The light novel, manga, and anime series The Rising of the Shield Hero features a diverse cast of characters. The visuals of the characters were designed by Minami Seira and their stories were created by Aneko Yusagi. Main characters Naofumi Iwatani
The Shield Hero and protagonist, was a university student who was summoned from another world after finding a book about the Four Heroes. Originally an open minded person, he becomes cynical and distrustful of others due to being looked down by his fellow heroes, subjected to religious prejudice from citizens, and being robbed and falsely accused of attempted rape by Malty. It is only after Raphtalia defended him and proclaimed her loyalty that Naofumi began to slowly open up to those around him and realizing his mistakes. Viewing his role as a Hero burdensome, having been summoned against his will, Naofumi shows little remorse in using underhanded tactics to ensure the survival of his party despite the criticism of his fellow heroes. Generally reluctant to trust strangers, often asking to be paid upfront or using slave curses to prevent lying, he tries his best to live up to the expectations of those who have placed their faith in him or treat him as an equal.
Raphtalia
The Vassal Katana Hero and main heroine. Originally living in a village on Melromarc's coast, is a Tanuki-Raccoon demi-human who was left orphaned in the wake of the first Wave to strike the world. Shortly after, she and her fellow villagers were captured and sold into slavery by Melromarc's Royal Knights. First purchased by a nobleman, she is physically and emotionally tortured out of racial resentment towards demi-humans and left a shell of her former self. Near death and suffering from panic attacks, she was sold back and later purchased by Naofumi who, unable to fight himself, desired to use her as his sword in the coming Waves. Under Naofumi's protection, Raphtalia becomes a skilled sword-fighter and is able to find closure from her past traumas. Able to see past Naofumi's cynical nature, she falls in love with him and does her best to help him overcome his resentment towards others and losing himself to the Shield of Wrath, even volunteering to have her slave curse re-applied after it is forcibly removed as a sign of devotion. It is later revealed that through her Tanuki heritage, she is an heir to the throne of Q'Ten Lo, her father having eloped to Melromarc and putting her at odds with her distant relatives. Technically a 10 year old girl, being a demi-human, Raphtalia's body is able to age to that of a young woman as her levels increase. Due to this, she often gets annoyed when Naofumi treats her as his daughter or is oblivious to her feelings; the latter believing she is only focused on getting stronger. While traveling in Kizuna's world, she is chosen as the wielder of the Vassal Katana (Sever Star Hammer in the web novel). She comes to specialize in Light/Dark magic through which she can generate illusions and turn invisible. Through her royal heritage, she also gains the ability to pacify some of the abilities of the Legendary & Vassal Weapon wielders. Raphtalia was selected as Best Girl at the 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020.
Filo
A Filolial Queen. Hatching her from an egg purchased from the Beloukas, is the youngest of Naofumi's allies. She is part of a monster species called Filolials that enjoy pulling carts, and having been raised by a Hero, develops into a Queen. As a Queen, she resembles a large flightless owl and possesses higher attack strength and speed than normal members of her species. In addition, she possesses the unique ability to shapeshift into a young blonde girl with wings, retaining the strength of her true form. Young and boisterous, she has a short attention span, has a ravenous appetite, and often fights with Raphtalia and Gaelion for Naofumi's attention. Also highly impressionable, she has been shown to pick up on some of Naofumi's habits much to Raphtalia's distress. A capable learner, she is able to use advanced wind magic spells and many of the teachings of Hengen Muso with minimal instruction. Her skills are recognized by her Queen predecessor, Fitoria, and is given some of her power. In spite of her sometimes overbearing personality, Filo is able to quickly make friends with others and takes other Filolials on as her underlings. True to her Filolial instincts, her favorite hobby is to pull a custom cart Naofumi made for her. While in Kizuna's world, due to Filolial's not existing, she is transformed into a species called a Humming Fairy, losing her strength in favor of being able to fly and cast magic through singing.
Raph-chan A Shikigami/Familiar and the progenitor of the Raph species of Tanuki-like monsters. With assistance from Ethnobolt, was created by Naofumi in order to help locate Raphtalia after they had become separated in Kizuna's world. Through continued experimentation and strength enhancement by Naofumi, Raph-chan quickly gains abilities that exceed that of a normal Shikigami. Through her influence upon class-up process, the tamed monsters of Lurolona Village, seeking Naofumi's affection, choose to become just like her, resulting in creation of the Raph species of monsters. Created using a mixture of Raphtalia's hair and Naofumi's blood, Raph-chan most heavily resembles her former parent in appearance and is able to use many of the same Light/Dark magic abilities as her to assist in battle. She is also able to track her parents' whereabouts at all times and can be automatically summoned to either of their locations. While generally highly friendly and affectionate, due to Naofumi's inherited influence, she is shown to not be above punishing those who cross her allies. Named after Raphtalia herself, upon Raph-chan's creation, Naofumi quickly becomes obsessed with her, openly doting over and petting her as a way to relief stress; unironically vowing to make the Raph species become the new dominate monsters of the land. Embarrassed over her creation and Naofumi's obsession, Raphtalia, however, comes to view Raph-chan with slight frustration and jealously.
Summoned Heroes Legendary Heroes
The Spear Hero. Motoyasu was a university student before he was summoned, having been stabbed to death after a misunderstanding between a childhood friend and a classmate. While generally a kindhearted person, he is immensely gullible and thick-headed; showing near complete unawareness of the actions of his manipulative party members or the foresight to plan ahead. A heavy womanizer, he is looked down upon by his fellow heroes for his skirt chasing habits, and is extremely trusting of women to his own detriment. He also displays a Lolita complex towards Filo, as she resembles a video game character in his home-world. Initially the leader of a party composed entirely of women who act as his cheerleaders. Unaware of her true nature, Motoyasu sympathizes with Malty's claims against Naofumi and invites her to join him; initially leading Naofumi to believe the two were working together. Despite warnings from his fellow heroes and Mirellia, he believes Malty's claims of Naofumi brainwashing others and clashes with him repeatedly, even after Malty's true nature is exposed. Later, he is abandoned by his party and left for dead during the battle with the Spirit Tortoise, leaving him critically depressed. Comforted by Filo, he chooses to re-dedicate his efforts to winning her heart and seeks approval from Naofumi to marry her; leading many to question his mental stability and causing Filo distress with his unwanted advances. Motoyasu is shown to be physically the strongest of the Heroes. He unlocks the cursed Spears of Lust and Envy after Malty's betrayal, and as a result of their cursed aftereffects: literally seeing/hearing most women as squealing pigs, his mental state deteriorates even further. More rash in his actions than ever, only through Filo is Naofumi able to get him to listen to reason. Unaware of the aftereffects, he creates a party composed of Filolials; having fallen madly in love with the species as a whole. As a result of needing to regularly clothe his newfound party's human forms, he quickly becomes an able tailor with his fashion sense leaving allies in awe. In the anime, he has referred to Raphtalia as a "racoon-pig" and Malty comes up in his HUD as "Crimson Swine". The title protagonist of The Reprise of the Spear Hero, Motoyasu, upon being killed in battle, unlocks the ability to time travel and returns to the start of the series with his stats and memories of Filo intact. Proclaiming himself: "The Love Hunter", he dedicates himself again to trying to win Filo's heart and protecting Naofumi from the events that turned him cynical; generally with mixed results.
The Sword Hero. The youngest of the Heroes, Ren was a high school student before he was summoned after being killed trying to save a childhood friend. A loner by nature, he does his best to keep his image as a cool guy intact; at one point resorting to cheating when in a losing duel against Eclair. Viewing things through the lens of a single player RPG, he prefers to run his party like a guild and only working directly together as a last resort, believing each member is only responsible for themselves. While the most willing of the Heroes to hear out Naofumi's claims and advice, his condescending nature towards those at lower levels than himself still leads to tension between the two. To the amusement of his fellow heroes, he has a fear of water and is unable to swim. After his entire party is killed by the Spirit Tortoise, having blindly led them into battle, he falls into a state of denial and grief. Despite Naofumi's initial attempts to help him, he instead turns to Malty for emotional support and is soon robbed of his belongings. Donning a disguise, he resorts to stealing to get by and becomes the leader of a group of bandits; unlocking the cursed Swords of Greed and Gluttony in the process. In his cursed state, he is re-challenged by Eclair and is easily defeated. Finally willing to accept responsibility for his past mistakes and unable to gain experience or money as a result of using his cursed weapons, he chooses to stay in Naofumi's village and become Eclair's student. He later takes himself up as a new apprentice to Motoyasu II, training himself to become a blacksmith and create new weapons for his allies. In the anime, he can still gain experience and fight; only (at least for a time) anything living he touches will lose levels and degrade, but he still remains a swordsman and has not gone into blacksmithing as of yet.
The Bow Hero. Itsuki was a high school student before he was summoned, having been killed after a large truck took a sudden left turn. Calling himself an ally of Justice, he holds a superiority complex and has an innate need for attention, often bragging about his exploits to others. He chooses to run his party in a vigilante-like fashion, primarily taking on missions that involve corrupt officials and assisting others at the most opportune moments. He runs his party within a strict hierarchy of seniority, treating new party members as servants. Due to his self-indulgent attitude and treatment of his party members, Naofumi comes to dislike him the most of his fellow heroes. Itsuki's feud with Naofumi comes to a head after his party frames Rishia for a crime as a thinly veiled excuse to get him kick her out of his party; already viewing her as weak and upset for upstaging them during the Wave in Cal Mira.