The Rising of the Shield Hero is a popular but grim isekai anime series starring Naofumi Iwatani, the unwitting Shield Hero who has been plagued with terrible misfortune ever since he arrived in the Medieval kingdom of Melromarc. He is one of the four great Heroes but is rarely recognized as such. In fact, he is widely hated for a crime he didn't commit.
Naofumi struck it out on his own, and he had nothing but his magical shields and wits to help him survive until he recruited a brand-new adventuring party. Naofumi needs more than just magical power to defeat the Waves -- he also needs a creative and practical mentality, and his MBTI personality type makes that wonderfully clear. What does his MBTI type say about him while anime fans get ready for Shield Hero Season 2?
Iwatani Naofumi's MBTI Type: ISTP-T, The Virtuoso
Naofumi's type is ISTP-T, a turbulent person defined as Introverted Observant Thinking Prospecting, meaning he is the "Virtuoso" personality type, one of the four most creative MBTI personality types. Virtuosos don't typically draw attention to themselves due to their introverted nature. Instead, they allow their creative and unique inventions or expressions to speak for them. They could be described as shy artists or inventors, even if they don't actually have a job related to inventing things or creating art. Virtuosos still have the spirit of an inventor or artist deep down, and they can express it in any situation, even shonen action stories. Kujo Jotaro of JoJo fame is also a Virtuoso, something he has in common with Naofumi.
Virtuosos are practical, proactive and hands-on people who are happiest when they can tinker with things and solve problems with their own two hands; they will rarely ask for help during a project and don't like being told what to do or how to do it. ISTPs like Naofumi are independent-minded free thinkers who would rather innovate their own solution to a problem than defer to tried-and-true rules, which can cause issues in the workplace at times. However, when left to themselves and allowed to improvise, a Virtuoso may dazzle everyone with their ingenious new creations and strategies.
In general, ISTPs are known for their can-do attitude and enthusiasm, especially when they have the tools needed to complete a project and no one gets in their way. These people are good at improvising and tend to keep cool in a crisis, and they also tend to live in the moment, meaning they are somewhat relaxed and don't stress too much about the future. All this makes for a practical and unpredictable creative mind -- perfect for artisans, engineers and explorers.
On the downside, Virtuosos often push others away with their stubborn and independent mindset, and they may struggle to recruit many friends or business partners aside from like-minded Virtuosos or similar MBTI personalities. ISTPs are also known to be too reckless for their own good and might get themselves into trouble, and they are notably restless and easily bored. A Virtuoso might bite off more than they can chew just because they want a new fun project to work on.
Iwatani Naofumi As A Virtuoso In Shield Hero
Just days into his isekai adventure, Naofumi was framed and kicked out of the castle, forced to fight the Waves alone. This prompted the naturally introverted and practical Naofumi to gather his wits and use his sheer creativity and imagination to survive, and he soon thrived as a fantasy ISTP. To begin with, Naofumi made the questionable but practical choice to buy the demi-human Raphtalia from a slave trader to boost his party's offensive potential, and he shrugged off all complaints and criticism of him supporting the local slave trade.
Fortunately, Naofumi soon proved to be a tough but fair party leader, and he looked after Raphtalia and her every need, including buying her new gear and weapons. Naofumi did the same with his own shield, using anything and everything he could find to unlock new shields with unexpected powers that served him well in the Waves.
As a Virtuoso, Naofumi insisted on doing everything his way during his adventures, and he often clashed with the kingdom's guards, the other three Cardinal Heroes and even local townsfolk. He often demanded payment for his services, even when dealing with hungry or desperate villagers, but in exchange, Naofumi saved the day with creative and resourceful solutions for a variety of problems, from venomous dragon zombies to giant plants. Naofumi didn't make many friends with his methods, but he did earn the people's respect and gained a reputation as a traveling merchant and vigilante of sorts.
Naofumi was also slow to trust others or allow them to join his party, as he preferred to seek out his own aid and only trusted his own judgment in the process. A true Virtuoso would rather tackle a project alone than with several enthusiastic but unreliable allies who don't share their view, and Naofumi was the same way. Naofumi even doubted princess Malty at first until it became clear that she and her mother the queen truly intended to aid him.
