The acquisition of the Colossal Titan by Armin Arlert in Attack on Titan is one of the most pivotal and emotionally charged events in the series. It signifies a transfer of immense power, a devastating loss, and a turning point in the war against the Titans. This article delves into the detailed circumstances surrounding Armin’s inheritance, exploring the strategic decisions, the heartbreaking sacrifices, and the lasting impact this event had on the narrative.
The Dire Straits of the Battle of Shiganshina
The Battle of Shiganshina is the backdrop for Armin’s transformation. This crucial conflict saw the Survey Corps, led by Commander Erwin Smith, attempting to reclaim Wall Maria and uncover the secrets hidden within the Yeager family basement. However, their mission was met with overwhelming resistance from Reiner Braun, the Armored Titan, and Bertholdt Hoover, the Colossal Titan.
The battle quickly devolved into a desperate struggle for survival. The Survey Corps faced near annihilation as they attempted to overcome the formidable defenses of their Titan adversaries. Erwin’s strategic gambit, the “suicide charge,” aimed to distract the Armored Titan, allowing Eren Yeager to reach Reiner’s nape.
Bertholdt’s Devastating Power
Bertholdt, as the Colossal Titan, possessed the power to inflict massive devastation. His transformations emitted colossal bursts of heat and energy, incinerating everything in the immediate vicinity. This made approaching him incredibly dangerous, turning the battlefield into a literal inferno.
His strategic use of controlled transformations crippled the Survey Corps’ efforts, preventing them from effectively targeting him. The sheer scale of his power made him a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
Erwin’s Gamble and Armin’s Sacrifice
Recognizing the dire situation, Commander Erwin Smith devised a plan that hinged on immense sacrifice. The Survey Corps would charge directly at the Armored Titan, drawing his attention and creating an opening for Eren. This plan, though suicidal, was their only hope of reaching Reiner and potentially turning the tide of the battle.
Simultaneously, Armin formulated a plan to confront Bertholdt. Aware that he lacked the brute strength to directly engage the Colossal Titan, he devised a cunning strategy based on deception and calculated risk.
Armin’s Decoy Strategy
Armin, understanding Bertholdt’s tendency to conserve his energy by minimizing movements, theorized that he could exploit this behavior. He decided to act as a decoy, making Bertholdt believe he was vulnerable to attack.
Armin intentionally placed himself in a dangerous position, using his ODM gear to maneuver precariously around the Colossal Titan. He delivered a series of taunts and feigned attacks, drawing Bertholdt’s attention and forcing him to expend energy.
The Cost of Deception
Armin’s plan worked, but at a terrible cost. Bertholdt, increasingly frustrated and wary of Armin’s persistent attacks, unleashed a massive burst of steam and heat. Armin, caught in the blast, was severely burned and rendered unconscious.
This act of self-sacrifice demonstrated Armin’s unwavering commitment to the mission and his exceptional strategic brilliance. His bravery bought Eren the time needed to defeat Reiner.
The Titan Serum and the Choice
With both Reiner and Bertholdt defeated (though the latter was incapacitated rather than killed), the Survey Corps was left with a critical decision. Two of their most valuable members, Commander Erwin Smith and Armin Arlert, were on the brink of death. The only chance to save either of them was to inject them with Titan serum and have them inherit a Titan power.
Levi Ackerman, tasked with making this agonizing choice, possessed the serum. He initially intended to use it on Erwin, believing Erwin’s strategic leadership was crucial for humanity’s survival.
The Weight of Command
Levi firmly believed that Erwin held the key to humanity’s victory. Erwin’s tactical genius and ability to inspire made him an irreplaceable asset in the fight against the Titans.
Levi saw the serum as a means to restore Erwin to his full potential, allowing him to continue leading the charge against their enemies.
The Intervention of Eren and Mikasa
Eren and Mikasa, witnessing Armin’s near-death sacrifice, vehemently argued for Armin to receive the serum. They believed that Armin’s intelligence and strategic mind were equally vital to their cause.
Eren reminded Levi of Armin’s past contributions, highlighting his crucial role in uncovering the Female Titan’s identity and his ability to analyze situations with remarkable clarity. Mikasa, driven by her unwavering loyalty to Eren and Armin, fiercely supported their cause.
Levi’s Heartbreaking Decision
Levi, torn between his belief in Erwin’s leadership and the pleas of Eren and Mikasa, ultimately made the difficult choice to save Armin. This decision was not made lightly; it was a moment of intense internal conflict for Levi.
He recognized the value of both Erwin and Armin, but he ultimately determined that Armin’s potential to contribute to the future was too great to ignore.
Armin’s Inheritance and Its Significance
After being injected with the Titan serum, Armin was transformed into a Pure Titan. He instinctively devoured Bertholdt, inheriting the Colossal Titan power. This marked a significant turning point for Armin and for the Survey Corps.
Armin’s transformation brought with it a mix of hope and sorrow. While he had gained immense power, it came at the cost of Erwin’s life, a sacrifice that weighed heavily on Levi and the entire Survey Corps.
The Power of the Colossal Titan
As the Colossal Titan, Armin now possessed the ability to cause widespread destruction with controlled transformations. This power gave the Survey Corps a significant advantage in future battles.
He could use the Colossal Titan’s abilities to breach fortified defenses, clear obstacles, and engage enemies from a distance. However, he also understood the immense responsibility that came with such destructive power.
The Burden of Bertholdt’s Memories
In addition to the Colossal Titan’s physical abilities, Armin also inherited fragments of Bertholdt’s memories. These memories provided him with insights into Bertholdt’s past, his motivations, and his relationship with Reiner.
This newfound knowledge allowed Armin to better understand the perspective of their enemies, adding a layer of complexity to his strategic thinking.
Armin’s Role in the Future
Armin’s inheritance of the Colossal Titan solidified his position as a key strategist and combatant within the Survey Corps. He used his newfound power and knowledge to contribute significantly to their ongoing struggle against the Titans.
He played a crucial role in devising plans, executing strategies, and making difficult decisions that ultimately shaped the course of the war. He combined his intelligence with the brute force of the Colossal Titan to become a formidable force for humanity.
The Lasting Impact of Armin’s Transformation
Armin’s acquisition of the Colossal Titan had a profound and lasting impact on the Attack on Titan narrative. It altered the power dynamics of the conflict, shifted the strategic landscape, and added depth to Armin’s character development.
The event served as a stark reminder of the sacrifices required in the fight for freedom and the heavy burden of responsibility that comes with wielding immense power.
Strategic Advantage and Moral Dilemmas
Armin’s Colossal Titan power provided the Survey Corps with a significant strategic advantage, allowing them to overcome obstacles that once seemed insurmountable. However, the use of this power also raised moral dilemmas.
The destructive capabilities of the Colossal Titan forced Armin and his comrades to grapple with the ethical implications of their actions, questioning the cost of victory and the potential for collateral damage.
Armin’s Growth as a Leader
The inheritance of the Colossal Titan accelerated Armin’s growth as a leader. He was forced to confront the challenges of wielding immense power, making difficult decisions, and inspiring his comrades in the face of adversity.
He evolved from a bookish strategist into a battle-hardened leader, capable of both intellectual brilliance and decisive action. He learned to balance his empathy with his strategic objectives, becoming a nuanced and effective commander.
A Complex Legacy
Armin’s journey to becoming the Colossal Titan is a complex and multifaceted story, filled with sacrifice, strategy, and emotional turmoil. His inheritance of the Titan power represents a pivotal moment in Attack on Titan, shaping the course of the narrative and leaving a lasting impact on the characters and the world.
His story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope and sacrifice can pave the way for a brighter future. The Colossal Titan became a symbol of both destruction and hope in the hands of Armin, demonstrating the complexities inherent in war and the burdens carried by those who fight for freedom.
How did Armin Arlert inherit the Colossal Titan?
Armin inherited the Colossal Titan through a strategic gamble and a heartbreaking sacrifice. During the battle to retake Wall Maria, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the Survey Corps faced off against both the Armored Titan and the Colossal Titan, controlled by Bertholdt Hoover. Recognizing the overwhelming power of Bertholdt’s transformation, Armin devised a plan to distract Bertholdt and create an opening for Eren to strike. This plan involved Armin sacrificing himself as bait, drawing Bertholdt’s attention and scorching him with the intense heat of the Colossal Titan’s steam.
While Eren ultimately defeated Bertholdt, Armin was left severely burned and near death. Simultaneously, Commander Erwin Smith also suffered mortal wounds. Levi Ackerman, holding the Titan serum, was faced with the agonizing decision of saving either Erwin or Armin. Ultimately, Levi chose to inject Armin with the serum, transforming him into a Titan and allowing him to consume Bertholdt. This act transferred the Colossal Titan’s power to Armin, saving his life and granting him the immense abilities of the destructive Titan.
Why was Armin chosen over Erwin to inherit the Colossal Titan?
The choice between saving Armin and Erwin rested heavily on Levi Ackerman’s shoulders, driven by the qualities each man offered to humanity. Erwin, a brilliant strategist and charismatic leader, was undoubtedly crucial to the Survey Corps’ past successes. He possessed the ambition and drive to lead humanity towards freedom, but his unwavering focus sometimes came at the cost of his own soldiers’ lives, a heavy burden he carried.
Conversely, Armin, while lacking Erwin’s commanding presence, possessed a strategic brilliance of his own, coupled with an unwavering empathy for others. Levi recognized that Armin’s intellectual prowess, combined with his deep compassion, could potentially offer a different, perhaps more sustainable, path to victory. The decision was not about replacing Erwin’s leadership entirely, but about adding Armin’s unique perspective and strategic insight to the fight against the Titans, a balance of power and empathy that Levi believed was necessary.
What were the immediate consequences of Armin inheriting the Colossal Titan?
Immediately after consuming Bertholdt, Armin transformed back into a human, reborn with the memories and the powers of the Colossal Titan. He was understandably overwhelmed by the experience, grappling with the magnitude of the inherited Titan’s power and the weight of the previous inheritor’s memories. He also had to come to terms with the immense guilt associated with surviving over Erwin, a decision that deeply affected Levi and the entire Survey Corps.
In a practical sense, Armin’s newfound abilities significantly altered the Survey Corps’ strategic capabilities. They now possessed the destructive power of the Colossal Titan, which could be deployed to breach walls or eliminate large concentrations of Titans. However, the Colossal Titan’s immense size and energy consumption also presented challenges, requiring careful planning and strategic deployment to maximize its effectiveness while minimizing collateral damage and the strain on Armin himself.
How did Armin’s personality affect his control and use of the Colossal Titan?
Armin’s inherent intelligence and strategic thinking proved invaluable in mastering the Colossal Titan’s abilities. Unlike previous inheritors, Armin was not driven by rage or a desire for destruction. He approached the Titan’s power with caution and a deep understanding of its potential consequences. He carefully calculated the impact of each transformation, striving to minimize collateral damage and prioritize the protection of his allies.
Furthermore, Armin’s empathy and compassion influenced his decision-making as the Colossal Titan. He understood the immense responsibility that came with wielding such power and was constantly mindful of the lives at stake. This thoughtful approach allowed him to use the Colossal Titan in a strategic and controlled manner, making him a formidable asset to the Survey Corps while mitigating the risks associated with its destructive capabilities.
Did inheriting the Colossal Titan change Armin as a person?
Inheriting the Colossal Titan profoundly impacted Armin, exposing him to Bertholdt’s memories and burdens. He carried the weight of Bertholdt’s actions and the devastation caused by the Colossal Titan in the past. This led to periods of introspection and doubt, as Armin grappled with the moral implications of possessing such destructive power and the responsibility of using it for the greater good.
However, Armin’s core values remained intact. He retained his empathy, intelligence, and unwavering determination to protect humanity. While the Colossal Titan’s power forced him to confront difficult choices and bear immense responsibility, it ultimately strengthened his resolve and solidified his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, shaping him into an even more effective strategist and leader.
What role did the Colossal Titan play in the final battles of the series?
The Colossal Titan, wielded by Armin, played a crucial role in the final stages of the war against Marley and the Rumbling. Its devastating power was instrumental in destroying enemy forces and fortifications, creating opportunities for the Survey Corps to advance and engage key targets. Armin’s strategic use of the Titan helped to level the playing field against the technologically superior Marleyan forces.
More importantly, the Colossal Titan served as a symbol of hope and a deterrent against further aggression. Its presence demonstrated the Survey Corps’ unwavering resolve to protect Paradis Island and to fight for a future free from oppression. Armin’s skillful and responsible use of the Colossal Titan contributed significantly to the eventual resolution of the conflict and the establishment of a tentative peace.
What happened to the Colossal Titan and Armin at the end of Attack on Titan?
In the culmination of the series, Armin, along with his comrades, confronted Eren in the Paths realm. After a final, devastating battle, Eren was defeated, and the power of the Titans was ultimately eradicated from the world by Mikasa. This included the power of the Colossal Titan, which vanished from Armin, returning him to a normal human state.
With the Titan powers gone, Armin dedicated himself to fostering peace between Paradis Island and the rest of the world. He became an ambassador, using his intelligence, empathy, and understanding of both sides to bridge the gap between nations and prevent future conflicts. He worked tirelessly to build a more just and equitable world, honoring the sacrifices made by his friends and comrades in the fight for freedom.