Students
Joshua Carpenter
- Awesomeness by Analysis: Joshua's greatest skill. He correctly ascertains where they were taken to with information anyone else would never have figured out. For the most part he's correctly analyzed every single student in the experiment with very minimal (so far) errors as to their methods and potential actions. He's the valedictorian for a reason. And it's implied he's holding himself back.
- Hilariously Abusive Childhood: A weird subversion, as Joshua recounts the times he was tortured by his mentor in a joking manner, but his descriptions of it are anything but funny. It's implied that this is his way of handling it and that for all the good it did him to help prepare for whatever threat came his way, it also took a piece of himself away to gain the knowledge.
- Kill the Ones You Love
- Meaningful Name: He openly mocks this in one chapter, saying it was given to him by his mentor, Sister Grace, because she was trying to engineer him into becoming a messiah figure. Hanako seems to think that it's rather apt.
Hanako Heyerdahl
- Action Girlfriend: Played With when it comes to Hanako, who wants to protect Joshua, but can only do so much.
- All Asians Know Martial Arts: Played With for Hanako and her brother, Shinji.
Shinji Heyerdahl
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Shinji is this for Hanako, hating Joshua for dating his sister, who he wants to be with.
- All Asians Know Martial Arts: Played With for Shinji and his sister, Hanako.
Sonny Chance
- Cruel and Unusual Death
- Doesn't Trust Those Guys: Considers German exchange student Helmut to be a 'Nazi traitor'. Frequently harasses Helmut.
Helmut Schuwald
- Child of Two Worlds: One of his parents is German and the other is Ukrainian. This makes him qualified for this trope.
- Nazi Grandpa: Helmut's grandfather Hans was literally a Nazi. He wasn't very nice, but in his twisted mind, he was probably a good guy.
Danson Macabre
- False Friend: What Danson is molding himself into be to everyone who encounters him.
- Meaningful Rename: Intentionally invoked by Danson Macabre, real name: Dan Marsh.
- To Win Without Fighting: Danson's preferred method.
- Troll: He clearly relishes any attempt to screw over another competitor, mostly by making them get themselves killed instead of him having to do it.
Other characters
Darren Hawke
- Broken Pedestal: Darren Hawke for Max Levin, who comes from a military family, wanted to join the Army, and found out that his hero deserted the Army to start the Sons of the Constitution to bring down America.
- Faux Affably Evil
- Troll: Goes out of his way to mess with Shinji Heyerdahl and Max Levin.
- Evil Teacher
