The Armored Titan is one of the most formidable foes in Attack on Titan. As one of the Nine Titans with the incredible power of transforming into a 15-meter tall Titan with armor-like skin, the Armored Titan plays a major role in the story. But who ultimately takes down this formidable foe?
The Armored Titan’s Powers
The Armored Titan gets its name from its incredibly tough armored skin, which covers the majority of its body. This armor-like skin gives the Armored Titan both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Offensively, the armor allows the Armored Titan to smash through structures and defenses that would stop other Titans. The Armored Titan can barrel through Walls, gates, and other fortifications by ramming into them at full speed, protected by its armored hide.
Defensively, the armor makes the Armored Titan very difficult to kill. Regular blades and cannons are largely ineffective against its hardened skin. Only the strongest Titan-killing weapons have a chance of piercing its armor.
In addition to its armored skin, the Armored Titan possesses incredible strength and speed given its large size. It can pick up and throw heavy objects with ease and move at high speeds when needed.
Reiner Braun as the Armored Titan
For most of the story, the human behind the Armored Titan is Reiner Braun.
Reiner possesses the power of the Armored Titan, which he inherited as one of the Warriors chosen by the nation of Marley. Along with Bertolt Hoover as the Colossal Titan, Reiner carried out the mission to infiltrate Paradis Island and destroy humanity within the Walls.
Undercover for years as a recruit of the 104th Training Corps, Reiner used his position as the Armored Titan to break through Wall Maria. This allowed Titans to invade and wreak havoc, kicking off the events of the story.
Eren Unable to Defeat the Armored Titan
Once Eren Yeager gains the power of the Attack Titan, he engages in many battles against Reiner’s Armored Titan.
Their first major fight occurs in the forest, after Eren first demonstrates his own Titan transformation powers. Even with the strength of the Attack Titan, Eren is unable to inflict any substantial damage against Reiner’s armored form.
Eventually, the arrival of Mikasa and the Survey Corps forces Reiner to retreat. Eren is frustrated at being unable to defeat the Armored Titan in direct combat.
In their second big fight within Wall Maria, Eren once again struggles against the Armored Titan. Despite gaining the hardening ability, Eren can only break off small pieces of Reiner’s armor. The fight ends in a stalemate, showcasing Eren’s inability to get through Reiner’s defenses.
Hange’s Analysis of the Armored Titan
After these battles, Hange Zoe carries out experiments and analysis to determine potential weaknesses of the Armored Titan.
Hange concludes that while the Armored Titan’s armor is incredibly tough, it is not without vulnerabilities. There are multiple areas, such as the joints and back of the knees, which are not fully protected by armor. Striking at these spots could potentially allow for enough damage to hinder the Armored Titan’s movements.
This analysis gives the Survey Corps some hope that the Armored Titan is not entirely invincible despite its formidable defenses.
The Survey Corps’ Strategy
Armed with Hange’s insights into the Armored Titan, the Survey Corps develops a strategy to take it down.
When Reiner transforms into the Armored Titan during the battle at Shiganshina, dozens of Survey Corps soldiers equipped with Thunder Spears work in unison to strike the Armored Titan’s weak spots.
Several Thunder Spears strike the back of the Armored Titan’s knees, causing its legs to buckle. More spears are fired at the Armored Titan’s shoulders and other unprotected areas. Within minutes, Reiner’s mobility as the Armored Titan is crippled.
Eren Deals the Final Blow
With the Armored Titan immobilized from the Thunder Spear barrage, Eren moves in to deal the final blow.
Realizing that Reiner is exposed at the nape of the Armored Titan’s neck, Eren transforms into his Titan form and charges.
Eren’s Titan lunges forward and rips Reiner out of the nape violently with its jaws. This attack is enough to force Reiner out of his Titan form defeated, no longer able to maintain the transformation.
Though Reiner survives due to transferring his consciousness throughout his Titan body, this attack marks the first decisive blow against the otherwise unstoppable Armored Titan.
Porco Galliard Claims the Armored Titan
After this battle, the power of the Armored Titan passes from Reiner Braun to Porco Galliard, another Warrior from Marley.
Porco gains the Armored Titan powers by consuming Reiner’s predecessor, Marcel Galliard. As a result, Porco obtains the incredible offensive and defensive capabilities of the Armored Titan for himself.
During the raid on Liberio, Porco demonstrates his newly acquired Armored Titan abilities. He is able to hold his own against Eren’s Attack Titan and break through Reiner’s attempts to shield Gabi and Falco.
The Battle at Heaven and Earth
At the decisive Battle at Heaven and Earth, the Survey Corps and Warriors engage in an all-out war.
Porco as the new Armored Titan clashes against Eren once again. However, this time Eren has gained new abilities through unlocking the Founding Titan’s powers.
When Porco attempts to break through Eren’s defenses, Eren is able to crystallize parts of his body. Porco’s Armored Titan is unable to break through Eren’s newly formed crystal armor, showcasing Eren’s own enhanced defenses.
The crystal armor protects Eren from the Armored Titan’s attacks long enough for the airship to arrive and turn the tide decisively in favor of the Survey Corps.
The Jaw Titan Delivers the Blow
As the battle continues, the Jaw Titan enters the fray in an attempt to support the Armored Titan.
However, the Jaw Titan’s user Falco has other plans. Revealing that he intentionally inherited the Jaw Titan to defeat the Armored Titan, Falco viciously attacks Porco in his Titan form.
The Jaw Titan’s speed, agility, and razor-sharp claws allow it to rip right through the joints and weak points of the Armored Titan’s defenses.
Falco’s Jaw Titan tears out Porco’s nape, decisively killing the Armored Titan and ending its role in the battle once and for all.
| Titan | User | Killed By |
|---|---|---|
| Armored Titan | Reiner Braun | Eren Yeager (Attack Titan) |
| Armored Titan | Porco Galliard | Falco Grice (Jaw Titan) |
Conclusion
While the Armored Titan withstands many attacks throughout the story thanks to its formidable armor, it is eventually brought down through strategy and teamwork.
First Reiner Braun and then Porco Galliard make use of the incredible offensive and defensive powers of the Armored Titan. But despite its armor, it is not completely impervious.
The Survey Corps is able to immobilize and weaken the Armored Titan through concentrated attacks on its vulnerable spots. This allows Eren to deliver a decisive blow that defeats Reiner.
In the climactic final battle, Falco intentionally gains the power of the Jaw Titan to exploit the Armored Titan’s weaknesses. His speed and claws bypass the Armored Titan’s armor, allowing him to kill Porco and end the Armored Titan’s threat once and for all.