Firearms

Because firearms are unsuitable for dispatching Titans, they have not progressed very far technologically and are almost always overshadowed by the Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear. However, they are still regularly used by the Military Police and other human-to-human security relations. The Survey Corps also uses flareguns to communicate over long distances.

The type of firearm used is based on the flintlock mechanism, where a piece of flint ignites the powder and fires the gun, which must be reloaded after every shot. Currently, rifles (or muskets) and pistols are the only firearms seen in the story.

Although the firearms within the walls are low-tech, they do have some modern applications. During the battle of Trost, one of the most notable features of the firearm is the lack of smoke it produces. Indicating that it uses modern gunpowder, which creates a large flash, compared to black-gunpowder which produces a massive cloud of smoke when fired.

Firearms are unable to kill Titans because they lack the power to punch through the nape of the neck (a Titan's weakness) unlike a modern fire arm which has the ability to punch through a block of solid concrete. Also, given a Titan's fast regeneration rate and the long amount of time it takes to reload a flintlock weapon (15-30 seconds), they are practically useless in dealing enough lasting damage to severely harm a Titan. However, they can shoot out a Titan's eyes and blind it until it regenerates them.

There is a new type of firearm that is used by the Anti-Human Suppression Squad's Three Dimensional Maneuvering Gear. This firearm has the appearance of a standard pistol that fires a single bullet that is powerful enough to blow off a person's face entirely. The bullets are reloaded by throwing away the barrels and replacing with new ones. Despite the power of these firearms, the bullets can be deflected with the hard steel of the standard 3DMG's sword.

Battle of Trost District arc
Armin Arlert conducted a plan to use firearms to blind the Titans inhabiting the supply depot, as the rest of the soldiers would then aim for the nape of their necks, killing them and securing the area.

The Female Titan arc
The soldiers within the Military Police often carry firearms patrolling the Stohess District. After Nile Dok accuses Erwin Smith of treason, he threatens to shoot him.

Trivia
It was revealed after the Survey Corps tortured Djel Sanes for information, that the Central Branch of the Military Police is stopping advancements in technology to maintain order with in the walls, two of the advancements were a four shoot revolver and bullet cartridges.

Armas de fuego Divers Objets dans SNK