A half-skaa street urchin from the slums of Luthadel. Shaped by a harsh life with her brother Reen and a constantly-moving series of thieving crews, she has learned to survive by staying distrustful and unnoticed. When Kelsier spots something unusual in her, she is pulled out of the underworld and into a far larger plan against the Lord Ruler's Final Empire - including a new identity as the young noblewoman Valette Renoux.

Elend's ruthless father, king of the Northern Dominance

The immortal god-emperor who has ruled the Final Empire for a thousand years. Believed to be the Hero of Ages who saved the world, he controls all Allomancy, Feruchemy, and the nobility through an iron grip of terror and religion. His true nature and origins are among the deepest mysteries of the series.

A Soother in Kelsier's crew who manipulates emotions with Allomancy. Cultured and self-important, he uses his abilities to soothe skaa crowds into joining the rebellion. Secretly of noble birth.

A Smoker (coppercloud Misting) whose shop serves as the crew's base of operations in Luthadel. Grim, pessimistic, and pragmatic. Uncle to Spook.

A soldier in the skaa rebellion army who becomes one of Ham's most trusted men. One of the earliest members of the Church of the Survivor. His faith in Kelsier and the crew is unwavering and becomes a recurring thread through all three books.

Kelsier's oldest friend and the crew's organiser. Not an Allomancer, but indispensable - he manages logistics, finances, and keeps the operation running. Shares Kelsier's hatred of the nobility.

Heir to House Venture, the most powerful noble house in Luthadel. A bookish idealist who reads political theory at balls and quietly advocates for skaa rights. Falls in love with Vin while she is disguised as Valette Renoux.

A soldier originally assigned to kill Vin in The Final Empire who instead helped her escape. Elend later makes him a captain in his army, and Goradel's quiet loyalty becomes one of the book's small but persistent examples of people choosing to be better than they were trained to be.

A Pewterarm (Thug) in Kelsier's crew who serves as the rebellion's military commander. Physically powerful but philosophically inclined - he loves debating ethics and morality.

A former friend of Elend's who leads the third army besieging Luthadel, having gained control of a koloss army through counterfeit atium beads. His deteriorating mental state as he loses control of the koloss is one of the book's warnings about power sought without the wisdom to wield it.

A former soldier trapped in Elantris who leads one of its factions. Initially hostile to Raoden, she becomes a key ally.

A half-skaa Mistborn and charismatic rebel leader who plans to overthrow the thousand-year reign of the Lord Ruler. Scarred from a year of brutal labour in the Pits of Hathsin, he channels grief and ambition into revolution, assembling a crew of Allomantic thieves for the most audacious heist in history - stealing an empire.

Kelsier's older brother and a Seeker (bronze Misting). A former leader of the skaa rebellion who has grown disillusioned. He infiltrates the Steel Ministry as a spy for the crew, at great personal risk.

A Terrisman Keeper and Feruchemist who serves as steward to Lord Renoux. He preserves forbidden knowledge of pre-Ascension religions in his copperminds and acts as Vin's protector and tutor in noble etiquette. Quiet, scholarly, and deeply principled.

A kandra of the Third Generation who becomes Vin's ally

A spy and scout originally in service to Straff Venture who defects to Elend. Skilled at reconnaissance and information gathering, he becomes a reliable member of Elend's forces across the later books.

An elderly skaa who observes Kelsier's arrival. Brief POV in The Final Empire.

A kandra - a shapeshifting creature bound by magical contract. Hired by Kelsier to impersonate Lord Renoux, he maintains the facade that enables the crew's operations in Fellise.

A young Tineye (tin Misting) and Clubs' nephew. Speaks in heavy eastern street slang that others struggle to understand. Hero-worships Kelsier.