Some of those who give their service are themselves Ixiptlas, impersonators of the god or goddess who becomes one with the Teotl just before death. This allows the Teotl being served to renew him or herself. In these ceremonies there are often those who are chosen to accompany the Ixiptla in his or her service, which is another class of offerings. Most of the offerings, though, are made simply to provide the Teteo with the energy they need. The great mass offerings of warriors to Huitzilopochtli are of this type.

A fourth, and smaller, class of offerings is represented by the "flaying" of those who give service to Xipe Totec and Tlazolteotl. In such cases, the wearing of the flayed skin by a priest or priestess allows the Teotl to directly possess that priest for a time. In some cases these forms may be combined, as in the ceremony for Tlazolteotl, where the Chosen one is Ixiptla, but later provides her skin to be worn by a priest or priestess.