Eren Jaeger(エレン・イェーガー Eren Yēgā) was a former member of the Scout Regiment and the main protagonist ofAttack on Titan. He was the son of Grisha and Carla Jaeger, the younger half-brother of Zeke Jaeger, and the final inheritor of the Attack Titan, Founding Titan, and War Hammer Titan.

Eren was born and raised in the Shiganshina District on the southern edge of Wall Maria. His life changed in the year 845, when the Colossal and Armored Titans breached the Wall, leading to the destruction of the city and the death of his mother at the hands of a Titan. This tragedy fueled Eren’s intense hatred for the Titans and his vow to eradicate them from the world.

Following the attack, Eren’s father, Grisha, entrusted him with a key to the family basement and injected him with a Titan serum. Grisha’s final instructions to Eren were to reclaim Wall Maria and uncover the secrets hidden in the basement.

Two years later, Eren, along with his close friends Mikasa Ackermann and Armin Arlelt, joined the 104th Cadet Corps and successfully graduated, with Eren ranking 5th. They soon joined the Scout Regiment after the Battle of Trost. Upon discovering the basement and unlocking his father’s memories, Eren learned the truth about the Titans and the history of Eldia and Marley. This revelation led him to shift his focus toward liberating Eldia from the true enemy: humanity beyond the sea.

Eren wielded the power of three Titans. He inherited the Attack and Founding Titans from his father, and later acquired the War Hammer Titan after consuming Lara Tybur during the Raid on Liberio.

Founding Titan Form:
Eren’s Founding Titan, also called theDoomsday Titan(終尾の巨人 Shūbi no Kyojin), had a drastically different appearance compared to Ymir Fritz’s Founding Titan or any other Titan. Towering over the Wall Titans, Eren’s Founding Titan was dominated by an enormous, fleshless ribcage. The elongated knobs of the spine and ribs extended to the ground, with the ribs supporting the body as it moved. The arch of the spine stretched high into the sky, creating a monstrous, towering form.

The pelvis and legs, while greatly undersized and seemingly non-functional, were still larger than any Wall Titan. The upper body appeared proportional to the legs but was dwarfed by the massive ribcage. The only part of the body with significant flesh was the head, which was heavily deformed. Eren’s Titan head featured elongated ears and hair, missing cheeks that exposed the molars, and a bare lower jaw with only the lips and chin intact. The upper body appeared suspended by sinews connected to the vertebral knobs, giving it the appearance of a puppet.

Eren’s Founding Titan moved using its ribcage, with the ribs undulating like the legs of a millipede. Despite its grotesque appearance, it was fast enough to keep up with the advancing Rumbling.

Pure Titan Form:
Eren’s Pure Titan form was much smaller than his later Titan forms. It had short, rugged hair, a jagged, lipless mouth that exposed its teeth, and elongated ears. This form had a stocky build with a disproportionately large head, giving it a more compact appearance compared to his other Titan transformations.

Eren Jaeger was characterized by his strong-willed, passionate, and impulsive nature. He was fiercely determined to protect humanity and escape the confines of the Walls. As a child, Eren was driven by a desire to join the Scout Regiment, often clashing with his mother and condemning the villagers as complacent “livestock.” His protective instincts were evident in his relationships, especially with his childhood friend Armin and his family. He often fought bullies to defend Armin and, in one instance, violently killed human traffickers to rescue Mikasa.

Eren’s view of the world was largely black-and-white. He held a deep disdain for the Titans, whom he blamed for the destruction of his world and the death of his mother, fueling his lifelong vow to eliminate them. His contempt for those content with life inside the Walls often led to friction with others, and his reckless, temperamental behavior caused concern among his peers. Eren had little self-restraint, often acting impulsively and without regard for his safety.

After his mother’s death, Eren’s hatred toward Titans intensified, and he became singularly focused on destroying them. Despite his outward confidence in battle, Eren harbored deep insecurities and struggled with feelings of helplessness, especially when his actions led to the deaths of comrades. His lack of control over his Titan form further complicated matters, often resulting in savage and uncontrollable behavior.

Eren’s infiltration of Marley further deepened his understanding of the world. While he empathized with those on the other side, he believed that war was inevitable and that righteous goals often required brutal means. He initiated the Rumbling, wiping out 80% of the world’s population to ensure Eldia’s survival, though he secretly hoped his friends would stop him and be hailed as heroes. Despite his actions, Eren struggled with feelings of guilt and longing for the life he could never have, revealing to Armin that he wished to be with Mikasa and his friends, even though he knew he could never be forgiven.

Eren Jaeger was born in the Shiganshina District, located in the southern region of Wall Maria, to Carla and Grisha Jaeger. As a child, his closest friend was Armin Arlelt, who often faced bullying. Eren frequently defended Armin, and it was Armin who inspired Eren’s desire to explore the world beyond the Walls by showing him a hidden book about the outside world. This dream led to Eren and Armin being seen as heretics by their peers, and they were often harassed because of their unconventional views.

At the age of nine, Eren rescued Mikasa Ackermann from human traffickers. While visiting the Ackermanns’ home with his father, they discovered that Mikasa’s parents had been murdered and she was missing. Despite his father’s instructions to wait for the Military Police, Eren took matters into his own hands. He tracked the kidnappers to a cabin and devised a plan to free Mikasa.

Once inside, Eren pretended to be a lost child, tricking the bandits into lowering their guard. He swiftly killed one of the men by slitting his throat and fatally stabbed another with a makeshift spear. As he untied Mikasa, the third bandit attacked and began strangling Eren. Mikasa, initially hesitant to kill, was urged by Eren to fight back. She overcame her hesitation, killing the bandit and saving Eren’s life.

After the rescue, Dr. Jaeger scolded Eren for his reckless actions, but Eren showed no remorse for killing the bandits. When Mikasa expressed that she was cold, Eren gave her his scarf—a gesture that symbolized their bond. Dr. Jaeger then invited Mikasa to live with their family, and Eren happily accepted, taking her by the hand and leading her home.

In the year 844, Eren accompanies his father, Dr. Jaeger, on a visit to the Ackermann family, where he meets Mikasa. The two children wander through the nearby forest, and Eren shares his dream of joining the Scout Regiment and exploring the world beyond the Walls. He expresses excitement about the possibility of Mikasa’s unborn sibling becoming a soldier. As they walk, they hear howling in the distance and stumble upon the remains of a campsite, where rabid dogs have killed travelers. The dogs approach but leave without attacking, and the children return home to inform their parents about the grisly scene.

As Dr. Jaeger continues his visits, Eren and Mikasa grow closer. Eren tells Mikasa about his best friend, Armin, who shares his fascination with the outside world. He describes incredible sights like the ocean, fiery water, and lands covered in ice and sand. Eren’s passion for adventure is driven by his disdain for those content with living inside the Walls, as he dreams of one day joining the Scout Regiment to experience the world beyond.

When Mikasa is sent to Shiganshina District, Eren eagerly greets her. They watch the Scout Regiment return from a mission in shambles, and Eren angrily confronts two civilians who criticize the Scouts, resulting in him being beaten by one of the men. Mikasa watches helplessly as Eren is injured.

Afterward, Eren stops visiting Mikasa for a while. When the Ackermanns move to Shiganshina, Mikasa asks why he stopped coming. Eren reveals that the Scout Regiment has been disbanded due to their lack of success, and the gate to the outside world has been sealed. Despite Mikasa’s relief, Eren shares that he and Armin have been secretly building a hot air balloon to escape. He promises to take Mikasa with him, giving her his scarf and instructing her to meet him in three days. However, during their attempted escape, the balloon fails to gain altitude and crashes into the Wall, with Eren pushing Armin to safety.

Eren’s initial strength came from defending his friend Armin from bullies who were bigger and stronger than him. As he grew older and joined the 104th Cadet Corps, he received extensive hand-to-hand combat training. While these skills might seem ineffective against Titans due to their size, they gave Eren a significant advantage when fighting other Titans in his Titan form, allowing him to hold his own in close-quarters combat.

Initially, Eren had no control over his Titan form, acting on pure instinct during the Battle of Trost. Over time, he learned to control his transformation and retain his intelligence while in Titan form, allowing him to utilize his military training to fight more effectively. Eren’s first successful use of his Titan form allowed him to kill over 20 Titans and plug a hole in Wall Trost, despite attacking his allies at first. His ability to transform was dependent on injuring himself and having a clear goal in mind, which he struggled with at times, as seen when he failed to transform against Annie Leonhart.

Eren’s Titan form possessed rapid regenerative abilities, allowing him to heal injuries quickly, such as regenerating entire limbs within seconds or minutes. This ability extended to his human form, as shown when he regrew his arm and leg after being injured by a Titan. During his mission in Marley, Eren mastered his regenerative powers, even being able to suppress regeneration to maintain his cover as an injured soldier.

Eren’s Titan form was exceptionally strong due to its muscular build. He could decapitate other Titans with a single punch and easily overpower larger Titans in combat. His most notable feat of strength was lifting and carrying a massive boulder to seal the hole in Wall Trost. In battles against the Female and Armored Titans, Eren demonstrated his ability to land powerful blows, create large craters, and even gain the upper hand in prolonged fights.

Eren’s endurance was one of his greatest assets in Titan form. He could sustain combat for long periods, killing 20 Titans in his first transformation. Even after severe injuries, such as during his battles with the Female Titan and the Armored Titan, Eren continued fighting. In Marley, his endurance had improved significantly, allowing him to transform three times in a single battle, surprising even his enemies.

After consuming a serum labeled “Armor,” Eren gained the ability to harden his Titan body. This ability allowed him to create durable structures and reinforce his Titan’s body, such as sealing the hole in Wall Trost and defending Squad Levi from Rod Reiss’s Titan. Eren could also focus his hardening in specific areas, like his fists, making them strong enough to break the Armored Titan’s armor. His hardening abilities continued to improve, allowing him to block powerful attacks from the War Hammer Titan in Marley.

The Founding Titan, also referred to as the “Coordinate” by Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover, was one of the most powerful Titans, possessing the ability to control Pure Titans. Eren inherited this power from his father, Grisha Jaeger, after Grisha stole it from the Reiss family. However, Eren could only access its full potential while in contact with someone of royal blood.

Eren first activated the Founding Titan’s power by accident during the Battle of Shiganshina when he struck the Smiling Titan, who was later revealed to be a member of royal blood transformed into a Titan. This caused the nearby Titans to attack and devour the Smiling Titan and forced Reiner and Bertholdt into retreat. Although the power can influence Pure Titans, it is unclear whether Eren could control other Titan-shifters with the Founding Titan’s abilities.

The Founding Titan’s immense power made Eren a target for many factions, including Marley’s Warriors and the Reiss family. After four years of seeking to unlock its full potential, Eren finally gained complete control of the Founding Titan by convincing Ymir Fritz, the source of all Titans, to lend him her power. This transformation turned Eren into the massive “Doomsday Titan,” allowing him to control the Wall Titans, create a unique Titan form that dwarfed all others, and telepathically communicate with all Subjects of Ymir.

Eren gained the power of the War Hammer Titan after devouring Lara Tybur during the Raid on Liberio. With this power, Eren could create various weapons and structures from hardened Titan material, a signature ability of the War Hammer Titan. These constructs included spikes, weapons, and protective barriers, granting Eren a versatile edge in combat. Unlike other Titans, the War Hammer could operate its body remotely, with the user safely hidden underground, though Eren did not fully rely on this ability after acquiring it.

• Eren’s design features black hair to make it easier to draw speed lines when he is in motion, reflecting his energetic character .
• Isayama focused on Eren’s eyes, giving him thin eyebrows to make his expressions stand out, as he felt thicker eyebrows would be too artificial for Eren’s personality .
• Isayama has expressed difficulty in making Eren feel “alive” in the story, calling him “a slave to the narrative” and was surprised by his popularity .
• Due to being so different from Eren, Isayama found it challenging to write for the character until hearing Yuki Kaji’s voice portrayal .
• Eren’s Titan form was based on Japanese martial artist Yushin Okami, modeling an ideal physique of a middleweight mixed martial artist . Additionally, Takanori Gomi’s southpaw fighting style inspired Eren’s Titan combat technique .
• The name “Eren” is of Turkish origin, meaning “He who progresses towards divine maturity and sacred wisdom,” and in German, “Ehre” means honor .
• Isayama chose the name “Eren” partly because it sounds feminine, making it easier to remember .
• “Jaeger,” Eren’s surname, means “hunter” in German.
• Isayama wanted to make Eren a character without natural talent, opposing the concept of a chosen, gifted protagonist .
• Eren used the suffix “-hiki” (small animals) instead of “-tai” (large animals) when referring to Titans, emphasizing his disdain for them.
• Eren held the highest Titan kill count among the 104th Cadet Corps graduates, though most were in his Titan form, while Mikasa held the most human-form kills.
• According to Isayama, Eren would be evenly matched with Jean Kirschtein in an arm-wrestling contest .
• Originally, Eren was meant to know all along that he was a Titan, but Isayama decided to change this idea .
• Eren’s ears blush when he lies, as mentioned by his mother, Carla.
• Subtle foreshadowing of Eren’s Titan ability appears early in the story, such as his dream of being injected by his father with a serum soon after Wall Maria’s fall and steam rising from his head during training.
• Eren’s Titan form has nictitating membranes, a third eyelid observed in predatory animals like sharks and birds of prey.
• Eren is featured as a Nendoroid figure, along with Mikasa, Levi, Armin, and the Colossal Titan.
• Eren ranked first in Akiba Souken’sAttack on Titancharacter popularity poll .
• Eren has his own character song,Helpless World, alongside characters like Mikasa, Armin, Levi, Erwin, Jean, Reiner, and Bertholdt.