Levi Ackermann(リヴァイ・アッカーマン Rivai Akkāman), often formally referred to asCaptain Levi(リヴァイ兵長 Rivai Heichō), is the squad captain (兵士長 Heishichō, lit. “leader of the soldiers”) of the Special Operations Squad within the Scout Regiment. Renowned for his combat skills, he is widely regarded ashumanity’s strongest soldier. His exceptional fighting abilities, leadership, and unwavering resolve have earned him great respect both within the regiment and among his peers.

Levi Ackermann has a distinctive appearance that reflects his hardened and battle-worn persona. He has short, straight black hair styled in an undercut, with narrow, steel blue eyes that give him an intense, intimidating look. His eyes are often framed by dark circles, adding to his stern and emotionless expression, which can make it hard for others to read his thoughts. Despite his youthful face, Levi’s demeanor is often serious or expressionless.

Levi is shorter than most, but his compact frame is built with strong muscles from years of using omni-directional mobility gear. His typical outfit includes the Scout Regiment uniform, complete with a light gray button-up shirt and his signature white ascot, though after the coup d’état, he often left the ascot off. On expeditions, Levi wears the Scout Regiment’s green-hooded cloak, though during battles against Marley, he switched to the all-black version of the uniform.

Following an explosion from a Thunder Spear during his fight with Zeke Jaeger, Levi now bears several scars across his face, including a prominent one over his right eye. He also lost the index and middle fingers on his right hand due to the blast. Despite his injuries, Levi remains a formidable and commanding presence.

Levi Ackermann is known for his strong sense of cleanliness, to the point of being called a “clean freak.” He prefers his surroundings and equipment to be spotless, even cleaning his bloodied blades in the middle of battles. However, Levi has no issue getting dirty when necessary.

Despite this obsession with cleanliness, Levi is often blunt and abrasive, with little regard for politeness. His speech is usually harsh and sarcastic, frequently making coarse, morbid, or insulting remarks that unsettle those around him. This demeanor stems from his early life in the Underground City, where he refused to take orders from anyone. After joining the Scout Regiment, however, Levi grew to deeply respect Commander Erwin Smith, following his orders without question due to his trust in Erwin’s vision.

Levi’s loyalty is selective, limited to those he respects, and he openly shows disdain for authority figures he doesn’t believe in. For example, during Eren Jaeger’s military tribunal, he insulted both the merchants and the Military Police, openly mocking their competence and dedication to humanity’s survival.

Beneath his harsh exterior, Levi has a strong sense of morality and empathy. He places immense value on human life and is deeply disturbed by the revelation that Titans may have once been human. Levi detests unnecessary casualties and encourages his subordinates to use their judgment to avoid reckless deaths. His care for his team is evident, especially when he grieved over the loss of his original Special Operations Squad and was visibly affected by Petra Ral’s death, though he remained silent when confronted by her father.

Levi is ruthless in battle, showing no mercy to Titans or perceived enemies. When the Female Titan was captured, he chillingly described how he intended to mutilate her. Despite his extraordinary combat skills, Levi is not arrogant. He recognizes the limitations of even the best soldiers, acknowledging that no one is invincible, including himself.

While Levi is respected for his combat prowess, he prefers to operate independently. He handles many Titan kills solo and trusts his subordinates to make their own decisions when possible. Despite his leadership qualities, Levi does not see himself as a leader in the same way as Erwin, focusing more on his role as a soldier rather than commanding others.

Levi Ackermann was born in the Underground City to Kuchel Ackermann, a prostitute, and grew up in harsh conditions. His mother passed away when he was very young, and he was found by his uncle, Kenny Ackermann. Despite not being an ideal father figure, Kenny decided to take Levi under his wing and taught him how to survive. He trained Levi in knife skills, self-defense, and the violent behaviors necessary for life in the Underground, while also helping him unlock the hidden power of the Ackermann bloodline.

As Levi grew up, Kenny left him behind, believing that he had taught Levi all he needed to know to survive. Levi, now alone, became involved with a fellow thug named Furlan Church. Furlan was impressed by Levi’s strength and recruited him into his gang. Together, they formed a group of thieves and conmen in the Underground City. During one of their heists, Levi and Furlan met a young girl named Isabel, who was trying to reach the surface to free a bird. After scaring off her pursuers, Levi allowed her to join their gang, but not before teaching her how to clean, a reflection of his cleanliness obsession.

The trio soon began working together, with Isabel learning to use omni-directional mobility gear and taking part in their criminal activities. One day, they were approached by a mysterious client offering them a deal: if they completed a dangerous job, they would earn the right to live on the surface. The offer was sweetened by the promise of medical treatment for their injured friend, Yan, who had already been taken to a surface clinic. Levi, suspicious of the arrangement, recognized the deal as a form of hostage-taking but accepted the mission, motivated by the promise of a better life on the surface.

• Name Meaning:Levi’s name is of Hebrew origin and means “attached” or “joining.”
• Inspiration:His name was inspired by a person from the American documentaryJesus Camp.
• Age Mystery:Isayama has hinted that Levi is “surprisingly old,” stating he is older than 30, though his exact age remains a mystery .
• Personality Quirks:Levi is known to be obsessed with cleanliness, a trait potentially stemming from growing up in unsanitary conditions in the Underground .
• Tea Lover:Levi has a fondness for black tea and enjoys collecting it. He once expressed a desire to open a tea shop .
• High Alcohol Tolerance:Levi does not easily get drunk .
• Sleep Habits:He only sleeps 2-3 hours a night and suffers from insomnia. He often sleeps in his chair and does not change clothes before going to bed .
• Combat Showers:Levi takes three-minute combat showers .
• Haircut:He cuts his own hair using clippers .
• Influences:His short height was partly inspired byAstro Boyand Kyuzo fromThe Seven Samurai.
• Type of Woman:In an interview, Isayama mentioned Levi might like tall people, since he’s short .
• Eren’s Cleaning Skills:Levi considers Eren to be the best at cleaning among the Scouts .
• Character Song:Levi is one of eight characters to have his own character song, titledDark Side Of The Moon.
• Game Appearance:Levi’s Scout Regiment uniform and omni-directional mobility gear appear as limited-edition costumes inRagnarok X: Next Generationduring its first anniversary collaboration withAttack on Titan.