Every hero is rated 1–10 on four attributes. The definitions below are the in-game wording, read off the character screen — this is what each number actually buys you:

• Capability — overall vigour and prowess with melee weapons and throwable household items. At 9, you can sometimes put Michael down in a single hit.
• Athleticism — run speed and stamina. Low athleticism also makes you bad at diving through windows.
• Personality — persuasion and command: faster resident recruitment, faster police calls, larger skill-check windows, and fear/stalk resistance.
• Resourcefulness — repair speed, environmental awareness, and vehicle and firearm use; higher Resourcefulness means more firearm damage.

Each hero also carries named traits with explicit values, and some unlock by account level. Duplicate characters are allowed in a lobby, so pick for role, not scarcity.