Was Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan Destined to Be Villain

Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan is one of the trickiest anime characters to understand. Once a young boy who dreamt of freedom ended up becoming the terrifying force behind the Rumbling. Once you deeply understand his character, you get perplexed whether it was all a play of destiny or it was all done by his own free will.

The dark realities of the Attack on Titan world put him into a situation where he had to make impossible choices. Understanding his character requires looking at the moments that defined him and the decisions that led to his transformation into the ultimate villain in the story.

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Eren's Early Dark Past Changing His Mindset

Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan with his friends

When we first met Eren, he was just a kid who dreamed of escaping the walls and seeing the outside world. His hatred for the Titans felt natural, especially after witnessing his mother’s brutal death. From the very beginning, he was driven by revenge and a deep desire for freedom. But unlike other shonen protagonists who dreamed big, Eren’s goal was fueled by pure rage.

Even in the early seasons, we saw signs that Eren was different. He wasn’t just fighting for survival, he was fighting to destroy his enemies completely. He believed that true freedom could only be achieved through absolute power. This mindset, though understandable, was already leaning toward something much darker.

The Truth About The Titans and Eren's Breaking Point

Eren's journey took a major turn when he learned the truth about the Titans and the world beyond the walls. Finding out that the people inside Paradis were not the only humans left and that they were being treated as devils by Marley shattered everything he believed in. Instead of a world full of hope and freedom, he saw a world full of hatred, war, and endless suffering.

This was Eren’s breaking point. While others like Armin and Mikasa still believed in diplomacy and peace, Eren chose another path. He saw the future through his Attack Titan abilities and realized that no matter what, his people would always be in danger. This was where Eren Yeager truly started becoming the villain in Attack on Titan.

Eren’s Transformation: The Path To The Rumbling

By the final season, Eren had changed completely. He wasn’t the emotional and reckless kid anymore. He had become cold, calculating, and willing to do whatever it took to secure his people's future. The Eren we saw leading the Yeagerists and launching the Rumbling was almost unrecognizable from the boy who once wanted to explore the world.

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But was this truly his choice? Or was he trapped by fate? The Attack Titan’s ability to see memories from past and future holders meant that Eren had already seen what was coming. He even manipulated events from the past, like influencing his father, Grisha, to kill the Reiss family. This raised a terrifying question: was Eren Yeager always meant to become the villain in Attack on Titan? Was he just following a path that was already decided?

Was Eren Yeager Really A Villain Or Just A Tragic Hero In Attack on Titan?

Calling Eren a villain isn't simple. Yes, he wiped out 80% of humanity. Yes, he became the very thing he once fought against. But his actions were never about power or selfishness. He genuinely believed that by destroying the outside world, he was protecting his people. Unlike characters like Light Yagami from Death Note, who wanted to become a god, Eren was acting out of desperation and love for his friends.

In the end, his plan backfired. His death at the hands of Mikasa ensured that the Titans disappeared forever, but the world was still at war. Did he succeed, or did he just bring more pain? That’s what made his story so tragic.

Final Verdict: Fate Or Free Will?

So, was Eren always destined to be the villain? The answer was both yes and no. His strong personality and desire for freedom made it likely that he would take extreme actions. But it was the cruel world of Attack on Titan that pushed Eren Yeager over the edge. If he had been born in a peaceful world, he might have been a hero. But in a world full of endless war and hatred, he became a monster to end the cycle.

In the end, Eren wasn’t a villain in the traditional sense. He was a man trapped by fate, carrying the weight of an impossible decision. Whether you saw him as a hero, an anti-hero, or a villain, one thing was certain, his story would be remembered as one of the greatest in anime history.