All good things come to an end, and Attack On Titan is hitting its closing stretch in the manga, with the anime not being all that far behind. As we get closer and closer to the end, naturally, fan theories are flying everywhere on how it's all going to close. Some of these theories make a lot of sense, and others sound far more like fan fiction than anything else.
What's most interesting is that many of the theories from two or three years ago still hold true today, even with the big reveals regarding Eren and the world at large. That shows what a tightly woven story this is, that there has never been a jump the shark moment. You can feel like Hajime Isayama knew this was where we were heading from the very start. So without further delay, here are eight fan theories about the end of Attack on Titan that are too perfect to pass on.
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8 It's Ragnarok
Over the course of the anime and manga, repeated references to Norse mythology could be found and mined for meaning. The most notable one would be Ymir, who in Norse lore is the father of all Frost Giants - basically he's their Odin in a way. His body was even used to help create the earth, ocean and the heavens themselves and was the seed of the world at large. Ymir from the anime and manga, meanwhile, follows many parallels to this.
That's all Redditors needed to come up with this theory. It's an interesting notion, especially the part about Annie being Fenrir and her connection to the coming Ragnarok. While it's doubtful that it will be a straightforward recreation of Norse mythology, it wouldn't be shocking if Attack on Titan ended on a very somber note, one where the world at large is wiped out and went the way of Asgard.
7 Armin Is The Narrator
This one was first pitched a very long time ago, as in all the way back in 2016. Even now, it's one that could still be possible. Basically, someone is going to end up being the story's overall narrator, so why not let it be someone from the main cast? This theory reminds us of how the narrator in 300 was one of the Spartan soldiers.
The biggest hint to this being possible is that the anime's narrator and Armin share the same voice actor. How would this play into an ending? Now that's the question. So far, all it hints at is that Eren isn't successful in destroying the world and Armin gets to live long enough to recount the long battle for humanity's future beyond the walls.
6 Nine Titan Shifters, One Titan God
This is another theory that's been floating around for a few years and one that has a possibility of happening considering how Eren is currently acting. Essentially, it's theorized that one of the nine Titan Shifters would eat the other eight to essentially fuse them into one, god-like Titan. Eren, who currently holds the Founding Titan, is off his rocker enough to still try this.
What's interesting is it this could play out two ways: One being that Eren, being so consumed with destroying the world, dangerously needs more and more power. The other would be Eren purposely becoming the villain, consuming the other Titans and willingly letting himself be sealed, thus ending them as a threat forever. Either one would be pretty interesting.
5 Time Travel Will Be Involved
This one's a theory that's been floating around for awhile now, with many wondering if the two Erens were actually the same person from the very beginning. Given the current state of things, it's unlikely but there have been plenty of strange hints to it.
Previously, characters gained memories that they shouldn't technically have, like Kruger knowing about Armin and Mikasa long before they even existed or how Yaegar saw Mikasa with long hair in his dream. How this would play into the ending is currently unclear and confusing. Still, it's intriguing, nonetheless. If time travel movies are anything to go on, the overall solution wouldn't be satisfying. It's too mucky a storytelling device and we hope that isn't a route taken.
4 The Story Takes Place In A Time Loop
This and the time travel theory go hand in hand for many of the same reasons already stated above, but there are other examples. One such example is Krueger referencing how every race and nation involved keeps making the same mistakes, hinting at them having done this before.
If it's a time loop, it's possible that Yeager may know that it is, and that's why he's going as crazy as he is. Maybe the only way to destroy the loop is to destroy the world? Or perhaps he succeeds, and that's what starts the loop over again? It's a theory that could be a cool twist, but one that needs to be handled delicately.
3 Mikasa Will Be The Sole Survivor
This isn't an out-there theory like many of the others, especially when you consider Mikasa's character. Eren and Armin have always been driven to protect humanity, or at least, Eren was until recently. They have always seemed on a collision course of self-sacrifice, and with how things are shaping up, that sacrifice could be the two of them fighting one another.
Mikasa, meanwhile, has always been more focused on Eren, keeping him safe being her main concern. With how dark this series is, it would be fittingly tragic that the one character who was afraid of being alone was forced to be. Not only that, but she could also, in turn, be forced to see both her good friends die in front of her.
2 Nostradamus Was Right About 1999
Flare over at Aminoapps came up with this theory, and it's the most convoluted thing you'll ever read. In fact, it's one that has the least likelihood of happening on this list!
The theory states that this all ties into the Nostradamus theory that the world would end in 1999. It can be summed as follows: "The Attack on Titan world will not end in 1999, but in 999 as "1" represents some sort of "peak", possibly in the Titan power." At that point, either the world as a whole will end completely or it will reset, playing into other theories already on this list. Most people are in the camp of this story not having a typical happy ending.
1 Eren Breaks The Cycle
More than a few of these theories end with Eren being a martyr in the same way Dr. Manhattan was in Watchmen; with him being a necessary evil to unite the world against. In this theory, Eren is freeing Ymir from the coordinate to end the constant cycle of Titans in the world. She may even be privy to this plan, explaining why she'd even help him to begin with.
She's been waiting 2,000 years for this moment, the moment that it would all end. It's a plausible ending to take as it seems pretty much a guarantee that Eren is dying in this; it's what happens after that's the true mystery here.