With giant, man-eating beasts to contend with, it’s no wonder the characters of Attack on Titan have little time to worry about romance. But just because they have bigger things on their plates doesn’t mean that the fans aren’t thinking about who could wind up with who.
In fact, there are plenty of Attack on Titan ships out there, from ones that are considered canon - even if nothing too serious has happened between the characters - to purely fanon ships that pop up on Twitter and fanfiction websites. Of course, some pairings are more popular than others, rallying the fans behind them whether they're likely to happen or not.
Updated by Daniel Kurland on September 8th, 2021: Darkness reigns in Attack on Titan and optimistic plans for the future may just seem like they're tempting fate, but that hasn't stopped fans from pining for certain romances as well as chastising other ones. Even those living in a doomed dystopia deserve love, after all.
15 Behind: Sasha & Niccolo Have A Tender Bond That’s Formed From Life’s Simple Pleasures
The perks of a good cook should never be underestimated, even in a world full of Titans. Niccolo, a chef, is first icy towards Sasha because of her Eldian roots, but when she's taken by his cooking he begins to soften towards her. Food is the way to Sasha's heart and so she's quickly a fan of Niccolo.
The two don't get to vocalize their feelings for each other, which makes Sasha's untimely death hit even harder. Niccolo is crushed by the action and he only pines more for Sasha and leaves flowers on her grave while he mourns her.
14 Rejected: Yelena Views Zeke And His Powers As A God, Which Only Lets Her Down
Yelena enters Attack on Titan only after the War for Paradis truly heats up between Eldia and Marley. She's a major player in the Anti-Marleyan movement, but Yelena becomes inspired from the moment that she first watches Zeke transform into the Beast Titan.
She's left in a state of awe and is determined to help Zeke carry out his cause and believes that his plan is the only hope for a safe future. When Zeke is unsuccessful, Yelena is greatly humbled and doesn't know what to do with herself. It's a relationship built on a false foundation.
13 Behind: Gabi & Falco Have Each Other’s Backs As The Future Of Marley
Attack on Titan is a series that's always looking forward, but its final season truly mixes things up with its focus on Marleyan warriors and a whole new cast of characters. Chief among them are Gabi and Falco, who play crucial roles in what's to come and the united front that forms against Eren and the Rumbling.
Gabi and Falco are still young, but they experience a ton together and Falco makes sacrifices to keep Gabi safe. Their lives become complicated in a short amount of time, but they deserve to be able to find comfort in each other's company.
12 Rejected: Eren’s Interest In Ymir’s Soul Is Just A Means To An End That Uses Her
Attack on Titan takes more twists and turns than ever before during its endgame, particularly regarding Eren and Zeke and if they're actually aligned in their missions. A mysterious alternate realm exists within Titans where the soul of Ymir exists as the representation of the Founder.
Ymir remains chained up in this realm until Eren promises to finally give her real freedom if she follows his plan. Eren just wants to manipulate Ymir to carry out his wishes, which makes her conflicted disposition painful to watch.
11 Behind: Armin Gets To Speak His Mind And Soothe His Soul With Annie’s Company
Annie Leonhart first shows up in Attack on Titan as a traitor and her relationship with Armin and the rest of the Survey Corps is based on lies. However, the anime’s final season shows that a surprising relationship has continued between Armin and Annie, even if it's considerably one-sided.
Annie remains confined to crystal, but it turns out that Armin regularly visits her to tell her everything that's going on and just where his mind is at during these many changes and Eren's erratic behavior. Annie hears everything that Armin tells her and it forms into an oddly sweet connection.
10 Rejected: Jean & Mikasa Are On Separate Paths That Have Diverged Too Far Apart
When Jean and Mikasa first meet, he makes it clear that he’s attracted to her — though she doesn’t seem to have any interest, likely because her sight is already on Eren. Although Jean is supportive of Mikasa and the two develop a friendship with increasing respect for one another, the fans just haven't gotten behind them as a romantic pairing.
While a small group of fans appreciates JeanKasa, far more people want to see Mikasa wind up with Eren or another character. Even the ship with Mikasa and Annie seems to have more supporters, and that's not to mention that most fans are behind Jean and Marco as a pairing (even if they'll never actually end up together).
9 Behind: Eren & Mikasa Are Destined For Happiness Even After All Of Their History
Eren and Mikasa are among the few Attack on Titan ships fans actually believe could be canon, as it’s clear Mikasa has feelings for her lifelong friend. Eren certainly seems to return the sentiment, at least, once in a while. In the beginning, it seems like their relationship is one-sided, but it's hard to deny that the two care for each other more than almost anyone else after watching the episode "Scream."
Eren's insistence that he'll keep wrapping the scarf he gave Mikasa around her, again and again, seems like proof that he feels something back. And with the two so likely to end up together, many fans have begun rooting for them. Of course, that's assuming they both survive the entire series in the first place.
8 Rejected: Eren & Christa Have Too Many Differences To See Eye-To-Eye
Eren and Christa have a few one-on-one moments with each other during Attack on Titan's third season. Most notably, there's a conversation between the two that results in Mikasa becoming jealous, needlessly so, since it doesn't seem like either Eren or Christa are all that into one another.
That's probably for the best, as fans don't appear to support the two of them as a pairing. They'd clearly rather see Eren wind up with his childhood friend or Captain Levi, and they have other plans for Christa as well.
7 Behind: Eren & Levi Better One Another And Rise To The Other's Level
Ereri, or the ship that matches Eren and Levi with one another, is a controversial one, mostly because the former is underage when the two of them meet. Still, the majority of fans seem to support some rendition of this ship, even if it involves aging characters up or waiting until the later seasons when Eren is finally an adult.
As for why so many fans ship these two, it seems to be due to their similar personalities. Both harbor a similar hatred of the Titans they're up against and have plenty of pent-up anger because of it. There's also plenty of disinterest between the two, which, for whatever reason, seems to fuel fans even more.
6 Rejected: Reiner & Christa Have Too Much Pain To Heal Each Other
Reiner makes comments that suggest he's attracted to Christa several times during Attack on Titan season 2, but, like Eren, he doesn't seem to stand a chance. Not only is Christa blatantly uninterested, but the fans don't seem to care for these two either. Both are typically paired with other characters, and together, they don't fall anywhere near the top Attack on Titan ships in polls or on fanfiction sites.
To be fair, Reiner's interest in Christa seems to be purely because she's pretty and has royal blood. Christa, on the other hand, can do better than a recruit who betrays everyone. Most fans can agree these two just aren't meant to be.
5 Behind: Ymir & Christa Are Ride-Or-Die Companions
Ymir and Christa are largely considered canon at this point, as the two have even routinely been nominated for "best couple" categories when it comes to anime awards and rankings. Ymir makes her feelings for her friend painstakingly obvious throughout the series, and while Christa's reactions are mild, it's obvious she cares deeply for the other girl.
Perhaps this is why these two are often among the most popular Attack on Titan relationships among fans. If anything, it's refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ pairing that doesn't just have the fans' support but also seems to be exactly what was intended by the anime's creators as well.
4 Rejected: Bertolt & Annie Share A Dangerous Secret Together
Bertolt owns up to having a crush on Annie in the anime, but fans don't seem to care much about these two when it comes to shipping. They don't appear in the top Attack on Titan ships on most fanfiction sites, and they're rarely talked about. Though, to be fair, that could also be because both of them are currently out of the picture.
For a ship that's basically been called out by the anime's creators, it's interesting that so few people seem to acknowledge Bertolt and Annie as an item. In fact, it almost seems that more people ship Bertolt with Reiner than with the girl he actually likes. Given the events of season three, however, it doesn't look like he'll wind up with either.
3 Behind: Jean & Marco Work In Their Earnest Simplicity
When it comes to Attack on Titan ships, Jean and Marco often rank among the most popular pairings. A quick Google search can confirm that a large number of anime fans are on board for these two (or they would be if Marco hadn't perished way back in season one.)
Whether someone ships them or not, there's no denying these characters have a charming and supportive relationship with one another during their short time together. Marco gives Jean the confidence to take the lead in their fight against the Titans, and Jean is clearly grateful for the other boy. He's also devastated when he discovers his death, something that no doubt fueled fan theories that he had feelings for him.
2 Rejected: Armin & Mikasa Work As Friends, But Not As Lovers
There are certainly fans who have suggested Armin and Mikasa could wind up together, though they're far fewer than the fans who believe either of them could have a relationship with Eren instead. When it comes to Attack on Titan's main trio, most fans have come to the conclusion that Armin and Mikasa are simply platonic best friends.
These two always have each other's backs, but there's never been a scene or bit of dialogue to suggest that either of them is interested in anything beyond friendship. Most viewers seem more than OK with that.
1 Behind: Levi & Erwin Have Bonded Through Trauma
Less controversial than the Levi and Eren ship - and nearly as beloved - is the ship that pairs Levi and Commander Erwin Smith. It's hard to deny the two have a certain chemistry, and they seem to trust and respect one another more than the other soldiers they work with.
Their dedication to one another is likely the reason so many fans support them. Witnessing Levi's reaction to his commander's death at the end of season three, it makes a lot of sense that this ship is so popular.
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