Over the years, there have been many anime that impacted the anime industry forever, like Hunter x Hunter, Naruto, Bleach, and many more. But there’s one anime that stood out a lot more. And that’s none other than Attack on Titan, whose manga had over 140 million copies in circulation even by 2023. Written by Hajime Isayama, it’s easily one of the best anime to have ever been animated. And this is evident in how Attack on Titan is loved by many for being such a complex, diverse, and rooted storyline.
The story is so meticulously written and executed that it broke records even when it first came out and stole the hearts of many for a good reason. The amount of bloodshed the anime has can be overwhelming, but Attack on Titan isn’t about having gore for gore’s sake. The main story, curated by Hajime Isayama, is dark but also unique and tempting. Consisting of 94 episodes spanning across 4 seasons, each episode builds on the other and thus is crucial to the story. But there are some Attack on Titan episodes that go above and beyond and completely broke the internet. So without further ado, let’s rank the greatest Attack on Titan episodes of all time!
10) Sole Salvation (Season 4, Episode 15)
“Sole Salvation” is an episode that presents a heart-wrenching dive into Zeke Yeager’s backstory, dismembering the layers of the Beast Titan’s motivations. In this episode, we get to see Zeke’s childhood in Marley. As a child, he had a lot on his plate. Keeping up with both his parents’ Eldian restorationist dreams and the cruel reality of being a Warrior candidate. The highlight of the episode is surely Zeke’s mentor, Tom Ksaver, whose kindness and warmth contrast with Grisha and Dina’s neglect, making Zeke’s pain feel raw and real.
The voice acting is phenomenal, emotional, and packs a punch, especially Grisha’s desperate pleas. It’s one of the most emotionally heavy episodes of Attack on Titan for showing how Zeke’s trauma led to his extreme euthanasia plan. The choice of using muted colors in Zeke’s memories to emphasize his loneliness is brilliant. But what makes this episode truly special is that it humanizes a “villain” and makes one question morality in Attack on Titan’s world, sparking endless debates about Zeke’s choices.
9) Friends (Season 3, Episode 10)
From mentoring to being enemies, Levi and Kenny’s relationship has always been a heated one. But this episode, “Friends”, holds something else. The highlight is on Kenny Ackerman, Levi’s uncle, and his complex life as a killer with a surprising soft side. Through flashbacks, we learn about his bond with Uri Reiss, the Founding Titan who showed him compassion despite their differences.
As he hands the Titan serum to Levi and reflects on his life, Kenny’s dying scene is surprisingly tearful. Levi and Kenny’s final talk gives it the depth and heaviness it deserves. And the episode remarkably presents what it means to chase dreams in a world full of suffering.
8) That Day (Season 3, Episode 20)
The episode, “That Day”, is a turning point in the series that fans still discuss to the present. The episode dives into the deep history of the world outside the walls and flips the perspective of the entire story. What was once thought to be humanity’s last stand suddenly becomes part of a much larger conflict.
On top of that, as soon as the world-building started expanding, the story took an even darker turn with the punishment of Grisha’s family. The brutal execution of his sister and the harsh treatment of Eldians left fans in shock. The episode ends with a chilling sense of hopelessness, but it was praised heavily because it revealed the truth behind Marley’s grip and gave the series an entirely new direction.
7) Assault (Season 4, Episode 7)
“Assault” is pure chaos. This episode delivered some of the best action animation in the series. Eren launches a surprise attack on Marley, transforming into the Attack Titan to fight the Warhammer Titan, while Levi slices through the Beast Titan’s forces like a one-man army. MAPPA’s fluid, dynamic fight scenes, with glowing Titan powers and brutal takedowns, brought the episode to life.
But that wasn’t all. This episode is also controversial as it marks the beginning of Eren’s descent into his anti-hero persona. His sudden attack caught many civilians in the crossfire, something characters like Armin and Reiner were deeply aware of, giving the episode a more emotional tone.
6) Warrior (Season 2, Episode 6)
“Warrior” is the episode where Attack on Titan just casually pulls the rug from beneath you. In a split second, both Reiner and Bertholdt admit they are the Armored and Colossal Titans, respectively. To anyone and everyone who hadn’t read the manga, the moment they betray their friends and transform into Titans was a punch right into the gut that hit so hard, it was difficult to digest what just happened.
As the scene then proceeds to an all-out clash, the animation captures every shocked expression perfectly, and the music builds dread as Eren processes the betrayal. It balances quiet, shocking dialogue with the promise of all-out war, making it a masterclass in pacing and storytelling that still gets people talking. In fact, many fans call it one of the best plot twists in the history of anime. The episode lit a fire in community discussions like never before and even spawned many memes.
5) From You, 2000 Years Ago (Season 4, Episode 21)
“From You, 2000 Years Ago” is a lore bomb. It reveals Ymir Fritz’s tragic origin as the first Titan. We see her enslaved life through flashbacks as she was forced to serve a cruel king who used her powers to build an empire. The episode answered a lot of questions about the origin of Titans and touched on different themes like freedom, oppression, and choice.
But that’s not what makes it stand out. This episode shockingly shows Eren’s connection to Ymir across 2,000 years. The moment when Eren convinces Ymir to choose freedom over servitude is when everything changes. The time loop elements and the pivotal choice offered to Ymir by Eren redefine the anime’s entire plot.
4) Declaration of War (Season 4, Episode 5)
“Declaration of War” is all about tension and an inevitable reminder of the chaos to come. It built one of the biggest moments in the series as Willy Tyber gives a motivating speech declaring an all-out war on Paradis in Marley. The suspense skyrocketed, filling the atmosphere of the scene. At the same time, we see Eren talking to Reiner and saying his iconic “I keep moving forward” line as he transforms into the Attack Titan, kicking off the beginning of Marley’s downfall.
The episode’s animation was so remarkably done, many praised how each moment felt like a ticking clock. Every glance and breath taken added to the suspense, as Eren and Reiner revisited their history, dripping with guilt and vengeance. It’s special for setting up the final arc’s conflict while diving into Eren’s hardened mindset, making fans question if he’s a hero or a villain.
3) Midnight Sun (Season 3, Episode 18)
“Midnight Sun” followed some of the most tragic moments in Attack on Titan. This episode is where a very important decision was made: whether to give the Titan serum to Armin or Erwin? While Eren and Mikasa want their friend to be the one, others, including Levi, wager over Erwin.
But just as Levi was about to inject Erwin with the serum, Erwin’s arm jerked, as if a sign by his soul that he has had enough of this crooked and twisted world. Levi changes his mind and decides Armin should be the one to receive the serum because Erwin had already done all he could and deserves a chance to rest, too. Fans loved how this wrapped up the Shiganshina arc while setting up Armin’s new role. It’s a perfect mix of heartbreak and hope that sticks with you throughout the series.
2) Perfect Game (Season 3, Episode 16)
“Perfect Game” is one of the most highly rated episodes not only in Attack on Titan, but in the history of anime. The premise of this episode is the climax of the Shiganshina battle. Erwin gives one of the most iconic and motivational speeches ever to have been animated, and charges headlong into the Beast Titan.
The animation of the episode captures the horror of the charge, with rocks tearing through soldiers wholesale, yet it’s Erwin’s resolve that steals the show. The scouts fall, one by one, but Erwin and everyone else don’t stop until they are crushed by the Beast Titan’s merciless barrage. This episode shows the brutal reality of leadership and sacrifice, with fans praising how it builds to Levi and Armin’s heroics in the next episode.
1) Hero (Season 3, Episode 17)
Easily the greatest episode of Attack on Titan is “Hero”, where the insanely iconic and jaw-dropping showdown between Levi and the Beast Titan takes place. This fight scene set a new standard for anime fights; a clash so good, you can watch it endlessly and still can’t have enough of it. Levi’s insane solo fight against the Beast Titan, as he sneaks up on him and slices through Zeke with unimaginable precision, had the community name this moment, “Levi at his peak.”
But Levi wasn’t the only character to become a legend in this episode. On a different side of the battlefield, Armin comes up with a selfless plan to distract Bertholdt, sacrificing himself in the process. The animation of Armin’s burned body hits hard. Especially as this episode follows “Perfect Game”, where Erwin’s crew gets slaughtered by the Beast Titan’s barrage of rocks.
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