Ranking The 15 Greatest Call Of Duty Characters Of All Time
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Ranking The 15 Greatest Call Of Duty Characters Of All Time
From Modern Warfare to Infinite Warfare, we remember the best and greatest characters in the history of Call of Duty's campaign mode. There are currently 17 different games in the franchise, spanning conflicts all the way from World War II to the far future. Each new entry brings with it a new group of characters for you to get to know, with some being much more memorable than others. Despite the Call of Duty series being focused more on action than characters, there are still a collection of characters that have become beloved by fans of the franchise, all for unique reasons. Here are our rankings of the greatest Call of Duty characters of all time. Updated July 19, 2021 by Thomas Heath: With countless different games making up this long-running series, each title brings with it a new set of characters for you to play and interact with. There have been some amazing characters throughout the history of the franchise. Within this updated list, we will take another, more expansive look at the greatest characters in Call of Duty history, including characters from all across the franchise. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Gary Roach Sanderson
Games: Modern Warfare 2 The main protagonist of Modern Warfare 2, you'll play as Gary Sanderson for the majority of the game, accompanying characters such as Soap MacTavish and Ghost on numerous missions. Despite never speaking, Sanderson has remained one of the most loved playable characters in the series. As a part of Task Force 141, Sanderson was tasked with locating and killing Makarov, the Modern Warfare series' main villain. His death at the hands of General Shepherd remains one of the most shocking moments in the history of the franchise, with Sanderson and Ghost both being burnt alive by Shepherd. Jason Hudson
Games: Black Ops, Black Ops II, Black Ops 4, Black Ops Cold War Hudson is a constant presence throughout the Black Ops series, being introduced in the first game as Alex Mason's tough-talking C.I.A handler. He's most notorious for the infamous quote, "The numbers mason, what do they mean!" Hudson accompanies you on a series of missions in Black Ops and oversees Operation Greenlight in Black Ops: Cold War, the fail-safe program which saw Nuclear Weapons placed in major European cities. He sacrificed his life in Black Ops II, a harrowing moment that sees Raul Menendez shoot his knees out before slitting his throat, in order to allow Woods and David Mason to live. Farah Ahmed Karim
Games: Modern Warfare 2019 Featured in the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot, Farah quickly established herself as one of the most interesting characters in the rebooted series. She's the Leading Commander of the Urzikstan Liberation Force and works alongside members of Task Force 141 in order to liberate her country from Roman Barkov. In the games conclusion, she's responsible for killing Barkov, and assists in the destruction of his gas factory. She'll hopefully be returning for the rumoured Modern Warfare sequel too, although it is unclear if she will continue to work alongside Task Force 141. Ronald Red Daniels
Games: WWII Ronald Daniels is the main protagonist of Sledgehammer's COD WWII and is a part of the US Army 16th Infantry regiment who take part in the liberation of Europe. WWII was a divisive game but its campaign was well-received, with Red himself becoming a fairly popular character. Unlike most characters in Call of Duty, time is spent exploring Red's background and family life before the war, which rounds out his character and helps raise the stakes during the more tense parts of the campaign. He's a well-written character and is definitely worthy of inclusion on this list. Frank Woods
Games: Black Ops, Black Ops II, Black Ops: Cold War Frank Woods is one of the most entertaining characters in the Call of Duty Black Ops series, with the Master Sergeant being a supporting character in three Black Ops games, working alongside long-term friend Alex Mason both in and out of the field. He's a fan favorite, mainly because of his steely nature and quick wit, leading to quotes such as "I'm a goddamn onion, Mason." He's one of the main character's in Black Ops Il, acting as a narrator for several campaign missions after being rescued by Mason in the game's introduction. He's a character who knows how to handle himself and get the job done and is a fond favourite of the majority of COD players. Raul Menendez
Games: Black Ops II Raul Menendez is one of the best villains in the franchise. Unlike many of the other villains that have been created, Menendez is very much a three-dimensional character, with a strong motive for the rather radical actions he takes. He's also one of the only villains in the series to be successful in his plans, depending on the ending you get at Black Ops II's conclusion. He's a fan favourite for a reason, acting as a memorable foil for the Black Ops II protagonists to work against, especially because his motivations are far from evil. Black Ops II has one of the best campaigns in the series, and Menendez is a key part of that success. Vladimir Makarov
Games: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3 Arguably the most memorable villain in the Call of Duty franchise, Makarov manages to be universally despised by fans of the series, which was the main purpose of his role. Unlike some of the other villains in the franchise, Makarov truly has no redeeming qualities, being all about anarchy and causing as much chaos as possible without any remorse for his actions. The scene he would best be remembered for was the infamous airport massacre mission in Modern Warfare 2 in what remains the most controversial level in the history of the franchise. Alex Mason
Games: Black Ops, Black Ops II, Black Ops: Cold War Alex Mason has one of the most interesting storylines in the history ofCall of Duty, which is why he is such a beloved character by fans of the Black Ops series. Everyone will remember the classic opening of the game with the interrogation, which instantly put players on edge, leading them to question everything which takes place thereafter. His later appearances in Black Ops II and Cold War further cement his legacy as a clear fan favourite. David Mason
Games: Black Ops II Alex Mason's son, David Mason, is another example of Call of Duty doing protagonists right. His story in Black Ops II tackles a lot of themes, and the reunification with his father at the conclusion of the game is a real tearjerker. He's a true hero in every sense and unlike many characters in COD, he actually brings some humor to the games as well. While he isn't a flat out comedic character, the few funnier moments certainly make the game more enjoyable. General Shepherd
Games: Modern Warfare 2 Not every great character necessarily has to be a hero, even in the world of Call of Duty, and General Shepherd is the perfect example of that. Fans love him because of his villainy, not despite it. You play through almost all of Modern Warfare 2 assuming Shepherd is one of the good guys before he's revealed as the games main antagonist and the instigator of the global conflict between the American and Russian armies. The final faceoff in the desert is a memorable scene in the franchise and lives long in the memory of everyone who plays through it. Victor Reznov
Games: World at War, Black Ops, Black Ops II Victor Reznov was a selfless character, who always acted in the best interests of those around him. His relationships with Dimitri Petrenko and Alex Mason are both key parts of the first two games in the Black Ops series, and Reznov acts as a key building block in establishing the connection between World at War and the Black Ops games. Reznov is a true leader and explores plenty of warzones alongside Mason within the game, creating some of the most fun missions to play. Not to mention, he was voiced by the legendary Gary Oldman, which helped create an incredible and distinct voice that very few will forget in a hurry. Gaz
Games: Modern Warfare Lieutenant Gaz is another very popular character from the Modern Warfare games. Despite appearing in just two games, Gaz has remained a popular member of the SAS forces within the games. In Modern Warfare 2019 his character is expanded greatly, taking on a much bigger role in the game. He's also a playable character and has a lot of characterisation that his previous version lacked. Captain John Price
Games: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2019 Never showing fear, Captain Price was a true leader amongst men and is probably the most iconic character in the Call of Duty series. He's harsh, but honest, and has an extensive range of quotes that most COD players can easily recall with ease. His classic cigar and witty comments are just some of the reasons why people loved him so much. Price even became the poster boy for the franchise for a short while, mainly due to the fact that most players associated anything Call of Duty with his memorable moustache-framed face. Ghost
Games: Modern Warfare 2 Ghost is another character that COD fans became connected with, especially when his past life was revealed and how much the character had to go through, with the torture he suffered and the fact his family was killed. While it is Shepherd who eventually saves him and takes him under his wing, it is also Shepherd who betrays him again in what is the most heartbreaking death in the history of the franchise. Surprisingly for a character who only appears in one game, Ghost is still brought up as one of the most-loved characters in the series, and you never even see his face! Captain Soap MacTavish
Games: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3 Captain MacTavish, who is better known as 'Soap' to most gamers, was not only the greatest character in the history of Call of Duty (to this point), but he has also become one of the most beloved characters in gaming, full stop. Being part of all three of the Modern Warfare games, fans got to spend a lot of time with the character, which is why his death was so impactful, especially because most fans didn't believe Call of Duty had the guts to kill off such a popular character. Watching the normally steely-faced Captain Price cry over Soap's body is a striking scene, and only cements the legacy of one of gaming's great characters. His mere mention in the Modern Warfare 2019 ending was enough to get fans excited for the game's sequel, demonstrating the true power his character possesses.