Attack on Titan: Was Kruger manipulated by Eren? Explained

What makes Attack on Titan a masterpiece in terms of storytelling or as art is not just its action sequences or how it introduces morally grey characters. It is special because of how it conceals secrets and delivers mind-bending plot twists. A famous moment includes when Eren Kruger asks Grisha to save a person, not alive at the time.

This shook the fanbase because the characters Kruger mentioned were Armin and Mikasa. Fandom, therefore, started connecting the dots because it should have been impossible to know about characters who were not yet born. A later revelation in the manga presented a terrifying answer regarding this scene. It was Eren Yeager who might have manipulated Kruger all along.

To understand how Eren could have influenced Kruger, we need to unpack one of Attack on Titan's most important plot devices: the Attack Titan’s ability to access the memories of future inheritors. While we know that most Titans can inherit memories of the previous character who had the power, Attack Titan was different.

This unique ability was crucial to the story because it connotes that the past can be seen by the future, and vice versa; Meaning that Eren could send his memories to anyone who held the Attack Titan before him.

“If you want to save Mikasa, Armin and everyone else, you must complete your mission.”

In hindsight, we saw Grisha being confused by these words, but so were the fans. After the revelation, it all made sense, but also, these words spoken by Kruger did not seem natural in the first place.

He had inherited the Attack Titan from an unknown predecessor, and now, with Eren positioned in the future as its final inheritor, Eren’s will was echoing backward through the memory stream. It’s not that Kruger understood what “Mikasa and Armin” meant; he was simply compelled to say their names.

Although just because he took the names of people who did not exist yet does not mean that he was completely manipulated. We get hints that Kruger had some awareness, albeit limited. He seemed distressed, reflective, and even remorseful.

This suggests that Kruger was not fully in control in Attack on Titan. While he had his own motives and beliefs, the version of Eren from the future, one that had already embraced the plan of global genocide via the Rumbling, was likely nudging Kruger in key moments, ensuring that Grisha would carry out the steps needed to give birth to Eren himself.

Themes of fate, free will, and tragedy in Attack on Titan

The idea that Eren Yeager manipulated Kruger complicates our understanding of free will in the Attack on Titan universe. Kruger thinks he’s choosing to pass on the Titan. Grisha thinks he’s reluctantly doing what must be done. But all along, Eren has already lived through their experiences and is shaping their decisions.

This adds a deep sense of tragedy to every character who holds the Attack Titan. He manipulates others, shapes history, and removes their choices, all while insisting it’s the only path forward.

Final Thoughts

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In Attack on Titan, Eren Kruger probably felt the influence of Eren Yeager. He possessed a determined will, but a child's desire eventually swayed him. This kid wanted to rescue his friends, even before they came into the world. While Kruger’s mysterious plea to save Mikasa and Armin initially felt like a prophecy, it was revealed later that Eren Yeager had everything planned out.

Isayama used the time loop paradox and used this concept as a weapon. This made fans question the meaning of free will, and Eren, who was both the victim and villain, became the puppet master of time.

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