Nine Titans

Lore & Background

According to the source, Pure Titans are created by injecting Eldians with Titan spinal fluid. The path to becoming one of the Nine Shifters involves a Pure Titan consuming a human who possesses one of these powers. Upon consumption, the Eldian reverts to human form and gains that Shifter's abilities, but they are immediately cursed to live only 13 more years. If a holder dies without passing their power to another Eldian through this mechanism, the ability is passed to an Eldian baby born shortly thereafter, regardless of distance or blood relations. Many Shifters can harden specific body parts at will, either for defense or to strengthen blows during combat. This cycle of inheritance and death has driven the history of the world, leading to the rise and fall of empires and the eventual isolation of Paradis Island.

In Their Own Story

The narrative traces these powers through specific characters and moments. Eren Yeager discovers he can transform into a sentient Attack Titan during the defense of Trost after the Colossal Titan attacks Wall Rose. He later learns his father Grisha gave him this power by eating Frieda Reiss, who held the Founding Titan. In the battle for Shiganshina, Armin Arlert gains ownership of the Colossal Titan after Levi injects him with a serum, causing Armin to eat Bertholt Hoover. Eren subsequently eats Willy Tybur's sister, Lara, to claim the War Hammer Titan. Other Shifters include Reiner Braun as the Armored Titan and Bertholt Hoover as the Colossal Titan, who attempt to kidnap Eren. The Beast Titan, owned by Zeke Yeager, plays a pivotal role in the attack on Liberio, while Annie Leonhart is revealed as the sentient Female Titan.

Reader's Guide

The Nine Titans are classified alongside Pure and Abnormal Titans but stand apart due to their intelligence and unique capabilities. While Pure Titans are predictable and weak, Shifters can shift back and forth between forms. The source lists them explicitly: Attack, Colossal, Armored, Female, Beast, Jaw, Cart, War Hammer, and Founding. Each serves a tactical role in the military conflicts described. For instance, Hange Zoë developed Thunder Spears to combat Titans, but Shifters often rely on their innate hardening abilities. The transfer of power is strictly defined: consumption leads to inheritance, triggering the 13-year curse. This mechanic forces characters like Historia Reiss and Eren Yeager into life-or-death decisions regarding succession, as seen when Rod Reiss attempts to consume the serum himself after failing to convince Historia to eat Eren.

Did You Know?

• The Nine Titans are specifically named as the Attack, Colossal, Armored, Female, Beast, Jaw, Cart, War Hammer, and Founding Titans.
• Every Titan Shifter is cursed to live only 13 more years after inheriting their power.
• If a Shifter dies without being eaten by another Eldian, their power passes to an Eldian baby born shortly thereafter, regardless of blood relations or distance.
• Many Shifters possess the ability to harden certain parts of their bodies at will to make them nearly impenetrable.
• Eren Yeager gained his Attack Titan powers after his father Grisha ate Frieda Reiss, who possessed the Founding Titan.