Death is commonplace in Attack on Titan, and this isn't surprising considering the whole story is about humanity on the precarious brink of extinction. As people are slowly pushed over the edge by their mysterious predators, the Titans, they naturally fight to survive, even though many perish.
The narrative complexity only increases when human politics is thrown into the mix, and it's not surprising that people turn on each other in times of crisis. Overall, thousands of deaths take place onscreen, but most of them are minor or inconsequential characters. Considering only major roles, how many people have died in each arc of Attack on Titan? There are manga spoilers ahead.
8 The Fall Of Shiganshina Arc — 4 Important Deaths Amidst Hundreds
The first arc in the anime is The Fall of Shiganshina, which takes audiences through the harrowing experiences of humanity under the eternal threat of the Titans. Moses Braun is killed right before the destruction of Wall Maria, after which the Colossal and Armored Titans expose Shiganshina to their Pure counterparts.
This leads to countless being killed—either by consumption or being trampled. The Smiling Titan eats Carla Jaeger, Eren consumes his father Grisha, and Ymir kills and eats Marcel Galliard from Marley.
7 Clash Of The Titans Arc — 6+ People Are Killed, Including 2 Central Characters
Approximately 6 important characters are killed off in the Clash of the Titan arc, which deals with the sudden and unexpected appearance of the Beast Titan. The situation is worsened when Bertholdt, Reiner, and Ymir kidnap Eren, so the Scout Regiment has no choice but to mount a rescue attempt.
Four members of the Scout Regiment are killed during the Battle of Utgard Tower—namely, Gelgar, Lynne, Nanaba, and Henning. Mike Zacharias, the most impressive combatant in Paradis after Captain Levi, is torn to pieces by Pure Titans, while Hannes ends up being consumed by the Smiling Titan.
6 Royal Government Arc — 8+ Deaths Occur, Mostly Antagonists
The Royal Government Arc runs through a political storyline in which the so-called monarchy of Paradis is called into question by the Scout Regiment's Commander, Erwin Smith. The scheme ultimately works with the help of Dot Pyxis, but the Military Police mysteriously kill Minister Nick before Hange can interrogate him.
The merchant Dimo Reeves dies under similarly suspicious circumstances, leading the Scouts to wonder if the government is hiding something. Keiji and Nifa are assassinated by Kenny Ackerman, who is killed along with Traute Caven after Rod Reiss's transformation into a gigantic Titan. Levi Ackerman also kills many Anti-Personnel Control Squad members. Historia then kills her father and takes her place on the throne.
5 Marley Arc — 8+ Deaths, Almost All Marleyans (Excluding Sasha Braus)
The Marley Arc is one of the bloodiest in the entire storyline, with Eren's Attack Titan causing the deaths of hundreds of people who happen to be in the area when he goes after Willy Tybur and his sister, Lara the War Hammer Titan. Among them are Warrior Candidates Udo and Zofia, as well as Calvi, a Marleyan general. Gabi Braun is singlehandedly responsible for two Scout deaths—Lobov and Sasha Braus.
The latter's murder creates ripples in the freedom movement coursing through Paradis and inevitably alters the heroes' path. As a sad side-note, it is revealed that Ymir is fed to Porco Galliard so he can inherit the Jaw Titan she had "stolen" from his brother, Marcel.
4 Assault On Stohess Arc — 9+ Deaths, 5 Dear To Levi
The Assault on Stohess arc's first few casualties is Luke Siss, Darius Baer-Varbrun, and Dita Ness, killed by the Female Titan while on open ground. In the thick forest, Annie Leonhart efficiently tricks and murders all five Levi's Special Operations Squad members. They attempt to protect Eren, which leaves a permanent emotional scar on the Captain's heart.
Two technically irrelevant deaths are those of the captured Pure Titans, Sawney, and Bean, which upsets Hange but creates quite a ruckus in the city. Eren nearly kills the Female Titan at the end of this arc.
3 Return To Shiganshina Arc — 9+ Deaths; Commander Erwin's Is The Most Emotional
A select band from the Scout Regiment, helmed by Erwin Smith, is taken to Shiganshina, where they intend to restore the city to Paradis. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan, and most of the crew is killed — by The Beast Titan outside the Wall and by the Colossus and Armored Titans within.
Soldiers like Gordon, Dirk, Marlowe Freudenberg, Klaus, Ilse Langnar, Sandra, and Moblit Berner are killed, one after the other. Armin somehow manages to trick Bertolt Hoover into wasting all of his energy, nearly dying in the process himself. In the end, Erwin is left to die—as he had always intended—while Armin is transformed into a Pure Titan: his first and the only human meal is Bertholdt.
2 The Struggle For Trost Arc — 11 + Deaths; Around 9 Of Eren's Teammates Are Killed
After the 104th Training Corps batch officially graduates, they are sent to Trost District, where Eren and everyone else bears witness to the Colossal Titan's second attack in five years. After Wall Rose falls, the influx of Pure Titans results in several deaths—Thomas Wagner, Nac Tias, Mylius Zeramuski, Franz Kefka, Ruth D. Kline, Marco Bott, Hannah Diamant, Mina Carolina, and Tom perish at the hands—and mouths—of the invading Titans.
Two members of the Trost Garrison, Mitabi Jarnach and Ian Dietrich, are also killed while Eren attempts to block the hole in the wall. Interestingly, Eren technically would have met his doom in this arc: after saving Armin and getting himself eaten.
1 War For Paradis Arc — 17+ Deaths, With Eren's Being The Final One
The final arc of the series is the War for Paradis, in which a large number of characters, many of them beloved by fans, are killed. The Jaegerists assassinate Darius Zackly. Hange Zoë, Theo Magath, and Keith Shadis are martyred. Colt Grice is accidentally killed when his brother, Falco, is transformed into a Titan, and Yelena executes Griez.
Among the dead Jaegerists are Oliver, Phil, Samuel, and Floch Forster. Nile Dok, Dot Pyxis, and Varis become Titans when Zeke Jaeger roars within their earshot. Levi finishes off the latter in the penultimate chapter. The final character to die in Attack on Titan is Eren Jaeger after Mikasa kills him.