Attack on Titanis one of the most gripping and well-crafted anime series ever created, filled with intense battles, shocking twists, and deep philosophical themes. However, even the best-written stories have their inconsistencies.
While Attack on Titan does an impressive job of explaining its complex world, some elements stretch believability or leave more questions than answers. From physical impossibilities to logical gaps in the story’s core mechanics, these inconsistencies have left fans scratching their heads. Here are some of the biggest things that don’t quite make sense in Attack on Titan.
7Being Able to Physically Use the 3D Gear
Spider-Man’s Webs Make More Sense
The 3D Maneuver Gear is one of themost iconic elementsof Attack on Titan, allowing soldiers to move at high speeds by launching grappling hooks and using gas-powered propulsion. However, realistically, the sheer force and strain required to operate it would make it nearly impossible for an average human to use it effectively.
The level of upper-body strength, coordination, and reaction time needed to control the gear while flying at breakneck speeds would be beyond most trained athletes, let alone inexperienced recruits. While some characters like Levi are acknowledged as exceptional, the fact that nearly every Scout can use the gear proficiently after a short training period is questionable. The weight of the equipment alone should cause severe mobility issues, yet characters maneuver effortlessly through the air with seemingly unlimited stamina.
6Reiner Killing Thousands To Enter The City When Grisha Just Walked In
There Are More Subtle Approaches
One of the most frustrating inconsistencies in the series is how Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt had to kill countless innocent civilians and destroy the walls just to infiltrate humanity’s stronghold, while Grisha Yeager managed to walk right in with little effort. Both parties had the same goal: getting inside the walls to fulfill their mission for Marley.
Yet, while Grisha was able to assume the identity of a doctor and blend in unnoticed, Reiner and his group were forced to stage a massive attack, resulting in thousands of deaths. Considering Marley’s ability to forge identities and gather intelligence, it makes no sense why a more covert approach wasn’t considered for the Warrior candidates. The contradiction is never addressed, making it seem like the series prioritized spectacle over logical strategy.
5Reiner Moving His Consciousness Around
His Plot Armor Shines Throughout
One of Reiner’s most bizarre abilities in thelatter half of the seriesis his claim that he can move his consciousness throughout his body to avoid fatal attacks. This is first mentioned when he survives a headshot from a Thunder Spear, something that should have instantly killed him.
While Attack on Titan is known for its shocking twists and supernatural elements, this explanation feels like a convenient excuse to keep Reiner alive rather than a well-established Titan ability. No other Titan Shifter demonstrates a similar ability, making it unclear whether this is a unique trait or simply plot armor. Given how much emphasis is placed on headshots being lethal to Titans, the fact that Reiner can somehow defy this rule without prior setup makes this one of the series' most questionable moments.
4Armin Surviving Being Burned Alive
He Also Plummeted Several Feet To The Ground
During the battle against the Colossal Titan, Armin suffers severe burns across his entire body and is left in a near-death state. However, despite being charred beyond recognition, he somehow manages to survive long enough to be injected with Titan serum and inherits Bertolt’s Colossal Titan.
The series has previously shown how even minor injuries can be fatal in certain situations, yet Armin’s miraculous survival defies the logic set by previous deaths. His lungs should have been scorched beyond repair, and his body was visibly unrecognizable, yet his vital functions remain intact just long enough for him to receive the injection. While it was an emotional and pivotal moment, it’s hard to ignore how inconsistent this scene is compared to similar life-threatening injuries in the series.
3Eren Not Being Consistent in His Inner Monologues
It’s Like He’s Lying To The Audience
Throughout the series, Eren’s internal thoughts and motivations shift dramatically, often contradicting his previous beliefs. Early on, he is portrayed as a hot-headed, vengeful protagonist who is driven by his desire to exterminate all Titans. However, in later arcs, he takes on a much more calculated and nihilistic perspective, seemingly knowing far more than what his past actions suggest.
His transformation into a cold, ruthless figure makes sense given the time-skip, but his inner monologues in earlier seasons don’t align with what he later claims to have known. If Eren had access to future memories all along, why didn’t he behave accordingly from the start? The inconsistencies in his thoughts make it difficult to determine how much of his journey was planned versus retconned.
2Eren Needing Royal Blood When Ymir Already Chose Him
Aren’t All Eldians Of Royal Blood By This Point?
A major plot point in Attack on Titan is that Eren cannot fully control the Founding Titan’s powers without a Royal Bloodline connection. This leads to his reliance on Zeke, his half-brother, to access the full potential of his abilities.
However, by the time Eren reaches the Paths,Ymir chooses to follow him, seemingly granting him unrestricted use of the Founding Titan’s power. If Ymir was already willing to obey Eren’s command, then why did he still need Zeke? The series implies that the Royal Blood requirement is absolute, yet this moment directly contradicts that logic. It’s unclear whether this was an oversight or an intentional mystery, but it remains one of the more confusing aspects of the series’ final arc.
1The Rumbling Not Thinning Out After The Titans Spread
Maybe The World Is Tiny?
The Rumbling is portrayed as an unstoppable wave of destruction, with hundreds of thousands of Colossal Titans marching across the world. However, as the Titans spread out across vast continents, the density of destruction should naturally decrease.
If the Titans are walking in all directions, then gaps should begin forming between them over time, allowing for potential evacuation zones. Yet, the series presents the Rumbling as a continuous wall of annihilation, never addressing the logistical issues of maintaining such a formation over large distances. While the idea of an apocalyptic march is terrifying, the logistics of how it remains intact without thinning out remain a mystery.
