It’s not easy to surprise audiences these days or create a serialized story that continually gets better each season, but Attack on Titan effortlessly accomplishes those tasks. The anime has been compelling and terrifying from the very first episode as man gets pitted against monster, but the scope and nature of its narrative have changed to become an anime that’s as psychologically rich as it is viscerally violent and packed with action.
The larger nature of Attack on Titan continues to morph and shift from where it began, but one of the biggest elements of change is Eren Yaeger, the anime’s protagonist. Eren has never been afraid to fight for what he believes in, but as those beliefs change and he grows more powerful, he turns into Attack on Titan’s most dangerous character.
10 Titans Kill His Mother Before His Eyes
A powerful origin story is enough to set many great heroes and villains on hateful paths. The right circumstances and being in the wrong place at the wrong time is enough to transform someone into a weapon.
The very first episode of Attack on Titan features a ferocious Titan attack that includes Eren's own mother among the fatalities. Eren witnesses this traumatic act and it's not long after that he makes his undying pledge to eliminate all of the Titans. He's dangerous because of what he witnesses here.
9 He Possesses The Attack Titan & Other Titan Powers
It's a major turning point in Attack on Titan when both the audience and Eren learn that he has the power to shift into the Attack Titan. This ability makes Eren even more of a useful ally since he's able to use the power of Titans against their own kind.
Suddenly the Titans change from a clear threat to something more complex. Eren acquires even more Titan abilities —often through ruthless means— as the series continues. One Titan power is plenty, but Eren becomes extremely problematic because of how many powers he accumulates.
8 He Has Training In Eldia's Survey Corps
Attack on Titan begins as a grueling war between humans and monsters. The humans are clearly overpowered, but they're able to slightly level the playing field through the use of omni-directional maneuvering gear and proper training through the various outfits of the Scout Regiment.
Eren becomes one of the most valued soldiers of the Survey Corps, which equips him with fundamental combat skills and strategies. This means that Eren can be just as deadly while human and also exhibits a deep understanding of how the Survey Corps operate.
7 He's Earned The Undying Trust Of Armin
It's important to have independent skills to fall back on and be able to defend oneself, but often it's just as crucial to have a support team. Eren is powerful, but he's acquired many lifelong allies that would sacrifice themselves to keep him safe.
Armin grows into a formidable warrior and a Titan bearer as well, but he never gives up on Eren. Armin always gives Eren the benefit of the doubt, even after it looks like he's turned on everyone and lost his way. Armin never gives up hope.
6 He's Used As Grisha’s Pawn
Family is one of the most powerful bonds and it can be both inspiring and terrifying how parents use their children to carry on their duties or accomplish what they couldn't. Grisha Yaeger becomes an important figure in some of the formative years between Marley and Eldia.
Grisha faces extreme losses and he views Eren's existence as the sole salvation of all of the pain that he's experienced. Grisha turns Eren into an unsuspecting tool to carry out his greater mission and even if Eren isn't fully compliant, it leaves him in a very volatile place.
5 He's Blessed With Knowledge Of The Future When He Touches Historia
Attack on Titan creates some truly fascinating lore around the Titans and how a special variety of them reacts to particular circumstances. The anime progressively gets into the importance of Ymir and the Reiss family as well as their connection to Titans.
This leaves those with royal blood to trigger precognitive reactions in certain Titan bearers. This is exactly what happens when Eren meets and greets Historia and at this moment he witnesses his entire future and the dark path that lies ahead for everyone.
4 The Yeagerist Revolutionists Blindly Fight For Him
One of the most compelling and disturbing aspects of Attack on Titan is how the final season explores the shift of Eren and several other characters. Many become convinced that Eren's destructive and borderline genocidal plan is the only way to end the war between Eldia and Marley.
These revolutionary Yeagerists do not take it well when Eren is opposed and many lives get lost in the process. This radical group doesn't care who gets hurt and they'll blindly carry out Eren's bidding and make sure he's safe.
3 He's The Brother Of Zeke & A Vital Cog To Acquire The Founding Titan
Another major twist in Attack on Titan takes place when it's learned that the Beast Titan is actually Eren's brother, Zeke. Zeke and Eren are positioned as enemies, but the anime's final season brings them together for a very precarious alliance that many question.
Eren and Zeke are both uniquely qualified to trigger the Founding Titan because of Eren's powers and Zeke's royal blood. This means that the mere union of Eren and Zeke can have apocalyptic consequences and it becomes another trump card for Eren to utilize.
2 Mikasa Is His Unwilling Helper
One of the sweeter bonds in Attack on Titan is the foster sibling relationship that's formed between Eren and Mikasa. They've known each other since childhood and Mikasa's reverence towards Eren is an important aspect of the anime.
Attack on Titan's final season drops another bombshell that the Ackerman family have special triggers in them that make them devoted to serve and protect those that activate this. Eren claims that this is what he did with Mikasa when he saved her, gave her a scarf, and told her to fight. It warps this sweet relationship into something manipulative for Eren to abuse.
1 He's Well Versed In Marley Customs Through Espionage
Attack on Titan's final season begins with a lengthy stay in Marley away from any of the main characters that have previously been the anime’s focus. It makes for a remarkable shift in perspective, and one rogue element through it all is Kruger, an injured soldier that Falco takes pity on.
It's revealed that Kruger is actually Eren and he's used his time in enemy territory to plot the first stage of his elaborate plan as well as gain intimate knowledge on Marley's inner workings. It becomes another invaluable tool that Eren is later able to use to his advantage.
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