Light is characterized as hardworking, talented, and a natural genius. Highly perceptive and good with problem solving skills, Light is a skilled planner and good at mapping out scenarios. Furthermore, Light is very popular among his peers and adored by his family members. However, his high intelligence and constant praise from adults laid the foundation for an intense level of hubris, which quickly took effect once he obtained the notebook.

Similar to his father, Soichiro, Light has a strong sense of justice, but this quickly becomes warped after he becomes tainted by the notebook’s power. Believing the world to be "rotten," he uses his Death Note as a means by which he can enact his will to rid the world of evil people. Light's main goal is to create a new world that is free of injustice and populated only with people whom he deems honest and kind, thus becoming the "God of the new world". Light is decisive and driven to achieve his ambitions, without faltering one bit in his beliefs. Despite knowing the criminality of murder, Light would consider his actions the ultimate "sacrifice" to help the world