Top 10 Best Rick Riordan Characters

The Top Ten

Percy Jackson

He is a demigod and the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He is the main protagonist of Percy Jackson & The Olympians and has the ability to control water. He wields the sword Riptide, which transforms from a pen into a celestial bronze blade.

I cannot even begin to say how great a character he is. He has sacrificed himself many times and would literally lay down his life for another person, even if he might die. Unlike Leo, who only sacrificed himself because he had a potion from the god of healing, Percy has defeated many gods and goddesses, such as Ares, the god of war, at the age of 12, even though he barely trained for many years at Camp Half-Blood.
He has been on many quests and led a war against Kronos and won. He was offered immortality but refused, showing how noble he is. He refused it so that many demigods, minor gods, and goddesses could be treated right. He has done good things despite being treated horribly. For instance, in the Sea of Monsters, he was able to find the Golden Fleece but took no credit, and many campers ignored him. But Percy did not care and was only happy he came back alive.
I can go on and on, but he has done too many things to write all of them down. He is the best demigod there ever was, with such a noble and kind personality. Others could wish they could be 1% as great as Percy was.
Leo Valdez

He is a son of Hephaestus with the ability to generate and withstand fire. He is a skilled mechanic and inventor, often creating advanced machines and weapons. He plays a major role in The Heroes of Olympus series and pilots the Argo II.

Percy is a good character, but he never had to go through what Leo did. Even though Percy thought about sacrificing himself, Leo actually did it (and came back). Sure, Percy has powers over the sea, but that's common for sons of Poseidon. Fire powers are rare, and Leo is awesome at mechanical stuff! Percy doesn't have that skill.
Despite all his awesomeness, Leo had to endure even more pain. He watched everyone with their girlfriends and boyfriends while he was single. When he did find a girlfriend, she was literally supposed to fall in love with every boy she saw (and she even hated him at first!). Leo is just so awesome like that.
Annabeth Chase

She is a daughter of Athena and a skilled strategist and architect. She is one of Percy Jackson's closest friends and later becomes his girlfriend. She carries a celestial bronze knife and has a deep interest in rebuilding and design.

Poor Annabeth's backstory is so underrated. I actually think it's a lot like Leo's. Leo was called the devil by his aunt. Annabeth was called a freak by her parents. Leo's family didn't want him, and neither did Annabeth's. Leo ran away at a young age. Annabeth ran away at 7 and was hunted down by monsters.
Leo's aunt blamed him for his mother's death, and Hermes blamed Annabeth for Luke's death. Annabeth had been everyone's second choice until Percy came along and chose her over immortality. She even mentioned that Camp Half-Blood was like an orphanage for her. She would make a friend, but that friend would end up leaving her or dying. So many of her friends have also betrayed her.
Plus, she was the only one of the seven without powers and the smartest.
Nico di Angelo

He is a son of Hades and has the ability to control shadows and communicate with the dead. He was born in the 1930s but spent decades in the Lotus Casino, causing him to age slower. He wields a Stygian iron sword and has a strong connection to the Underworld.

Nico's sexuality was super important to me growing up. Like with many of Riordan's other characters, Nico gave me a positive view of something that I struggled with, especially since many of the people around me were homophobic. As a character, he's cool outside of that, of course, and I fell in love with him. He was always super relatable and cool to me, even before I read House of Hades.
Admittedly, I was a little emo when I read the series and obviously thought death was cool as hell. Overall, I'm super thankful to Riordan for including a character that I love as much as Nico.

Nico's dedication to save the world and promise Percy, even if he didn't end up with Percy, is really self-disciplinary. He also kept quiet about the two camps, Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.
He was probably the first demigod to know about Juno's plan, as he doesn't admit he knows Percy in The Son of Neptune. I was really happy to see Nico and Will together in The Hidden Oracle.
Magnus Chase

He is the son of Frey and the protagonist of Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. After dying in the first book, he is chosen to live in Valhalla and becomes involved in Norse mythology. He wields the talking sword Jack, which can fight independently.

Magnus Chase was a refreshing new protagonist in Riordan's series. He is powerful in his own way since he is the only main character who isn't actually good at direct fighting. He still gets by with his wits and the help of his friends because he is also a great friend. Usually, in any fantasy story, the healer is not that relevant, but Magnus Chase takes command of his own story.
You want to talk power? He is the son of one of the most powerful Vanirs and wields Jack. Want to talk about a sad story? The kid was literally homeless and still radiates light. Even if you want good LGBTQ+ representation, he is at least bi. He's not afraid to follow his heart despite the gender of the person he's chasing. He is fierce, but definitely not fearless. He didn't even give up after he was dead. All that makes him original, refreshing, and awesome.
Percy Jackson is still my favorite series, but Magnus is my favorite character.
Grover Underwood

He is a satyr and Percy's best friend, tasked with protecting demigods. He has a strong connection to nature and can communicate with animals and plants. He becomes a leader of the satyrs and searches for the lost god Pan.

Why is Grover last? Grover is one of the best. (In my opinion, Grover is number 4.) Grover is funny, smart, and a great friend to the demigods. Go to the Fields of Punishment if you don't like Grover Underwood.

I stopped reading Rick Riordan about a year ago and came back here while doing a book project. How dare you put Grover at 10? He at least deserves a 5!

Wow. A character that is not full of themselves. A rarity among Percy Jackson characters.
Frank Zhang

He is a son of Mars with the ability to shapeshift into different animals. He is of Chinese-Canadian descent and carries a piece of firewood tied to his life force. He eventually becomes a praetor of Camp Jupiter and wields a bow in battle.

"If I'm going to burn, it might as well be bright."
That line changed how I saw Frank. I always liked him, but he was a little bland. But he sacrificed himself and kinda died in ToA, and now I love him.

Frank reminds me of myself. He's a klutz, is very sweet, and in the end, sacrifices for what is good.

He can literally be any animal or mythological creature! Need I say more?
Also, his story is not easy. His mom died. He had to leave his grandma. The god he hated turned out to be his dad. He was placed in the fifth cohort. He was made fun of for being a bit chubby. He has his life tied to a burned stub. Hazel almost left him for Leo.
Coach Gleeson Hedge

He is a satyr and a former protector of demigods, known for his aggressive personality and love of violence. He serves as a chaperone for the Argo II crew in The Heroes of Olympus. He is married to Mellie, a cloud nymph, and later becomes a father.

My favorite quote from any Riordan book is "Hey, I like peace as much as the next satyr." And who says that? Gleeson does. But Valdez tops it off with "You hate peace." So funny.
Sadie Kane

She is a magician and one of the protagonists of The Kane Chronicles. She is the daughter of Julius Kane and the host of the goddess Isis. She specializes in Egyptian magic and often works with her brother, Carter Kane.

Sweet, funny, smart, quick-thinking, and a TOTAL BADASS! She's also a strong and independent girl, sassy and quirky. One of my favorite characters in Riordan's books.

She's not afraid to speak her mind, and she's able to cope with the fact that she has a double boyfriend, which can be hard to deal with for us girls.

I love Sadie. She is so funny and witty. She technically dates Anubis, who is my favorite god. Plus, the Kane Chronicles is my favorite book series.
Apollo

He is the Greek god of the sun, music, and prophecy, who is transformed into a mortal named Lester Papadopoulos in The Trials of Apollo. In his mortal form, he lacks his usual powers but retains some archery and musical skills. He is tasked with restoring the lost oracles while adjusting to life as a human.

The character development here is amazing. I mean, he is the most stuck-up and selfish god when he first appears (in Titan's Curse). Then in Tower of Nero, he takes on one of the most powerful entities in the world by himself (and wins!). It would have been good to see him end up pulling a Percy and rejecting immortality, but that would have been pretty predictable.
The last few pages of TON are absolutely ASDFGHJKL. If you compare them to Apollo in TTC or THO, he's a completely different character. That's what I love most about Apollo. I mean, he has some great comedic lines, and his banter with the Arrow of Dodona is second only to that of Magnus and Jack, but the growth he goes through... words can't describe it.

The Newcomers

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Lavinia

She is a Roman demigod and a daughter of Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance. She is known for her rebellious nature and her love for pink and tap dancing. She plays a key role in The Trials of Apollo, particularly in the defense of Camp Jupiter.

Lavinia should really be higher. She was a fierce friend to Apollo and cared about Reyna, even if she didn't always show it.
She is super funny. Poison Oak is very lucky!
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Sally Jackson

The Contenders

Carter Kane

He is one of the main protagonists of The Kane Chronicles and a skilled magician. He is the son of Julius Kane and the host of the Egyptian god Horus. He specializes in combat magic and wields a khopesh as his primary weapon.

He is way smarter than everybody else except Annabeth. Plus, he has heightened abilities thanks to Horus and can match Percy in power.

Underrated protagonist. One of the best.
Alex Fierro

Alex is a genderfluid child of Loki who plays a major role in Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. They are a skilled fighter and artist, often using a garrote wire in combat. They develop a close relationship with Magnus Chase throughout the series.

Alright. If I'm the only one here who read Hammer of Thor, you should know that Alex didn't experience a death in her (his) family but had an abusive one, especially considering her mother (Loki), who made it even worse by exposing her to the Norse mythic world. Moreover, anyone who can resist Loki's control and refuse to kill is truly remarkable.
Alex deserves more credit than Piper, Walt, and many others. Additionally, when both Thor and Halfborn Gunderson claimed that she was unmanly, she proved them wrong. Alex is far more underrated than you might think.

I just absolutely love Alex. She/he is so strong and such an amazing character. She/he is the first gender-fluid or trans person I've ever read about in a book, and I just think that she/he wasn't forced into the book just because Rick wanted a bit more diversity, but that she/he just so happened to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. I love the way that Rick wrote her/him. She/he is probably my favourite character out of all the books I've read, and trust me, that's a lot.
Thalia Grace

She is the daughter of Zeus and the leader of the Hunters of Artemis. She was turned into a pine tree on Half-Blood Hill before being revived by the Golden Fleece. She wields a celestial bronze spear and has an affinity for electricity.

Thalia is such an amazing person. She was even a female main character in The Titan's Curse. She was an important older sister figure in both Annabeth and Jason's lives and went from being a tree to the leader of the Hunters of Artemis!

Thalia is cool and punky. She is actually a hunter who deserves the role. Thalia's a caring sister to Jason and a kind friend to Annabeth. She is a literal legend.

Thalia is Thalia. Get it? She's a huntress and still helps everyone no matter their gender, though she isn't a fan of Leo.
Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano

She is a Roman demigod and the daughter of Bellona, the goddess of war. She serves as a praetor of Camp Jupiter and is known for her leadership and combat skills. She has two metal greyhounds, Aurum and Argentum, which assist her in battle.

Out of all of them, she endured the most and yet still stayed the strongest. Reyna's had her heart broken so many times, but she still manages to persevere despite the challenges that she faces. Jason, who had been a close friend to her for so long, left her for a girl whose memories of him were fake. She's such a queen and deserves so much better. Long live Reyna.

The BEST Heroes of Olympus character, hands down. I love her soooo much. She went through a lot, yet she pushed through everything that happened to her. I hope she is finally happy as a Hunter with Thalia. Her being cursed is sooo overlooked as well.
Hazel Levesque

She is the daughter of Pluto and originally lived in the 1940s before being resurrected. She has the ability to manipulate precious metals and control mist-based illusions. She is a key member of the Heroes of Olympus series and rides the horse Arion.

Hazel is such a good character. She's kind to the other members of the crew, and her control over mist makes her a powerful ally.

Don't forget she's only 13 when Heroes of Olympus started. That's like 2 years younger than anyone else. Plus, her powers are really useful.

Brave, has a creepy past but is still strong, and one of the ONLY ones that Nico is comfortable with.
Piper McLean

She is the daughter of Aphrodite and has the ability to use charmspeak, which allows her to influence others. She carries a celestial bronze dagger named Katoptris, which once belonged to Helen of Troy. She plays a significant role in The Heroes of Olympus and develops a relationship with Jason Grace.

Why does she get hate for thinking about Jason a lot in the first book? She found out that all her memories of him were fake, but Leo gets no hate for all that Calypso this, Calypso that in BoO. And obviously Percy NEVER thinks about Annabeth all the time, and it's obviously not perfectly normal to think about your loved one.

I hate all the hate surrounding her. People are somehow so jealous of her, even though she has lots of faults. On the worst and most annoying Rick Riordan characters lists, she was number one by a lot, well above Octavian and Drew and all the other sucktastic characters. Why?
Jason Grace

He is the son of Jupiter and the brother of Thalia Grace. He was raised at Camp Jupiter and became a praetor before joining the Greek demigods. He wields a golden imperial sword and has the ability to generate and control lightning.

Honestly, guys, Jason out of the top 10? You gotta be kidding me. He is the joint strongest demigod in the series (along with Percy). Born to be a leader, his leading and military skills are second to none. Even when he was dying, he saved his friends. And guys, don't forget the fact that he saved Percy in the ocean. His wind-manipulating and lightning powers just make him stronger. So, in my opinion, he's the best demigod there is!

He is kinda annoying sometimes, yes, true, but why does everyone hate him? You know even Percy is kinda annoying. Jason sacrifices himself, and he is also courageous and brave!
Margaret McCaffrey

YES, I LOVE MEG! I think that Meg, Alex, Leo, and Sadie should all meet and be amazing together. And by the way, "Because my brother is Stoo-pid!" Best quote ever! In case you couldn't tell, I love Meg.

Why isn't she higher? She's the only one who can say "shut up, Lester."

She is annoying. So I love her to pieces.
Will Solace

He is a son of Apollo and a skilled healer at Camp Half-Blood. He plays an important role in The Heroes of Olympus and has a romantic relationship with Nico di Angelo. He specializes in medical treatments and combat support rather than direct fighting.

Great friend, seems like a nice guy. If I could meet any Apollo kid, I'd meet Will.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare

She is a mortal with the rare ability to see through the Mist, allowing her to perceive the true forms of gods and monsters. She eventually becomes the Oracle of Delphi, responsible for delivering prophecies. She has a strong, independent personality and forms a close friendship with Percy Jackson.

Ok, I didn't vote for her because I think she is the best but because she deserves to be higher. She is brave, kind, artistic, and fierce. I love when you have characters who are regular people but still play a part in some fantasy/myth story. Plus, she hit Kronos in the eye with a plastic hairbrush.

Okay, I understand that she likes Percy. (I love Percabeth.) But she's a good character. In The Lost Hero, she was crying when she thought she killed Piper. I still like her. Plus, she hit a Titan in the eye with a hairbrush. Pretty awesome if you ask me. Maybe I just like her because I'm a redhead too, but whatever.
Hearthstone

He is a deaf elf and a skilled runemaster in Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. He communicates using sign language and relies on his friend Blitzen for assistance in the human world. He specializes in Norse magic, particularly rune-based spells.

Really, this guy had to suffer so much and go through so much pain. Abusive parents, the death of his brother, running away from home, the thing with rune magic, returning back to the site of his childhood trauma, and claiming the inheritance rune. He at least deserves 5th place.
P.S.: I ship him with Blitzen.

I love him so much! Hearthstone has been through so much, but he always stayed strong. He's my favorite character in the Magnus Chase series!

He might go unnoticed, but he makes sarcastic remarks so much.
Blackjack

He is a black Pegasus and one of Percy's most loyal companions. He frequently assists Percy and other demigods by providing transportation and aerial support. He has a humorous and somewhat informal personality, often referring to Percy as "boss."

Why so low? Blackjack is the ultimate companion. I mean, "You got it, boss," is like my favorite line!

Best guy to call to meet the wine dude.
Luke Castellan

He is a son of Hermes and a former camper at Camp Half-Blood who later becomes a major antagonist. He betrays the demigods by working for Kronos and serves as his primary host in The Last Olympian. Despite his actions, he ultimately redeems himself in the end.

I think Luke Castellan deserves a higher spot on this list. He may have been the antagonist in the series, but he changed and saved Olympus in the end. He is a character with a lot of depth, and the best thing about him is that he truly believed in his cause, even though he paid the ultimate price. Percy Jackson was not the hero, Luke was.

Luke is one of the best characters in the whole series. He is so well-written and understandable that he's probably in my top 5 characters of this series.

Luke ended up saving Olympus practically.
Samirah al-Abbas

She is a Valkyrie of Norse mythology and one of Magnus Chase's closest friends. She is a devout Muslim and maintains a balance between her human life and her responsibilities in the Nine Worlds. She is engaged to Amir Fadlan and dreams of becoming a professional pilot.

So brave and always ready to prove her haters wrong.
Iapetus

He is a Titan who initially serves as an enemy to the demigods. After falling into the River Lethe, he loses his memories and adopts the name Bob. In his new form, he helps Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase in The House of Hades.

I don't actually think he's the best character. I just thought he deserved to be higher than #24. Titan Bob really is an amazing character, though, and just about the best part of House of Hades.

We loved Bob until the end. But wait! It was hinted in the finale of ToA that Nico is getting some kind of mental plea for help from Tartarus, and we assume that is Bob, or maybe even Damasen.

I love Bob. His death was so sad. I loved him so much. He was so funny. We all miss him.