Attack on Titannever promised safety. From the very beginning, it made it clear that survival wasn’t guaranteed, no matter how skilled, brave, or kind a person was. This wasn’t just a world at war, it was a world crumbling under the weight of secrets, monsters, and impossible choices. While the main characters had room to grow, to break down, to make peace with who they were, many others never got that chance. Their lives ended before anyone really knew who they were or what they could have become.
Attack On Titan: Why It Is One Of The Best Anime Of All Time
Attack on Titan challenges everything you expect from storytelling, and this is why it is one of the greatest series of all time.
Yes, these characters died, but the loss of potential is what aches more for followers like us. The soldiers and civilians who died with stories left untold. Some only got a few lines. Others didn’t even get a name. But for those brief moments, they made you wonder what they could’ve meant to the world if they were given more time.
10Mina Carolina
No Final Words, No Second Chances
Mina was a cadet from the 104th Training Corps. She trained alongsideEren, Mikasa, and Armin, and was part of the team sent to Trost to reclaim the city. She’s not a standout personality in the early episodes, but you remember her because of how sudden her death is. She doesn’t die in a blaze of glory or with some final words of courage. A titan grabs her and bites down. That’s it.
What hurts the most is how ordinary her death is. She didn’t get to prove herself, didn’t get a defining moment. She was just gone. In a series full of tragic heroes, her end shows just how quickly hope can be crushed. You realize no one is safe, not even the kids you barely got to meet.
9Ilse Langnar
A Journal That Survived More Than She Did
Ilse appeared only once, in one of the anime’s most heartbreaking side stories. She was a member of the Survey Corps who ended up stranded beyond the walls. Her body is found later, alongside a journal that records her final moments. In it, she describes meeting a titan that showed signs of reverence. She writes everything she can before it’s too late.
Her death is horrifying, but her journal becomes a turning point. It provides valuable insight into titan behavior and inspiresHange Zoeto pursue new research. Ilse died in fear, alone and forgotten, but her words sparked change. It’s one of the saddest ironies in the series. She was more valuable dead than alive, and her courage only mattered after she was gone.
A Sharp Mind Extinguished in a Flash
Nifa was a member of the Survey Corps under Levi’s command during the Uprising Arc. She seemed competent and loyal, often seen working beside her team without drawing attention to herself. She even shares a few lines with the other Scouts, hinting at a sharp mind and a steady hand.
But just as she starts to feel familiar,Kenny’ssquad strikes. Nifa dies almost instantly, shot in the head before she can react. There’s no dramatic buildup. No chance to fight back. It’s a jarring reminder that even in human hands, this world remains ruthless. Her death doesn’t linger on screen for long, but it leaves you with a hollow feeling. She was part of the fight, part of the movement, but her story ends without a whisper.
7Franz and Hannah
Love that Died with Them
Most people remember them from one brutal scene in the Battle of Trost. They were a young couple, and their connection was used to illustrate the stakes when titans broke through the wall. Franz dies early on, but Hannah doesn’t accept it. She tries to resuscitate his already mangled body, crying and begging him to come back.
Attack On Titan: 9 Strongest Titans In The Series
From the Colossal Titan’s explosive strength to the Attack Titan’s resilience, these Titans have powers that should be ranked in the series.
This moment didn’t need backstory. It hurt because it was familiar. Two kids in love, caught in something much bigger than themselves. They didn’t die heroes. They died scared and desperate, trying to hold onto a life that wasn’t coming back. Their scene is often used to highlight the emotional toll of war, and even though they were never fleshed out, their pain was real enough to leave a mark.
6Petra Ral
From Trusted Elite to Torn Tragedy
Petra had more screen time than many on this list. She was part of Levi’s elite squad and showed incredible promise as both a fighter and a loyal teammate. She admiredLevi, cared deeply for her team, and brought some lightness to their otherwise grim missions.
Her death during the Female Titan arc is one of the most devastating moments of the first season. Not just because of how she dies, but because of how suddenly it happens. One second she’s riding through the forest, the next she’s being slammed into a tree. The aftermath, where her father talks about her future and how proud he is, drives the knife in even deeper.
The Soldier Who Cried for Her Father
Nanaba was a veteran of the Survey Corps, and you could tell she was someone who had seen too much. Her calm demeanor and tactical mindset made her stand out in the background of larger fights. She wasn’t flashy, but she was reliable. In another world, she might’ve become a squad leader.
10 Most Brutal Deaths In Attack On Titan
From Sasha’s shocking loss to the cruel murder of Grisha’s sister, these 10 brutal deaths will keep you reeling & are guaranteed to break your heart.
Her death during the castle siege in Season 2 is painful to watch. As the titans break through, she fights to the end, holding the line for as long as she can. When she finally breaks, she starts crying and calling out for her father. It’s not noble or clean. It’s raw and horrifying. You see a seasoned soldier revert to the frightened child she used to be. It’s one of the most vulnerable deaths in the show, and it’s made worse by how little we knew about her before she was torn apart.
4Gunther Schultz
Skilled, Silent, Gone in Seconds
Gunther was another member of Levi’s squad, and like Petra, he didn’t have much time to develop fully as a character. But he showed competence, experience, and trust in his team. He worked in sync with them during the Female Titan operation and was clearly respected by them.
His death was quick and brutal. While preparing for the next phase of their mission, he’s ambushed and killed before he even knows what’s happening. The suddenness of it strips away the illusion of control. These were supposed to be humanity’s best, but they fell like anyone else.
3Furlan Church
Gone Before His Wisdom Could Shine
Furlan was introduced in the “No Regrets” OVA as part of Levi’s backstory. Alongside Isabel, he worked with Levi as an underground mercenary before the Survey Corps recruited them. Furlan was smart, cautious, and served as the voice of reason. He clearly cared for Levi and Isabel, even when things spiraled.
Attack On Titan: 15 Best Fight Scenes, Ranked
Attack on Titan gave us several amazing fight scenes, but these are surely some of the best ones in the series.
His death happens during their first mission outside the walls. When titans attack, he tries to hold his ground but is killed without much resistance. His end, along with Isabel’s, is what pushes Levi to become the man we see in the main series.
2Isabel Magnolia
Optimism Lost to Titans and Silence
Isabel, like Furlan, appeared in theNo RegretsOVA as part of Levi’s life before the Survey Corps. She was energetic, wide-eyed, and fiercely loyal to both Levi and Furlan. Her optimism shone through the filth and cruelty of the underground world. She believed in Levi, admired him, and followed him without hesitation.
When the three of them were recruited by Erwin for their first mission beyond the walls, Isabel fought with everything she had. But her death came fast, caught and devoured by a titan while trying to complete their objective. The shock on Levi’s face said everything. She was someone who trusted him with her life. Her story was brief, but the brightness she brought made her loss even more poignant.
A Life Crushed Between Fear and War
Daz is one of those characters who never took the spotlight but lingered around the edges just long enough to feel real. He first appeared during the 104th Training Corps and later resurfaced as part of the group involved in evacuations and defense missions. He was never portrayed as brave. He was scared, often panicking when things got intense. But that fear made him relatable.
What made his final moments sting was the conflict he felt. Caught between loyalties and fear, Daz ended up aiding Floch’s faction in the final season. When faced with Connie and Armin, his desperation is palpable. He died terrified and confused, another casualty of a collapsing world. You couldn’t even be angry at him. Only heartbroken.
Attack On Titan
Humans have gathered into walled-off cities to attempt to stay safe from gigantic humanoids called Titans that roam the world.
