Who Is Levi Ackerman?

Levi Ackerman is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Attack on Titan. As the captain of the Survey Corps' Special Operations Squad, he is widely regarded as "Humanity's Strongest Soldier" for his exceptional combat skills and high number of Titan kills. 

Appearance

Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan is a short, muscular man with an unapproachable expression and an intimidating, clean undercut hairstyle. Despite his short stature (160cm or 5'3"), he has a very well-developed and muscular physique, honed by extensive use of Omni-Directional Mobility (ODM) Gear.

He has a perpetually serious, often frowning, or emotionless expression that makes it difficult to guess what he's thinking. His face appears deceptively youthful, but his narrow, dull blue or gray eyes have dark circles underneath them. His hair is short, straight, and black, styled into a clean undercut. Following a severe injury caused by a Thunder Spear, he has several new scars on his face, including one across his right eye. He also loses the index and middle fingers on his right hand.

Personality

Levi is not one for pleasantries and speaks in a cold, direct manner that can be insulting and unsettling to others. He often appears emotionless, making it difficult for people to guess what he is thinking. He is notorious for using threats and physical violence to ensure he is obeyed, such as his public beating of Eren at the tribunal. When faced with a perceived enemy of humanity, like the Female or Beast Titans, his demeanor can become sadistic and vengeful.

Levi is a "clean freak" who prefers his environment and equipment to be spotless. This need for control and order is likely a coping mechanism rooted in his traumatic past growing up in the filthy Underground City. Despite his focus on combat, Levi is also a highly perceptive and gifted tactician. He makes calculated decisions in the heat of battle and uses his Ackerman clan abilities to think and plan with keen judgment. 

Beneath his tough exterior, Levi is a deeply empathetic and caring person who places great value on human life. His compassion is evident when he comforts a dying soldier by holding his bloody hand and assuring him his death was not in vain. Levi is fiercely loyal to those he respects, particularly his commander, Erwin Smith. This loyalty motivates him to carry out his promises, such as his long-held vow to kill the Beast Titan, Zeke Yeager.

The immense loss he has endured, including his entire original squad, has taken a heavy emotional toll. He fights with the collective will of his fallen comrades, using their memory to fuel his resolve. In the early parts of the story, Levi followed Erwin's grand vision because he had no dream of his own. As the series progresses, he evolves and learns to make his own difficult choices, carrying the weight of his leadership until the very end.

Background

Levi was born to a prostitute named Kuchel Ackerman in the Underground city, a squalid slum beneath the capital. She died of an unspecified illness when Levi was still a small boy, leaving him starving and alone. Shortly after Kuchel's death, her brother, the infamous serial killer Kenny "the Ripper" Ackerman, found a young, neglected Levi. Kenny taught Levi how to survive in the hostile Underground environment, including knife skills and fighting techniques. However, he left Levi once he felt the boy could fend for himself, revealing their relationship only much later.

As a member of the Ackerman clan, Levi's battle instincts and power were awakened under traumatic circumstances. He is distantly related to Mikasa Ackerman, as they share the same bloodline. After being abandoned by Kenny, a teenage Levi used his survival skills to become a notorious thug in the Underground, known for his proficiency with ODM (Omni-Directional Mobility) gear.

He formed a close friendship and thieving gang with two companions, Furlan Church and Isabel Magnolia. The three dreamed of escaping the Underground for a better life on the surface. Levi's life changed forever after an encounter with Erwin Smith, then a section commander of the Survey Corps. Erwin caught Levi and his friends during one of their heists and forced them to join the military to avoid punishment.

During their first expedition outside the walls, Levi planned to assassinate Erwin. But a sudden Titan attack in a downpour resulted in the horrific deaths of Furlan and Isabel. The event profoundly affected Levi, leading him to abandon his plan. He chose to devote himself fully to the Survey Corps and follow Erwin, determined to make his friends' deaths meaningful.

Powers and Abilities

Levi Ackerman's powers and abilities stem from his rare Ackerman bloodline, which provides him with superhuman physical and cognitive enhancements. However, even beyond his bloodline, Levi is a gifted and highly experienced soldier with unparalleled technical skill. He is widely regarded as "Humanity's Strongest Soldier" and is a master of the Omni-Directional Mobility (ODM) gear.

Combat Abilities and Analytical Skills

• Master of ODM Gear: He possesses unrivaled mastery of the ODM gear, allowing him to maneuver through battlefields with unmatched speed and precision. His efficiency with the gear is often compared to an entire military brigade.

• Distinctive Swordsmanship: Levi uses a unique and highly effective reverse-grip technique with his blades. This allows for circular, spinning attacks that give him incredible momentum and cutting power, making it easier to slice through Titan flesh.

• Strategic Intelligence: He has a genius-level intellect for combat, capable of quickly analyzing situations and making split-second, calculated decisions. This talent allows him to outsmart human and Titan opponents alike.

• Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant: In addition to his bladed combat, Levi is also a formidable fighter in close quarters. His training under his uncle, Kenny Ackerman, made him a master of unarmed combat.

Ackerman Abilities

Ackerman abilities include superhuman strength, speed, agility, and durability, which are enhanced when their "awakened power" is triggered by a life-or-death situation. When this power awakens, an Ackerman gains the combined combat experience of all previous Ackermans through the "Paths," making them incredibly effective fighters. They are also resistant to the Founding Titan's mind manipulation. 

• Enhanced Strength: He possesses physical strength far beyond that of a normal human, allowing him to perform impossible feats for his size, like injuring Titans and overpowering other soldiers.

• Enhanced Speed and Reflexes: Levi is exceptionally fast and agile, with supersonic reaction speeds that allow him to dodge bullets and evade attacks from even the most powerful Titans.

• Enhanced Endurance: He has superhuman stamina, allowing him to fight for extended periods and withstand the immense G-forces from using his ODM gear at high speeds.

• Battle Prowess: As an Ackerman, he inherits the combat experience and knowledge of past Ackermans through the "Paths," granting him an innate ability to know exactly what to do in any fight.

• Titan Immunity: Members of the Ackerman clan cannot be turned into mindless Pure Titans, even if they are injected with spinal fluid.

Goals and Reputation

Initially, Levi's main goal was to help the Survey Corps defeat the Titan threat to allow humanity to live freely outside the walls. His conviction for this mission was profoundly deepened by the deaths of his comrades. A major driver for Levi is his pledge to his former commander, Erwin Smith. After choosing to save Armin, he takes on the burden of Erwin's goals, particularly the mission to kill the Beast Titan, Zeke Yeager.

In the final arc of the series, Levi's goal shifts to preventing Eren Yeager's catastrophic "Rumbling." Severely injured, he still pushes himself to fight, prioritizing the greater good over his own life. Motivated by the immense loss he has endured, Levi believes in moving forward and fighting without regrets. After the fighting concludes, an exhausted and injured Levi finds a new goal: to peacefully live out his days and help Gabi and Falco. 

Levi is widely known as the most powerful and skilled soldier within the Walls, an incredibly effective and lethal asset to the Survey Corps. To his enemies, such as Titan Shifters and hostile humans, Levi's reputation is one of a terrifying, sadistic monster. He is known to be merciless when fighting and will resort to torture to get information.

Despite his demeanor, his squad and those who know him well view him as a deeply compassionate and caring leader. His apparent harshness is seen as a means of discipline and tough love, necessary to keep his soldiers alive. He is a role model and source of strength for many.

Levi is consistently one of the most popular characters in the Attack on Titan franchise and anime overall. His backstory, character development, and unforgettable combat scenes have solidified his status as a fan-favorite. Fans appreciate the complexity hidden beneath his stoic exterior. While he is heroic, his character arc is marked by a tragic upbringing, profound loss, and moral ambiguity. He does whatever is necessary for the greater good, even if it is morally questionable.