Attack on Titan Armin Arlert: From Wimp to Warrior!

In the world of Attack on Titan, where colossal Titans threaten humanity's survival, one character's evolution serves as a powerful testament to the triumph of courage and resilience. Armin Arlert, initially portrayed as the timid and insecure member of the 104th Training Corps, embarks on a remarkable journey that propels him from being perceived as a mere wimp to emerging as a bona fide warrior.

This article will delve into Armin's dynamic character development, exploring the active factors that propel him toward becoming a symbol of unwavering courage in the face of hard-to-imagine adversity.

Armin Arlert: The Beginning

Armin Arlert, named the 15th and current commander of the Survey Corps by Hange Zoë before their death, is also a childhood friend of Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman, serving as one of the two deuteragonists of the series. Despite initially seeming physically weak among the 104th Training Corps, his intelligence and strategic brilliance render him an invaluable asset, particularly when teamed up with Hange. Following the Shiganshina District battle, Armin seized the power of the Titans from Bertolt Hoover, taking possession of the Colossus Titan.

At the start of Attack on Titan, Armin Arlert is portrayed as physically weak and lacking the combat skills displayed by his peers. His self-doubt and anxiety often overshadow his potential, earning him the label of a "wimp" among his fellow trainees. Armin's initial struggles paint a realistic picture of fear and uncertainty in a world besieged by giant, man-eating Titans.

Colossus Titan form

In his Colossus Titan form, Armin manifested as a completely skinless and towering figure, closely resembling Bertolt's Titan. His Titan featured elongated, slender arms extending past its knees and robust legs with short, thick feet designed for stability. The feet were shaped to ensure it could stand without toppling over, given its proportions and towering height. The upper body of Armin's Titan was relatively slender, showcasing an exposed rib cage on the front and sides. The face lacked a nose and most of its skin, revealing bare bone, while the eyes appeared sunken and melancholic, surrounded by muscle.

Armin's Titan bared its teeth due to the absence of skin on the cheeks. Notably, in contrast to the previous Colossus Titan, Armin's Titan had lips surrounded by some muscle. What set Armin's Titan apart was the visible windpipe at its neck, with only two tendons in front, and it lacked discernible outer ears.

Pure Titan Form

Before obtaining the power of the Colossus Titan from Bertolt Hoover, Armin's Pure Titan form exhibited several traits resembling his human form. It possessed blond shoulder-length hair, a relatively small body with a lipless mouth, black eyes, and a skeletal nose. Additionally, the Titan's skin revealed visible ribs, and its arms were notably slender. Though the exact height remained unknown, the Titan proved large enough to peer over the rooftop of a three-story house.

This moment marks the turning point for Armin, showcasing his intelligence and strategic thinking as valuable assets in the fight against the Titans.

Clash Of The Titan

Armin's hypothesis receives confirmation when the rock sample Squad Leader Hange Zoë collected from Annie's Titan body aligns with the properties of the Walls. Armed with this knowledge, Armin and Hange propose a solution to mend Wall Maria: Eren utilizing his own hardening ability to seal the breach. Minister Nick informs the group about a Survey Corps member who may possess more information about the Walls, withholding further details but ensuring that she can share more. Recognizing her as Krista Lenz, Armin and the others move quickly to rescue her, along with Reiner, Bertolt, Connie, and a severely injured Ymir, from Utgard Castle. The Survey Corps regroups on top of Wall Rose.

However, the joy is short-lived for Armin as he discovers Reiner and Bertolt's secret communication with Annie, validating his and Hange's suspicions of them being spies. As Reiner and Bertolt attempt to seize Eren, Mikasa intervenes, launching a near-lethal attack that the two spies survive. Armin witnesses the shocking Titan transformations of Reiner and Bertolt, revealing the Armored and Colossus Titans, respectively.

Called upon by Hange to assist Eren in his battle against Reiner in Titan form, Armin witnesses the Colossus Titan defending itself against the rest of the Corps. Advising Eren to retreat to the Wall, Armin provides Mikasa with his spare blades to aid Eren in facing the Armored Titan. Collaborating with Hange, they realize the vulnerability behind the Armored Titan's knees and instruct Mikasa to cripple them, allowing Eren to gain the advantage. Just as the battle seems to turn in Eren's favor, the Armored Titan's loud wail signals Bertolt, who descends from Wall Rose, crashing down on Eren and Reiner.

Horrified by the perilous risk Reiner is taking, Armin observes the potential threat of Eren being easily consumed. In the midst of the struggle, Eren and Mikasa are thrown from their horse, and Jean is incapacitated as the group rushes to help. With no escape route, Armin pulls Jean towards a small cluster of trees, ready to confront an approaching Titan armed with only one sword. As he looks to Eren and Mikasa, realizing the gravity of their desperate situation, the friends share teary-eyed glances, bracing for what seems like the end.

Unexpectedly, Eren's "Coordinate" power activates, prompting the Titans to attack first the Smiling Titan and then the Armored Titan. This sudden turn of events allows Armin to secure a horse and transport a wounded Jean to safety. They retreat from the battlefield, mourning the loss of Hannes, who perished in the chaos, and reflecting on their childhood memories with him.