Attack on Titan is winding down to its conclusion, with only a handful of manga chapters left to be adapted for the anime, which will air its third (and probably final) part next year, ending the struggles of the Eldians against the monstrous Titans.
The story of Attack on Titan is one of the best stories out there, with each story arc standing on its own in its own way. But some story arcs have been better received by audience . Thanks to episode ratings on IMDb, the final, overall ranking for each of the 9 official story arcs can be calculated for all to see.
104th Training Corp Arc (8.35/10)
The arc featuring Eren and his friends training to the military was small but also helped lay the groundwork for certain revelations of what's to come. Though the arc itself is only two episodes long, it still introduces audiences to other characters central to the plot, such as Sasha, Conny, Annie, and Reiner.
There are also several moments that, once future details are revealed later on in the story, fans can look back on and see again in a new light. Sadly, while this and all the other Attack on Titan arcs aren't bad, there has to be an arc that's ranked lower than the others.
The Struggle For Trost Arc (8.75/10)
The first major battle arc of the series sees Eren and the other cadets battle against the Titans in the Trost district, leading to the reveal that some humans can transform into Titans.
Fans see the horror of the Titans through the eyes of the cadets as they realize just how awful the monsters are. The arc also gives the audience a flashback for Mikasa, one of the best female anime characters ever, and how she and Eren met. Ultimately, the arc serves to launch the show into the next phase, with fear towards Eren and his Titan abilities still reigning over most of the military and the realization that the Armored and Colossal Titans may also be humans in disguise.
The Fall Of Shiganshina Arc (8.8/10)
The story arc that kicked off the show and the Manga, this two-episode arc sees Eren, Mikasa, and Armin as they flee Shiganshina when the Titans breach the seemingly indestructible walls.
It is this arc that truly breaks Eren right from the start when he sees his mother devoured before his eyes by the Smiling Titan. This sight makes Eren swear to kill every last Titan in existence and more or less starts to transform him into one of the most unstable anime characters in existence. The horror on Eren's face in the aftermath of this tragedy is enough for everyone to feel for him, even when he lashes out against others due to this trauma.
Female Titan Arc (8.9/10)Att
Following the attack on Trost, Erwin leads the Scouts on a mission, which soon comes under attack by the Female Titan, leading to a deadly confrontation between her and the Scouts.
What makes this arc great is it serves to fully introduce some of the best characters in the series, like Erwin and Levi. Erwin's genius in launching the entire mission in order to find the traitor in the ranks proves how smart he is, and Levi's tenacity and brutality in the arc show why he's the greatest warrior in the Scouts. The ending of the arc as well, with the revelation that there are Titans within the walls, also starts to lay the groundwork for the Rumbling, though audiences don't know it yet.
Royal Government Arc (9.07/10)
Kicking off Season 3 of the anime, this arc sees Erwin and the Scout Regiment essentially fighting against the government to put undo the corruption within it.
These episodes show the lengths to which Erwin, Eren, and the Scouts are willing to go in order to enact their own agenda and take back Shiganshina, an operation that the current regime is refusing to allow, going so far as to arrest Erwin and sentence him to death. What makes this arc stand out is that the Titans aren't the ones getting killed here: nearly every death in this arc is from humans fighting each other as the Scouts take on Kenny the Ripper and the other forces of Lord Reiss.
Clash Of The Titans Arc (9.12/10)
All of Season 2 focused on this arc, which is the first major battle between Eren and the Armored and Colossal Titans, who are revealed to be Reiner and Berthholdt.
The fight between the Attack Titan and Armored Titan is among the best fights in the series and shows just how much Reiner and Bertholdt's betrayals hurt Eren and all of their friends. The arc also introduces the Beast Titan, revealing that some of the human Titans can speak while showcasing his signature move of throwing crushed boulders at his prey - a move that he would go on to use with great effectiveness in the Return to Shiganshina arc.
War For Paradis Arc (9.25/10)
Attack on Titan's final arc is the biggest one yet, with the final episodes of this epic finale yet to come out as Eren initiates the Rumbling with the intent of wiping out all life beyond Paradis, leading to a ragtag band of warriors to unite to stop him.
Eren's turn from protagonist to antagonist was a long time coming, but it still hurts to see him betray his friends like this and go out to destroy all of humanity. Still, no one can deny that the visuals as the Rumbling begins are incredible to see, and the moral decisions that the characters must make on whether they stop their former friend or let him complete his genocidal task are tough to watch as well. Fans can only hope that the remaining episodes in this arc are as good as what they've seen thus far.
Marley Arc (9.35/10)
Taking place years after the previous arc, this arc showed the rival nation of Marley preparing to launch another attempt to reclaim the power of the Founding Titan.
The arc served to show the Marley perspective of things, allowing audiences to fully understand their fears and why they attacked the island of Paradis. It also features one of the most heartbreaking deaths of the series with the death of Sasha. The arc also let the audience see just how far Eren had fallen even before his ultimate betrayal and turn to evil in the following arc. The epic battle between the Attack Titan and the War Hammer Titan is also a great highlight for the arc.
Return To Shiganshina Arc (9.67/10)
It's no surprise that this arc is the top-ranked on IMDb, as the arc shows the Scout Regiment returning to Shiganshina to retake it and finally uncover the truth about the Titans.
Nearly the entire arc is filled with battle as the Scouts take on the Armored, Colossal, and Beast Titans. The highlight is, of course, Erwin's suicide charge against the Beast Titan, a moment highlighted by fans as one of the best in the series. The truth behind the Titans is finally revealed at the end of the arc, leading to surprise twists as the characters realize just what is going on in the world. There's no doubt that this arc deserves its top-ranked spot.