Anime
The 15 Best Attack on Titan Characters (Ranked)
What are the best Attack on Titan characters?
Attack on Titan is one of the most successful anime series in history, earning millions of fans all over the world.
Aside from its engaging story, it’s the characters of this series that have helped it become so popular.
Today, we’re looking at the most popular characters in the show and highlighting what they have done to stand out!
The 15 Best Attack On Titan Characters
While ranking the best characters in AOT isn’t an easy feat, we’ve done our best to highlight those who stood out the most in the series.
We have also considered the fan reactions to each of these characters, taking into account their overall popularity.
If you’re ready to see where everyone ranks, here’s our list of the 15 best Attack on Titan characters:
15. Zeke Jaeger
The half-brother of Eren, Zeke is a former captain of Marley’s Warrior Unit and the inheritor of the Beast Titan.
As the Beast Titan, Zeke takes on the form of a towering ape-like giant who possesses incredible intelligence.
Referred to as the strongest warrior, in contrast to Levi’s title as “humanity’s strongest soldier,” Zeke isn’t someone to mess with.
While he is intelligent and curious at his core, he often comes across as a cold and sarcastic man who plays both sides with ease.
Since appearing in the Clash of the Titans arc, Zeke has proved to be a conflicting character that fans can’t help but be interested in.
Zeke has already proved to be one of the most well-written and memorable characters in the entire series.
Although his full story has yet to play out, we’re definitely looking forward to seeing more of him when the final season of Attack on Titan releases.
14. Hannes
Hannes is a heartbreaking character, and we’re sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when he sacrificed himself to save Mikasa and Eren.
As a lifelong friend of the Jaeger family, Hannes was a unit captain who gave his life against the smiling titan.
This was made even more poignant as it was his way of atoning for not being able to save Eren’s mother.
While Hannes was a kind character, he was known for drinking on the job and became greatly ashamed of his cowardice when Wall Maria fell.
Although he started taking his duties more seriously in the years after, fans got precious little time to enjoy his character arc.
During the Clash of the Titans arc, when Rose Wall is breached, he does what is needed to avenge his past failures and goes out like a true badass.
Despite not being a major main character, Hannes remains incredibly popular in light of his epic sacrifice.
13. Ymir
Along with being one of the best brunette anime girls, Ymir is a complex character with a fascinating story.
As a member of the Scout Regiment, Ymir first appeared to be selfish and uncooperative towards her teammates.
However, as her story unfolds, fans get a glimpse into her real personality, which is much more emotional than she lets on.
Plus, her relationship with Historia really helped bring her out of her shell, and her utter devotion is endearing to watch.
Things really ramp up with her once her ability to turn into the Jaw Titan is demonstrated and more of her past is uncovered.
What’s more, is that Ymir knows a lot about the world outside of the walls, as well as the nature of the Titans.
Although she met her end during the Marley arc, she remains one of the most interesting characters in the series.
12. Annie Leonhart
When fans are first introduced to Annie Leonhart, she is a static but exceptional fighter with a deadpan and sarcastic personality.
Although she wasn’t exactly friendly, fans never thought she would end up becoming a terrifying bad guy.
Despite being set up as a major asset for the Military Police Regiment, things hit the fan when she turned into the Female Titan.
As this towering fiend, Annie became a major antagonist before she was eventually defeated and left in a catatonic state.
Fortunately for her fans, she ends up escaping her confinement, and we’ve since gotten the opportunity to learn a lot more about her.
While she did murder a lot of people as the Female Titan, Annie has some incredible character development that makes her hard not to like.
11. Reiner Braun
The inheritor of the Armored Titan, Reiner Braun, is a soldier through and through, but his character arc is a rollercoaster ride.
From the Marleyan perspective, Reiner is the main protagonist, though he is also sometimes seen as an antagonist.
When we first see him, he is in his Armored Titan form, breaking through Wall Maria to allow more Titans into the walled city.
He then pretends to be a refugee and enlists in the Training Corps, with his colleagues none the wiser about what he has done.
Reiner Braun is, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating characters in the series, and his story never stops finding new ways to surprise viewers.
While AOT is one of the best fighting anime series, it is complex stories like Reiner’s that have made it such an exceptional show.
10. Historia Reiss
When we first meet Historia, she is introduced as Christa Lenz, a shy and caring woman who usually fades into the background.
However, it is later discovered that she is actually the last member of the Reiss royal family and the true Queen of the Walls.
Once she embraces her true identity, Historia really comes into her own, though after being abandoned by Ymir, she does become despondent.
She eventually comes to start believing in her own abilities after a successful coup d’état wins her the throne.
While things haven’t gotten easier for her since becoming Queen, she has certainly exceeded everyone’s expectations of her.
At the start of the series, no one would have thought that the meek Christa would turn into one of the best Attack on Titan characters.
Fortunately for us, Historia has risen to become an incredibly compelling character that is now a favorite of many!
9. Conny Springer
Conny is often seen as the comedic relief of the series, and his goofy antics have certainly made us laugh numerous times.
However, what makes him so compelling is that he’s an average guy trying his best in a world full of terrifying titans.
He’s not a king or someone capable of transforming into a titan, but just a kid trying to do his best.
All of this helps to make him one of the most relatable characters in AOT, which has caused him to become incredibly popular.
While he has lost a bit of his fun-loving personality since seeing his mother transformed into a titan, he can still crack a joke when needed.
Though he has become more serious about his responsibilities and eager to bring down the forces that threaten his home.
Conny will never be one of the strongest anime characters, and oddly enough, that is what has made fans love him.
8. Jean Kirschtein
When we first meet Jean, he is an arrogant boy who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, something that causes him to butt heads with Eren.
While he initially wanted to join the Military Police to stay far away from the Titans, he ends up becoming a valuable member of the Scout Regiment.
Although he was once a young man who cared little for others, he has since become a strong leader who would do anything to help his comrades.
The death of Marco is what really spurred a change in Jean, and it has been fascinating to watch him evolve since.
After finding Marco’s corpse after the assault on Wall Rose, Jean makes the decision to join the Scout Regiment, despite his fear.
Since this pivotal decision, Jean has gone on to become one of the most beloved characters in Attack on Titan and a fan favorite for many.
7. Erwin Smith
Erwin’s bravery and leadership have made him stand out many times throughout the series, and he stole the show every time he turned up.
However, what made him such a likable character is that he treated everyone around him like family, despite his position of power.
As the 13th commander, Erwin easily could have been written as cold and militaristic, but instead, he was shown to care deeply about his men.
That said, he was still a conflicted character, which puts him in good company with the others on this list.
Although Erwin was willing to do anything to protect humanity, his ambition to learn the secrets of the world outweighed even this.
Erwin Smith exemplifies the best of the Survey Corps, and even with his flaws, he was hard not to like.
This made it all the more difficult to say goodbye to him when the time came for his ultimate sacrifice.
6. Armin Arlelt
The first time we see Armin, he is a very timid boy who needed Eren and Mikasa to save him from bullies.
However, as the series progresses, Armin really comes to be one of the best characters in the entire show.
While he’s not the most capable fighter, he is one of the most intelligent characters who has tons of compassion for those around him.
Armin has proven himself to be a strategic genius time and time again, even though he still suffers from low self-esteem.
His character becomes even more interesting when he takes the power of the Titans and becomes the Colossal Titan.
It is also heartbreaking to watch as he slowly loses hope for his best friend, Eren, and his unwavering loyalty comes into question.
In one of the best action anime series of all time, Armin stands out as an endearing character who you can’t help but root for.
5. Sasha Braus
Of course, we have to put Sasha Braus on this list. How can we not?! She was a huge comedic relief in season one!
In a show as dark as AOT, it’s important to have someone to break through the gloom, which is exactly what Sasha did.
Having earned the nickname “Potato Girl,” Sasha always seemed to be eating something, and she was always hungry for more.
However, despite her antics in training, she did manage to mature quite a bit after entering the military.
Fortunately, she never loses her love of food, which leads to many light moments in the series, such as when she tries ice cream for the first time.
While the Marley arc saw this fan-favorite meet her end, she is unlikely to be forgotten any time soon.
4. Eren Jaeger
Eren Jaeger is one of the most popular anime characters of all time, and he serves as the main protagonist of the series.
Despite being the main character, Eren is a very morally complex character, and sometimes it’s difficult to know when to root for him.
That said, Eren is one of the most passionate characters in AOT, and he’s been through a lot of trauma.
While he once wanted to drive the Titans back after watching his mother die, his goals are now a lot more complicated.
Everything changed for Eren once the history of the Titans came to light, and now he walks the line between protagonist and antagonist.
Currently, Eren possesses the power of the Attack Titan, the Founding Titan, and the War Hammer Titan, making him extremely strong.
Fans are prepared for a dark conclusion to his character arc, and given his most recent actions, it is sure to be absolutely nail-biting.
3. Mikasa Ackerman
Mikasa is one of the most mysterious characters in Attack on Titan, and fans have gravitated to her from episode one.
She is completely dedicated to Eren, and her loyalty is so strong that she would even give her life to keep him safe.
While she is often stoic, her background has made her a rather sad character, and it’s hard not to sympathize with her.
After watching her parents get killed, she was taken in by Eren’s family, though her looks got her bullied by other children.
Fortunately, Mikasa is more than capable of holding her own, and she excelled in training, graduating at the top of the class.
Mikasa Ackerman has even become one of the best anime waifus, thanks to how badass she is throughout the series.
However, given the recent events in the series, it will be interesting to see how long she can stand by Eren.
There is a lot of conflict to be had, we’re sure, but only time will tell what the final season holds for this amazing character.
2. Hange Zoë
Hange has some of the best character development arcs in the whole series, and it’s great to see them rise from scientist to commander.
Having studied Titans up close, Hange has learned a lot about the species and, in turn, developed many weapons to fight them.
Their scientific mind is second to none, and they are always looking for ways to improve and make things better.
While they start off as a very quirky and energetic individual, they gradually lose a bit of their spark after suffering through various trials.
After being named Erwin’s successor, Hange proves to be a dedicated and fearless leader that fans can’t help but love.
Unfortunately, Hange is another character who has since sacrificed their life, this time due to a threat caused by Eren.
This gives us all kinds of conflicted feelings, but that’s just one of the reasons we keep coming back for more!
1. Levi Ackermann
Taking our number one spot is, of course, Levi Ackermann, humanity’s strongest soldier.
Levi is ruthless, unrelenting, and incredibly powerful, so much so that his own teammates feel threatened by him.
Despite his short stature, this Attack on Titan character is a complete badass on the battlefield, felling Titans with ease.
While his obsession with cleanliness does have a comedic effect, Levi has proven time and time again to be a true hero.
His backstory is also filled with some of the darkest moments in the series, having been left for dead after watching his mother die.
Fortunately, he overcame all of the obstacles in his way to become one of the strongest characters in the series.
We certainly look forward to seeing much more of him in the final season, and we know he will keep us on the edge of our seats!
Summary
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the 15 best Attack on Titan characters and that we didn’t leave your favorite out!
There are so many great characters in AOT, but these are the ones that stand out as the most popular with fans.
Levi has especially become the most likable character in the series, and fans are eagerly awaiting his return!
Here’s a quick recap of the 15 best Attack on Titan characters:
- Levi Ackermann
- Hange Zoë
- Mikasa Ackerman
- Eren Jaeger
- Sasha Braus
- Armin Arlelt
- Erwin Smith
- Jean Kirschtein
- Conny Springer
- Historia Reiss
- Reiner Braun
- Annie Leonhart
- Ymir
- Hannes
- Zeke Yeager