Top 10 Attack on Titan Fights
#10: Eren & Zeke vs. Reiner, Porco & Pieck
You could say Eren and Reiner have some bad blood. But, for the first time, this isn’t just about them. The Jaw Titan is there too. And the Cart. And even the Beast, too, just for good measure. The sheer amount of titanic combatants makes this a nail-biting slugfest the likes of which the series had never seen before. All of their attacks have a visceral sense of weight behind them. Partly because of the animation, partly because this is a smackdown of giants, and partly because letting Eren win effectively means the end of the world. This is the rare duel where you don’t just feel the tension, you practically see it.
#9: Levi vs. Kenny’s Squad
There’s winning with style, and then there’s doing it Levi’s way. When Kenny and his lackeys ambush the Captain of the Survey Corp, he returns the favor with an aerial chase that really just needs to be seen for itself. The lightning-quick pace conveyed in Levi’s movements is simply unmatched. In fact, we’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best animated sequences in the whole show. And coming from “Attack on Titan,” that’s high praise. By the time all is said and done, it’s hard to decide which is more impressive: the jaw-dropping visuals, or the fact that Levi took on Kenny’s almost squad all on his own.
#8: Marley vs. The Mid-East Allied Forces
As they say, all’s fair in love and war. Yes, that even includes Titans. For what it’s worth, the Mid-East Allied Forces put up one hell of a fight. Their artillery gave even Reiner’s armor a few cracks, and that’s more than most people can say. But, at the end of the day, Titans are still Titans. This explosive last stand just proved that, while the time of the Titans is coming to an end, we aren’t quite there yet. Especially since Reiner, Zeke, and the others just squashed their last bit of opposition. It’s not exactly what you’d call a “peaceful” resolution. But, damn if it’s not cool to watch.
#7: Levi vs. Zeke, Round 3
Third time really is the charm. To be fair, Zeke’s comeuppance was a long time coming. It was so overdue that, this go around, Levi didn’t let anything stand in his way. Not even a Titan army of his former subordinates. From there, this chase becomes a frenetic spectacle of blood, revenge, and glory, all topped off with that classic Levi flair. Also known as Thunder Spears. After everything Zeke put the Survey Corp through, seeing Levi burn his Titan form from the inside out is just plain gratifying. Zeke is officially the Beast Titan, but in this blood-stained beatdown, the only one who went beast mode was Levi.
#7: Everyone vs. Eren
This is what it all comes down to. The last hopes of humanity uniting together to take down a threat that promises total eradication. When we saw Eren had the help of countless colossal titan, we thought those made it impossible odds. And yet, that somehow got even worse when he began to manifest the bodies of all the fallen titans. It’s a chaotic rush that will make your head spin, but in the end there’s only one side that stands on top… and surprisingly, it’s not Eren’s.
#6: Historia vs. Rod Reiss Titan
Historia had just reunited with her long-lost father when he suddenly turned into a ginormous, disfigured Titan. The worst part? He was marching right towards the inner walls, obliterating just about everything in his path. To stop him, the Survey Corp had to get a bit liberal with their use of explosives. But, in the end, this was Historia’s fight to end. She had to put her father down for her crown, for her people, and most importantly, for herself. The final strike is more emotional than anything else, but it gets the job done nonetheless. When Historia stands up from the wreckage, it truly feels like she’s earned her place as the ruler of the walls.
#5: Eren & Armin vs. The Colossal Titan
It’s only fitting that the biggest Titan has the quietest demise. Instead of explosive combat, this fight is mostly just Armin hanging on for dear life as he roasts like a Thanksgiving turkey. His sacrifice is difficult to stomach, but it buys enough time for Eren to swoop in and deliver the real final blow. Not as the Attack Titan, but as just another member of the Survey Corp. The moment Eren finally pries Bertholdt from his Titan form is rousing in every sense of the word. It’s just a shame that Armin didn’t live long enough to see it. Then again, his sacrifice is precisely why Bertholdt’s defeat is impossible to forget.
#4: Eren vs. The Female Titan, Round 2
If one thing’s for certain, it’s that this is a rematch for the ages. Their first bout left Eren’s spirits - and most of Levi’s elite team - utterly crushed. So, when they squared off again in the Stohess District, Eren completely cut loose - Titan form and all. Annie’s definitely got a vicious streak in her, but Eren? He’s got pure, unadulterated rage, and it comes out in the form of some downright brutal strikes. After a while, you almost start to feel bad for the Female Titan. Almost. Given their long and sordid history together, Eren’s victory only elicits one emotion, and it’s not sympathy. It’s sweet, blood-stained vindication.
#3: Eren vs. The Armored Titan
No matter the context, there’s just something addictively entertaining about a true, no-holds-barred beatdown between Titans. And yet, this isn’t an average fistfight, either. Reiner’s titanic revelation means that, this time, things are very personal. Poetically, Eren ends up using Annie’s old hand-to-hand techniques to pin Reiner with his own strength. Then, he proceeds to nearly pry the Armored Titan’s neck clean off its spine. It’s brutal to the point of excess, but it gets to point across: Eren isn’t fighting to win anymore. He’s fighting for vengeance. This clash of Titans is so ferociously exhilarating, it’s almost sad when Bertholdt’s death-dive puts an end to it.
#2: Levi vs. Zeke, Round 1
No one said slaying Titans would be easy. In order to even get close to the Beast Titan, Erwin had to lead a whole squad of rookies on a bonafide death march. But, Levi didn’t waste the opportunity. With a few quick slices, he used the distraction to turn Zeke into Titan sushi. On a pure visual level, the dynamic camera angles and fluid animation are as cool as it comes. And yet, it’s the sacrifices it took to get there that really makes this moment feel so victorious. Each and every one of these slashes came at an incredibly high cost, but damn were they worth it.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Eren vs. The Armored Titan, Round 3
Watching These Two Duke It Out Just Never Gets Old
Everyone vs. Yeagerists
Fighting Old Friends Is Never Easy, but It Sure Is Fun to Watch
Hange vs. The Rumbling
Talk About Going Out in a Blaze of Glory
#1: Eren vs. The War Hammer Titan & The Jaw Titan
With one, unforgettable transformation, Eren Yeager didn’t just start a fight. He made a declaration of war. Marley counterattacks with all they’ve got, and seeing Eren tussle with their Titans is just the kind of pulse-pounding action that no series does better. As if to prove it, Eren brings out all the stops - including using the Jaw Titan as his own personal nutcracker. Even so, the Titans aren’t even close to the biggest victims here. That belongs to all the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. Although, Eren doesn’t seem too bothered. It’s almost funny in a way. The Marleyans spent years calling him a devil. And, with this attack, Eren unequivocally proved them right.
Let us know in the comments if we missed any of your titan-sized favorites!