Attack On Titan is coming to an end soon with only a few chapters remaining in the manga and Season 4 airing in December. Throughout its run, fans have seen the lives and deaths of some great characters. One of the best characters in the series is Reiner Braun.
Reiner was introduced early on in the series and was revealed to be the Armored Titan in one of the greatest plot twists of all time. He became one of the most interesting characters as he has been both a friend and a foe to most of the others in the series. Despite being one of the main characters, there are a lot of things some fans may not know about the Armored Titan.
10 He Wasn't Supposed To Go To Paradis
In order to get the Founding Titan, Marley sent four kids on a mission to go to Paradis and find its user. Each of these kids had their own titan: Bertholdt was the Colossal Titan, Annie was the Female Titan, and Marcel was the Jaws Titan.
Marcel's brother, Porco, was supposed to be the Armored Titan and go to Paradis with them but Marcel convinced Marley to give the Armored Titan's powers to Reiner instead in order to save his brother. Upon learning this, Reiner did all that he could to prove that he was worthy of serving Marley and being a warrior.
9 There Were Signs Of Him Being The Armored Titan From The Beginning
Fans never saw the unexpected plot twist of Reiner and Bertholdt being the Armored and Colossal Titans until after the reveal. However, looking back on it, there were hints from the very beginning. When Eren, Armin, and Mikasa begin their training, Eren tells everyone that he saw the titans. When mentioning the Armored Titan, Reiner is seen paying attention to Eren's conversation.
After they formally meet, Reiner, Eren, Bertholdt, and Armin discuss why they want to be soldiers. Reiner says that he has to go back home no matter what. Though fans wouldn't have known the true meaning of his words at the time, reading and watching this scene again feels very different compared to the first time they experienced it.
8 He Became A Warrior For His Family
Due to the abuse that Eldians face in Marley, Reiner's family desperately wanted him to become a warrior so that they could be honorary Marleyans.
He never knew his father when he was a child due to him being a Marleyan while his mother was an Eldian and so he wanted them to be able to be together. However, when finally meeting his father, he learns that he doesn't want anything to do with him and is terrified of returning to his past. Despite his father's treatment, he still wanted to help his mother and everyone else in his family.
7 He Really Did Care For The Soldiers
Despite being responsible for the death of many soldiers, Reiner did learn to care about his comrades. When he was their enemy, he was led to believe that they were devils and held them responsible for the abuse Eldians went through in Marley. Upon learning that they really were human, he became a role model to them until he revealed who he really was.
Those that are up to date with the manga know that he has talked to his friends from the Survey Corps since and they understand each other more, teaming up once again to take on a greater threat.
6 Eren Looked Up To Him
Though it wasn't explored much in the manga nor anime, Hajime Isayama, the creator of Attack On Titan, did reveal that Reiner was the person that Eren looked up to the most.
He was Eren's greatest hero and he aspired to be just like him until finding out that he was responsible for the death of his mother. Eren has since come to terms with the world and realizes that he actually is a lot like Reiner, despite them being on opposite sides of a war. Fans can consider that Eren has become the monster he once made Reiner out to be.
5 He May Have Had Family In Paradis
Without knowing it, Reiner may have actually been responsible for the death of his own family members. At the very beginning of the series, when Eren and Mikasa are returning home, they see that the Survey Corps are coming back from outside the walls.
One soldier, Moses Braun, did not make it back. Fans find it very interesting that he shares the same last name as Reiner, and as King Fritz brought his followers to Paradis from Marley, it wouldn't be surprising if some of the Brauns had gone with him. Even Reiner probably doesn't know about this one.
4 He Might Have Been The First Person To Know That Eren And Zeke Are Brothers
As Zeke is another Marleyan warrior and has known Reiner for years, it would make sense that Reiner would know about Zeke's past. If Reiner knew that Zeke's last name is Reiner and that his father's name was Grisha, pity may not have been the only thing that he and Bertholdt felt when Eren told them his story.
However, due to Reiner's split mentality, he may not have put the pieces together as he was the warrior he truly is around Zeke but pretended to be a soldier when he met Eren.
3 He Is The Author's Favorite Character
Though Jean used to be Hajime Isayama's favorite, Reiner has taken his place. His home, Marco, and now this, there are a lot of things that Reiner has taken from the MP wannabe.
But as Reiner has become one of the most important characters of the franchise and has arguably suffered the most out of anyone, it is understandable why the creator would feel a stronger connection with him than most of the others. Perhaps this will mean that Reiner will be one of the few characters to live at the end of the story.
2 Annie, Pieck, And Reiner Are The Only Three Characters That Have Remained As Their Titan
As people only have thirteen years to live upon becoming a titan shifter, fans have seen a lot of characters share one titan's powers. The Founding Titan was used by the Reiss family until Grisha stole it and gave it, along with the Attack Titan, to Eren.
Eren also gained the power of the War Hammer Titan by Willy Tybur's unnamed sister. Zeke inherited the Beast Titan from Tom. Ymir ate Marcel and gained the Jaws Titan, which has since been given back to Marley. Similarly, Armin ate Bertholdt and became the Colossal Titan. Only Reiner, Annie, and Pieck are the only known users of their titans besides Ymir Fritz, who controlled all nine titans. Seeing as these three are all still alive as of Chapter 132, perhaps this means something.
1 He Lives For The Children In His Life
As stated previously, Reiner is one of the characters that has suffered the most throughout the series. Trauma, depression, and his split personality resulted in him attempting to take his life.
However, he found a purpose to live for: his cousin, Gabi, and her friends who look up to him. He has become a role model for them just as he once was for Eren, and will do anything for their safety and happiness. Reiner truly is one of the best characters in the series.