Your Favourite Assassin’s Creed Protagonists by Personality
Written by Adam
Virtual Photography by Chris
From Altair to Connor. To Ezio and Evie. We all have our favourite Assassin’s Creed protagonist. But is there a psychological reason why a particular character is our favourite?
One of the most common reasons for liking a character is because they are relatable. We have similar character traits and understand their experiences. This allows us to imprint ourselves onto them in some way.
In my last Assassin’s Creed and psychology article, I discussed in depth the personality of Bayek of Siwa; his anger and grief.
But now I’d like to dive a little deeper into the personality types of all the main Assassin’s Creed protagonists and hopefully, you can learn why you like these characters so much from a psychological perspective.
There are four main personality types. These are Analysts, Diplomats, Sentinels and Explorers.
At a glance, these types can give you a good read on a person but it’s the sub-types where things really get interesting. Each type has four sub-types that correspond to their traits. For now, let’s discuss the four main types of personality.
Analysts
Analysts are those of the Intuitive and Thinking types who value rationality, impartiality and intellectual smarts. They are very independent, open-minded, imaginative and strong-willed and will often tackle problems from a utilitarian perspective; looking for a solution that works instead of trying to please everybody.
This makes them potent strategic thinkers but they often suffer in their relationships and social life.
Analyst sub-types
Architect (INTJ)
Architects are people with Intuitive, Thinking and Introverted traits. Intellectually curious, they strive for knowledge, self-improvement and value striaght forward rationality.
They will consistently work on enhancing any and all abilities and are driven by the desire to master any topic that piques their interest. Famous Architects include the likes of the visionary director Christopher Nolan and Katniss Everdeen.
Logician (INTP)
Those with the Intutive, Thinking, Introverted and Prospecting traits; Logicians can’t help pondering the mysteries of the universe.
Preferring to be solitary, they will often become immersed in their own thoughts, creating and inventing, it’s no wonder that some of the most influential minds have been Logicians. Logicians you may know are Bruce Banner and Albert Einstein.
Commander (ENTJ)
A Commander is a person with Extraverted, Judging, Intuitive and Thinking traits. Decisive and quick-witted, they gather information to be able to execute their plans but rarely linger once they have them.
They are natural born leaders, gifted with charisma and confidence and are able to rally people to a common cause. However, this can be offset by ruthless ambition and a drive to achieve their goals by any means necessary. Commanders you may have heard of are Raymond Reddington from The Blacklist and Malcom Merlyn from Arrow.
Debater (ENTP)
People with this personality type possess the Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Prospecting traits. They are bold, creative and with great mental fortitude, they break down and reconstruct ideas.
Unafraid to challenge the status quo, they will relish the chance to debate the controversial and won’t hesitate to join the opposing side just to see the debate from another perspective. Famous Debaters include the Crown Prince of Crime himself, The Joker and Adam Savage.
As you can see, the sub-types add depth to the personality types but it also makes it more complicated. Since every sub-type shares traits with each other, it can be difficult to place someone neatly within one type.
Diplomats
Diplomats care about helping and connecting with others. As such, empathy comes easily to them and they'd rather cooperate than compete with others.
These people believe it is possible to create a better world, one filled with compassion and understanding.
The Intutive trait drives this optimism. Paradoxically, it can make them hyper sensitive to injustice. This makes them well equipped to deal with the injustice but left unchecked, can lead to self-righteousness and single-mindedness.
Diplomatic sub-types
Advocate (INFJ)
Armed with the Intuitive, Feeling, Introverted and Judging traits; a Advocate lives their life with deep thoughtfulness and imagination. Their principles and person all values guiding them.
Conscientious to their core, Advocates find their purpose in the fulfilment of others. Perhaps because their personality type is so uncommon, they are often have an acute sense of being different. That's doesn’t mean that can’t enjoy close relationships or socialise with others - sometimes they can feel misunderstood or at odds with the world. Nelson Mandela, Morgan Freeman and Mother Teresa join the ranks of the Advocate.
Mediator (INFP)
Quiet and open-minded, people who possess this rare personality type are Idealistic and Empathetic.
Empathy is one of the Mediator’s great gifts but at times, it can be a hindrance. If they don’t learn to set boundaries, this trait may backfire on them and cause them distress. Famous wordsmiths J.R.R. Tolkien and William Shakespeare head up a stacked cast of Mediators.
Protagonist (ENFJ)
These welcoming, straightforward types have strong values and convictions and love to help others. They often feel compelled to a higher purpose in life and strive to help those around them.
They will very rarely shy away from an opportunity to help others, even if that is far from easy.
These traits of passion and charisma make them ideal leaders, able to stay hopeful in dire situations, always remembering that there is something to be grateful for. Barack Obama and Daenerys Targaryen are famous examples of protagonists.
Campaigner (ENFP)
Campaigners tend to embrace big ideas and actions that reflect their hope and kindness towards others. They have a lively and upbeat approach to life and are often the heart and soul of a party.
Although, they embody the life of the party, this does not fulfil them with a sense of purpose.
They are creative and once something sparks their interest, they become infectiously drawn to it. Showing a enthusiasm that would make even SpongeBob SquarePants green with envy.
However, once that initial rush wears off, they can become disheartened and lose interest in something that once meant so much to them. It’s because of this that they struggle with self-discipline and consistency. The late, great Robin Williams and Spider-Man are great examples of Campaigners.
Sentinels
Sentinels are practical, grounded and cooperative. Feeling comfortable in who they are, they are proud of their competence and their character. They seek order, security and stability and will work hard to maintain those core values.
They are often the cornerstone of any group or organisation as they are reliable and dependable.
As such, they thrive in places with clear hierarchies and rules-even if they aren’t in a leadership role, they offer wisdom and guidance to others. You’ll often find Sentinels as community officials, teachers and managers.
Sentinel sub-types
Logistician (ISTJ)
The Logistician is someone with a reserved and rational outlook on life. They will be mindful of their actions, composing them like a conductor of an orchestra and carry them out with methodical precision.
Leading a life of integrity, they are quick to own up to their mistakes even if it puts them in a bad light. To them, honesty and straightforward communication are more important than showmanship.
They will strive to fulfil their obligations, no matter the cost and will be baffled when someone doesn’t do the same. This can lead to unfairly judging someone as lazy, incompetent when they are dealing with their own challenges. Antony Hopkins of Silence of the Lambs fame and Geralt of Rivia are both Logisticians.
Defenders (ISFJ)
As the name suggests, Defenders are dedicated protectors; always ready to defend their loved ones.
They are efficient and responsible, giving special attention to the practical detail around them.
Devoted and hardworking, defenders feel a deep sense of responsibility to those around them and can be counted on to meet deadlines, remember birthdays and uphold traditions.
Defenders are a versatile bunch, holding a wealth of gifts. They are sensitive and caring but have an excellent eye for detail and are reserved but have good social relationships.
One of the Defenders greatest assets is loyalty. They are known to drop everything and rush to aid and this extends to not just family and friends but the wider community. But this intense commitment has its downsides.
Certain people may take advantage of this loyalty and this lead to defenders getting burned out or feel overworked. In fact, these personalities can feel guilt over saying no or making changes. One of the Defenders biggest weaknesses is that they find change difficult and are the personality that becomes the most stressed when last minute changes are made. The incomparable Lance Reddick and Samwise Gangee from Lord of the Rings are famous examples of Defenders.
Executive (ESTJ)
Unparalleled at managing things or people, the executive type possess great mental fortitude, following their best judgement in times of crisis.
They embrace their values of honesty and dedication and are prized for their mentorship mindset and following through on diligent and carefully laid out plans.
Examples of the perfect model citizens, they expect others to follow their example and don’t hesitate to show their displeasure if they don’t. This can earn them the label of being inflexible but this isn’t a case of being stubborn, they are just following what they believe keep society ticking. Frank Sinatra and Porthos, one of the Three Musketeers are prime examples of the Executive personality type.
Cosul (ESFJ)
The Consul are an attentive and people-loving personality type. Often forming the bed-rock of many communities, their achievements are guided by decisive values and they’ll gladly offer guidance to those in need.
Generous and able to be relied upon, they will often bare the burden of holding their families and communities together in ways both, big and small.
Consuls are altruists, serving others and doing the right thing are taken seriously. However, when someone doesn't agree with them, they might find it hard no to judge them for it. and therefore they might struggle to accept someone - particularly someone they care about - walk a different path from them. Dean Wincester from Supernatural and Larry Bloom from Orange is the New Black are fictional consuls.
Explorers
Explorers share the traits of Observant and Prospecting. They are self-reliant and quick thinking, often thriving in unplanned and uncertain situations.
72% of Explorers find impulsiveness exciting, preferring to be free of obligations and responsibilities so they can pursue their own interests and passions.
As soon as a task becomes mandatory, an Explorer will likely lose interest and this is one of the areas where they suffer the most.
Most education is fixed with a set curriculum that must be completed to move on. Explorers can be made to sit through education that just doesn’t excite them, providing a boring, monotonous atmosphere. Unfortunately, this can carry over to their professional lives as most work requires some form of unglamorous, by-the-books tasks.
Explorer sub-types
Virtuosos (ISTP)
This type possesses an individualistic mindset, pursuing their goals without needing external motivation. Not afraid to get their hands dirty, they are natural creators, taking things apart and putting them back together again.
At their core, Virtuosos will live by their own rules rather than predetermined societal expectations, valuing personal autonomy above all else. The generational actor Tom Cruise and Indiana Jones are famous examples of Virtuosos.
Adventurers (ISFP)
Adventurers have the ability to live in the moment, capturing many of life’s singular moments. It’s no wonder they are warm, friendly and caring. In fact, this personality type is one of the most non-judgmental and tolerant out there.
While they are friendly, caring and warm, they also need time to themselves, to recharge their batteries and reconnect with themselves.
Thoughtful and perceptive, adventurers can pick up on unspoken thoughts and feelings but if they themselves aren’t appreciated, this can lead them to feeling down. Beatrix Kiddo of Kill Bill fame and Éowyn from Lord of the Rings are both daring adventurers.
Entrepreneurs (ESTP)
Entrepreneurs are energetic and action-oriented, preferring to look before they leap and fix their mistakes along the way. They rarely waste time, thinking about the past and instead, live in the present.
Theory, discussions of non-tangible subjects will not keep them occupied for long. They will keep the conversation flowing, punctuating it with energy rather than listening to others drone on.
Brave and Bold, they are not afraid to act on their impulses. They live in the moment and exude confidence, making critical decisions based on facts in a rapid-fire rational stimulus response.
This makes highly organised environment a struggle for entrepreneurs as the highly regimented nature can stifle the hands on approach they favour. This also means that its makes more sense for them to follow their own moral compass instead of others and this is a sentiment that leaders will find troublesome. Lincoln Burrows from the hit TV series Prison Break and Eddie Murphy have this personality type in common.
Entertainers (ESFP)
Entertainers are people that are rarely boring to be around. They love vibrant experiences and engaging with others, often taking part in shared activities.
They enjoy the simplest things and there is no greater sense of joy for them than spending time with friends.
Entertainers tend to have the strongest aesthetic and a great sense of fashion and they aren’t afraid to change their wardrobe based on their environment.
However, they are more inclined to avoid conflict rather than tackle it head on. This personality enjoys drama but not when the they are subject of all the criticism it can bring. Unlikely as it may seem, Marilyn Monroe and Dandelion from the Witcher series have this personality type in common.
After that admittedly massive info dump, I hope you’re still with me because we’re about to get into the meat and potatoes of the article.
Because these characters are fictional, there is no way to tell for certain what their personality would be. I’m basing this on their actions, dialogue and interactions with other characters.
It isn’t easy to decide on one type for each character, since not all characters are consistent throughout their appearances and types and sub-types share a lot of traits. Depending on who you ask, they might have a totally different opinion. It’s also worth keeping in mind that personality is not set in stone and can change given a person’s life experiences.
Analysts of the Creed
It would be no surprise to find the Analyst personality type in Assassin's Creed. Infiltrating heavily guarded areas and assassinating your target is a feat that requires precise planning, cunning and a clear, cool head.
Altair was a tough one to pin down. Initially, my gut reaction was Analyst but the more I read into the types, I was leaning more towards a Sentinel. I finally settled on the Analyst because of his strong will, open-mindedness and independence. Altair is not one to beat around the bush, instead he says what he means and doesn’t suffer any nonsense. He is also a rational and utilitarian person, opting to see Masyaf castle as a “beacon for our enemies” as he puts it and disperses the Assassins across the globe. This would inevitably anger some but it clearly worked, as this was the structure of the order for centuries to come.
His deep dives into the Apple of Eden are what earned him the sub-type of logician. He was a very curious person, always looking to understand the world and through the knowledge gained from the Apple; he invented many things, such as his unbreakable armour, the ability to keep all your digits when wielding the hidden blade among other things. Furthermore, this strained his relationship with Maria, his wife, further cementing the Analyst type.
Basim is another tricky one to set in stone. One the one hand, he is rational and seeks knowledge, particularly when it comes to the visions of the Djinn he is experiencing. One the other, he challenges the Creed several times in pursuit of that knowledge. This indicates traits of both the Architect and Debater types. What sealed the deal for me though, is the fact that Basim isn’t mentally as mentally strong. He regularly suffers horrible nightmares of the Djinn and becomes delusional at times, seeing and interacting with Nerhal. His older self is much more at peace with his nature and outwardly accepts it.
Arno was so hard to pin down. His personality changes so often and he shares so many traits with other types. Initially witty and charismatic and reckless, he uses the Assassins as a means to an end, wanting to seek out de la Serre’s murderers but as he experiences the events of Assassin’s Creed Unity, he becomes more jaded. He sees the plight of the French people and wants to help, indicating traits of the diplomat. Expressing frustration when the Marquis de Sade dissuaded him from stopping a man’s leg being cut off by La Touché.
Furthermore, he isn’t a stranger to questioning the Assassins either as he comes to interpret the Creed in his own way. By the end of the game his experiences have shaped him into a wise and analytical person. I chose the analyst type because of what Arno becomes and because he his able to see through the hypocrisy of the Assassins, something they are known for.
Diplomats of the Creed
The diplomatic personality type is all over the place. So many characters in Assassin’s Creed obviously want to make the world a better place, even the Templars who have their own means of doing it. Whether they are right or wrong, it’s a matter of debate but pretty much every protagonist has their own path to making the world a better place.
Connor fits the Diplomat type to a T. He is constantly looking out for others and offering a hand when they need help. This can be seen especially in the homestead missions in Assassin’s Creed III. He also believes in a world where Templars and Assassins can work together for the good of mankind and hopes, somewhat naively, that he can change the opinion of his father, Haytham. Conscientious at heart, he finds purpose in the fulfilment of others and is guided by his principles.
We often see Connor at odds or misunderstood by the world around him. This maybe because of his Kanien'kehá:ka heritage or because of his uncommon personality type, maybe a bit of both. He is idealistic, a trait of the Mediator sub-type and is also hurt when other show little appreciation for the work he does but ultimately, he has more in common with the Advocate sub-type. The biggest indicator of the diplomat personality is his hyper sensitivity to injustice. Because of the tragic burning of his village and the death of his mother, Connor will not stand idly by as people are hurt, put down or otherwise negatively affected in any way. It’s a core part of his character and the epilogue of Assassin’s Creed III makes it even more heartbreaking.
Ezio is a case of his character becoming more fleshed out as story progresses across three games. At the start of Assassin’s Creed II, he’s little more than a cocky, arrogant and womanising noble without a care in the world. It isn’t until the end of ACII that we begin to see Ezio’s higher calling, (a key aspect of the protagonist type) as the “prophet” emerge. It’s in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood that his traits as the protagonist type manifest in the rebuilding of the Roman sect.
Rescuing the downtrodden from the Borgias iron fist and enabling them to become better versions of themselves through service to the Brotherhood. He certainly has the passion and charisma needed to be a leader from the start, as shown from the Bonfire of the Vanities DLC speech but it’s a very slow build-up throughout the games.
In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, his personality shifts more towards the Analyst and Sentinel types, with seeking the wisdom and knowledge of Altair’s library. Given his experience beneath the Vatican, he becomes more open-minded and finally fulfils his higher calling at the end of Revelations.
I see Shay’s main personality type as an diplomat and sub-type as a mediator with a dash of debater thrown in for good measure. Shay holds a lot of empathy and is idealistic (at least at the start of Assassin’s Creed Rogue), not realising or refusing to admit that there will be civilian casualties regardless of the creed. He was projecting his own sense of anger and guilt onto the Assassins.
Mediators are very uncomfortable with trying to pretend to be someone they aren’t and so this leads Shay to defect to the Templars and this is where his open-mindedness and the dash of debater I mentioned earlier comes in. He isn’t afraid to challenge the Creed and will even challenge the Templar ideals at certain points. Leaving the Assassins left Shay without a purpose and joining the Templars and pursuing their lofty ambitions gave him that sense of direction he lost.
Although we don’t see nearly as much of Aya as we should have, her character arguably is more compelling than her husbands. Like Bayek, she took the death of her son hard. But unlike Bayek, who wallowed in his grief, she turned what was a tragedy into something hopeful. Something that would honour the memory of her son and prevent what happened to him, from happening to so many others.
Principled but not necessarily idealistic, Aya shows traits of the Advocate. She wants to make a difference in the world. She rarely seeks personal gain, having separated from Bayek, causing herself great pain and even casting away her old identity for Amunet, a Hidden One. Also sharing traits of the Defender, Aya sees it as her responsibility to use her strengths to lift others up, give them a purpose and in this, she can find fulfilment.
In fact, Amunet sees her mission in life is to help people, to aspire to fix society’s deep rooted problems so that hardship and unfairness would become a thing of the past. She may feel a sense of a higher purpose, something shared with the Protagonist sub-type. Even though she is separated from Bayek, having left that along with her old identity, Amunet still deeply values him and their relationship.
Sentinels of the Creed
Within the Assassin’s Creed series, there are plenty of characters that could swing from being Sentinels or Analysts depending on your perspective as they share many personality traits like being intelligent and valuing rationality and practicality.
Initially, I considered Evie to be an Analyst, given her love of planning, intelligence and rational thinking. And indeed, Sentinels do share an Analyst’s love for meticulous planning but Sentinels, in particular, Defenders are more versatile. But then I thought about her relationships - to Henry, Jacob, to her father and by extension, the Creed. Evie cares deeply about all of them.
Feeling a deep seated responsibility to care for Jacob and to fix the mistakes he creates, she even returned to London from India to save and protect Jacob from Jack, a mistake that Jacob couldn’t control. This is why she is almost always at odds with Jacob, because their personalities do not align. While Evie seeks security, stability and order from the Creed, Jacob refuses to take the Creed seriously and looks for enjoyment and the thrill of the hunt.
Evie seeks security from having all the Pieces of Eden in the possession of the Brotherhood and makes it her top priority, only assassinating Templars in pursuit of the Piece of Eden.
This is another aspect that roots her firmly in the Sentinel camp. While Jacob prefers to live in the moment, Evie would rather find inspiration in the past with her father and all the lessons he taught her. This is why she holds onto the Creed so tightly, because to her, the creed embodies her father whom she admired so much while Jacob resents Ethan for his favour towards Evie.
And then there’s Henry. Even the way Evie expresses her love for Henry is typical of a Sentinel. She is not outward in her affection for Henry but rather shows it through small gestures like flower collecting. Furthermore, she actively abandons his mission in favour of rescuing Henry, a act that solidifies her defender role as loyalty is extremely important to them. Sentinels like Evie may not be obvious in their affection but they do care deeply for the people around them.
Eivor is very much like Evie, in the sense of her responsibility and duty towards her close friends and family. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s plot revolves around her gaining security for the Raven Clan by making alliances, a key trait of the Defender type. Like Evie, she is very loyal but expresses it in a different way. Eivor has the mindset of a warrior, loyal and honourable, displaying these traits when she refuses to kill Leofrith as he was deceived.
It’s fair to say that Eivor’s personality is forced to shift slightly into when she becomes Jarl of the Raven Clan. While Defenders have robust social lives they are content with working in the background. Defenders find solace in helping others live their best lives so when Sigurd asks for her help in his “higher calling,” she is only too happy to help and coming to terms with her own nature as well.
Raised to become a Medjay, Bayek had the traits of loyalty, honour and compassion ingrained in him from a very early age. Devoted and hardworking, he feels a deep sense of responsibility to the people of Egypt as much as he does with his family. He also struggles with change, another key aspect of the Defender type, highlighted by his inability to move on from Khemu and Aya. While Egypt transitions into a new era, Bayek is firmly rooted to the past, obsessed with vengeance for his lost son. If you'd like a more in-depth analysis of Bayek's personality, click here.
I see Kassandra as a blend of the Analyst, the Sentinel, and the Diplomat. She is fiercely independent, having been rescued by the base of Mt Taygetos by Marcus who taught her to fend for herself for the most part. But she was not above helping those in need for little gain in her mercenary work. What sticks out to me the most though, is her fierce dedication to her family.
She spent half her immortal life seeking out her remaining family and trying to reconnect with them. Even forgiving her father, Nikolaos, for attempting to kill her knowing he was intensely loyal to the Spartan way of life. She goes through so much hardship to knit her family back together, undoing the Cult of Kosmos’ brainwashing on her twin brother Alexios.
Even so, she may have had a sense of a higher calling from an early age, being told that she was a descendant of the great Leonidas and ultimately that was true although not in the way she had probably expected. This leans into the Protagonist or Advocate sub-types. Kassandra initially rejected her higher calling in favour of her family and friends. However, she learns to embrace her role as the Keeper and fully comes to terms with her protagonist and advocate traits to improve the lives of humanity.
Adventurers of the Creed
You could make a case that every active field Assassin is an adventurer with all the crazy parkour and dangerous situations they get themselves into. But the Adventurer personality type lives for the thrill and thrive on uncertainty, something that is very certain in the Assassin’s Creed universe. One minute you’re navigating a dead civilisation’s vault and the next you are escaping from an earth-shattering quake.
I briefly touched on Jacob in Evie’s section but to expand on it here: While Evie was enraptured by the history and the philosophy of the Assassins, Jacob was very quickly bored of it. As an Explorer, Jacob very much prefers to live in the present and that’s why he took to the practical side of the Assassins such as the parkour and assassination but disregarded the abstract explanations of the Assassins history and its creed.
This is a fundamental difference between Jacob and Evie. Jacob would rather go out and do things, fixing his mistakes later while Evie would rather prevent those mistakes from ever happening in the first place. Using his own moral compass instead of the Creed makes more sense to him because in his mind, rules were meant to be broken.
Much of what was said about Jacob also applies to Edward under a different context. Wanting to lead a good life eventually led Edward to become a pirate. This was perfect for his personality type. One that prefers to live by his own rules instead of being underneath the oppressive thumbs of nations. This is the reason sovereign states hated pirates, because they couldn’t control them.
Edward is passionate, exciting and full of inspiration. All qualities a natural group leader would possess. Obviously the pirate life is full of challenges and dangerous and someone like Edward fits right at home with this notion. Storms, cannons, and scurvy. Edward takes it all in his stride and is all the better for it.
When i first started research for this article, I expected most characters to be Analysts since the core of what the Assassins do would appeal to someone of that personality type. But my opinion changed as I researched, Assassin’s Creed has far more Sentinels than any other personality types and I think that’s because most stories told in Assassin‘s Creed are about defending and freeing the people from oppression and tyranny.
But the stories are also very personal stories, ones of love, loss and family. And this just so happens to be the Sentinels and more accurately, the Defenders prime aspect. I hope you enjoyed this article and found it interesting and informative. If you would like to take the test and see what personality you have, click here for the link.
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