Shovel Knight is a selfless, kind-hearted, and chivalrous hero. He lives strictly by the "Code of Shovelry"—summarized as Slash Mercilessly and Dig Tirelessly! He is deeply loyal, honest, and helpful to those he meets, driven forward by his love and longing for his lost partner, Shield Knight. He's always ready to aid strangers, townsfolk, and fellow travelers in need. He follows an old-school code of honor, displaying a brass yet polite demeanor. Often forgiving and tries to avoid unnecessary conflict, though he is fierce in battle. He fights with a shovel-like sword.

Shield Knight is a noble, confident, and fiercely tenacious adventurer. Rather than a helpless damsel, she is bold, openly expressive, and deeply loyal to her partner Shovel Knight, though her bold nature can occasionally cross into recklessness in battle. She displays her face proudly and tackles danger head-on, serving as an outgoing counterpart to the shyer Shovel Knight. She shares a profound, emotional bond with Shovel Knight. Deeply moved by his refusal to give up on her when she was possessed by the Enchantress. Luckily she's free and with him now. She fights with two shields.

Specter Knight from is a scythe-wielding, tragic wraith. He is cold, ruthless, and cunning on the outside, but driven internally by deep melancholy, painful regret, and a begrudging loyalty to The Enchantress purely to sustain his undeath. He acts with sharp ruthlessness and bitter sarcasm toward enemies and peers alike. Harboring his past life as Donovan, he is overly sentimental and haunted by the fatal mistake that cost his friend's life. Takes his duties and combat execution with grim, calculating seriousness.

Plague Knight is a manic, eccentric alchemist driven by deep-seated insecurities. Beneath his chaotic, explosive exterior and rebellious attitude toward his peers, he is motivated entirely by a secret, awkward romantic crush and a desperate desire to feel powerful. Gleefully obsessed with dangerous chemicals, volatile bombs, and weird science. His primary emotional weak spot is Moan, his assistant. He is fiercely devoted to her, yet completely tongue-tied and flustered when she shows affection. He's rare allies with Tinker Knight.

King Knight is a deeply arrogant, selfish, and narcissistic individual who is obsessed with luxury, grandiosity, and convincing everyone he is a legitimate monarch despite only being a king-themed knight. He views everyone except his mother (or family) as completely lowly and beneath him. Highly brash and short-tempered, he throws tantrums when things do not go his way and exploits others as mere tools. While he boasts immense bravery, he heavily relies on underhanded tricks, unfair advantages, and minions to win his battles. (He's very charismatic and has charm).

Black Knight is Shovel Knight's enigmatic, fiercely loyal, and well-intentioned rival. Though he initially acts hostile and mocks Shovel Knight as a "Cerulean Coward", his tough exterior hides a noble goal: he secretly works to protect and help Shovel Knight and Shield Knight. He treats his confrontations with Shovel Knight as deeply personal, driven by lingering bitterness over the past yet refusing to let his rival make reckless mistakes. Just as dedicated to the shovel as his counterpart, he matches Shovel Knight's tenacity with a darker, aggressive fighting style.

The Enchantress is a cold, brilliant, and malevolent sorceress who acts as the main overarching antagonist. Beneath her exterior of grand magical power and cruel manipulation. She expertly preys on emotional vulnerabilities, using psychological warfare—such as trying to convince Shovel Knight that Shield Knight is gone forever—to break her enemies' resolve. While many characters and bosses in the Shovel Knight universe lean into comedic or eccentric quirks, the Enchantress is treated entirely as a severe, high-stakes threat by the narrative and world.

Treasure Knight is overwhelmingly greedy, brilliant, and fiercely protective of his wealth. As the financier of the Order of No Quarter, he manages money for the group, flies into a murderous rage if anyone devalues gold, and acts as a solitary, rugged deep-sea treasure hunter. He is driven by a deep obsession with gold, gems, and wealth. As captain of the Iron Whale, he prefers the depths of the ocean and guards his loot fiercely.

Polar Knight from Shovel Knight is a silent, stoic, and brutal warrior. He acts as a grim lone wolf who respects raw power, detests weakness, and hides complex, conflicting emotions behind a tough, icy exterior. He speaks very little, preferring grunts or total silence. He respects powerful fighters like Shovel Knight and invites him to join their order. He mocks trickery or non-physical combat styles, like Plague Knight's chemistry. He shows surprising capacity for care, such as gently feeding soup to an injured Terrorpin for a friend

Tinker Knight is a hard-working, brilliant mechanical engineer with a friendly, chatty demeanor. Unlike other villains, he joined the Order of No Quarter with genuinely good intentions for peace, preferring safety and planning over reckless risks. He loves building complex gadgets and prepares his battle plans well ahead of time.