The 16 Cosplay Personalities and How to Spot Them

Cosplay – the practice of decking oneself out in the costume of a favorite anime character, comic book superhero, or fictional protagonist – is so much more than playing dress-up. It provides an opportunity for people to connect with their creative side, learn new skills, and build up their sense of self-confidence. It offers freedom and refuge from the stress of real life through the artistic exploration of fantastical personalities. The combination of costumes and role-play allows people to openly embrace aspects of their identity that they may otherwise struggle to express, and cosplay gatherings foster a sense of belonging and community for those who attend.

Cosplayers tend to be passionate about their hobby, dedicating countless hours to crafting their costumes and perfecting their performances. Some people even manage to build careers for themselves within the subculture, and many others make it a defining aspect of their identity and everyday lifestyle.

The 16 Cosplay Personalities

It might be tempting to think that only certain personality types are attracted to cosplay, but this is far from the truth – people of all stripes can be found within the cosplay community. Often, what personality does influence is the way that a person participates. Not everyone has an elaborate costume or likes to pose for strangers’ cameras. Some people go to conventions like Comic-Con hoping to win competitions, meet other people who are equally fanatic about their favorite characters, or show off their skills at costume design and construction. Others attend for the shopping or to meet their favorite voice actors, and their outfit is almost an afterthought.

Considering this, we thought it would be fun to imagine each of the 16 personalities at a cosplay convention, so we’ve come up with a “cosplay personality” for each type.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our free personality test and find out.

Analyst Personality Types

Architect (INTJ): The Roboticist

You know those cosplayers wandering about in costumes that are so elaborately designed that you can barely tell someone is in there? Architects can usually be found underneath all those PVC pipes and fabric, silently meandering through the crowds. From behind the safety of all that EVA foam, they soak up the awe and wonder that their mechanical masterpiece demands from amazed convention-goers. They may not enter any competitions, but they have one of the most impressive costumes on the floor (and they know it).

Logician (INTP): The Mash-Up

Logicians are likely to be fanatics of anime, sci-fi, and fantasy – so much so that they probably love more than one character, making it hard for them to commit to a single cosplay persona. They also have an incredible ability to find connections between seemingly unrelated stories. These two factors usually result in them ending up in a cosplay mash-up – dressing as a character from one series who, in turn, is dressing up as another. Why would they want to limit themselves to just one character if they can do two at the same time?

Commander (ENTJ): The Con-Testant

Commanders are usually the first to register for a craftsmanship competition – possibly even before their cosplay concept is fully designed. They’re competitive and are going to go for the win with an awe-inspiring costume that is not only 100% accurate but also impeccably executed. They shine on stage, charismatically interacting with the audience while simultaneously impressing the judges with their extensive technical know-how.

Debater (ENTP): The Intellectual

Debaters show up in fairly accurate getups, but what they’re wearing is almost beside the point. These personalities want to geek out, and their cosplay costume is nothing more than a conversation starter. When they commit to a specific character, it’s because they want to connect with people from their fandom who are equally passionate about their favorite fictional realm – and who don’t mind some friendly intellectual sparring over differing fan theories.

Diplomat Personality Types

Advocate (INFJ): The Regular

Cosplay conventions are where Advocates can open up and let loose, feeling at home among “their people.” Designing and crafting their costume is a fulfilling creative outlet for people with this personality type. They obsess over every detail, but it’s worth it for all the positive attention and compliments that they receive – and secretly love. For Advocates, conventions are so fun and fulfilling that they are likely to become regulars on the scene, possibly even taking an active role in organizing cosplay events in their local community.

Mediator (INFP): The Newbie

Mediators love sci-fi and fantasy and have a strong tendency to get wrapped up in the stories of their favorite characters. They also tend to enjoy role-playing games, so cosplay is a natural hobby for them to take up. But their indecisiveness over which character to dress up as or how to tackle the costume design might have held them back from attending conventions in the past. They can be identified by the obvious wide-eyed wonder that is typically plastered on the faces of first-time convention-goers, something that no amount of elaborate makeup will be able to hide.

Protagonist (ENFJ): The Professional

Protagonist personalities are not only highly creative but also focused and goal-oriented – so when they decide that they are going to cosplay as a specific character, they are going to do that character right. Their costume is so well executed that you might think they are a professional costume designer – and they very well might be. Chances are Protagonists are actively involved in the cosplay community, either leading panels on costume design and construction methods or making custom costumes for others with less competent hands.

Campaigner (ENFP): The Role-Player

Have you ever noticed how specific cosplayers always seem to attract a crowd? Those people are often Campaigners, who somehow make it feel like you’re actually interacting with a real-life version of your favorite character. When Campaigners put on their costume, they become that fictional person and will role-play them all day. There’s nothing more exciting to them than doing the rounds with fans, posing for pictures, or doing a little improv with other cosplayers from their fandom.

Sentinel Personality Types

Logistician (ISTJ): The Incognito Hero

Logisticians are rarely into flamboyant cosplay costumes. These personalities are more likely to be dressed quite casually, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not true fans. Think of them as the Clark Kents of the convention – there’s more to them than meets the eye. Logisticians may be subtle, but they’re reliable, trustworthy, and ready to step up and be a superhero to support their friends when needed. They can be counted on to save the day, for example, if you run out of cash or need to get to the first aid station in a hurry.

Defender (ISFJ): The First Responder

While other cosplayers lose themselves in designing their costumes and the excitement of a convention, Defenders never fail to keep practical matters in mind. Their costume, no matter how elaborate, is built for comfort. This allows them to carry a backpack with extra water, blister pads, dissolvable electrolyte packets, wig glue, a sewing kit, and sample-size deodorants – all of which they freely offer to anyone in need.

Executive (ESTJ): The Vendor

Executives realized a long time ago that their hobby could be turned into a successful business, which is why they can be found in the dealer room selling limited-edition merch. Their outfit will be impressive, but while they are probably genuine fans of the character that they’re cosplaying, their presence at the convention is less about self-expression and more about wowing the crowd by having the most sought-after collectibles on the floor.

Consul (ESFJ): The Influencer

For Consul personalities, conventions are all about bringing the community together, creating connections, and having fun. Their cosplay costume is a work of art that was probably commissioned from a professional, but Consuls know every last detail about the character and the costume’s construction. They’re probably cosplaying with friends and are eager to pull random people together for impromptu photo sessions. You’ll also notice them constantly updating their social media, tagging their new friends and broadcasting everyone’s good time to the world.

Explorer Personality Types

Virtuoso (ISTP): The One in Black

While Virtuosos love sci-fi, fantasy, and probably anime, too, they can’t be bothered to come up with an elaborate outfit that accurately captures every detail of their favorite character. They’ll pull together something, but it will be comfortable and, very likely, black. You’ll have to be in the know to recognize what they’re wearing as a costume. And, yes, they enjoy conventions enough to actually go to one, but they’re likely to stick to spaces like the game room or the panels, which are generally more low-key than the main floor.

Adventurer (ISFP): The Soloist

Cosplay conventions are the perfect environment for Adventurers to experiment with self-expression. They’re probably the only person in their friend group interested in cosplay, though, so they’re usually on their own. This gives them the chance to somewhat anonymously try on different personality traits, connect with other people in their fandom, and splurge on the hobby that no one else in their normal life seems to get. People with this personality type can be identified not only by their surprisingly accurate character depiction but also by the bag of merchandise and other goodies that they’re likely lugging around.

Entrepreneur (ESTP): The VIP

If Entrepreneurs are into cosplay, they don’t hold back in their mission to make their hobby as fun as possible. They spend whatever it takes on their top-of-the-line costumes – one for every day of the convention – and enjoy sizing themselves up against every other cosplayer they see. They’re rarely spotted making the rounds, however, because they prefer to hang out in the VIP areas, chatting up their favorite voice artist or organizing a post-convention party for their new industry friends.

Entertainer (ESFP): The Impersonator

Entertainers are most likely to be found at the Masquerade, where cosplayers put their performance skills to the test by channeling their favorite character on stage. While their getup might be a bit more on the creative side, the way that they bring their character to life and interact with the audience wins them recognition as a qualified impersonator – a skill that they could easily turn into a career.

Final Thoughts

No matter which cosplay personality type you are, it’s important to remember that at a convention, all types are welcome. The inclusive nature of the cosplay community is what makes these events so popular and so much fun.

Before you head off to start planning your next costume, we’d love to hear what you like most about cosplay. Are you in it for the community? The opportunity for self-expression? The art of costume design? Maybe all of the above? Let us know in the comments.