With so much going on and everyone split up, the characters all exist at different variations of usefulness. The Hawkins group has some of the best chemistry and stakes, considering they are at the heart of the show's most significant conflict. Vecna is attacking people in their town, and it is up to them to stop it. They have access to the best information, and their storylines are surrounded by mystery and stakes, especially once the central characters' lives become at stake. That is not always the case for characters such as Joyce and Hopper, whose primary roles are mostly isolated from everyone else in Russia.

Granted, Mike, Will, and Jonathan are not much better being so far away from Hawkins. They seem to struggle to keep up with the plot and easily miss more information than their friends in Hawkins. Their saving grace in the storyline is Eleven, who, when she finally learns exactly what is going on, must strive to become a powerful force to defeat Vecna. While separating the main characters certainly worked in the show's favor regarding storytelling, it also harmed various characters when it came to questions about just how useful they were to the main story.

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12 Jonathan

Stranger Things Jonathan
Netflix

Although Jonathan has a few pleasant moments with Will, Jonathan may be one of the least valuable characters in the fourth season. He spends most of his time alone or stoned with Argyle. Jonathan's friendship with Argyle is Jonathan's biggest positive as a character, as nearly everything else he does comes with no important consequences or impacts. Jonathan's most significant emotional arc regarding his relationship with Nancy never gets a confrontation, leaving Jonathan's storyline utterly irrelevant to the season's entirety.

11 Will

Stranger Things Will
Netflix

Being so far from Hawkins is not the best for Will, plot-wise. Although Will ends up on the run, it has nothing to do with him. Instead, Will's most significant impact has more to do with his friendship with Eleven and jealousy toward her closeness with Mike. Although the final moments of season four tease Will's connection to Vecna and a potentially more prominent role in season 5, he does not have that much to do throughout the fourth season. However, Will does impact Mike, reminding his closest friend that Mike is the heart of their group, a speech Will recalls to Mike when things look bad for Eleven, and she needs encouragement.

10 Mike

Stranger Things Mike
Netflix

Mike suffers a similar fate as Will and Jonathan. He is away from the main story, but his biggest storyline is his worries about his romance with Eleven. Mike's concern Eleven will eventually think Mike is not enough for her, drives some of his actions, such as avoiding telling Eleven he loves her. But, Stranger Things tries to show Mike's essentialness to Eleven and the plot by having him desperately beg Eleven to fight and stating that he loves her. Mike's speech inspires Eleven to continue fighting.

9 Hopper

Stranger Things Hopper
Netflix

Hopper is mainly isolated from everyone else for many episodes. Stuck in Russia, Hopper wants to escape and re-join his loved ones in America. Given how Hopper's motive, for the most part, comes from wanting his escape, Hopper is not the most useful for the plot. However, he knows what to expect in the death ring more than the other prisoners, having fought the monster before, and helps destroy elements of the Upside Down that could help the kids in their endeavors.

Related: Sadie Sink Unsure of Max's Fate in Stranger Things Season 5

8 Joyce

Stranger Things Joyce
Netflix

Single-minded determination to save Hopper is the majority of Joyce's story once the opportunity arises. She and Murray take on a mission to save Hopper, not letting anything or anyone stand in their way. When they eventually succeed, Joyce also participates in saving Hopper's life and helping defeat the beasts to help the kids. Her determination drives the Russia plot forward, as Joyce and Murray's journey allows Hopper's time in prison to have additional stakes.

7 Lucas

Stranger Things Lucas
Netflix

Considering Lucas spends the early episodes wishing to be more involved with the popular basketball players, he is out of the loop regarding what is truly going on for a while. However, once Lucas knows what is occurring, his allegiance is tied to his friends as they strive to defeat Vecna. Lucas participates in the adventures of dealing with the Upside Down. Still, one of Lucas' most significant impacts comes during "Dear Billy," when his knowledge of Max's favorite song gives the group a chance to save her.

6 Robin

Stranger Things Robin
Netflix

As part of the main group in Hawkins, Robin significantly impacts the plot by default. Robin and Nancy's growing friendship is a great help in exploring character development and relationships. Robin's improvisation helps her and Nancy gain access to discover what caused excruciating deaths years before and how it could be connected to what is occurring in the present. Robin is also involved in the final battle, helping deliver one of the final blows to Vecna.

5 Steve

Stranger Things Steve and Dustin
Netflix

As the group's constant babysitter, Steve continues to look after the kids and is later the first of the group to go through the underwater gate to the Upside Down. He tries to be there for the group, wanting to protect Max from Vecna's capture and desperately trying to wake up Nancy from Vecna's hold. Season four proves Steve's development since season one, as he stands his ground as a solid friend to the Hawkins group.

Related: Joe Kerry: Great Performances Outside of Stranger Things

4 Nancy

Stranger Things Nancy
Netflix

Due to Nancy and Robin's discovery, the group understands the importance music has in avoiding Vecna. She nails the final hit against Vecna and uses her investigative skills to help explain what is happening. When Vecna shows Nancy his backstory and a horrifying glimpse at the future, it improves Nancy's usefulness as the only member of the Hawkins group to learn the full story directly from Vecna.

3 Dustin

Stranger Things Dustin
Netflix

Dustin continues proving his usefulness and intellect toward the Upside Down and proving to Eddie that the group is on his side. Dustin is a devoted friend who understands what the group has to do to survive. He actively helps Eddie avoid those wishing to capture or hurt him. When Max worries about what truly happened to Chrissy, she goes to Dustin first. Dustin is one of the essential characters in grasping the truth of what is going on.

2 Eleven

Stranger Things Eleven
Netflix

While Eleven may not be the most useful in the first few episodes, that changes once Eleven goes off on her journey to regain her powers. Eleven's adventure has her re-live forgotten and traumatic memories, including the truth regarding who Vecna is and how Eleven had known him. However, Eleven regaining her powers just in time for the final battle makes her one of the most useful. Piggybacking with Max to help defeat Vecna allows Eleven to help her friends. However, she also utilizes her powers to save Max from death.

1 Max

Stranger Things Max
Netflix

Max Mayfield may be the most helpful and vital character in season 4. Her connection to Vecna becomes a horrifying plot twist when she learns what her fate may be. Her actions and emotions throughout "Dear Billy" are integral to her character and the plot, but it may be her final actions of the season that award her the top spot. Although Max knows the risks, he also refuses to put an innocent person in danger, choosing instead to allow Vecna to attack her directly. Max knows she can avoid him long enough for her friends to kill him. Sadly, her plan does not work entirely as she wished. Still, that does not take away from her actions as an essential character.