Summary

• Levi Ackerman emerges as a better protagonist than Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan, showcasing emotional depth and tactical brilliance.
• Eren's transformation into a villain with the Rumbling leads to a devastating genocide, while Levi becomes pivotal in opposing him.
• Levi's leadership, selflessness, and strategic skills set him apart, offering a stark contrast to Eren's self-centered nature and brute force tactics.

Although Eren Jaeger is presented as the protagonist of Attack on Titan, a better protagonist is Levi Ackerman. Eren is the central character who, after taking up the fight against the Titans, becomes a Titan himself: the Attack Titan the show is named after. On the other hand, Levi is the eventual leader of the Special Operations unit in the Survey Corps, a group of highly-trained fighters who battle Titans up close using combat grace and advanced gear.

As the plot unravels and the two evolve, the Titan attacks are discovered to be orchestrated by a country called Marley. Marley is intent on subjugating the Eldian population, who have the potential to become Titans, at home and on Paradis Island. Eldians are purportedly resented because of an ancient uprising.

Attack on Titan's ending sees Eren channel the Attack Titan's ability to influence the Founding Titan, Ymir, to command Titans to march over the world. This calamity is called the Rumbling and it causes a genocide of untold proportions, turning Eren into the final villain of the series. Levi is pivotal to Paradis’s opposition to this offensive and to Eren's ultimate downfall.

Levi Is More Emotionally Engaging Than Eren

Even Great Friends Like Armin and Mikasa Are Unable To Bring out Eren’s Potential

In of character arcs, Eren feels especially one-dimensional next to Levi. Eren deals with many of Attack on Titan's saddest moments, like his mother’s death and his own dual fate as a Titan and human. However, he is self-centered and stubborn. In many of those moments where Eren has to pick between his ego and the welfare of his team, like facing the Female Titan with the Survey Corps in season 1, episode 21, Levi pushes him in the right direction. By the end, Eren hardly grows more emotionally compelling.

Although Eren is centered, Levi is more complex and emotionally engaging. His story is also touching and tragic; his relationship with Kenny, his mentor and adoptive father, provides many of Attack On Titan's most heartfelt (and heart-wrenching) moments. His problem-solving is unorthodox and cunning compared to Eren's strategies, which could be characterized as brute force. When Eren is on trial by Paradis for his ability to transform into a Titan, Levi attempts to prove that Eren can be "tamed" by beating the bound Eren mercilessly.

Furthermore, Levi's natural ability as a member of the Ackerman clan and his extensive training give him the best Titan-killing skills in the series. Many decisive fights are settled by Levi’s ingenuity and agility. By the end of the series, he has racked up the most Titan kills of any character. Eren's strength primarily comes from his Titan's accessory abilities, but on his own, he doesn't even possess the strongest Titan.

Levi Works To Build a Better World After Eren’s Rumbling

Levi sees more than his fair share of hardships and triumphs, emerging as a cool-headed leader. What's remarkable is that, despite his strength, he always relies on his teammates. Through impeccable leadership all throughout Attack on Titan, he leads Paradis to victory. His willingness to sacrifice his comrade Erwin to save Armin in the battle against the Colossal and Armored Titans was a pivotal moment of selflessness that cemented the future of Paradis. His memorable "Hail Mary" against the Beast Titan sees him put his life on the line to protect the walls of Paradis.

No less notable is his determination in the initial invasion of Marley. The leader puts himself aside and directly in the face of danger when the moment calls for it, and his skills certify victory. In the final moments of Attack on Titan, against Eren and the Jaegerists, Levi leads the charge. Out of dedication to Paradis and its inhabitants, and a sincere love for humanity, Levi gives up everything yet continues to fight. Levi and Mikasa's t efforts in particular are pivotal when Eren’s Rumbling is finally brought to an end.

There can only be one Eren Jaeger, but the better world he craved might have arisen if everyone in Attack on Titan strove to be like Levi Ackerman.

Yet, Levi doesn’t revel. Instead, in Attack On Titan's finale episode, he retires from fighting to a diplomatic and generous life. This episode is what drives the point home. Eren set up a world-changing event that wiped out most of Earth’s population and permanently changed relations between countries. In spite of those efforts, the final images of the series, with the specter of war returning to the world, show that his intentions were futile.

This sense of futility is precisely what the creator of Attack On Titan intended. Eren's actions, in the long run, mean nothing in a world where war, conflict, and oppression are the norm. On the other hand, it's Levi’s virtue, virtuosity, and patience that could have broken the cycle. Following Levi's evolution in the main series and through the No Regrets OVAs leaves the viewer in awe of his fortitude. There can only be one Eren Jaeger, but the better world he craved might have arisen if everyone in Attack On Titan strove to be like Levi Ackerman.