Who Is Armin Arlert?

Armin Arlert is a main character in the manga and anime series Attack on Titan. Initially a physically weak and timid boy, his extraordinary strategic genius and intelligence make him a crucial member of the Survey Corps. He is best friends with Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman, and his journey is defined by his struggle to overcome self-doubt and his desire to explore the world beyond the Walls.

Appearance

Armin Arlert is a young man with a slender build, round, boyish features, and blond hair which starts as a bob cut with straight bangs covering his forehead during his younger years. Later, he cuts his hair shorter, into a long undercut. He has large, expressive eyes that are either hazel or blue, depending on the source.

His face is notably round and boyish, and some characters mistake him for a girl when he serves as a body double for Historia. Armin also has a relatively small frame and is physically one of the weakest of his 104th Training Corps class, though he gains more muscle definition later in life. He generally wears the standard Survey Corps uniform, which is a brown jacket with the "Wings of Freedom" insignia, white pants, and a green cape during expeditions.

After inheriting the power of the Colossus Titan, Armin's Titan has some key differences from its previous holder, Bertolt Hoover. While it is similar in size, it’s more gaunt, with an exposed rib cage. The Titan has notably elongated and skinny arms and muscular legs. Additionally, the face is mostly bare bone with sunken eyes, a missing nose, and teeth showing due to the lack of skin. His windpipe and surrounding tendons are uniquely exposed.

Personality

Early in the series, Armin suffers from a deep lack of self-confidence and views himself as a burden to his friends, Eren and Mikasa, due to his physical weakness. This insecurity drives him to prove his worth, sometimes recklessly, and later persists as he struggles to live up to the legacy of his predecessor, Commander Erwin Smith.

Despite his tactical coldness, Armin is an emotionally sensitive and kind person. He struggles with the weight of his actions, like when he kills people for the "greater good," and is often seen with tears in his eyes after resorting to violence, revealing that he hasn't fully discarded his humanity.

Armin believes that in their brutal world, morality is subjective. This allows him to devise morally questionable plans that shock some of his comrades, but that he sees as necessary to achieve their goals. His friends, Eren and Mikasa, however, recognize that he has always been capable of such cunning. However, even as a commander, Armin consistently seeks peaceful resolutions. During the final conflict, he tries to reason with Eren rather than resorting immediately to violence, demonstrating his belief in understanding and diplomacy.

Background

As a child in the Shiganshina District, Armin was frequently bullied for being weak and for his curiosity about the outside world. His parents were killed by the Military Police while attempting to escape the Walls in a hot-air balloon. He was then raised by his grandfather, who was later killed during a reclamation mission after the Titans breached Wall Maria.

Armin possessed a forbidden book containing information about the world beyond the Walls, which he shared with Eren. This ignited their mutual dream of one day seeing the ocean and other wonders, a goal that motivates him throughout the series. After the fall of Wall Maria, Armin joins the 104th Training Corps alongside Eren and Mikasa to fight against the Titans. Despite his initial insecurity, he demonstrates his value during the Battle of Trost District by devising a strategy that reclaims the city.

During the battle to retake Wall Maria, Armin is severely burned while executing a plan to defeat the Colossal Titan, Bertholdt Hoover. Captain Levi ultimately chooses to save Armin's life by injecting him with Titan serum. Armin then devours Bertholdt, inheriting the power of the Colossal Titan. After Hange Zoë dies during the final battle by sacrificing herself to slow down the Colossal Titan-Eren and the Rumbling, Armin is appointed the 15th and final commander of the Survey Corps.

Armin witnesses this sacrifice and later confronts the Founding Titan-Eren in a final battle to stop the Rumbling. As commander, he works to navigate the complex political landscape, including trying to negotiate for peace between Paradis Island and the outside world. His legacy is defined by his perseverance, courage, and intellectual contributions in the struggle for humanity's survival.

Powers and Abilities

Armin's greatest strength is his mind. He possesses an uncanny ability to formulate creative strategies and deduce information that others miss, making him an invaluable asset to the Survey Corps. He is also the inheritor of the Colossal Titan, granting him immense size, strength, steam emission, and the ability to create a massive explosion upon transformation.

Tactical Abilities and Analytical Skills

• Tactical Genius: Armin is renowned for his brilliant mind and ability to formulate successful strategies under extreme pressure. His plans have repeatedly saved his comrades and turned the tide of battle, often outsmarting physically superior foes.

• Sharp Deduction: He possesses a keen eye for detail, allowing him to uncover hidden information and deduce the identities of his enemies, including the original spies among the 104th Training Corps.

• Leadership: While physically weak compared to others, his mental prowess is so respected that he eventually becomes the 15th Commander of the Survey Corps.

• Physical Fitness: Although physically weaker than many of his peers, Armin is still a capable soldier trained to use standard military equipment like Omni-Directional Mobility (ODM) gear.

• Decent Combat Skills: While not a standout fighter, he demonstrates adequate skill in both blades and ODM gear.

Titan Abilities

Titan powers or abilities are inherited by "Subjects of Ymir" through the Nine Titans, which grant them the ability to transform into intelligent Titans with specific powers, including self-regeneration, enhanced physical abilities, and the potential for memory inheritance and hardening. 

• Colossal Titan: In his Titan form, Armin stands 60 meters tall, making him one of the largest and strongest Titans.

• Explosive Transformation: By controlling the energy output, he can produce a massive, destructive explosion upon transforming. During the Raid on Liberio, he uses this ability to decimate the Marleyan naval fleet.

• Devastating Steam Emission: The Colossal Titan can produce immense amounts of steam from its body, creating an intense, burning heat that pushes enemies away and makes it nearly impossible to approach.

• Regeneration: Like all Titan Shifters, Armin can regenerate from injuries.

Goals and Reputation

As a child, inspired by a forbidden book, Armin dreamed of seeing the ocean and the world beyond the Walls with his friends Eren and Mikasa. He eventually fulfilled this dream after reclaiming Wall Maria, only to discover the harsh reality of the world beyond Paradis Island.

After inheriting the Colossal Titan and succeeding Erwin as the Survey Corps Commander, Armin was burdened with the legacy of his brilliant but ruthless predecessor. He grappled with living up to this expectation while retaining his own morality. 

In the final arc, Armin's primary goal became stopping the "Rumbling" and finding a peaceful solution to end the cycle of hatred and violence between Eldians and the rest of the world. His ultimate objective was to halt his childhood friend Eren's genocidal plan, even if it meant fighting him. He did this not through violence, but by appealing to their shared history in the Paths.

Armin is most famous for his strategic brilliance, which became an invaluable asset to the Survey Corps. He masterminded countless key victories and uncovered the identity of the enemy Titan shifters among his comrades. Even high-ranking officers respected and relied on his tactical insight. In the final arc, Armin's reputation transformed from a military strategist to a diplomat representing the survivors of the "Rumbling". He became the voice of reason, dedicated to finding a peaceful path forward for humanity.