov shows what real leadership looks like in the toughest moments. His famous line, "Take the fight to the enemy!" inspires all people.

In Black Ops, things get tricky with Reznov. Because he shows up in Mason’s memories, but he might not actually exist.

As a player, you have to piece things together. It’s not just about shooting but understanding the story. Reznov may not be physically present, but his voice and ideas still drive Mason’s actions. That’s what makes him powerful.

8. Farah Karim

Farah Karim represents Call of Duty's evolution in female character development. Introduced in the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot, she’s not just a background character or someone’s love interest.

She’s the leader of Urzikstan’s fight for freedom. Her tactical expertise and leadership skills make her equal to her male counterparts.

She’s tough, smart, and in charge. You see her making decisions, running missions, and standing strong beside Price and Soap. Farah becomes a playable character in Modern Warfare II and III.

For players who’ve been around since the early days, Farah’s presence marks a shift. Older games didn’t give women real roles. But Farah did. Her family was taken, her country is under attack, but she keeps fighting.

9. Nikolai

You never see his file. You never know his real name. But when things go wrong, there’s one voice you pray to hear over the radio: “Nikolai to Bravo Six. I’m inbound.”

Nikolai serves as a crucial Russian ally across the Modern Warfare series. Operating as an informant against the Ultranationalists, he provides transport and intelligence to Western forces. He appears repeatedly in Call of Duty 4, Modern Warfare 2, and 3. He always has a chopper, a plan, and great timing.

He doesn’t wear a skull mask or drop one-liners. He saves your team from a burning city and appears when all hope is lost.

Nikolai might not be the main character, but he’s one of the most reliable characters in the series. In a series full of betrayals and broken promises, he’s one of the few who are always here. No questions. No agenda. Just results.

That’s why, after all these years, hearing “Nikolai to Bravo Six” still feels like a reset button. Doesn’t matter how bad it’s gone. As long as he’s on comms, you’re not dead yet.

10. Raul Menendez

Menendez is the primary antagonist in Black Ops II. But he isn’t just another bad guy who wants power or revenge. He’s different because you understand why he’s angry. That’s what makes him dangerous and memorable.

He grew up poor in Nicaragua. As a kid, he lost his family because of actions tied to the U.S. government and the CIA. Those events shaped him. He became a terrorist and built a movement called Cordis Die, made up of people who feel left behind and angry at the system.

The game gives you choices: Menendez lives or dies. That was new for Call of Duty. It made players think: Is he pure evil? Or is he someone pushed too far?

As a player, facing Menendez doesn’t feel like just stopping a bomb or killing a madman. He makes you think who is really to blame. He’s not loud or flashy like other villains. He’s calm, smart, and always two steps ahead.

Final Thoughts

After years of playing Call of Duty, one thing is clear: the characters are what keep us coming back. The guns, maps, and killstreaks change, but the stories stay with us.

The next time you pick up your controller, take a moment to think about who you’re fighting for. Because in Call of Duty, it’s never just about the mission. It’s about the people beside you.