- Mafia III characters drive a 1968 revenge story set in New Bordeaux, led by Lincoln Clay.
- Three underbosses — Cassandra, Burke, and Vito — provide services tied to weapons, vehicles, and income.
- Sal Marcano's lieutenants are the primary assassination targets across nine districts.
- Loyalty matters: district assignments affect relationships, betrayals, and endings.
- Allies like Donovan and Father James unlock investigations and story intel.
Mafia III Characters Overview
The Mafia III characters roster is built around a war for New Bordeaux in 1968. Lincoln Clay, a mixed-race Vietnam veteran, returns home to the black mob run by Sammy Robinson, only to be betrayed and left for dead by the Italian Marcano family. His revenge campaign forms the backbone of the story, supported by a cast of underbosses, informants, and enemies.
Video Highlights:
- Official launch trailer introducing Lincoln Clay and New Bordeaux
- Overview of the revenge storyline against Sal Marcano
- Glimpse of open-world district gameplay
| Character | Role | Faction | Story Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Clay | Protagonist | Black mob / own crew | Revenge-driven lead |
| Sal Marcano | Antagonist | Marcano family | Betrays Sammy's crew |
| Cassandra | Underboss | Haitian mob | Weapons and comms support |
| Thomas Burke | Underboss | Irish mob | Vehicles and explosives |
| Vito Scaletta | Underboss | Southside Union | Cash and reinforcements |
| John Donovan | Ally | CIA | Intelligence and wiretaps |
| Father James | Ally | Church | Moral anchor, intel |
Unlike many open-world games, Mafia III ties its cast directly to gameplay: each underboss unlocks real services, and neglecting them changes missions and endings.
Lincoln Clay and His Inner Circle
Lincoln Clay is the emotional center of the cast. Orphaned, raised in Delray Hollow, and hardened by the Vietnam War, he survives the massacre at Sammy's bar and rebuilds an organization from nothing. His story is told through documentary-style interviews with Father James and John Donovan that frame the campaign.
Lincoln Clay
- Protagonist and playable character
- Vietnam veteran with combat training
- Driven by loyalty and revenge
- Final choice defines the ending
John Donovan
- CIA handler and close friend
- Supplies wiretaps and intelligence
- Returns in Stones Unturned DLC
Father James Ballard
- Lincoln's surrogate father
- Narrates the documentary framing
- Provides moral conflict and guidance
The interview format means side characters reveal new perspectives on Lincoln's actions as the campaign progresses — pay attention to how testimony shifts after major kills.
The Three Underbosses Compared
Cassandra, Thomas Burke, and Vito Scaletta are recruited during the early campaign and become the pillars of Lincoln's empire. Each controls a different support network, and each expects a fair share of captured districts.
| Underboss | Faction | Services | District Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cassandra | Haitian mob | Weapon delivery, comms disruption | Aggressive, ranged playstyles |
| Thomas Burke | Irish mob | Vehicle delivery, explosive support | Mobile, vehicle-heavy play |
| Vito Scaletta | Southside Union | Cash support, reinforcements, Consigliere | Balanced and backup-focused |
Recruit Cassandra
Free Delray Hollow from Ritchie Doucet's Southern Cross to bring the Haitian mob into the alliance and unlock weapon-related services.
Recruit Thomas Burke
Confront the Irish criminal organization in Pointe Verdun and complete Burke's story chain to gain vehicle delivery and explosive support.
Recruit Vito Scaletta
Resolve the River Row operation and free Vito from Marcano pressure, adding the Consigliere and income services to your toolkit.
Repeatedly giving districts to one underboss starves the others of income. A neglected lieutenant can turn hostile late in the campaign, costing you their services and altering the ending.
Marcano Family Lieutenants
Sal Marcano's organization spans nine districts, each guarded by lieutenants who serve as story targets. Dismantling their rackets exposes each target for assassination.
| Lieutenant | Territory Focus | Racket Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ritchie Doucet | Delray Hollow | Southern Cross racists |
| Enzo Conti | Pointe Verdun | Italian loyalist muscle |
| Olivia Marcano | Frisco Fields | Gambling and politics |
| Tommy Marcano | Downtown | Construction and unions |
| Lou Marcano | French Ward | Sex trade and nightlife |
| Tony Derazio | Southdowns | Unions and rackets |
| Michael Grecco | Tickfaw Harbor | Smuggling |
| Frank Pagani | Barclay Mills | Vehicles and smuggling |
Expand into neighboring districts in a balanced order so all three underbosses keep earning income while you work toward Sal Marcano's casino.
Character Management Checklist
Cast-Related Milestones:
- Recruit all three underbosses before major expansion
- Assign districts to keep underboss earn balanced
- Complete each underboss's loyalty missions
- Eliminate all eight Marcano lieutenants
- Confront Sal Marcano and choose your ending
Keeping all three underbosses alive and loyal preserves every ending option: leave New Bordeaux, rule alone, or rule alongside your surviving lieutenants.
FAQ
Q: Who is the main character in Mafia III?
Lincoln Clay is the protagonist — a Vietnam veteran and orphan of Delray Hollow who rebuilds a criminal organization to take revenge on Sal Marcano after the massacre of Sammy Robinson's black mob.
Q: Which Mafia III characters are underbosses?
Cassandra (Haitian mob), Thomas Burke (Irish mob), and Vito Scaletta (Southside Union) serve as Lincoln's three underbosses, each offering unique services tied to weapons, vehicles, and income.
Q: Do character choices affect the Mafia III ending?
Yes. District assignments and underboss loyalty shape relationships throughout the campaign, and the final decision determines whether Lincoln leaves New Bordeaux, rules alone, or shares power with surviving underbosses.
Q: Is Vito from earlier Mafia games?
Vito Scaletta is the protagonist of Mafia II. In Mafia III he is an experienced operator under pressure from the Marcano family and becomes one of Lincoln's three underbosses.