Attack on Titan is full of unforgettable fights and shocking twists, but its greatest strength is its characters. They are far more than heroes or villains. Every major character has their own dreams, fears, regrets, and beliefs, making even their hardest choices feel believable.
Hajime Isayama spent years building characters that changed along with the story. Some found hope, others lost themselves, and a few completely changed the way fans looked at the series. Based on their growth, complexity, and overall impact, these are the 10 best-written characters in Attack on Titan.
TitleAttack on TitanManga AuthorHajime IsayamaAnime Rating (IMDb) – as of July 12, 20269.1/10Where to WatchCrunchyroll
10. Grisha Yeager’s Past Changed the Fate of the Entire World
Grisha Yeager from Attack on Titan. | Credit: Wit Studio
Grisha, at first, appeared like a side character. However, as the story moved forward, it was revealed that Grisha’s life played some role in almost all major events in Attack on Titan. The basement revelation that happened during the Return to Shiganshina arc entirely redefined everything that fans have known about the world so far.
Grisha is never shown as perfect. He made terrible mistakes with Zeke, tried to become a better father to Eren, and still ended up caught in a cruel cycle of fate. Chapter 121 makes his story even more tragic by revealing that Eren’s future memories influenced his actions inside the Reiss Chapel. While Grisha’s story changes the entire series, he spends much of the narrative in the background, which is why he takes the final spot on this list despite his huge importance.
9. Mikasa Ackerman Learned to Move Forward Without Eren
Eren gives his scarf to Mikasa after rescuing her. | Credit: Wit Studio
For most of the story, Mikasa’s world revolves around Eren. After he saves her as a child, protecting him becomes her purpose. Isayama slowly builds her emotional journey until the very end.
Her biggest moment comes during the Battle of Heaven and Earth in the final chapters. Instead of choosing her own happiness, Mikasa makes the hardest decision anyone in the story has to make. That choice finally allows her to move forward while still holding on to the memories of the person she loved. Her emotional payoff is one of the strongest in the ending; she narrowly misses a higher spot on this list because much of her growth reaches its peak only near the finale.
8. Historia Reiss Finally Chose to Live Life on Her Own Terms
Historia Reiss from the anime series Attack on Titan. | Credit: Wit Studio
Historia starts the story pretending to be someone she is not. As Krista Lenz, she wants everyone to see her as kind and selfless, but deep down, she believes her own life has little value because of how her family treated her.
Everything changes during the Uprising Arc. Instead of following Rod Reiss’ wishes, Historia rejects the life others planned for her and becomes queen on her own terms. Even though she appears less after the time skip, her journey from a scared girl to a confident leader remains one of the best character arcs in the series. Her smaller role later on is the main reason she doesn’t rank any higher.
7. Jean Kirstein Grew From a Selfish Boy Into a True Leader
Jean Kirstein from the anime series Attack on Titan. | Credit: MAPPA
Jean is one of the easiest characters to relate to because he starts out as a normal teenager. He doesn’t dream about becoming a hero. He simply wants a safe and comfortable life away from danger.
Marco’s death during the Battle of Trost changes everything. From that point on, Jean slowly becomes one of the Survey Corps’ most dependable leaders. He never stops being afraid; he simply learns that doing the right thing matters more than protecting himself, making his growth feel honest from beginning to end. His journey is incredibly realistic, even if the characters above him go through even more emotionally layered stories.
6. Armin Arlert Proved That Kindness and Brains Could Win Wars
Armin Arlert from Attack on Titan. | Credit: Wit Studio
Armin could never fight like Mikasa or Levi, but he always had something just as important – his mind. His plans repeatedly save lives, from exposing Annie as the Female Titan to helping defeat Bertolt during the Return to Shiganshina Arc.
After inheriting the Colossal Titan, Armin struggles with replacing Erwin and whether peace is still possible. Even when the world falls apart, he never gives up on hope. His growth and moral struggles easily earn him a place in the top six.
5. Levi Ackerman Kept Fighting Even After Losing Everything
Levi Ackerman from the anime Attack on Titan. | Credit: Wit Studio
Levi is known as humanity’s Strongest Soldier, but that is only part of who he is. Behind his calm personality is a man who has lost almost everyone close to him.
Instead of letting those losses break him, Levi keeps moving forward to make sure their sacrifices are never forgotten. His oath to Erwin of defeating Zeke becomes one of the most emotionally compelling moments of the series’ final few arcs. Levi’s character is built more on quiet emotions than dramatic character growth, which is why he ends up just outside the top four.
4. Zeke Yeager Believed His Cruel Plan Could Save Everyone
Zeke Yeager from the anime series Attack on Titan. | Credit: MAPPA
Zeke is one of those rare villains whose ideas are just as interesting as the hero’s. His difficult childhood in Marley shaped the way he saw the world. After meeting Tom Ksaver, he became convinced that ending the Eldian bloodline was the only way to stop endless suffering.
His horrifying plan is fully explained, making him much more than a typical villain. His final conversation with Armin in Chapter 137 shows that even someone who had lost all hope could still find meaning in life’s smallest moments. His tragic philosophy makes him one of anime’s best-written villains, but the top three leave an even bigger impact on the overall story.
3. Erwin Smith Led Every Battle While Hiding His Own Dream
Erwin Smith riding a horse in the anime Attack on Titan. | Credit: Wit Studio
Erwin always portrayed himself as an ideal commander. He encouraged soldiers to fight in battles where they had no chance of survival. The speeches by Erwin are often remembered as the most memorable scenes in the entire show.
However, behind that courage was a person who was pursuing his dream. Right after his father’s death, Erwin wanted to prove that human history was nothing but a big lie. When he reveals his thoughts in the Return to Shiganshina Arc, he realizes that this dream meant everything to him. The fact that he chose to give up on it for humanity’s sake makes him one of the greatest commanders in anime. His story was almost flawless but ended prematurely, giving the top two characters much more potential for growth.
2. Reiner Braun Was Broken by the Weight of His Choices
Armored Titan from the anime Attack on Titan. | Credit: Wit Studio
Reiner’s story is one of the saddest in Attack on Titan. He starts as a trusted friend before the shocking reveal that he is the Armored Titan. Instead of becoming a simple enemy, he slowly becomes one of the series’ most tragic characters.
The Marley Arc shows how deeply his actions affected him. Years of pretending to be both soldier and warrior leave Reiner emotionally broken. He struggles with guilt, depression, and the feeling that he no longer deserves to live. Even so, he keeps fighting to protect others. Many fans see Reiner as the best-written character in the series, but Eren’s unmatched transformation gives him a slight edge for the top spot.
1. Eren Yeager Became the Story’s Most Tragic Anti-Villain
Very few anime characters change as much as Eren Yeager. He begins as a young boy who wants revenge after seeing his mother killed by a Titan in Episode 1. Like many shonen heroes, he dreams of freedom and believes defeating the enemy will solve everything.
As the story moves into the Marley Arc and the final chapters, Eren becomes something completely different. The truth about the Attack Titan’s future memories, revealed in Chapter 121, changes the way fans see his entire journey. His decision to start the Rumbling is still one of the most debated moments in modern manga. No other character changes as dramatically or shapes the story as deeply as Eren. Whether readers see him as a hero, a villain, or an anti-villain, his transformation is what makes him the best-written character in Attack on Titan.
Here is a quick overview of all the best-written Attack on Titan characters we have discussed above –
RankCharacter1Eren Yeager2Reiner Braun3Erwin Smith4Zeke Yeager5Levi Ackerman6Armin Arlert7Jean Kirstein8Historia Reiss9Mikasa Ackerman10Grisha Yeager
Now the big question: Which Attack on Titan character do you think is the best written, and would you change anything about this ranking? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Attack on Titan is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
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