Creating a character consists of several steps. First the player selects an Origin, an Archetype, a primary power set, and a secondary power set. Next, the actual avatar with its costume is created. Lastly, the player chooses a name and can optionally write a background story to add some flavor to the character as well as creating an individual battle cry.
There are five Origins a player can choose for his/her character that dictate what type of enhancements the character may use, affect which single short-ranged power they begin with (in addition to powers obtained from their primary and secondary power sets), and can influence the various villain groups that the character goes up against; these origins are Natural, Magic, Science, Mutation, and Technology.
There are also five basic Archetypes (or classes) in City of Heroes that affect a character's Power choices throughout the game. Blasters are primarily long-ranged damage dealers. Controllers have powers that allow them to prevent their foe from moving and attacking. Defenders support a team with a variety of weakening attacks and ally strengthening powers. Scrappers are melee fighters, dealing damage quick and close-ranged. Tankers' best offense is their great defenses and ability to take as much damage as they put out.
City of Heroes also has two "Epic Archetypes" which are designed to be more challenging to advanced players, and can only be unlocked after reaching the level cap on any other Hero on a player's account. Currently, there are two Epic Archetypes which are the shape shifting Kheldians. One group are known as Peacebringers, peaceful symbiotic aliens that have light-based powers. The other group are called Warshades, war-like symbiotes that are normally enemies to the Peacebringers but have reformed their "evil" ways. In the game's fiction, Warshades are sometimes also referred to as Nictus.