Mistborn · Character

Hoid

Minor
First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 19

Hoid is a slight, bald figure whose pipe-smoking calm makes him seem almost too ordinary to notice. He carries himself as though his eyesight is poor, leaving a faint question about what he sees—and what he chooses to let others see.

Gender: male
Age: unknown
First appears: Book 1 · Ch. 19
Books: 4

Hoid begins as a shadowy informant in the Final Empire, trading secrets with Kelsier and Shan Elariel, then reappears in the Hero of Ages as a humming beggar who dispenses cryptic wisdom to Elend amid the empire’s collapse. By the time of The Lost Metal, he has adopted the guise of a meticulous coachman, ferrying Waxillium Ladrian and Wayne through the streets of Elendel and beyond, his white-gloved presence a quiet constant in their investigations. Across the series, Hoid evolves from a peripheral information broker into a recurring, enigmatic facilitator whose subtle interventions hint at far-reaching Cosmere designs.

Description

Hoid is described as scrawny and bald, with no further details given about his complexion, eyes, age, or facial features. He puffs on a pipe, the one accessory associated with him. He also presents himself as having weak eyesight, which can be conveyed through a tentative squint or cautious focus. His clothing is not specified, and his overall presence is slight and unassuming. Thin and ragged, this beggar sits humming amid ashfall in a crowded square, surrounded by sleeping unfortunates. His clothes are tattered and ash-dusted, frame lean from street life. A whimsical weariness marks his features, his soft tune cutting through the hush. Hoid is a male figure dressed in a formal coachman’s outfit, featuring a chauffeur’s cap and white gloves. He stands ready beside vehicles, gesturing precisely while offering carriage services in a composed and attentive manner. Hoid is presented as a male coachman, but his height, build, complexion, hair, eyes, and facial features are not described. His most consistent visual markers are a chauffeur's cap and white gloves, worn with a coachman's outfit. He carries himself with restrained composure, at times solemn, and is commonly associated with a sleek black car.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Elend VentureAcquaintance
Receives cryptic counsel from Hoid during the Hero of Ages; the encounter hints at Hoid’s broader awareness of world-ending events.
Kelsierinformant
Begins as Kelsier’s paid informant and gossip conduit in Book 1; no further direct contact is shown, but Hoid’s later appearances suggest he continues to operate within the same shadowy networks Kelsier once exploited.
Waxillium Ladrianemployer
Evolves from anonymous coachman to recognized driver and occasional advisor; Wax relies on Hoid’s transportation services throughout The Lost Metal.
Waynecompanion
Starts as a professional acquaintance providing transport, then develops into a confidant who reassures Wayne about his past and worth during their journeys together.
SE
Shan Elarielsubject of informant's report
Subject of a single intelligence report delivered to Kelsier; their interaction is limited to Hoid’s surveillance of her Soothing activities.

Story so far

BOOK 1Mistborn: The Final Empire
- Poses as a scrawny, pipe-smoking informant with feigned poor eyesight.
- Sells noble-house intelligence to Kelsier and plants misleading gossip.
- Reports on Shan Elariel’s Soothing activities at court.
BOOK 3The Hero of Ages
- Appears as a humming beggar in an ash-strewn square among the destitute.
- Dispenses cryptic wisdom to Elend Venture during the empire’s final days.
- Observes the Catacendre’s approach while remaining an unobtrusive storyteller.
BOOK 4The Lost Metal (The Mistborn Saga)
- Adopts the role of a formally dressed coachman with chauffeur’s cap and white gloves.
- Provides discreet transportation for Wax and Wayne.
- Offers cryptic advice during their investigations.
BOOK 7Mistborn 07 - The Lost Metal
- Drives Waxillium Ladrian after the rooftop confrontation, refusing to leave until friends are safe.
- Transports Wayne to the sting operation, trading banter and reassurance.
- Appears aboard a boat still in coachman’s attire, underscoring his persistent, enigmatic presence.