Reiner Braun(ライナー・ブラウン,Rainā Buraun) is an Eldian Warrior from Marley and a key character inAttack on Titan. He inherited theArmored Titanpower as a child and became a Warrior for Marley, serving in their mission to reclaim the Founding Titan. Reiner’s character is central to the conflict between Marley and the Eldians within the Walls, as he navigates his identity as both a loyal Marleyan soldier and a Scout Regiment member who bonds with his supposed enemies.

Reiner Braun, as a child, was quiet and determined, driven by a strong desire to become a Warrior and a hero by eliminating the “devils” of Paradis Island. This belief was deeply rooted in Marley’s propaganda and his mother’s influence. After inheriting the Armored Titan, Reiner’s confidence was shaken when Marcel Galliard revealed that he wasn’t chosen for his abilities but as a weaker candidate. This left Reiner feeling insecure, though he continued to push forward with the mission.

Marcel’s death deeply affected Reiner, and he began to adopt parts of Marcel’s personality, becoming more decisive and assertive. However, this shift also marked the beginning of his inner conflict. He took on the role of leader among his comrades, even threatening Annie and Bertholdt to keep the mission on track. Despite this, Reiner began doubting his belief that his father would return if he succeeded, leading to feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

When Reiner joined the 104th Cadet Corps, he fully embraced the role of a dedicated soldier, admired for his leadership and kindness. He became a “big brother” figure, always looking out for others. But beneath this image, Reiner struggled with deep emotional trauma, particularly after he participated in the death of Marco Bodt. This guilt led to Dissociative Identity Disorder, causing him to shift between his Warrior and soldier personas, often losing track of his true self. Even after being exposed as a Marleyan infiltrator, Reiner struggled to reconcile these identities, until Bertholdt reminded him of his mission as a Warrior.

Reiner’s “Warrior” self was more ruthless and pragmatic, focused on completing the mission at any cost. Still, he constantly tried to understand others, like Eren Jaeger and Ymir, showing a desire to connect despite their differences. After the failure of the Paradis Island Operation and years of fighting in the Marley Mid-East War, Reiner became emotionally exhausted, no longer holding grudges against his former comrades. His family noticed a change in him, as he now saw the people of Paradis not as enemies, but as victims of circumstance, much like himself.

Plagued by nightmares and guilt, Reiner reached a point where he considered suicide. Yet, his sense of duty toward his friends and family prevented him from ending his life. Despite his inner turmoil, Reiner remained intelligent and composed, able to think strategically and lead effectively. He understood the complexities of war and was able to see the bigger picture, even when his own emotions weighed him down.

Reiner Braun was born in the Liberio Internment Zone in Marley to an Eldian mother, Karina Braun, and a Marleyan father. As communication between Eldians and Marleyans was forbidden, Reiner never met his father. From a young age, Reiner and his mother decided that he would join the Warrior program, hoping that by inheriting one of the Nine Titans, they could gain honorary Marleyan status and reunite with his father.

After joining the Warrior program, Reiner trained alongside other candidates, including Bertholdt Hoover, Annie Leonhart, and Porco Galliard. During training, Zeke Jaeger informed them about the upcoming mission to reclaim the Founding Titan from Paradis Island, which would involve selecting new Warriors to inherit the Titans. Reiner, mocked by Porco for his belief that he could become a Titan, argued with him, but their fight was stopped by Porco’s brother, Marcel. Despite the mockery, Reiner was determined to become a hero for Marley.

Reiner was ultimately chosen to inherit the Armored Titan, not because of his abilities but due to Marcel’s influence. Marcel intentionally lowered his own brother Porco’s standing to protect him, ensuring Reiner was selected instead. This revelation deeply affected Reiner, but he carried on with his mission.

In 845, at the age of twelve, Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, and Marcel were sent on their mission to infiltrate Paradis and retrieve the Founding Titan. Before their departure, Reiner confronted his estranged father, telling him about his success and their potential future together as honorary Marleyans. However, Reiner’s father rejected him, calling him an “Eldian devil” and warning that they could never be together due to his Eldian heritage.

The Warriors crossed into Paradis under the cover of night. During their journey, Marcel revealed to Reiner that he had manipulated events to ensure Reiner inherited the Armored Titan instead of his brother. Before Reiner could fully process this, a Titan emerged from the ground and attacked them. Marcel saved Reiner by pushing him out of the way but was devoured by the Titan, who was later revealed to be Ymir.

Shocked by Marcel’s death, Annie and Bertholdt wanted to abandon the mission, but Reiner, fearing the consequences of failure, insisted on continuing. Annie, furious at Reiner’s perceived cowardice, beat him in anger. Despite this, Reiner regained his resolve, declaring himself the leader of the group and convincing the others to press forward with their mission.

Reiner possessed the ability to transform into the Armored Titan (鎧の巨人 Yoroi no Kyojin), a 15-meter Titan with incredible combat capabilities. The Armored Titan was instrumental in breaching Wall Maria, and Reiner demonstrated great control over this form, retaining his human intelligence and using advanced hand-to-hand combat techniques.

Like other Titans, Reiner could regenerate wounds and even entire limbs, both in human and Titan forms. This ability helped him survive serious injuries, such as when Mikasa Ackermann sliced off part of his forearm. He was able to fully regenerate it by the time of his next battle.

Reiner could consciously control his regeneration, turning it off to avoid blowing his cover as a Titan spy. This made him unique among Titans, though Eren later demonstrated a similar ability.

Reiner’s Titan form had immense strength, allowing him to destroy buildings and breach walls with ease. In battle, he overpowered Eren’s Titan form multiple times, showcasing his physical superiority. His hardened blows were extremely powerful, adding to his combat effectiveness.

While the Armored Titan is heavily armored, Reiner could shed parts of his armor (such as at his joints) to increase his speed in combat. He used this tactic during battles, notably against Eren, to boost his agility and gain a strategic edge.

The Armored Titan was covered in hardened skin, making it nearly impervious to cannon fire, blades, and other Titan attacks. While the armor provided immense protection, it also had weak spots around the joints, such as the inner part of the knees and elbows, making it vulnerable in those areas.

After destroying the inner gate of Wall Maria, Reiner’s Titan released steam, a byproduct of overheating. The steam could become superheated, potentially damaging anything in its vicinity.

During the Battle of Shiganshina District, Reiner showed the ability to transfer his brain’s functions to other parts of his body, enabling him to survive otherwise fatal injuries. He used this skill to stay alive after a direct strike to his neck by Levi Ackermann. This ability, while extremely difficult to execute, allowed him to maintain control of his Titan form and regenerate his head even after it was destroyed by a Thunder Spear. However, this ability caused temporary memory loss after regeneration.

• Hajime Isayama has stated in recent interviews that Reiner is his favorite character in the series.
• When designing Reiner, Isayama took inspiration from David Beckham’s eyes and eyebrows, along with characteristics from a personal friend and the character Private First Class James Francis Ryan (played by Matt Damon) inSaving Private Ryan.
• Isayama designed Reiner’s muscular build and “outstanding personality” to give the impression that Reiner is someone “destined for great things” .
• Reiner’s Titan form (the Armored Titan) was based on American professional wrestler Brock Lesnar .
• Reiner’s bulkiness is inherited from his parents and is not the result of training. Isayama likened his body to athletes like Fedor Emelianenko, Koji Murofushi, and the fictional character Hulk, who are naturally strong .
• According to Isayama, if the 104th Cadet Corps had an arm wrestling competition, Reiner would place second, losing only to Mikasa Ackermann .
• Among his fellow 104th squadmates, Reiner is the most popular boy .
• Reiner’s name is of Old Norse origin, meaning “Counseling Warrior,” and his surname “Braun” means “Brown” in German.
• In Episode 2 of the anime, a young Reiner and Bertholdt are seen in the crowd when the food shortage is announced. This was an anime-only cameo.
• Reiner’s psychological struggles resemble dissociative identity disorder, where a person’s identity fragments into different personalities, often tied to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
• Reiner is one of eight characters with their own character song. His song is calledAlternative Drive, which he shares with Bertholdt, making him the only character to share a song with another .
• Isayama revealed in 2017 that the songRomanceby Shinsei Kamattechan was chosen as a character theme for Reiner .
• In the online gameRagnarok X: New Generation, Reiner and Bertholdt’s Armored and Colossal Titan forms serve as enemies during the game’s first anniversary collaboration event .