Top 10 Best Call of Duty Characters of All Time

The Top Ten
1 John "Soap" MacTavish - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Soap is the most badass character in gaming history! If you did not feel bad for this guy in the least (I nearly cried) when he died, you have no soul and you do not deserve to be on this planet. This is the British SAS operative that many of you witnessed growing up in the British SAS, and he died on a table! A table? Infinity Ward, are you nuts? You kill off the best Call of Duty character, which makes me mad, on a table! That pisses me off so bad! Why in Hell is Ghost #1? Ghost is Soap's subordinate in a balaclava with skull decals! God rest, John "Soap" MacTavish.

He was the best character ever made, not just in Call of Duty, but in the history of games! We don't know a lot about him, but we love him because we start the Modern Warfare series with him. He is back in MW2 as both an NPC and a playable character. He was a hero, defeating every villain. Soap should have killed Makarov too, to become a true legend, but the game creators killed him instead. With his death, they also ended one of the best game sequels, the Modern Warfare series. He was the most likable character, with much more to offer, and his death was both a tragedy and extremely painful. It sends a message: "It doesn't matter if you liked him. We killed him to end it right here, right now." He wouldn't die easily, and Makarov wouldn't get the satisfaction of feeling good about his death. It would have been nicer if Soap could have killed him, making Makarov realize that he can't have everything he wants. Makarov got Soap's death, but what did Soap get? He killed Zakhaev and Shepherd to end a war, but ultimately, he couldn't. It's not fair. The character we "grew up" with died before our eyes. We can fully feel Cpt. Price's pain. Soap deserved more.

So, Cpt. MacTavish was a really tough guy, as Price said, a man you could trust, who always cared more about others' lives than his own. That's what made him a true hero, and he would have been a legend. We loved him, we respected him. We will always remember you, Cpt. John MacTavish, Soap. Rest in peace, and take care of yourself on the other side.

2 Simon "Ghost" Riley - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

When you learn about Ghost's full past life, including the torture by Washington and Sparks, who are brainwashed to kill Ghost, it's gripping. They kill Ghost's entire family, and Ghost manages to kill them both. After Ghost kills his torturer, he is found by Shepherd, who takes Ghost into Task Force 141.

The betrayal is what makes him the best character. The man who saved Ghost after he endured torture and the one who asked him to join Task Force 141 is the same one who kills him.

Alongside this, Ghost's reputation as probably the deadliest soldier in any Call of Duty game adds to his awesomeness.

He's the best in the Modern Warfare series. Soap and Price are really awesome, but Ghost was the best. In the third last mission, he was presumed dead. I was gutted when I saw him get shot, and was pretty happy when Captain MacTavish died, wishing I could have saved Ghost in the first place. I got all emotional and to this day, I refuse to believe Ghost is dead. He is a hero, and went down in Call of Duty history. He will always be my absolute favourite.

3 Jonathan Price - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Captain John Price is a main fictional character in the Call of Duty series, being one of three characters to be featured in all of the games in the Modern Warfare series, the others being Captain John "Soap" MacTavish and Nikolai.

If you people think all the others are better, think again. Sure, Soap kills the bad guys in the end, except for the worst one, Makarov. But Price is old. In MW1, he's like 45, and in MW3, he's about 55. He still is the most awesome Call of Duty character, with Riley the dog from Call of Duty: Ghosts right next to him. If dogs even count.

Wow, just wow. Are you kidding me? This guy should be higher than Soap! Don't get me wrong, Soap is cool, but he can barely hold a candle to Price. The best character, along with Gaz and Ghost, eh, is a cigar-smoking badass who got put with losers like Frank Woods.

I don't know how Captain Price doesn't have 100% of the votes in this list. He has no equal in this franchise. It's not even fair to have a list, in my opinion, if he isn't excluded already for being so far above the rest.

4 Frank Woods - Call of Duty: Black Ops

Ghost #1? Are you kidding me? Ghost was such an overrated character. Just because he has a cool mask doesn't mean he's a good character. He barely did anything in MW2's story.

Woods, on the other hand, is awesome. He will save your ass in a gunfight, take an explosion for you, and live in Vietnam for 20 years. He even raised David Mason while in a wheelchair. Woods actually sacrificed himself to save you from Kravchenko, and that makes him better than Ghost.

The way he dies is so bogus, especially if you pick that option in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. I hate when characters you have to kill always end up dying in such a stupid way, like Dragovich in Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 (drowning). He kills Petrenkov with poisonous gas, and then he drowns? But anyway, Woods seems like the most realistic character in Call of Duty to this date.

We have Soap to Price, and then we have Woods to Mason. He was a loyal friend and companion to Alex Mason, having more value than Reznov when we realize he did die in Vorkuta. Woods would play an equally important role in BO2, as well as Mason.

5 Viktor Reznov - Call of Duty: World at War

Reznov has the saddest backstory in Call of Duty history, as seen in flashback levels in Call of Duty: Black Ops with the ship. He witnesses his father get his throat slit by Nazis and experiences betrayal by Dragovich and Kravchenko. He also sees his best friend, Petrenko, die in front of him from nerve gas. By the way, I saw that coming - not the death of Petrenko, but the betrayal (never trust a damn Nazi). I think sad events in the past make you a stronger person in the future. It's sad when you find out he died in the escape of Vorkuta. He is the best anti/good guy hero in Call of Duty history. RIP Reznov.

A true soldier, valuing the brother who stood by his side because he knew he was fighting for him too. I can't believe that he isn't higher in this ranking. He deserves to be No. 2, to say the least. A true hero with awe-inspiring quotes and the courage of a lion. Stalingrad, Berlin, you name it, if you want to win the battle, you call the Red Devil, Viktor Reznov.

6 Alex Mason - Call of Duty: Black Ops

Alex Mason has gone through a lot over both Black Ops 2 games. After getting brainwashed by the Soviets and Reznov, he still is there to save Woods and make an epic comeback. Also, in the end of Black Ops 2, the best ending ever features Alex Mason. He should be number 1.

Alex Mason is actually such an interesting character. He is a mentally unstable character who can hear numbers. At the same time, he is one good-looking, badass dude. He should be top.

The most interesting character in the franchise, living through so much danger.

7 Gary "Roach" Sanderson - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare 2 was the first Call of Duty game I played, and Roach is the character that stands out the most in my mind. The fact that characters can die in this game was highlighted early when Joseph Allen died. So when I was playing as Roach, all his narrow escapes actually kept my heart pumping, thinking he might not make it.

Then comes the ending where you make it alive one last time, then get betrayed, and killed. Being a faceless/voiceless main character, you don't get to know much about Roach in other areas, but playing him, you find he's a great soldier who can rely on and support his team. He would have survived his last mission, but part of his team betrayed him, so yeah.

It's hard to understand how Roach is so low on this list. It's Roach. He's not just Roach, he's you. I know the other characters like Ghost and Soap are easy to get attached to because they are distinguishable by their attitudes, voices, and even clothing (heck, I'm a fan of Ghost and his mask myself). Roach doesn't have a voice or a face we know him by, but he has us.

When you think about it, it wasn't just us fighting for our team, getting left behind, and fighting for ourselves, and suffering close calls that are almost too close. It was Roach there, too. I think if he spoke once or had a look to him that was definitive, most of the players would remember him. He really is badass.

8 Yuri - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Yuri may have been fighting the wrong people before, but when he joined Price, Soap, and the rest of TF141D, he made up for it and became a badass. He died saving Price. What a guy.

Awesome character! Saves Captain Price's life and lives through so much danger.

A pretty good Russian character... Yuri is a total warhead!

9 Gaz - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Gaz is a no. 2-3 character if you take a very critical, discriminative opinion. He's a by-the-book man, like me, who likes taking orders. Gaz has a rough way of thinking, like saying, "We should just beat it out of him, Sir." (He does that, really, poor Kamarov). He loves to swear, has a real thick and natural British accent, and a REALLY SICK BEARD. He's one of the only characters that always wears a cap, i.e., 'Pure British Badass'. All in all: "Those who love Gaz have a brain, those who want him back have a heart." -Me

Anyone who doesn't love Gaz is probably too young to have played CoD4. Had he not been killed off in CoD4 and had appeared in the following games, he would probably be top of this list.

I think Gaz is the most amazing character because he is ruthless and defensive, and also brave. He is even better than Captain Price in all of the Modern Warfares. He is the greatest character.

10 Nikolai - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Brave, loyal, and awesome is what describes this legend.

You know how to say owned in Russian? Owned!

The Contenders
11 Vladimir Makarov - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

I've always had a thing for villains, and Makarov was always my favorite. I love his whole demeanor and how cruel his character is, which makes it kind of refreshing killing him in MW3. His voice is just so evil sounding and maniacal. Makarov should be higher on the list than 13.

Ok, I'll say this right now: the reason I really love this character is that he's so ruthless and basically starts World War 3 by himself. I know people don't like him because he killed so many characters, but that's why I like him. He's the best villain and is amazing. He should at least be number 3.

He is the best Call of Duty villain I have ever seen. I hope we get to see his life in Spetsnaz sometime. And he is number one in killing Americans.

12 David "Section" Mason - Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Dude! This guy is just about as kind as you can get in a war game. Yeah, it sounds weird, but hear me out. If you chose to shoot Harper while playing as Farid, David doesn't freak out. He just calms down Farid and says he had no choice. Let me remind you that Harper was Alex's best friend. That takes some serious guts. Bless this guy.

David Mason beats all of the Brits when it comes to grit as a one-man army against the odds. As I heard, having the number 1 game ending in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, he is astonishing.

I can't say he was a better fighter than all the others, but he sure as hell fought his part. Fighting his way through Nam, Cuba, and other places while battling a failed experiment he was the center of, and battling PTSD. Not at all a disappointing character.

Dempsey and Donnie Walsh need some credit too. They are amazing characters.

13 Griggs - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

I didn't really care for Griggs until the final scene when he risks his life for Soap. The only reason Price had the time to slide Soap the gun was because Griggs gave him the time.

Griggs was a vibrant, awesome character who fought for both the Marines and the SAS. Even though he died, the last thing we hear from him is his awesome rap song in the credits.

Griggs is a complete badass. He can take on Woods any day and should be right on top of that list. He would kick your ass for not voting for him!

14 Price - Call of Duty 2

Captain Price was the best character in the Call of Duty franchise.

I never saw any evidence suggesting it isn't the same Captain Price.

15 Sandman - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Not even joking, this guy risked his life with his badass squad to save the president of Russia. He built the foundation for victory.

He's so unaffected. Everything about him is alright, just a Delta Force member, and he's doing his job very well. And the voice of Fichtner suits him!

He just wins. Team Metal Leader and Master Sergeant. People don't push him around.

16 MacMillan - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

If you've played COD4, you'll know that this guy is the best character in all the games! When he goes "Oi! Suzy!" when he knifes that Russian guy, it's the best Call of Duty moment! He's also in the best mission in Call of Duty, All Ghillied Up!

He says awesome tag lines, and best of all, he's Scottish and has an epic accent!

Best sniper, best stealth soldier, has the best accent, etc.

17 Derek "Frost" Westbrook - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Frost helped Sandman in most missions and also destroyed that jammer. He also killed the helicopters on Black Tuesday. Frost saved Sandman by killing two enemies with just a pistol in the mission of saving the president's daughter. Finally, I believe Frost should have been in the mission of rescuing the president when Sandman died. I hope he is in MW4.

This guy should definitely be on the list for being an awesome magician. He pulled off one of the best disappearing acts at the end of MW3!

By far, one of the more talented and skilled members of the whole franchise.

18 Roebuck - Call of Duty: World at War

Literally, he was Captain Price's dad as a wee lad. The best character there ever will be, insanely underrated. 1. Macmillan 2. Ghost 3. Soap

Great leader, cares about his men, and won't back down to his enemies. He has many followers.

19 John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy - Call of Duty: Black Ops
20 Marcus "Michael" Burns - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

A pretty realistic dude, just one of the soldiers.

21 Lev Kravchenko - Call of Duty: Black Ops
22 Jason Hudson - Call of Duty: Black Ops

Come on, people! He showed the true meaning of friendship. He made Woods kill Mason to save Mason's son, David, not his life. Later on, when Menendez prompts to kill all three, Hudson sacrifices himself so David can see another day. He didn't do it for Woods. Woods was crippled, injured, and he had no one to cry for him. If Woods had given himself up instead of Hudson, then I am sure the events of 2025 would have never happened. Hudson would have killed Menendez for his friends and for the world.

Stone-cold professional, that's all there is to it. Black Ops 2 and his death didn't do him justice.

Such a badass! With his sunglasses and his toughness... He was worth bringing into Black Ops games. Menendez killed him, though, which really sucks!

23 Raul Menendez - Call of Duty: Black Ops II

I don't know how he is so low at 26. He's one of the best-written COD characters and, in all honesty, he's one of the best video game villains ever written.

Before I played the BO series, I thought Soap or Price were the greatest of all time. Just finished BO2. And this guy, he is something else.

He is a very good brother, very loyal. He never forgets his sister and he's very professional!

24 Foley - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

This guy is awesome. He really knows how to take out a target.

25 Dunn - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Corporal Dunn stuck with the Rangers till the end! He gets my vote any day of the week. He made sure his squad got home to their families. Move him up!

Him and Foley stay all through the Ranger campaign in MW2. That's my opinion, he should not be left out. He's awesome. Put him on the list. He knows how to hit a target. And he does not get killed. He can kill anyone, anywhere. Cpl. Dunn represents.

He has night vision with his helmet. I really think he should have been in the top ten.

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