Subjects of Ymir

Lore & Background

Centuries ago, a young girl named Ymir Fritz made a pact with the source of all living matter, gaining the power to become the Founding Titan. Her descendants inherited this ability, allowing them to transform into mindless giants or inherit one of the nine specialized titan forms. Under King Fritz's rule, these Subjects of Ymir expanded their empire across the continent, using their titanic strength to subjugate other nations and enforce a strict racial hierarchy where non-Eldians were treated as second-class citizens. Following the Great Titan War, the remaining Eldian population was forced into exile on Paradis Island, surrounded by three colossal walls for protection. Here, the memory of their past atrocities was erased through the Founding Titan's power, creating a society that lived in ignorance of the outside world. However, the truth remained: any Subject of Ymir who dies or is injected with titan spinal fluid can become a mindless titan, and those who consume a pure titan will inherit one of the nine powers, perpetuating a cycle of violence that has lasted over a hundred years.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through the narrow alleyways of Trost District, carrying the scent of ozone and fear. Kael clutched his dog tags, feeling the weight of the metal against his chest—a silent reminder of what he was. He was not just a soldier; he was a living weapon, a child of Ymir. Around him, fellow soldiers whispered in hushed tones about the rumors spreading from the outside world: that their kind were monsters to be purged. Kael looked up at the towering wall, its stone surface cold and unyielding. For generations, they had lived behind it, safe but trapped, their bloodline a curse that bound them to the earth in ways no other human could understand. As the alarm bells began to ring, signaling an incursion, he didn't feel fear for himself, only a grim determination. If the world wanted to hunt them down, let them come; they would meet fire with fire.

Reader's Guide

The Subjects of Ymir are the central ethnic group in the Attack on Titan universe, defined by their ability to transform into Titans. Their history is one of rise and fall, beginning as the rulers of a vast empire under King Fritz, who used their power to conquer the world. However, after the Great Titan War, they were defeated and exiled to Paradis Island, where they lived in isolation behind massive walls for over a century. Their primary goal has shifted dramatically throughout history. Initially, they sought global domination, but later focused on survival and maintaining the status quo within the walls. In recent times, the faction is deeply divided between those who wish to maintain peace with the outside world and those who seek to use their power to liberate Paradis or even conquer the globe again. The group includes all Eldians living on Paradis Island, as well as scattered remnants in Marley and other nations. They are the only humans capable of inheriting the Nine Titans, making them a strategic asset and a target for extermination by the rest of humanity. Their existence drives the entire narrative, as their struggle for freedom and identity shapes the fate of the world.

Did You Know?

• Subjects of Ymir are biologically immune to diseases that kill other humans, though they still age normally unless they possess a Titan power.
• The ability to transform into a mindless titan can be triggered by any Subject of Ymir who dies or is injected with titan spinal fluid, regardless of whether they inherit a specific power.
• Non-Eldians cannot become Titans or inherit the Nine Powers, even if they consume a pure titan; only those with the correct bloodline can trigger the transformation.
• The memory of their past atrocities was erased from all Subjects of Ymir on Paradis Island by King Fritz using the Founding Titan's power.