The Rising of the Shield Hero Characters: Ranked Best to Worst

Few isekai series make you feel as personally offended on behalf of the main character as
The Rising of the Shield Hero. Between false accusations, rigged battles, and a
raccoon girl who single-handedly carries the show’s emotional weight, this anime gives us a
party of heroes, misfits, and outright monsters (the human kind, mostly) that fans love to
debate. So let’s lean into the chaos and rank the most important
Rising of the Shield Hero characters from best to worst.

This list focuses mainly on how characters are portrayed in the anime so far, with light
support from the manga and light novels. We’re looking at personality, character development,
relationships, and how much each character makes you yell at your screenin a good way or a
burn-it-all-down way.

How We Ranked Shield Hero Characters

Before we start a holy war in the comments section, here’s the simple system behind this
ranking of Shield Hero characters:

• Character development: Do they grow, learn, or at least fail in an
  interesting way?
• Emotional impact: Do they make key story moments hit harder?
• Relationships: How do they bounce off Naofumi and the rest of the cast?
• Story importance: Do they actually matter to the plot, or are they just
  there to fill party slots and reaction shots?
• Likeability (or enjoyable hateability): You don’t have to be niceyou just
  have to be compelling.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into our Rising of the Shield Hero characters ranked
best to worst.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Characters Ranked Best to Worst

1. Naofumi Iwatani – The Reluctant, Relatable Shield Hero

Naofumi starts as the classic “average college guy gets isekai’d” protagonist, but the series
immediately throws him into a nightmare scenario: false accusations, public humiliation, and
total social exile. Instead of becoming a generic noble hero, Naofumi turns bitter, suspicious,
and willing to use morally gray tactics to survive. That twist is what makes him one of the
most interesting protagonists in modern isekai.

Over time, Naofumi’s sharp edges softennot because the world gets kinder, but because he finds
people who are actually worth protecting. His dynamic with Raphtalia and Filo shifts him from
vengeful loner to fiercely protective guardian. The series also uses his shieldtraditionally
the most “boring” weaponas a symbol of defense, trauma, and responsibility. His Cursed Shield
reflects his rage, while his later forms reflect his growth and empathy.

Naofumi lands the top spot because he anchors the show’s tone. When he’s at rock bottom, the
world feels cruel. When he’s determined, the story feels hopeful. He’s flawed, funny in a dry
way, and just petty enough to feel real.

2. Raphtalia – The Heart and Blade of the Party

If Naofumi is the shield, Raphtalia is the swordand the soulof the series. She begins as a
terrified demi-human slave, traumatized by the Waves and imprisoned by a kingdom that sees her
as disposable. Watching her transform into a confident swordswoman and emotional anchor is one
of the most satisfying arcs in the show.

Raphtalia’s loyalty to Naofumi isn’t blind worship; it’s rooted in the fact that he was the
first person to treat her like a person rather than a tool or a target. She challenges him
when he leans too hard into hatred, pulls him back from the brink when the Cursed Shield
threatens to consume him, and isn’t afraid to call him out when he’s being stubborn or dense.

Add in her mix of bravery, jealousy, and awkward romantic feelings, and you get a heroine who
feels human, not just “best girl” template. Raphtalia narrowly misses the number one spot, but
if you rank her above Naofumi, we won’t argue too hard.

3. Filo – The Chaos Gremlin with Wings

On paper, “giant bird carriage-pulling monster who turns into a little blonde kid” sounds like
someone lost a bet at a character design meeting. In practice, Filo is one of the most
entertaining parts of The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Filo brings pure energy to every scene she’s in: she’s gluttonous, brutally honest, and
hilariously possessive of Naofumi. Under the comedy, though, she plays a key role in the story.
Her instincts are razor sharpshe often senses bad intentions long before the adults doand
her bond with both Naofumi and Melty helps bridge divides between humans, demi-humans, and
Filolials.

As combat muscle, she’s no joke either. Filo’s speed, physical strength, and later blessings
from Fitoria make her one of the party’s heavy hitters. She’s chaotic good personified, and the
show would feel much darker without her.

4. Melty Q. Melromarc – The Princess Who Actually Has a Conscience

Melty is proof that not all royalty in Melromarc are walking red flags. While her sister Malty
is busy speedrunning “worst person alive,” Melty is trying to prevent civil war, stop
corruption, and push for coexistence between humans and demi-humansall while being a literal
child.

Her relationship with Naofumi is especially interesting. At first, he assumes she’s just
another trap sent by the royal family. It’s Filo’s immediate trust and Melty’s consistent
integrity that slowly change his mind. Melty humanizes the political side of the story, giving
the series more stakes than “monsters bad, waves scary.”

She’s still young and occasionally out of her depth, but her courage and sense of responsibility
earn her a high spot on this list.

5. Rishia Ivyred – The Underdog Who Refuses to Stay Weak

Rishia doesn’t look like much at first glance: she’s timid, clumsy, and constantly apologizing.
Add the fact that she’s unceremoniously dropped by Itsuki’s party, and it’s easy to underestimate
her. That’s exactly why her growth is so satisfying.

Under Naofumi’s guidance, Rishia slowly gains confidence and starts to find her own fighting
style. She may never be the flashiest fighter in the group, but her determination to improve
and her loyalty to her friends make her impossible not to root for. She represents the idea
that heroism isn’t just about raw powerit’s also about showing up, even when you’re scared.

6. Ost Horai – The Spirit of Sacrifice

Ost arrives later in the story, but she leaves a huge emotional footprint. As a human avatar of
the Spirit Tortoise, she begins as a mysterious political figure, only for the truth about her
nature and mission to gradually come to light.

What makes Ost memorable is the quiet dignity she brings to the narrative. Her arc revolves
around atonement and self-sacrifice, yet she never leans into melodrama. Her bond with Naofumi
highlights his ability to empathize with even the strangest allies, and her final moments
stand among the series’ most impactful scenes.

7. Fitoria – Ancient Bird Mom with World-Saving Priorities

Fitoria is what happens when you give a Filolial centuries of experience and the power to
casually threaten the lives of every Legendary Hero. She’s playful in that “I could kill you
but I choose not to” way, testing Naofumi’s resolve and forcing him to confront his refusal to
cooperate with the other heroes.

She doesn’t appear often, but when she does, the tone of the story shifts. Fitoria reminds us
that the Waves are a global crisis, not just Naofumi’s personal revenge campaign. She pushes
the plot forward and expands the world beyond Melromarc’s politics.

8. Eclair Seaetto – The Knight Who Actually Understands Duty

Eclair represents the ideal of what Melromarc’s knights should have been from the start:
honorable, disciplined, and willing to question corrupt authority. She trains Raphtalia and
others, helps Naofumi manage his growing territory, and provides a grounded adult presence in a
party full of emotional damage and chaos birds.

While she doesn’t get as much screen time as fans might like, her role as mentor and stabilizer
makes her a key supporting characterand a badly needed palate cleanser after dealing with the
worst of Melromarc’s nobility.

9. Ren Amaki – The Edgy Sword Hero Who Needs a Reality Check

Ren arrives with classic JRPG protagonist energy: quiet, cool, and convinced he knows how the
world works because he’s played a lot of games. Unfortunately for him, this world did not read
the tutorial.

Ren’s biggest flaw is his pride. He acts independently, underestimates consequences, and doesn’t
handle failure well. But that’s also what makes him compelling. When his decisions cause real
harm, he spirals into guilt and denial before being forced to confront his mistakes.

He ranks above the other two non-Naofumi heroes because he shows the most genuine remorse and
potential for growthbut he still has a long way to go.

10. Motoyasu Kitamura – The Spear Hero Who Needs an Adult

Motoyasu is what happens if you took a dating-sim protagonist, removed all the self-awareness,
and handed him a legendary weapon. He’s impulsive, easily manipulated, and completely blinded
by his crush on Malty. If there is a bad decision to make involving her, Motoyasu will sprint
toward it.

That said, he’s not maliciousjust unbelievably gullible. Later arcs hint at growth and give
him more depth, especially as he gradually realizes how badly he’s been used. For now, though,
he mostly serves as a frustrating but occasionally funny obstacle in Naofumi’s path.

11. Itsuki Kawasumi – Justice, But Make It Self-Righteous

Itsuki is the Bow Hero and the self-proclaimed champion of justice. The problem is that his
“justice” is heavily filtered through ego and fantasy. He wants to be the star of his own
righteous story so badly that he bends reality to fit that narrative, even when it hurts the
people he claims to protect.

His treatment of Rishiaand his inability to own up to his mistakeslands him near the bottom
of this ranking. Like Ren and Motoyasu, he has room to grow, but for now he mostly functions as
a cautionary tale about believing your own hype.

12. Malty S. Melromarc (Myne) – The Absolute Worst, and That’s the Point

Malty is, without exaggeration, one of the most hated characters in recent anime. She falsely
accuses Naofumi of assault, steals his gear, manipulates Motoyasu, plots against her own
family, and generally treats human lives like disposable game pieces.

As a person, she’s the bottom of the barrel. As a character, though, she’s extremely
effective. Malty embodies the systemic corruption and prejudice that Naofumi is up against.
Every time she lies and gets away with it, the audience feels his frustration. When the truth
begins to catch up to her, it feels earned.

She ranks “worst” here not because she’s poorly written, but because she’s designed to be
despisedand in that sense, she absolutely succeeds.

Honorable Mentions

A sprawling fantasy like The Rising of the Shield Hero is packed with side characters:
villagers in Naofumi’s territory, fellow demi-humans, merchants, adventurers, and rival
nations’ heroes. Many of them leave strong impressions for an episode or two, but this list
focuses on the characters who consistently shape the story and Naofumi’s growth.

Living with These Rankings: A Fan Experience

Here’s the thing about ranking Shield Hero characters: the moment you finish
the list, you immediately want to change it. The series is built around shifting perspectives.
The characters you hate in episode three might grow on you by season three, and the ones you
originally loved may start to look a little more complicated on rewatch.

The first time through the anime, it’s easy to see everything purely through Naofumi’s eyes.
The world turns on him overnight, and we’re right there with himangry, defensive, and ready to
write off almost everyone except Raphtalia and Filo. On a second viewing, though, patterns
start to emerge. Ren’s defensiveness makes more sense once you notice how often he’s told he’s
wrong. Itsuki’s obsession with justice feels less like pure arrogance and more like a kid who
built his entire identity around being the hero and doesn’t know who he is without that role.

Rewatching also deepens the impact of the supporting cast. Ost’s sacrifice hits harder when you
notice how early the story starts hinting at her true nature. Eclair’s patience with Naofumi
and his village shows how rare genuine leadership is in this world. Even Motoyasu’s ridiculous
behavior starts to feel more tragic than annoying once you realize just how thoroughly Malty
dismantles his ability to trust his own judgment.

Talking about the series with other fans is its own adventure. In one conversation, someone
insisted Raphtalia absolutely had to be number one because without her, Naofumi would have
stayed locked in anger forever. Another person argued Filo should rank above both because she’s
the only one who consistently calls everyone out without caring about status, politics, or
pride. Meanwhile, there’s always that one friend who quietly admits they find Malty fascinating
as a villain, even if they’d eject her into the sun given the chance.

What makes these debates fun is that they reflect what the series is really about: how people
change when they’re pushed to extremes. Naofumi hardens, then softens. Raphtalia goes from
powerless to powerful. Rishia goes from overlooked extra to core party member. Even the other
heroes, messy as they are, are forced to confront the gap between the heroic fantasy in their
heads and the consequences of their actions in the real world.

At the end of the day, your personal ranking probably says as much about you as it does about
the show. If you love Naofumi above all, maybe you connect with his stubborn resilience. If
Raphtalia tops your list, you might value healing and loyalty. If Filo is your queen, you may
just appreciate a little joyful chaos in between all the trauma and politics.

And honestly? That’s the fun of it. The Rising of the Shield Hero gives us a world full
of messy, flawed, and occasionally infuriating peopleand then asks us to pick favorites. Just
don’t be surprised if your “definitive” ranking changes the next time a new season drops.

Final Thoughts

Ranking The Rising of the Shield Hero characters from best to worst is a little
like trying to organize Naofumi’s inventory: no matter how neatly you sort things, someone’s
feelings are going to get hurt. But looking at who grows, who changes, and who shapes the story
most powerfully, a pattern emergesthis is a series where trust is hard-won, loyalty matters,
and the line between hero and villain is often defined by what you do after you’re proven
wrong.

Whether you’re here for Naofumi’s redemption arc, Raphtalia’s rise, Filo’s feral energy, or the
pure catharsis of watching Malty finally face consequences, there’s a character on this list
who will stick with you long after the Waves fade. And that’s exactly why fans keep coming back
to this storyand keep arguing over who really deserves that number one spot.