mike and his habit of saying things in double leads to him saying his love confession to will twice. one is a much louder, “because i’m in love with you, okay?” and the second is softer, teary, happier. a relieved, “i’m in love with you, will.”
Since a bunch of Byler AUs and "variant" ship names are popping up and I'm getting lots of asks about what they are, I decided to make a fun guide for everyone to read through if they need to. I will provide a brief history of each variant, and some photos to give you an idea. I'll try and update this whenever something new comes up.
The Basics:
Byler
(Pronounced Bye - lur) Assuming you know this one - Mike Wheeler x Will Byers from Stranger Things on Netflix. This ship encompasses all the variants and seasons, of course. Ship name originally "Byeler" and "Mill", created in 2016.
Miwi
(Pronounced Mee - wee) Mike Wheeler x Will Byers but from when they were 5 years old (when they met in 1976) to when they were around 13 years old (at the end of Season 2). Encompasses pre-Season 1 to Season 2 of ST. When fans wish to speak about them as kids in a sweet, puppy-love romantic, non-sexual way, they will refer to them as Miwi, but they are still Byler. Ship name was created some time around June-August 2022.
Any of the following variants can have a "Miwi" variant unless the variant is only from a specific time period such as S3 onwards.
Lesbyler
fanart by bujomoss (deactivated)
(Pronounced Lez - bye - lur) This is gender-swapped Mike Wheeler and Will Byers, making them both girls and lesbians (or sapphic if one chooses to headcanon Mike as bisexual). Their names are most often changed to a feminine version, the most popular being Michelle Wheeler and Willow Byers, although occasionally their names can be Michaela or Winona.
Depictions of Lesbyler can range from both being femme, Willow being butch and Mich being femme, Mich being butch and Willow being femme, or both being butch. Ship name was created some time around August 2022, originally named "sapphic byler".
Any of the following variants can have a "Lesbyler" variant with simply "Les" attached to the front of it with both Mike and Will being girls.
Cleradin
fanart by @lunewarden
(Pronounced Cleh - ruh - din) Mike and Will's D&D personas shipped together, most often depicted in fanart as their characters created in canon, but in a different alternate universe with classical medieval/fantasy elements. Mike is a Paladin (sometimes depicted as a knight) and Will is a Cleric.
Mike's variant is called Paladin Mike, Sir Michael, Mike the Brave, or just Michael. He is depicted with armour and a heart shield, most often with hearts on his armour, and with longer hair. Will's variant is called Cleric Will, Will the Wise, or just William. He is depicted with purple wizard robes and a wizard hat, though this can vary. Often written with more lyrical prose in their dialogue. Ship name was created around July/August 2022.
Other AUs:
Wiseheart
Likely the most popular ship name other than the first four. This refers to Mike and Will but using their D&D personas/nicknames in the show as ship names. Will the Wise and Mike, "The Heart" as dubbed by Will in S4. There is some confusion surrounding whether this refers to Cleradin, Byler, both Cleradin and Byler, or whether it refers to older Byler.
From what I can tell, this ship name encompasses both Byler and Cleradin, but leans towards the aesthetics and dynamic of Cleradin. Seems to just be a generic name used in usernames rather than a ship name referring specifically to shipping two characters. Ship name created around October-November 2022.
Spidey Will x MJ Wheeler
No specific ship name, and is often just referred to as "Spidey Will", but this refers to the AU in which Will is Peter Parker/Spiderman and Mike is MJ. Will is often depicted as Spiderman in all black except for yellow spider accents on his costume. Big boom of Spidey Will occurred post-Season 4 in mid-2022.
Sorcadin
(Pronounced Sors - uh - din) A variant of Cleradin which was popularised post Vol 1 of Season 5 in which Will was referred to as a sorcerer by Mike. Ship is Sorcerer Will (in place of Cleric Will) x Paladin Mike. This is not as popular as Cleradin and is never really used unless someone is unsure which one to use (Cleradin. use Cleradin).
Bravebyers
An alternate universe reverse Isekai/Isekai in which Paladin Mike from Cleradin is reverse Isekai'd into the real world and the ship name refers to Paladin Mike x Will Byers (often called "Regular" or "Normal" Will). Often depicted as a way to make the normal Mike jealous, make the normal Will flustered/happy, or make the normal Mike come to his senses. It is assumed in this universe most often that Cleradin is already an established couple. Paladin Mike is often depicted as a much more gentleman-ly version of Mike, with a British accent and long hair.
It was popularised after this image of Finn Wolfhard was found and posted on twitter by user @/sirmichaeI, with the accompanying concept. The ship name Bravebyers was created as a combination of Mike the Brave and Will Byers, created in Early Feb 2026.
Wisewheeler
This is the same as Bravebyers, but instead of Mike the Brave x Will Byers, it's Will the Wise x Mike Wheeler. An alternate universe Isekai or reverse Isekai in which Cleric Will from Cleradin is reverse Isekai'd into the real world or (most often) Mike Wheeler is Isekai'd into the D&D world as him and Mike the Brave switch places. A natural progression from the shipping of Mike the Brave and Will, and the most popular depiction of this is that Cleric Will assumes that Byler are dating in the real world and is disappointed when this is not the case. A more popular depiction of Wisewheeler is platonic.
This was popularised immediately after the creation of Bravebyers, and originally was called "Wheelerwise" but was changed. Happened also in Early Feb 2026.
Sharknilla
A social media modern alternate universe (socmed, or smau) in which Mike is a popular streamer called "seaofwheeler" and Will is a popular youtuber called "vanillakidbyers". This was created by @/inhunnedd on twitter from June-July 2025. The characters' stan twitters depicted in the smau as "sharktwt" and "vanillatwt" and their ship name for the characters was called Sharknilla.
The entire smau can be read here.
Vampwise
Alternate universe where Mike is a vampire. Originated as a ship between Vampire Mike and Will the Wise (D&D character Will), but now encompasses general Vampire Mike x Will. Sometimes this ship can be generically used in place of a ship where Will is the vampire or both of them are vampires due to the popularity of it. Originally coined in January 2026.
Hellcali
Refers to the alternate universe in which Hellfire Mike from Episode 1 of Season 4 and California Will from Episode 1 of Season 4 are in an established, long-distance relationship. Specifically, this originally came from Mike being in a Hellfire t-shirt and Will being in the striped shirt from Ep1, but can generally mean 14-year-old Mike and Will from the time between the Byers moving away to California and coming back to Hawkins. Often depicted as a cheesy, romantic couple that call each other on the phone or send letters - can sometimes be depicted as different to Byler, and who met in different circumstances.
Ship name originated from twitter user @/byleringout in late Feb 2026. This au can also be combined with the following au:
Surfsahoy
Refers to the alternate universe in which Mike works at Scoops Ahoy from S3 that Steve and Robin worked at and Will works at Surferboy Pizzeria from S4 that Argyle works at. This is most often combined with Hellcali -- meaning this can take place when they're both 18 or when they are the Hellcali ages (14). Can either be depicted as working in the same mall (similar to the Tattoo parlour x Flower shop au) or working long-distance. Can also be either depicted as established relationship or not.
Some people may refer to this as Ahoyboy, Surferscoops or some variation of that kind. This au is also often combined with a different au called "Madwheeler Scoops Ahoy au" where Mike and Max replace Steve and Robin in S3 and Mike comes out to Max like Robin did or vice versa. Therefore Hellcali, Surfsahoy, and the Madwheeler au are often a trio. Originated from @/itwas.a.seven on tiktok in late Feb 2026.
Zombvamp/ Zombievamp
Refers to a depiction of Will as a real zombie and Mike as a vampire, referencing Will Byers being referred to as "Zombieboy" in S2 and S5 and Mike with vampire teeth at the end of S5. This is most often done in fanarts. Unsure of origination, though it likely came post-finale.
Gothpunk
This general-sounding ship name refers to Goth Will and Punk Mike being depicted together in headcanons and fanarts. Goth Will is drawn with gothic makeup, corpse paint, a gothic hairstyle and clothing. Punk Mike is drawn with either long black hair and punk-style clothing, or drawn with an orange coloured mohawk like he almost got some time between S4 and 5. Originated post-finale.
Merbrave
Refers to an alternate universe in which Will is a mermaid. Mike is either depicted as a pirate, a knight, a paladin (and he is Mike the Brave again) or just a regular Mike. Most popular is that Mike is a pirate/ship captain. Unsure of origination, but it is most popular on twitter and post-finale.
Werehare
A hybrid alternate universe where Will is a Bunny hybrid and Mike is a wolf hybrid or a werewolf. This can be used for sexual purposes, but in fanarts it mostly just depicts Will as having bunny ears and a tail and Mike with black dog ears and a tail. Likely originated post-finale as well.
Werewise
Mike is a werewolf and Will is either normal Will or Will the Wise (Cleric Will) who takes care of werewolf Mike. This is only really a thing on tumblr and isn't very popular yet elsewhere. Originated from @gothmikewheeler (correct me if I'm wrong) and posted most often by @minimorgana in its creation.
Thanks so much for reading! Let me know if there is anything I have missed out, and make sure to let me know when I need to update this with new variants.
El really remembered Max saying “not Hopper, not Mike, you” and “there’s more to life than stupid boys” while gathering the power to literally resurrect Max from the dead and I’m supposed to believe she wasn’t done with Mike and his lies by the end of s4?
thinking about that one interview i watched when it went live with the whole cast. where noah schnapp was asked a question and he mentioned that the duffers’ writing was confusing, and they shot back at him “good thing there isn’t a season six or we’d have killed you off” and noah got offended and I REMEMBER how it rubbed me the wrong way AND IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE NOW LOOKING BACK AT IT OH MY GOD THE DUFFERS SUCK
They were probably so annoyed when Noah came out because it meant he would be "difficult" about Will's storyline.
I really hate the Duffers, and I can't believe I once used to defend them against people who said the show wasn't that deep and that they weren't good writers.
Will had to call everyone and tell them not to point out Mike’s first gray hair because he was getting existential about it. Will thinks it’s hot (everyone agrees).
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