Kelsier is a half-blood skaa Mistborn and infamous former thief known as the Survivor of Hathsin. He bears heavy scars on his arms from working in the Lord Ruler's deadly atium mines, an experience that triggered his magical abilities. Driven by a deep hatred of the nobility and a grand vision of a world with green plants, he forms a specialized thieving crew to overthrow the Final Empire.

Vin is a cautious, resourceful teenage orphan struggling to survive in the brutal skaa underground. Abandoned by her brother Reen, she operates under the constant paranoid belief that everyone will eventually betray her. She possesses raw, untrained Allomantic abilities—which she initially understands only as "Luck"—before Kelsier recruits her to learn the true extent of her Mistborn powers. She adopts the persona of Valette Renoux to infiltrate high society.

Eland is the eccentric eldest son and heir to House Venture, the most powerful noble house in Luthadel. Unlike his peers, he detests the superficiality of noble society and shows genuine sympathy for the oppressed skaa. He prefers reading analytical and critical texts on political theory over participating in court gossip or dancing.

Sazed is a Terris Keeper and trained steward. As a Feruchemist, he stores physical attributes like strength or memories in metal jewelry. He specializes in religion, secretly collecting the histories of hundreds of pre-Ascension faiths to preserve knowledge that the Lord Ruler actively suppresses.

The eternally young tyrant who has ruled the Final Empire for a millennium. Worshipped as a living god, he controls every aspect of society through his Steel Ministry and brutal Inquisitors. He is credited with saving the world from the mysterious Deepness, though his reign brought ashfalls, nightly mists, and the brutal subjugation of the skaa.

Breeze is an Allomantic Soother capable of gently manipulating the emotions of those around him. He dresses well and prefers to avoid physical labor, utilizing his abilities to influence recruitment meetings and keep the crew's morale high. He often debates the ethical implications of his powers with his crewmates.

Ham is an Allomantic Thug who burns pewter to increase his physical strength and endurance. Despite his role as the crew's muscle and military trainer for the skaa rebellion, he is deeply philosophical and enjoys posing complex ethical questions. He works covertly within the Luthadel Garrison to gather information.

Clubs is a gruff carpenter and an Allomantic Smoker. He runs the woodworking shop that serves as a front for the crew's base of operations. His primary role is to burn copper, creating an invisible cloud that hides the crew's use of Allomancy from the Lord Ruler's Inquisitors.

Spook is a teenage skaa boy whose real name is Lestibournes. He serves as the crew's Tineye, burning tin to greatly enhance his physical senses for lookout duties. He speaks in a difficult-to-understand Eastern street slang that relies heavily on adjectives and gerunds.

Dockson is a half-blooded skaa and the only member of Kelsier's inner crew without Allomantic powers. He serves as the pragmatic administrator and logistical organizer for the rebellion. He harbors deep resentment toward the nobility after a tragic loss on the plantation where he formerly lived.

Marsh is Kelsier's estranged older brother and the former leader of the skaa rebellion. He is highly critical of Kelsier's flashy approach to overthrowing the empire, doubting his brother's moral commitment. He agrees to undertake a highly dangerous mission to infiltrate the Lord Ruler's Steel Ministry as an acolyte.

A kandra imposter who has consumed the body of a minor nobleman and assumed his identity. Operating under a strict contract, he poses as Valette's wealthy uncle to provide the necessary funds and social standing for Vin to infiltrate Luthadel's elite high society, while secretly smuggling weapons for the rebellion.

A popular, manipulative noblewoman and Mistborn from a prominent Great House. She actively works to maintain political dominance in Luthadel and views Vin's alter-ego Valette as a convenient pawn to gather information on her former fiancé.

The ruthless, wealthy head of House Venture. He controls the empire's highly lucrative atium mining operations at the Pits of Hathsin and enforces strict, cruel compliance among his family and skaa subjects to maintain his political dominance.

The current leader of Luthadel's skaa rebels. Lacking Allomantic powers and formal military training, he is a dedicated but deeply anxious man who hires Kelsier's crew to provide the logistical and tactical support his struggling movement desperately needs.

A ruthless and abusive skaa thieving crewleader in Luthadel. He uses Vin for her unrecognized Allomantic abilities to manipulate targets during high-stakes cons, frequently beating her to maintain his authority over the rest of the crew.

Vin's older brother who served as her harsh guardian after their mother attempted to kill her. He taught Vin the brutal rules of survival in the skaa underground, primarily emphasizing that everyone will eventually betray her. Though he abandoned her six months before the story begins, his teachings continue to govern her decisions.

Kelsier's deceased wife and a former skaa thief. She possessed a deep fascination with pre-Ascension history and dreamed of a world with green plants and flowers. Her death in the Pits of Hathsin serves as the primary catalyst for Kelsier's rebellion against the Final Empire.

A historical figure chosen by Terris philosophers to defeat the mysterious Deepness before the Lord Ruler's Ascension. His personal logbook reveals a man burdened by immense expectations, plagued by self-doubt, and anxious about the responsibility of saving Scadrial.

A Terris packman hired to guide the Hero of Ages through the mountains to the Well of Ascension in ancient history. He harbors a deep-seated hatred for the Hero and believes that the pureblood Terris people are superior and meant to dominate other nations.

Tevidian is the Lord Prelan and leader of the Steel Ministry. He oversees the religious and bureaucratic functions of the Final Empire, maintaining the Lord Ruler's absolute authority through fear and strict enforcement of the law.

Jastes is the heir to House Lekal and a close friend of Eland Venture. He regularly meets with other young heirs to secretly debate philosophy and politics, though he remains highly suspicious of Valette Renoux's motives.

Demoux is a dedicated skaa soldier who helps train the rebellion's recruits. Unlike his commander Yeden, he is deeply moved by Kelsier's demonstrations of power and becomes fiercely loyal to the Survivor's cause.

Lady Kliss is a renowned court gossip who secretly operates as a paid informant. Vin cultivates a friendship with her to deliberately plant false rumors and destabilize the Great Houses.

Ulef is a fellow skaa thief in Camon's crew. Driven by fear of the crewleader's violent temper, he betrays Vin's escape plan, demonstrating the harsh reality of the underground where loyalty takes second place to survival.