Attack on Titan is full of unique characters, each of whom undergoes a distinct change as the series develops. Perhaps no one has gone through a greater transformation than Eren Yeager, as he constantly walks the line between being both the series' protagonist and its antagonist.

Related: 10 Best Attack On Titan Episodes So Far (According to IMDb)

On one hand, Eren fights for the true freedom of his people, but on the other, he believes his bloody methods justify his cause. This dichotomy makes him one of the best-written anime characters, as he can often be considered a brave hero or a devious villain.

During a season four flashback, a conversation takes place in which Eren's friends discuss who among them should inherit Eren's Attack Titan after his thirteen years come to an end. After a long silence, Eren confesses that none of them should, as he wants them to live long, fulfilling lives.

Although he had not become a fully jaded warrior by this point, he still had plenty to lose, with his closest friends being chief among them. He was able to show an incredible amount of care for their well-being, despite them insisting over and over again that they would be the best fit for the job.

It took many grueling years since the beginning of his training in the Survey Corps to finally eliminate all the Titans roaming Paradis, and once they had, his team took to the island to aid them in rebuilding. Using the powers of his Titan and sweat of his brow, Paradis quickly caught up with the rest of the world.

This was a welcome sight for fans of the series since so much of his time in the Survey Corps had been spent fighting brutal battles with dreadful consequences. Yet, Ere n showed another side of himself in willingness to lead the efforts in building up Paradis' infrastructure, economy, and well-being for its people.

Attack on Titan transitions quickly in season four from a complicated mystery to a political thriller, which largely centers around Elida's oppression under the Marlean government. Naturally, as Eren discovers they are his true enemy, he assumes leadership among those who hope to liberate Elida for good.

Eren has seen firsthand the atrocities of war committed against his people, which is what drives him so ferociously to undo Marley's grasp over them. However, he has no empathy for Eldians still loyal to Marley, as they only stand in the way of Eldia from becoming a true, independent nation free from threats.

Time and time again, Eren has shown bravery in putting his life on the line to ensure that every battle the Survey Corps faces ends in victory. One could even argue that without his efforts and incredible Titan powers, Paradis would have been destroyed long ago.

Related: 10 Most Impactful Titan Transformations in Attack On Titan, Ranked

That eagerness and determination have always been within him, as Eren never backs down from a fight no matter the odds against him. It's not only a noble trait, but it has proved to save countless lives from falling at the hands of Titans and Marley's military wrath alike.

Having been with Survey Corps for so long, Eren learned a lot of valuable lessons in how to recognize injustice in the world, and how to take action against it. In doing so, he developed a unique ability to see through the fog of war to seek out those truly responsible for it.

The best example of this came when Eren was willing to sacrifice his life for Historia, the rightful heir to the Eldian throne. In driving out the usurpers from Paradis, he and the Survey Corps were recognized for their ability to take action and seek out justice for those not able to do it themselves.

In one of his most devastating and horrific actions, Eren launched a surprise attack on Marlean shores to bring the fight to them for the first time. With no regard for who go in his way, he decimated a major portion of military leaders and plenty of civilians caught in the rampage.

Even during the attack, Mikasa remarks that there was no turning back from what he had become. While he would have once spared those not involved in the fighting, in season four Eren had transformed into a dark, broken version of his once-merciful self to see the success of the assault by whatever means necessary.

After the four-year time skip between seasons three and four, Eren had become near-unrecognizable. Whereas he once stuck closely to his friends in hard times, he had now gone completely rogue, even going so far as to put his former comrades in danger to see his plans fulfilled.

Most notably, Eren confronts Mikasa and Armin with a stunning confession, claiming that he no longer cares for them and sees them as simply pawns in his larger scheme. It's absolutely gut-wrenching to see how quickly and easily he is able to throw away his closest friendships, no matter the cost.

While each of Attack on Titan's characters has become no stranger to war, no character has been influenced by it greater than Eren. Each of his former comrades has maintained some form of humanity within them, but Eren has become completely numb to all the death, destruction, and consequence.

Related: 10 Heroic Acts Committed By Villains In Attack On Titan

Even in his most perilous moments, he remains a stone-cold warrior who seems almost unfazed by the tragedy at this point. From his laughing at Sasha's death to disregard of threats on his life, this change of personality has many fans wondering if the Eren they once knew is actually gone for good.

For the majority of the series, fans assumed that it was Grisha, Eren's father, who held the sole responsibility of killing off the Royal Reiss family and stealing the Founding Titan. In a stunning twist, it was actually Eren who use the power of his Titan to go back in time and convince his father to carry it out.

This was especially shocking since Eren once remarked to Zeke that he was "disgusted" by his father's actions that day. As it turns out, it was not the murders that disgusted Eren, but his father's reluctance to kill the Reiss family, thus driving him to wedge his way into his father's head and make sure that they would be wiped out once and for all.

In a final, climactic move to ensure victory, Eren enacted The Rumbling, announcing that the Wall Titans trapped on Paradis would roam the Earth and wipe out every non-Eldian in existence. Having tricked Zeke in his plan to euthanize all Eldians, Eren emerged as the ultimate mastermind.

In order to forego the risk of future war and bloodshed, Eren's Rumbling set out to ensure that only his race would survive, creating the guarantee that Eldia would face no further oppression. Willing to sacrifice the lives of billions worldwide, Eren had finally become everyone's ultimate enemy.

Next: 7 Ways Eren Has Changed In Attack On Titan



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