Eren Yeager was the protagonist of the Attack On Titan series and one of the most intriguing main heroes in anime history. Notably, he does not fall into many of the tropes a typical lead might – instead, he has many strengths and flaws that distinguish him as a unique entity.
Through identifying his greatest assets and most debilitating shortcomings, we can best appreciate the complexity behind Eren’s character and the elements that render his universe a storytelling masterpiece. Moreover, we can examine potential vulnerabilities that might be exploited as the storyline gradually draws to a close.
10 Strength: His Courage Never Fails
One of Eren’s greatest qualities is his unrelenting courage. He was willing to sacrifice himself for others and face insurmountable odds even before he realized the power of his titan form.
This was prominently demonstrated through his defenses of Armin, whether fending off bullies (often unsuccessfully) or rescuing others from a titan by putting himself its path. Moreover, he confronted foes as terrifying as Annie and even Bertholdt in order to ensure Paradis’ safety, and his behaviors render him a trustworthy guardian.
9 Weakness: His Gullibility Made It Difficult To Expose Reiner
Eren’s gullibility is an often undiscussed tenant of his character. In addition to being too trusting (at the series’ beginning), he was unable to detect the treachery of Reiner and Bertholdt despite having spent more time with them than any other of the Scouts.
He was too naive to believe the traitor even after the Armored Titan explicitly told him his identity. His incredulousness would have resulted in a clean capture if Mikasa did not spring into action and attack the two Marleyian agents. Unfortunately, her efforts proved to be in vain.
8 Strength: His Determination Is Incredible
Eren is perhaps the most tenacious, resilient, and determined member of the Scouts – a fact that Levi was inclined to commend him on in spite of the young man’s lack of noticeable skill. Because he never gave up, he was able to adapt to Annie’s Leonhart’s combat strategies and gain the upper hand against Reiner.
Moreover, it provided him with the drive not to allow his mother’s death to permanently crush his spirit. If it did, he never would have been able to plug one of the walls, nor demonstrate the capacity to become the savior Paradis sorely needed.
7 Weakness: He Is Unskilled As An ODM user
Though Eren has improved in skill since the beginning of his quest, it’s worthwhile to mention his skills (or lack thereof) as a scout. He was a completely incompetent human combatant and remains an abysmal ODM user (having only defeated two titans directly outside of his enhanced form, one of which was due to Armin’s distraction).
As a result, his accomplishments are less commendable since much of what he is can be attributed to the gift he was given by Grisha. Moreover, it entails that he is easily overcome if his giant form is depleted.
6 Strength: He Has Tremendous Physical Brawn
Having physical brawn is often considered inherent to a being of massive stature. However, Eren’s strength eclipses most others, even including many of the nine titans he encounters.
This was best illustrated through the boulder he lifted over his head in order to plug a massive wall. It was also demonstrated through how he smashed apart Reiner’s armor, combining hardened knuckles with brute force to shatter what was previously assumed to be an impervious defense.
5 Weakness: His Aggression Has Frequently Endangered Him
Eren’s courage may provide him a necessary drive to defeat his foes, but it has drawbacks when heroism becomes aggression and foolishness. When Annie Leonhart pursued him and the other scouts through the forest, he turned around in order to fight her and save the lives of his colleagues.
However, not only would they die anyway, the Female Titan capitalized on his minimal experience and devoured him. Were it not for the trap that Levi and Hange arranged, this would have culminated with a decisive Marleyian victory and portended the end of Eldian existence.
4 Strength: He Can Adapt To Any Situation
Eren’s adaptability allows him to adjust to situations with no evident answer. The most clear example of this comes from the assault on Marley, where he was unable to penetrate the Warhammer titan with his own teeth.
Requiring something sturdy enough to crack open her diamond but unwilling to allow anyone else to claim his prize, he defeated Porco and effectively used his jaws as a can opener to spill the Warhammer’s blood everywhere. By imbibing copious mouthfuls, he absorbed her power and became exponentially stronger.
3 Weakness: His Martyrdom Complex Almost Got Him Killed
Eren’s martyrdom complex was a serious issue and one that culminated after he learned more about the nature of the titans. Once Rod Reiss captured him, he begged Historia to cannibalize him and his coordinate so that she could properly harness its power as the heir of the royal family.
However, not only was he more qualified to fight than Christa (proven through the many skirmishes he’d won up until that point), allowing her to consume him would have made her succumb to the same curse of the first Eldian ruler. Therefore, if she actually did what he told her to, it would have doomed Paradis to an anemic downfall.
2 Strength: He Works Excellently In A Team
Almost every major victory won by Eren was with the assistance of his allies, demonstrating how well he works in a team. He never would have been able to defeat Annie if Mikasa didn’t cut her fingers off, and Armin’s distraction was imperative for his victory over Bertholdt.
Moreover, he relied on the Eldians to assist him in his battle against Marley, fully aware that he could not find success on his own. In this regard, he harnesses the “power of friendship” without romanticizing it.
1 Weakness: He Has Disappointingly Low Charisma
Eren’s charisma (or lack thereof) has been a frequent point of conflict throughout the series. He was incapable of persuading or even staving the hand of Kitz Woermann after his titan form was revealed, and he was equally unconvincing toward a potentially condemning jury.
Moreover, the Scouts themselves have explicitly stated that they didn’t trust him after his headlong venture into Marley. This evinces that while the heroes understand Yeager as a necessity, he is one that they are not particularly thrilled to work alongside.
About The Author
