Eren Yeager is a remarkably complex character in the world of anime. Introduced in Attack on Titan as a determined young man longing for freedom beyond the confining walls, his story quickly shifted after experiencing immense loss and seeking revenge. However, discovering the truth about the world outside the walls dramatically changed his life and motivations.
Despite facing opposition from everyone, he distanced himself from his friends in pursuit of his ambitions. Ironically, his quest for freedom led him to become controlled by destiny and ultimately the series’ main villain. His cruel and inexcusable deeds established him as the greatest villain in Attack on Titan. Let’s examine some key instances where Eren’s actions leaned more towards villainy than heroism.
Eren is Inherently Violent
It’s easy to understand why Eren was so angry and upset at the beginning of the series, considering everything he’d been through. However, even before the tragedy with the walls and his mother, he showed a disturbing level of rage for a child. This was clear when he rescued Mikasa, brutally killing her attackers. While he explained he only wanted to save her, his father questioned the intensity of his anger and his quick use of violence, raising concerns about whether it was justified.
He Intimidated Hange and Scared Her
Following the battle with Marley, the Scouts brought Eren and Zeke back with them. Due to distrust between the two brothers, they were kept separated. Hange noticed Eren talking to his reflection and began questioning him, but he responded harshly. Eren explained the situation as he saw it, arguing that imprisonment was pointless and Hange couldn’t alter what was going to happen. He angrily grabbed her collar and pulled her closer to his cell, shocking her. While it later became clear his outburst wasn’t directed at Hange, but at his own perceived helplessness against fate, the incident showed a disturbing detachment from his friends.
He Used Porco’s Jaw to Kill the War Hammer Titan
During the battle in Liberio, Eren faced danger from both the War Hammer Titan and Marley’s army. Just in time, Mikasa and others arrived to help him fight. Even after a relentless assault on the War Hammer’s neck, the Titan kept getting back up, leading Eren to discover that the real body controlling it, Lyra Tybur, was safely hidden inside a crystal. However, Eren couldn’t damage the crystal himself. It wasn’t until the Jaw Titan unintentionally scratched it that they discovered its claws were strong enough to cause a crack. Realizing this, Eren forcibly took control of the Jaw Titan, ripping off its limbs to immobilize it and then using its powerful jaws to shatter the crystal and devour the War Hammer Titan. This brutal and shocking act even disturbed Eren’s allies.
He Had to Kill His Own Mother
Towards the end of Attack on Titan, previously hidden memories were revealed, including a crucial conversation between Eren and Armin. This conversation explained that Eren was responsible for his mother’s death, and it was the event that started him on his path. Eren explained that after gaining the power of the Founding Titan, he experienced time all at once – past, present, and future – and this led him to intentionally direct Dina’s Titan form towards his mother, ensuring Bertolt survived when he wasn’t meant to.
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The Attack on Marley
During the medal ceremony, Eren experienced a vision of the future, leaving him feeling powerless to change what was coming. He came to believe the world would inevitably turn against the people of Paradis and decided to strike first against his enemies. He went undercover in Marley, using Falco to deliver messages back to Eldia, ultimately launching a surprise attack in Liberio that resulted in many civilian deaths. Before the attack, Eren had a conversation with Reiner and appeared to understand Reiner’s motivations for attacking Paradis. However, this didn’t deter him; much like Reiner, he pressed forward with his plan to eliminate those he saw as threats.
He Manipulated His Father
Grisha stole the Founding Titan from the royal family and gave it to Eren. Initially, Eren resented his father for this act, believing it was a terrible thing to do. However, when Eren and Zeke explored their father’s memories, they discovered the truth: Grisha had intended to eliminate the royal family, but couldn’t bring himself to harm innocent people, especially children. Surprisingly, Eren had the power to affect the past and essentially pushed his father to commit violence. By reminding Grisha of the suffering he’d endured, Eren enabled him to kill everyone at the Reiss Chapel.
He Pushed Away His Friends to Meet his Goals
After the Yeagerists seized control, Eren sought out Armin and Mikasa for a conversation – their first in years. They had countless questions, hoping for answers, but Eren used the opportunity to push them away. He deliberately told convincing lies, deeply hurting both of his closest friends. He claimed Armin’s connection with Annie was due to Bertolt’s influence, and that Mikasa’s devotion stemmed from her Ackerman bloodline, a compulsion to protect him. He even confessed to resenting Mikasa since childhood, which fueled Armin’s anger and led to a fight. Eren dominated the brawl, brutally overpowering Armin. It was a devastating moment, making it clear that he no longer felt any warmth or care for the two people who meant the most to him.
He Killed 80% of Humanity
I witnessed Eren gain immense power from Ymir and immediately initiate the Rumbling. It quickly became clear this wasn’t just about ending the current war; he intended to wipe out all of humanity beyond the walls. Using the power of the Founder, he connected with all Eldians and essentially declared war on the world. It was a heartbreaking betrayal – he became an enemy to everyone outside the walls, and even to his friends, despite believing he was secretly protecting them. He unleashed an army of colossal Titans, causing unimaginable devastation and killing millions. In his final moments, speaking with Armin, he admitted his true desire: to completely flatten the world. He explained that his actions weren’t about saving anyone else, but about achieving a twisted vision of freedom – a world where nothing and no one remained but him.
Even though Eren had a specific goal in mind, the way he went about achieving it was incredibly harsh and just as devastating as other tragic events in the anime. This mix of good and bad qualities is what makes Eren such a compelling and popular character. Can you think of any other moments where Eren seemed like the true villain in Attack on Titan?
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2026-05-07 21:36