Mikasa Ackerman

"This is a cruel world. And yet...so beautiful...."

- Mikasa's personal outlook on the world

Mikasa Ackerman (ミカサ・アッカーマン) is the adoptive sister of Eren Yeager and one of the two deuteragonists of the series, along with Armin Arlert.

After her biological parents were murdered by human traffickers, Mikasa was rescued by Eren Yeager and lived with him and his parents, Grisha and Carla, before the fall of Wall Maria. She is the last descendant of the Shogun clan that stayed on Paradis Island, thereby related to the Azumabito family, and holds significant political power in Hizuru.

Though she desires only to live a peaceful life, Mikasa entered into the military—where she is considered the best soldier among the 104th Training Corps. She later enlists in the Survey Corps to follow and protect Eren, becoming one of its greatest assets. She is currently serving as an officer (上官) in the Corps.

Appearance
Mikasa is a fairly tall, physically fit, and well-toned woman with muscles lined throughout her arms, legs, and abs. She is of partial Asian heritage, with pale skin, gray eyes, and shaggy black hair that was long until she cut it to chin-length. By the year 854, her hair is shorter and cut up to back of her neck, but with noticeably longer bangs. There is a small scar below her right eye delivered by Eren's Titan during the Battle of Trost District. Jean considers Mikasa to be beautiful.

Mikasa often wears the original Survey Corps uniform whose equipment is horizontally at her hips, with a white blouse underneath and a black scarf which she almost always has. She also wears a green cape with the wings of freedom on the back during some missions.

When off duty, Mikasa's casual attire consists of a simple knee-length white dress, a light cardigan, brown boots, and her signature black scarf.

While in Marley, Mikasa wears a black Survey Corps uniform which features a breastplate with the Survey Corps symbol, many belts to accommodate all the different gear, support rods around her chest for the gas canister, and tall black boots. It also has guns, thunder spears, an additional gas tank, and canisters running vertically down her legs.

Personality
Before joining the Yeager family, Mikasa appeared to be a cheerful, outgoing, and gentle child. Her innocence allowed her to push anxious thoughts to the back of her mind, continuing to live with her parents and loved ones happy. Growing up, Mikasa has become emotionally withdrawn and noticeably dangerous, sometimes intimidating her enemies or even her comrades. She is quite stoic and level-headed, rarely seen to lose her cool or be at a loss of what to do, no matter how bleak the situation seems to be. Her will is remarkably strong, managing to remain so outwardly calm when Eren was presumed dead; only Armin could tell that she was battling with the pain of losing him.

Mikasa cares deeply for her friends and caretakers, seeing them as the last remnants of a family she cannot afford to lose. She also appears to have a soft spot for children, when she bowed to a young girl she saved and instantly saved a Marleyan soldier despite the latter having earlier killed one of her comrades. Mikasa is not completely immune to the effects of her emotions: Her strong feelings for her beloved ones, particularly when they are in harm's way, does at times cloud her judgment in fury - sometimes to the endangerment of herself and others. A notable example was when Mikasa briefly gave in to her grief over Eren's apparent demise and lost the will to live, forgetting her responsibility for the lives of the soldiers she took upon herself to lead in the process. However, she was reawakened by her memories of Eren and a made decision to never give up again, as her memories would die with her.

From an early age, Mikasa was unusually perceptive, aware of the harshness of nature by witnessing the manner in which predators hunt and kill weaker prey. Her peace was shattered when a band of criminals brutally murdered her parents before her eyes in a failed kidnapping attempt, only saving herself and her rescuer when she managed to abandon all inhibition and hesitation to kill one of her assailants. Following this traumatic event, Mikasa would gain a generally cynical outlook on life and accept the world as a cruel place where only those who are strong are able to survive. Her determination to protect her beloved ones as much as possible has contributed greatly to her phenomenal skills as a soldier. Though being among the best of the best, she remains humble and refrains from putting on airs or displaying arrogance.

Mikasa has a strong sense of right and wrong, doing everything she can to make her most impulsive friends follow what she thinks is the right track. Despite that, she knows well that she cannot always sway them in decisions and makes it a point to follow them wherever they go, just so that she can be around to help out when trouble arises. The sole reason she enlisted in the military and joined the Survey Corps after her graduation was to keep an eye on Eren, despite the fact that she truly wished to live out the rest of her days in relative peace within the Walls alongside him.

Mikasa's bond with Eren is undoubtedly her most important relationship and the one that defines her. Her personality as a teenager was very much influenced by Eren, who told her she stood no chance of survival if she did not fight for it. His words continued to stay with her, automatically recall them to spur her on when she was close to death. Mikasa wears the black scarf Eren gave her when they first met, holding on to it as a source of strength and comfort when she is upset. She had openly wept tears of relief at his safety and developed vengeful grudges towards those who harm him, from enemies to her own superiors. While the explicit type of her feelings are unknown, she blushed when it was insinuated she and Eren were lovers. However, after he insulted her and stated that he had always hated her, she was visibly hurt and eventually left behind the scarf he had given her.

History
Mikasa was born to an Asian mother, and her father was a member of the Ackerman clan. She lived peacefully with her parents in the farmlands of Wall Maria, helping them since a young age. Mikasa underwent a painful scarring ritual from her mother, who cut into her skin the mark of their family.

Being the last of their race made her mother and Mikasa high value targets to robbers. When she was only 9 years old, a group of traffickers killed her parents and attempted to kidnap her for the purpose of selling her in the human-trading market of the Capital's Underground. Frightened and shocked, Mikasa was rescued by Eren Yeager, the son of her family's doctor. He tricked and killed two of the kidnappers, but he was overwhelmed by the third trafficker and on the verge of being strangled. Eren desperately urged Mikasa to fight to win, who came to realize that the world can be callous and merciless before dispatching the robber from behind, who was trying to kill him.

When Grisha Yeager arrived with members of the Military Police Brigade, Mikasa was given the scarf by Eren and accepted into his family. This event awakened the fighting instincts and perfect self-control that runs in the Ackerman clan. Mikasa then went to live with Eren's family until the Fall of Wall Maria.

Fall of Shiganshina arc
Mikasa appears for the first time in year 845 somewhere inside Wall Maria. She is seen waking Eren up, telling him that they need to return to home. She is surprised to see tears in his eyes and asks why he was crying. On their way home, they meet Hannes. Mikasa watches as Eren complains about the soldiers slacking off while on duty. Later, both Eren and Mikasa watch the return of the Survey Corps forces, witnessing yet another failure of their expedition. After returning home, Mikasa tells on Eren, revealing to his parents his desire to join the Survey Corps. Annoyed, Eren leaves, with Mikasa following him. They save Armin, who is being beaten by local bullies and together discuss their desire to go outside the Walls.

At that moment, the three kids witness the sudden appearance of an extremely tall Titan peering over the top of Wall Maria. The three are stunned to see one that large, only coming back to their senses when the Titan breaches the Wall's gate. Mikasa and Eren run back to their home to find it crushed and their mother trapped under the debris. In spite of their attempts, Mikasa and Eren are unable to free her, Hannes rescuing them as a Titan devours their mother. Mikasa and Eren are placed on a ship just as the Armored Titan breaks through the inner gate, letting the Titans inside Wall Maria. She witnesses Eren's vow to kill all the Titans as they are transported to safety.

104th Training Corps arc
After the events of the Wall Maria's destruction, the government's desperate attempt to reclaim the lands using the refugees leads to nothing but more casualties. This prompts Mikasa, Eren, and Armin to enroll with the army and become members of the 104th Training Corps.

During their training, Mikasa helps Eren as much as she can as he initially fails to grasp the basics of the vertical maneuvering equipment. They manage to pass the qualifying tests, Mikasa quickly proving her skills and is praised as one of the best trainees in military history. At one point, Mikasa asks Annie Leonhart, a fellow trainee with exceptional skill, to teach her a self-defense technique that she was teaching Eren, which eventually calls for a bet with the 104th Training Corps to see who is the stronger fighter. At the 104th Training Corps' graduation, she is ranked first in the class.

Battle of Trost District arc
Before having the chance to fully apply in the Survey Corps so she can keep Eren safe, the Colossus Titan breaches Wall Rose the same way it did with Wall Maria. Much to her dismay, Mikasa is assigned to the rear guard to help fend off the Titans while the civilians escape into the safety of Wall Sheena. Before fulfilling her duty, she makes Eren promise her not to do anything reckless.

Later on, as an abnormal Titan approaches the escaping civilians who are blocked at the gate. Mikasa kills it, saving everyone. She then witnesses why the civilians are taking too long to escape; an overloaded cargo cart is blocking the way. Mikasa asks the businessman to move the cart so that the people could escape, but when he refuses, she has to resort threatening him after knocking his guards unconscious, which scares the man enough to relent and move his goods. Seeing a mother and daughter show their gratitude for saving them, Mikasa flashes back to the time she lost her own parents and realizes that Eren is the only family she has left. With the evacuation of Trost District citizens complete, she heads to the front guard in order to aid her comrades.

Mikasa finds that, because the supply team has barricaded itself inside the military headquarters, the surviving trainees no longer have enough gas to retreat. Noticing that Eren is not present, Mikasa confronts Armin and learns that Eren was devoured by a Titan. Despite his clear regret, Mikasa calmly comforts Armin and explains that they must not get emotional in their present predicament. Mikasa rallies the remaining trainees and leads them in a last ditch effort to reach the headquarters.

Because of her grief over Eren's death, Mikasa rushes ahead of her comrades and quickly expends all of her gas, stranding herself in the middle of Trost. As two Titans close in on her, she contemplates giving up but is motivated to keep fighting by memories of Eren. When Mikasa stands up to kill the Titan in front of her, another Titan comes running from behind and saves her. This Titan, which ignores Mikasa, gives Armin enough time to rescue Mikasa and they both continue heading to the supply HQ. As they watch the Attack Titan continue killing other Titans, they hatch a plan to lure it to the HQ and relieve the siege there. With its help, the trainees manage to successfully refill their gas tanks and have clear access to the Wall.

However, as they watch the Attack Titan dispose of the last Titans surrounding them, Eren appears out the nape of its neck. Overcome with relief that Eren is alive, Mikasa quickly rescues and embraces him, everyone leaving for the Wall. However, Jean, along with Annie, Reiner, and Bertolt are ordered to hand Eren over to superior officers under the command of Kitz Weilman and to treat the incident as something confidential. Their refusal to do so causes Mikasa and her friends to be accused of treason and find themselves surrounded by Captain Weilman's men, who are prompt to execute them. Mikasa attempts to defend Eren by drawing her blades and threatening to kill anyone who would try to harm Eren, but witnessing Eren's Titan form fighting in Trost District, Weilman does not hesitate and orders a cannon to fire at them in spite of the latter's claim that he is a human. Eren uses his power to block the cannonball and tries to think of a plan of escape. He proposes that they either try to flee over the Walls and escape into the Titan territory or have Armin attempt to persuade the soldiers to spare them, leaving him to choose. Armin tries his best to convince the soldiers that Eren's Titan abilities could help to save humanity, but realizes the commander is far too scared to think rationally. Before the order can be given to fire upon them once more, they are saved when Commander Dot Pixis, head administrator of the southern region, intervenes. They are sent on a mission to plug the breach in the Wall with a rock that only Eren in Titan form can lift.

As the mission commences and Eren goes into Titan form, he loses control and attacks Mikasa before eventually knocking himself out. The elite team, led by Ian Dietrich, Rico Brzenska and Mitabi Jarnach, designated to defend Eren as he carries the rock quarrel among themselves about what to do next. Mikasa is on the verge of attacking them until Ian orders everyone to continue protecting Eren until he recovers. Thanks to Armin's intervention, Eren eventually regains his senses and successfully places the rock down, albeit with many casualties. At that moment, they are saved by Levi as he kills the Titans approaching them.

The Female Titan arc
After the battle of Trost District is over, Eren is brought before a military tribunal to decide his future. Despite Mikasa's best efforts to defend him, she is forced to testify against Eren as his reckless actions have frightened many people in the courtroom. She is also forced to watch helplessly as Eren is assaulted and humiliated by Levi.

Some time later, Mikasa and everyone else have their vertical maneuvering equipment inspected in order to find out the culprit who killed the two captured Titans. Later on, Commander Erwin Smith comes to recruit new members for the Survey Corps which is scheduling an expedition within a few months. Many leave except for Mikasa, Reiner, Armin, Sasha, Krista, Ymir, Connie, Jean, Bertolt and a few others.

Mikasa is then seen to be a part of the 57th expedition. Shortly after leaving for Wall Maria, the Female Titan appears and defeats numerous Survey Corps members. The formation eventually reaches the Titan Forest, with Mikasa being stationed at its outskirts, making sure that no Titans enter the forest. As the Corps is preparing to return to Wall Rose, Mikasa hears the roar of Eren's Titan and abandons her post to go and help him.

Mikasa finds Eren just in time to see the Female Titan defeat and devour him. After overcoming her initial shock, Mikasa begins an enraged assault on the Female Titan, cutting it up to try to rescue Eren. Her attacks prove to be ineffectual against the Titan until she is joined by Levi. Mikasa insists that Eren is still alive and Levi agrees to help rescue him. With Levi coordinating their attacks, they quickly overwhelm the Titan but Mikasa becomes reckless and attempts to kill the Titan against Levi's orders. Levi is wounded saving her from the Titan, but manages to cut open its jaw in the process. Mikasa retrieves Eren from the Titan's mouth and the group retreats.

Following the Survey Corps's failure, Armin manages to convince Annie to help them out until they can gather evidence to prove to the King that the Walls need to be protected better. During that time, Mikasa takes a notice of the lack of diligence and honor in the Military Police. She prepares for battle when she gets fed up with Annie's games and excuses. She takes off her disguise and draws out her sword to fight her, promising to "cut up the Female Titan one more time."

When Eren is unable to initially transform and shows some hesitancy in fighting Annie, Mikasa berates him and decides to go with Armin to distract Annie until Eren is able to transform. Eventually Eren arrives and starts to fight Annie, but it is made apparent that he is not powerful enough to defeat Annie by himself. Being the strongest and most powerful soldier herself, she decides to take the fight to her. Despite being ordered to pull away by Hange Zoë, Mikasa manages to make it to Annie as she attempted to climb over Wall Sheena to escape to the flat lands. Since Annie had already climbed more than halfway towards the top of the Wall, Eren throws Mikasa upwards so she can catch up with the Female Titan, and cut off all her fingers. She then proceeds to push Annie off to fall to the ground. Annie is therefore captured, but encases herself in a crystal to avoid interrogation. However, it was far from over as Mikasa has just taken noticed of a Titan inside the Wall. As both the Survey Corps and Military Police take an encased Annie underground to detain her, Mikasa realizes the Titan hiding in Wall Sheena is alive, but is too weak to move due to a lack of sunlight. Mikasa remains at Eren's bedside as Armin and Jean head down to a meeting involving Erwin and the Military Police.

Clash of the Titans arc
Following the supposed breach of Wall Rose, Mikasa, Eren and the other members of the Survey Corps come to rescue Reiner and the others from the other Titans. She is among the others who learn of Krista's real name being Historia. After they reach the top of the Wall, Mikasa is outraged when she overhears Reiner confessing that he and Bertolt were the Titans responsible for the attack on Wall Maria and wanted Eren to join them. She takes them by surprise, attacking them with her swords and tells Eren to run. However, she fails to kill them as Reiner stops her from doing so, transforming afterward and attempting to kidnap Eren. While Eren transforms, and engages in battle with Reiner, Mikasa faces her own troubles and regrets for not cutting off both his and Bertolt's heads when she had the chance. During the fight with Reiner, she sees Eren in trouble and tries to fight him off. However due to the thickness of the armor, Mikasa has a hard time slicing the nape of Reiner's neck. Eventually, Armin sees a weak link in Reiner's line of defense in which his armor is breaking and gives Mikasa extra blades to replace her own. Taking advantage of the information, she cuts him at the back of the knee caps. However, Bertolt manages to save Reiner thanks to his abilities of the Colossus Titan, knocking out most of the soldiers in the process.

Later, Mikasa along with Hange and others from the Survey Corps are injured from the heat blast from Bertolt's Titan form. While Armin helps them recover, he gives Mikasa the news that she was dreading to hear: Eren along with Ymir was kidnapped by both Reiner and Bertolt. Taking the scarf that he gave her, Mikasa covers her face with it and asks why Eren always runs off on them like that. She feels like she has failed in keeping her adoptive mother's promise in always protecting him and weeps. As Armin tries to console her, Hannes arrives to give out rations to the Legion. It was him who reminds her that despite him running off the way he does and often losing fights, he never gives up on them. Even though the odds are stacked against him and he is unwilling to admit it, Hannes always knew that Eren relied on both Mikasa and Armin when he needed them. His words and his assistance reinvigorated them and are more determined to rescue Eren. Mikasa lowers her scarf and begins eating.

She spearheads the attack on the traitors, aggressively chasing them down as they attempt to flee from the Titan Forest. Realizing that armor was protecting Reiner's joints this time, she instead targets Ymir and slashes into her face. Afterward, she attempts to kill Bertolt, who escapes by hiding between the Armored Titan's throat and his hands. Changing targets again, she prepares to try to kill Ymir and is only stopped when Krista intervenes. However, she is unmoved by Krista's words and threatens to kill anyone that gets in her way. Her cold expression and statement that she has no mercy or compassion to spare forces Krista and Ymir to back down, allowing her to focus on trying to find a way to take down the traitors.

Jean and Connie try to speak to Bertolt and coax him into surrendering, but Mikasa coldly states that their reasons do not matter. She calls Reiner and Bertolt a "plague upon humanity" and advises the others not to show mercy. This causes Bertolt to yell at her, first stating that they never wanted to kill anyone and admitting to having cared for the others in the 104th. She is visibly shocked by this outburst, enough that it snaps her out of her murderous rage. Mikasa asks them to give Eren back, but her request is rebuffed as he claims it has to be done. Before the group can argue further, Hannes shouts a warning to them that a huge group of Titans is being led straight towards them by Erwin Smith.

Mikasa retreats, but it is not long before Erwin orders them to attack one more time, claiming this to be the key moment for humanity's survival. However, he gets grabbed by a Titan and in spite of their initial shock, the soldiers, along with Mikasa, follow Erwin's orders and continue advancing. Mikasa eventually reaches her target, but is grabbed by a Titan hard enough to break her ribs and has to be saved by Jean. Finally, Erwin frees Eren and Mikasa catches him, however, Reiner begins throwing Titans at the soldiers in an attempt to stop them and Eren and Mikasa find themselves facing a Titan they remember from 5 years ago, the Titan that ate their mother.

Believing that it will be their final moments after seeing Hannes being eaten, Mikasa tells Eren that she wants to thank him for being together with her, for teaching her how to live, and for giving and wrapping the muffler on her which she always wears. As she moves closer to Eren, he turned away to face the Smiling Titan and vowed to Mikasa that he will wrap the muffler around her as many times as he needs to. Mikasa and Eren both escaped with the others as Eren unknowingly awakens his power to control other Titans, and orders them to attack the Smiling Titan, Reiner and Bertolt.

The Uprising arc
Mikasa and the rest of the joint military operation participants arrive back at Wall Rose. Eren apologizes to Mikasa while she lies injured on a stretcher. She is among the wounded carried away on carts. However, she does not stay down long. A short time later, she has recovered enough that she feels well enough to cut firewood while she hides out in a remote cabin along with Jean, Connie, Sasha, Armin, Historia, and Eren; the new members of Levi's Special Operations Squad.

She is present when Levi holds a meeting at the cabin with his squad and Hange's. They discuss recapturing Wall Maria, assuming that Eren can harden his Titan form to plug the hole. There are complications, however, with the death of Minister Nick at the hands of the Interior Military Police.

Mikasa and the rest of Levi's squad observe Hange's experiments with Eren. They do not go smoothly though, and Mikasa has to resort to using her blades to cut Eren out of his Titan after his third attempt results in Eren only partially transforming and becoming unresponsive. Eren remains unconscious for a full day before waking. Hange jokes about being relieved so she will not be sliced to shreds by Mikasa. Levi gripes over their lackluster results since Eren cannot harden himself, and without that ability they cannot reclaim Wall Maria. Mikasa defends Eren's efforts, but Levi assures her he does not blame Eren. He just needs to vent.

At night, they receive orders from Erwin and Levi asks those members of his squad "dumb enough" to trust the Commander to come with him. They manage to escape before intruders reach their cabin and hurry to their rendezvous point in Trost District. There, a carriage comes crashing through and seemingly kidnaps Eren and Historia. However, the kidnapped victims are actually Jean and Armin in disguise. Mikasa joins Levi and the rest of their squad in tracking the robbers to their hideout.

They attack the kidnappers before Jean and Armin's disguises can be discovered, with Mikasa herself tackling the ringleader, who turns out to be Dimo Reeves, the merchant boss who was blocking the gate with his cargo the day Trost was invaded. Levi takes him for a talk on top of Wall Rose.

After hearing his story about being coerced by the Interior Military Police, Levi agrees to hand over Eren and Historia, to Mikasa's consternation. However, Levi has multiple conditions that will require the full cooperation of the Reeves Company. Dimo agrees and baits Djel Sannes and Ralph of the Interior First Squad into a trap so that they can be captured by the Survey Corps.

Mikasa and the rest of Levi's squad, minus the Captain, listen to Djel Sannes' screams as he is tortured in the basement of their current hideout. She does not comment as the rest of the squad laments or endorse the actions they have taken up until this point, including beginning a coup against the government. Armin says they are not good people anymore.

The next morning, Levi holds a meeting with his squad along with Dimo and his son Flegel Reeves to discuss the information Nifa has brought from Erwin. Levi reveals that Historia is to take the throne as part of the coup since the Reiss family is the true royal family, surprising nearly everyone else present. Once he pressures Historia into agreement, Nifa begins to detail the operation where they will hand Eren and Historia over to the First Interior Squad and then track them to Rod Reiss, the true ruler within the Walls.

The kidnapping plan goes awry when Dimo Reeves and his employees are killed. Two days later, the murders are pinned on the Survey Corps and Mikasa and the rest of Levi's squad, sans the Captain himself, are in a stable on standby in Stohess District. The squad is uneasy about the coup and Levi's treatment of Historia, but Mikasa thinks that their best option at the moment is to trust him.

As planned, Levi's squad begins trailing the hearse carrying the two coffins that contain Eren and Historia. They hear gunshots, revealing that Levi has been discovered, and shortly after they see him swing into view. His pursuers are outfitted with specialized vertical maneuvering equipment designed to allow the firing of guns. Levi lands in the wagon and orders his squad to stop following the hearse because it is a trap. Their best option now is to escape and he has Mikasa assist him. The two of them use their maneuvering gear to fight back against their pursuers, but one slips through and Mikasa kicks her down before she can shoot Armin. However, Jean is unable to finish her off and she retaliates before Mikasa can get close enough to stop her.

Armin reacts first to save Jean's life, by killing his attacker. When they escape to a cabin safely in the woods, Armin throws up outside, causing Mikasa to worry over him. He asks if this happened to her as well the first time she killed, and she is surprised by the question.

When Marlowe Freudenberg and Hitch Dreyse come into the forest to look for Survey Corps soldiers, Mikasa and Levi ambush them while Armin distracts them as bait. Mikasa and Armin take their uniforms and put them on with the intention of infiltrating the Military Police to find out where Eren and Historia have been taken. They are to return to Stohess District in disguise to gather clues and capture anyone they think might be an Interior MP.

However, Marlowe and Hitch do not take their capture quietly. Hitch berates Levi and Marlowe offers to help their cause. Jean asks if he can handle them and Levi allows him to secretly test their intentions. When they pass, the squad uses their help to launch an attack on an Interior Military Police compound.

After crippling most of the people inside, Levi and his squad escape with a hostage, but they do not find Eren and Historia. Levi brutally interrogates him about their location until the name "Kenny Ackerman" comes out. Mikasa is surprised upon hearing this last name and Levi reacts as well. Before they can question their hostage further, they hear people approaching on foot and their hostage remarks that they have no chance. The Survey Corps is finished.

The newcomers turn out to be Hange, Marlowe, and Hitch, arriving with the news that the false charges against the Survey Corps have been dropped and the capitol is now under the control of Commander-In-Chief Darius Zackly due to a coup d'état. Levi's squad celebrates with Mikasa getting a hug and a cheer from Hange. They still have to rescue Eren and Historia though, and Hange has an idea regarding where they are.

Hange suspects that Eren is going to be eaten in order to obtain his Titan power. Erwin had a report commissioned on the Reiss estate, and assuming that Eren and Historia were captured by the Reiss family, that is likely where they are being held. The day Wall Maria fell a group of bandits burned down the village chapel while the Reiss family was inside, but fire alone should not have destroyed a stone building. After escaping as the lone survivor, Rod Reiss rebuilt the place with his own assets. Hange finds it suspicious, so they head over there.

On the way, Levi warns his squad that Kenny Ackerman will be their biggest obstacle, because fighting him will be like fighting Levi himself. He asks Mikasa if she thinks Kenny might be related to her since they share the same last name. She thinks about it and tells him that she knows that her father's family was persecuted, but not the reason why. Levi then asks her whether she experienced a moment when she felt a sudden power awaken inside her and she remembers the moment she took up the knife to kill her kidnapper. She reveals that she did, and upon confirming this, Levi tells her that he and Kenny also experienced such moments in their lives.

They arrive at the chapel and find the secret door leading underground. The team makes preparations for facing the Anti-Personnel Control Squad, which is waiting for them below. When they are ready, they send barrels of gunpowder and bags of oil down the stairs. Sasha sets fire to them with a flaming arrow and fills the underground chamber with smoke, reducing visibility and the usefulness of firearms. Most of the squad provides additional cover with signal flares while Mikasa and Levi scout out their enemies using vertical maneuvering gear. Levi calls for his squad to take out the Interior MPs and the team springs into action. After a concerted push, they manage to force the Anti-Personnel Control Squad into a retreat.

Mikasa and the rest of Levi's squad are suddenly stopped by a bright flash deeper in the cavern. She realizes that it means a Titan has transformed and worries over Eren. The squad arrives in time for Mikasa to catch Historia, who had been flung back against the Wall from the force of Rod Reiss' transformation into a Titan. Mikasa asks if she is okay before taking the keys to Eren's chains from her and throwing them to Levi so he can free him. The ceiling begins caving in, trapping the squad. Eren apologizes for being useless, but Levi and Historia goad him into taking matters into his own hands. He gets up and grabs a bottle labeled "Armor" that had fallen out of Rod's bag and breaks it between his teeth as he transforms into a Titan.

Eren's Titan form then crystallizes, stabilizing the cavern around the squad, preventing them from being crushed. Even after Mikasa helps cut him out of it, his hardened form does not disappear, which Levi states is a huge development, as they can now seal the hole in Wall Maria.

Mikasa joins the rest of her squad in meeting up with Erwin and pulling back to Orvud District where they make preparations to fight the gargantuan Titan that used to be Rod Reiss. At dawn, the Titan arrives and Eren, Mikasa, and Armin assemble a stack of barrels filled with gunpowder at Hange's direction. Mikasa finds Eren moping and prods him back to work. However, to her surprise, he punches his own face to bring himself back to his senses.

When Rod reaches the Wall, Levi instructs the Garrison soldiers to flee while the Survey Corps soldiers douse themselves in water to withstand the heat. Eren changes into his Titan and uses the stacked barrels as an explosive by shoving them down Rod's open mouth. Mikasa joins the rest of the Survey Corps in cutting down the pieces of Titan that rain down to ensure that the main body of Rod Reiss is slain.

After Historia's coronation, Mikasa is seen with her friends looking for Levi in order for Historia to live up to the last words that Dimo Reeves spoke to her. When they find him, Historia punches him in the arm and all of Squad Levi shouts and cheers. However, Levi smiles at his squad and thanks them in response, much to everyone's surprise.

Two months later, Historia can be seen running an orphanage and taking care of abandoned children. Eren, Jean, and Armin talk about Historia's new role and the country's situation while Sasha, Connie, and Mikasa help carry supplies. When Historia finds them, she tells them to stop slacking. While Armin and Jean go on ahead, she has a small conversation with Eren, but they are interrupted by a stone-faced Mikasa, who takes the items Eren was carrying, saying he is tired from all his training. Eren complains that she should not treat him like an old man.

While the soldiers eat and celebrate the success of the Executioner from Hell fashioned by Hange, Mikasa remains silent throughout most of the conversation until Eren begins to remember the day he ate his father. Recognizing where his mind is going, Mikasa stops him, saying that he should finish eating before talking. He does not stop trying to remember though, and suddenly he realizes that the man that his father met the day Wall Maria fell was their old instructor, Keith Shadis. They then decide to pay him a visit.

Return to Shiganshina arc
The following day, Eren, Mikasa, Armin and others travel to the training camp to talk with Keith Shadis. They talk inside a small house and Keith tells them everything he knows: how he met Grisha Yeager 20 years ago outside the Walls, his relation with him and Eren's mother during those years, and how he was present in the night Grisha injected Eren with the Titan serum, but did not see anything, and at the end, does not know anything about Grisha's secrets.

Some days later, thanks to Eren's training and new technology developed by Hange, the operation to take back Wall Maria is ready to begin the next day. That night, the soldiers have a great dinner to celebrate. Mikasa is present, eating and watching Sasha's rampage and Jean and Eren's fight. Even when Jean blames Eren for the dangers that he puts in Mikasa, she calmly decides not to intervene.

When the fight ends, she sits with Eren and Armin talking about their future, what will happen once they reconquest Wall Maria, and wondering if everything will be like before. However Armin not only thinks in that: he considers that being part of the Survey Corps will allow them to see the ocean and the whole world.

The following day, the Survey Corps are ready to go to Shiganshina District. After hearing the cheers of the citizens, Erwin starts the operation at sundown and Mikasa rides along the Squad Levi towards Shiganshina.

As dawn approaches, the Corps walk within a mountaintop forest. Mikasa leads Eren's horse, despite his complaints, as the others encourage him to rest as much as possible for his upcoming duties. Jean spots a nearby Titan and Hange quickly orders the group to illuminate the area with their fragments of the Reiss Chapel cave. She claims that it is dozing away and the group moves on. A few moments after this, Mikasa begins to recognize the area they are in and claims that she collected firewood there once before. Eren and Armin also begin to recognize the area and Mikasa notes that she can hear the river stream. The group then finds themselves near the Shiganshina District and race in on horses. Erwin orders that all soldiers switch to vertical maneuvering equipment and rush the main gate, covered by their hoods to distract any watching enemies. Mikasa is among the soldiers surrounding the gate as Eren flies up above to transform.

After Eren successfully seals the hole in Wall Maria, Mikasa retrieves him from his Titan form, and returns him to the top of the Wall. Giving Eren her cloak, Mikasa accompanies the rest of her squad as they return to meet up with Erwin and the rest of the Survey Corps. However, before they can return, they see a signal flare fired by Erwin and stop to await further orders. From her position, Mikasa and her comrades are able to observe as Reiner reveals himself to be hiding inside the Wall, and the Beast Titan and his army materialize to engage the Survey Corps.

After taking up positions around the brawling Eren and Reiner, Mikasa waits until Eren is able to maneuver Reiner into an area of town with tall buildings. Once Eren has succeeded in this task, Mikasa and Hange use their new Thunder Spears to blind him. After her teammates destroy the armor covering Reiner's nape, the entire squad moves in and destroys Reiner's nape with their Thunder Spears. Afterward, Mikasa attempts to console a horrified Armin, but is interrupted by Reiner's Titan form, which begins roaring.

After Armin reveals to Hange that Bertolt is approaching, Mikasa and the rest of the soldiers retreat from Reiner's immediate vicinity, in order to escape being caught in the blast of Bertolt's transformation to Titan form. When Bertolt chooses not to transform in order to check on Reiner, Armin attempts to negotiate with him. However, while Armin is attempting to talk with Bertolt, Mikasa takes the opportunity to attack Bertolt from behind. She is unsuccessful in killing him, and comments on his drastic change in personality as he flees.

While Mikasa and Armin are returning to their comrades' position, Bertolt finally transforms, and they are forced to hide behind a building to shield themselves from the blast. They then regroup with the rest of Squad Levi and inform them that Hange's squad has apparently been destroyed by the blast. As Bertolt begins destroying Shiganshina, Mikasa observes that he does not seem to know their location. Pointing out that they will not have time to look for any survivors from Hange's squad, Mikasa suggests that Armin take the lead of their squad, though Armin then gives Jean command.

After retreating from Bertolt, Eren tries to get Bertolt's attention, but he ignores them. Deciding that they will have to engage Bertolt directly, Mikasa takes Connie's Thunder Spear and prepares to engage Bertolt. While Eren attacks Bertolt directly, Mikasa and the rest of the squad spread out to try to find an opening to attack Bertolt. However, before they can act, Bertolt kicks Eren into the side of Wall Maria, to Mikasa's horror.

Jean assures her that Eren is not dead, and that their main concern at the moment is taking down Bertolt. Jean formulates a plan for he, Connie and Sasha to draw Bertolt's attention while Mikasa strikes his nape with the Thunder Spears. Just as Mikasa moves in to strike Bertolt, he uses his steam to prevent her from reaching him. When Mikasa lands on a roof where the others already are, she is visibly injured. She explains that a piece of the Thunder Spears hit her, but the wound is not deep. She asks Armin if he believes there is any possible way for them to fight back, but he sees none. They are startled by the sound of a house exploding behind them. From it emerges Reiner, his head fully regenerated. While Armin and Eren choose to confront the Colossus Titan, Mikasa agrees to join the others in an attack against the Armored Titan.

As Reiner begins to run to Eren, Mikasa sends one of her Thunder Spears into his knees, crippling him. She notices the Colossus Titan in the distance beginning to emit much steam, causing her to worry about Eren and Armin for a moment before she returns her focus to the attack on Reiner. While the others proceed with a plan they devised to defeat Reiner, Sasha is injured and misses her Thunder Spear attack on the hinge of the Armored Titan's jaw. Mikasa realizes that since she has the only Thunder Spear left and Reiner's jaw has not been completely unhinged, she cannot proceed with the plan to blow Reiner's body out of his nape by sending a Thunder Spear into his mouth. As she considers the situation, Hange returns to the battle, sending her own Thunder Spear at Reiner and destroying his other jaw hinge. With the plan now on the verge of success, Mikasa jumps into Reiner's mouth, ordering him to get out as she sends her final Thunder Spear into his mouth, defeating the Armored Titan.

While Hange interrogates an injured Reiner, Mikasa begins treating Jean's injuries. Although Hange wants to execute Reiner, Jean convinces her to keep him alive long enough to steal his powers with the Titan injection. Hange orders Mikasa to go retrieve the serum from Levi, and to send up a signal flare if there is a change of plans, so that Hange will know to kill Reiner. When Mikasa arrives at Levi's position, she is horrified to find a hysterical Eren trying to keep a badly-injured Armin alive. As Levi agrees to use the Titan serum to save Armin's life, Mikasa shoots a flare to notify Hange that Reiner must be killed. However, Levi's mind is swayed by the arrival of another soldier, who reveals that Erwin is also mortally wounded. Horrified by Levi's announcement that he will save Erwin and not Armin, Mikasa draws her blade and begins to advance upon him.

As Levi punches Eren in the face, Mikasa pins him to the rooftop and draws her blade to his neck. Noticing how worn out Levi is, she attempts to grab the Titan serum from his hand, as Levi reminds her that without Erwin's strength, humanity can never defeat the Titans. When Floch approaches her, she flips her blade in order to strike him with the blunt side of the sword and knock him down, only to be stopped by Hange Zoë. As they both struggle, Mikasa eventually capitulates, remembering a happier time when she, Eren and Armin were children, as tears roll down her face. After Armin returns to his human form, Mikasa, along with Eren, pick him up off the ground as she cries tears of joy to see he is alive and well.

Atop the Wall, after Eren informs Armin of what has happened after the battle ended, Hange orders Mikasa, Levi and Eren to continue surveying and head for the Yeager family's house. Upon reaching the basement's door, Eren tries to open the door's lock and is surprised that the key does not fit. Mikasa says that she is sure that was the key Doctor Yeager had. Levi then proceeds and kicks down the door and they enter room. They find it had been set up to appear as much as possible, a common doctor's office, however, after further investigation, Mikasa discovers a keyhole on a locked drawer in the desk, which the key unlocks. The drawer seemed empty at first, but Levi notices the false bottom and under it, were three hidden books kept intact with various preservatives. Mikasa and Eren open the first book, and within it they find an uncannily realistic portrait of Grisha standing beside a fair-haired woman and a child. On the back of it, Grisha had written that it is not an illustration, it is called a photograph and that humanity has not perished.

Upon returning to the Walls, Eren and Mikasa are put in prison cells as punishment for their actions against Levi. During this time, Armin visits them and logs Eren's memories as he retells them of many events in his father Grisha’s life that matched up with what was found in the books in his basement. Among these memories is a conversation between him and Eren Kruger, an allied spy to the Eldian Restorationists. During this conversation, Kruger tells Grisha that anyone who has inherited the power of the Titans will only live for 13 more years, as no one with this power can outlive its original owner Ymir Fritz who founded the nation of Eldia and all its subjects. Upon hearing this revelation, Mikasa becomes very depressed and denies its validity, knowing that Armin and Eren only have a short number of years left to live if it is true. After Hange, the current commander, puts too much pressure on Eren in the next prison cell, Levi ordered them free. Mikasa leaves her cell, having lost weight in her state of depression.

Mikasa attends a military meeting, on how to proceed with the findings of the basement, in Trost. She sits silently as Hange deliberates her interpretation of the events, but is shocked and confused when Eren shouts all of a sudden during the meeting. Mikasa then continues being quiet, until the conclusion of the meeting, with the decision made to release all discoveries made by the Survey Corps to the public.

The nine surviving members of the Survey Corps later attend a ceremony, to be honored for their success in the Battle of Shiganshina District. Before the start of the ceremony, Eren gets into an argument with Floch over Armin being saved over Commander Erwin. When she attempts to calm Eren down, Floch commends Mikasa over her acting like an adult and giving up in saving Armin. This statement surprises and upsets her. She would later go on to be commemorated for her bravery in Shiganshina with a medal.

Roughly a year after the Battle of Trost District, the Titan Guillotines had eradicated all Titans within Wall Maria, allowing citizens to repopulate Shiganshina. The Survey Corps was able to hold an expedition beyond the Walls for the first time in six years. Mikasa ventures out on horseback, beyond the Walls for the first time. After following a deformed Titans trail, the Survey Corps reach the edge of Paradis Island, and behold the ocean.

The Survey Corps dismount their horses, discard their boots, and head to the beachfront. Mikasa is startled by an ocean wave, but goes on to give Armin a warm smile. She listens, as Armin begins to joyfully talk with Eren over the size of the ocean. However, these happy moments fade as Eren solemnly states that the ocean does not hold freedom, and enemies are over the other side.

Marley arc
One year after retaking Shiganshina, Mikasa goes with the other members of the Survey Corps to intercept a survey ship sent from Marley. Like the others present, Mikasa is surprised to see two sailors rebel and force the others to surrender. While watching the two meet with Levi and Hange, Mikasa ponders what their plan might be while trying to wake up Sasha.

An alliance is formed between Paradis and the group of rebels, calling themselves the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers, and preparations and training begin for the impending war with Marley. While at a firing range, Mikasa and Armin both agree that it is good to see both sides are getting along with each other, but are visibly troubled by Eren's insistence that Paradis must launch a preemptive assault on Marley to buy themselves more time to prepare.

Later on, Mikasa is among the Survey Corps members that meet with an ambassador from the nation of Hizuru named Kiyomi Azumabito. Mikasa is left dumbfounded when Yelena calls her attention to the fact that Kiyomi's physical features strongly resemble her late mother's, explaining that the similarities are due to the fact that Kiyomi's family are relatives of her mother's.

At a meeting between the two parties, Kiyomi displays the crest of the Azumabito clan and Mikasa is shaken to see it is the same as the tattoo on her wrist. After some prompting by Eren, Mikasa shares it, saying that her mother gave it to her as a girl and to pass it down to her children later on. Kiyomi describes how both Hizuru and Eldia were allies long ago and laments that the nation suffered after the Great Titan War. Kiyomi finishes by stating that Mikasa is the descendant of Hizuru's lost lord and the hope for their nation. Although Mikasa is overwhelmed by this information, Historia is ecstatic, believing that Hizuru will be more willing to trust Paradis due to Mikasa's lineage.

Later, after spending the day building train tracks, Eren mentions that he only has roughly five years left to live and begins to consider who he should pass his Titan abilities to. Mikasa immediately volunteers herself but Jean advises against it; Mikasa is half-Asian, and they do not know what the Ackerman clan is (if they are Subjects of Ymir or not), so she might not even be capable of becoming a Titan at all. As the others volunteer themselves also, Eren decides to not choose any of them due to valuing their friendship and not wanting to have any of their lives forcibly cut short on his behalf.

Mikasa is one of several Survey Corpsmen who journey to Marley's mainland to meet with Kiyomi. When Eren leaves in the middle of the meeting, Mikasa and the rest of the 104th graduates go searching for him.

Mikasa finds him looking at a cluster of refugee tents. At first, she begins to reprimand him for going outside alone when he is their enemies' most wanted target, but then she realizes that he is looking at the boy who stole from Sasha and Levi earlier in the day, as well as the boy's family. Eren tells her that these tents are where these people live after losing their homes to war. The people here are like the two of them. One day life stopped being normal and everything was taken away. He asks Mikasa why she cares about him so much, whether it is because he saved her when they were kids, or because they are family. Mikasa stammers at first but then replies that he is family. The rest of their friends arrive and interrupt their conversation, disappointing Eren. The group end up having dinner with the family living near the Azumabito estate, spending the night drinking and carousing.

The soldiers sit in on a hearing between politicians to discuss Eldian mistreatment. They are horrified when the speakers begin calling for the hatred being shown towards Eldians to be redirected towards the Eldians living on Paradis. As they are listening, Mikasa notices Eren quietly depart from the meeting.

As Eren begins his assault on the Marleyans, Mikasa joins the Survey Corps in retrieving him and attacking Liberio. During the battle between Eren and the War Hammer Titan, Mikasa attacks the War Hammer from behind, using a modified mount with multiple Thunder Spears. She launches all eight at the War Hammer's nape, seven of which land solidly in the neck, where they explode. Mikasa lands on the shoulder of the decapitated Attack Titan and asks Eren to come home.

She later questions him if he has an idea of what he has done, as he has killed civilians, including children, and there is no way to undo that. However, Eren does not answer the question and instead points out that the War Hammer Titan is still alive. Mikasa is shocked to see the Titan standing up, since she is sure that she destroyed its nape completely, and the War Hammer Titan then fires a pike of its hardened substance towards them. Mikasa quickly grabs Eren and flees away of the Attack Titan's body, barely avoiding getting struck. Eren comes up with a plan to defeat and eat the War Hammer Titan, and asks Mikasa to distract the enemy enough for him to enact it. Mikasa re-engages the War Hammer Titan while Eren transforms back into the Attack Titan and captures the younger sister of Willy, who was hiding under the ground encased in crystal and controlling the War Hammer remotely via a long cord. Mikasa watches as Eren severs the connection and prepares to eat the younger sister of Willy, but then is horrified to see Galliard attacking him from behind, and she and Levi go to aid him.

After Levi and Eren manage to hold off Galliard, Mikasa intercepts him and knocks him down off the wall with a Thunder Spear. Other Survey Corps soldiers come to fight the Titan but they are shot by the Panzer Unit on top Pieck's Cart Titan, although Mikasa is among the ones who manage to escape. She then sees Eren being caught off guard by the reappearance of the War Hammer Titan and then Zeke Yeager's Beast Titan arriving to the battle. As Zeke joins Galliard and Pieck and orders them not to let anyone escape and wipe them all out, Levi orders the Corps to face their enemies and to survive.

While the Survey Corps and Warriors clash, Mikasa attempts to destroy the War Hammer's crystal with a Thunder Spear, but it fails to even crack. Staying close to Eren, she watches as he then unsuccessfully tries to consume the crystal. She witnesses an explosion at the nearby harbor, signaling the arrival of Armin and the Colossus Titan. When the Jaw Titan attempts to charge Eren, Mikasa intervenes. Having worn an updated set of the traditional vertical maneuvering gear alongside the anti-personnel variant, she draws her blades and prepares to fight it once more.

Mikasa swings her swords at the Jaw Titan but it lunges out of the way and goes for the Attack Titan. She follows it and tries to provide support and as it momentarily breaks off from the attack, Mikasa notes that this current Jaw Titan is much faster and different from Ymir's Titan. It then switches its focus from Eren to an incoming airship that serves as the Survey Corps method of retreat from the battle. Mikasa anticipated the Jaw Titan going after it and manages to catch it off guard; she comes from underneath it and throws it off balance by slicing through both legs and severs one of its feet. Mikasa observes Eren using the Jaw Titan to kill and consume the powers of the War Hammer Titan. After Eren gets caught by surprise from Reiner's Armored Titan, Mikasa flies to Eren and convinces him to come back home. She then leaves with Eren and flies toward the incoming airship.

After they board the airship, Levi kicks Eren due to his insubordination, infuriating Mikasa; she tries to protest, but is stopped by Armin. The four meet with Zeke and Yelena at another part of the ship. A commotion ensues outside and Connie and Jean enter the room, carrying two captured stowaways. Jean announces that one of them shot Sasha and she is unlikely to survive, prompting Mikasa and Armin to run out of the room to see her. Sasha dies from her injuries, with Mikasa and Armin futilely trying to wake her.

After the Survey Corps return to Paradis Island, Mikasa attends the funeral service held for the eight soldiers lost during the battle in Liberio. Afterward, she remains by Sasha's grave to continue mourning.

War for Paradis arc
As Mikasa is visiting Sasha's grave, she is interrupted by the sound of Connie and Jean saving Niccolo from being harassed by a Military Police Brigade soldier. As Niccolo pays his respects to Sasha, Mikasa informs him of how she died. Later that night, Mikasa is with Armin, Connie and Jean, with the latter expressing dismay that the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers were arrested.

When Connie mentions they should be prepared to kill Eren if he sides with their enemy, Mikasa opposes him but he glares at her and asks if she would side with the enemy too. Mikasa says no, but claims that Eren still cares for them and tries to convince them his recent behavior is reflective of that. The others do not believe her and Jean brings up the fact that despite this, Eren still had no problem forcing them to fight and that resulted in Sasha's death. Mikasa is further shocked when Connie stated that Eren laughed when told that Sasha had died. Armin decides they should prepare for a worst-case scenario to have someone turn and kill Eren if he proves to be a threat; Mikasa protests that he still has several years left, but Armin states they will decide what happens after confirming where Eren stands.

After a group of Survey Corps recruits leak the news of Eren's arrest to the public and are found out, Mikasa attends the hearing that Hange conducts with them. After hearing them out, Hange orders the perpetrators jailed for their actions, and Mikasa escorts one of their number, Louise, to her cell. Louise tries to justify Eren's actions and convince Mikasa to help free him, but Mikasa simply cuts her off and leaves. She meets up with Armin and notifies him that Darius Zackly has agreed to see them. Both of them are stunned to hear Zackly refuse their request to see Eren and Mikasa is taken aback by the possibility that Zeke Yeager has been controlling Eren's behavior and movements prior to the attack on Liberio. After being sent away, Mikasa notices several Military Police soldiers enter Zackly's office and decides to eavesdrop; Armin tries to persuade her not to, but she insists on knowing what direction the Survey Corps is going. Suddenly, she grabs Armin and dives away just as an explosion goes off in Zackly's office. They both go outside and see Zackly's dismembered corpse from the blast; Mikasa is speechless about who could have been behind the assassination as the crowd of protesters chant in approval.

During an emergency meeting by the other heads of the Military, Mikasa hears Armin testify that he observed several recruits from the Survey Corps leave the area and were most likely responsible for the explosion. She is shocked to hear Eren has escaped confinement and blocked his escape route so no one could follow him. Mikasa accompanies Armin, Hange and Onyankopon as the military conduct a search for the renegades, staring blankly ahead and unresponsive to Armin as he tries to calm her.

Later, Mikasa attends another meeting to plan the military's response to the emergence of the rebels, now dubbed the "Yeagerists." As the meeting concludes, Kiyomi pulls Mikasa aside to ask her to consider fleeing to the Azumabito's ship if the need arises. Mikasa thanks her for her consideration, though makes clear that she sees herself as an Eldian foremost, and intends to see the fate of the island that raised her. Furthermore, after Kiyomi tells her of the Azumabito's shaky political situation, Mikasa says that this is all the more situation to not rely on the family. Despite Mikasa's words, Kiyomi states that no matter what happens with the island, the family will protect her. Heading outside with the other Survey Corps veterans, Mikasa briefly squabbles with Connie over Eren's connection to the Yeagerists, and over being suspected. Believing Zeke to have a secret scheme, the corps ride out to a lead; a restaurant employing Marleyan workers.

After arriving for their investigation and meeting up with Niccolo, Mikasa and the others wait in a backroom for him to finish his work. A short while later, Armin calls everybody into the main room, where Niccolo is attacking the run-away Warrior candidates over the murder of Sasha. Eventually, when Mr. Blouse's understanding attitude calms the situation down, Mikasa goes over to the female candidate to check on her wounds. Suddenly, another young girl named Kaya attempts to stab the candidate, however Mikasa blocks the attack. Mikasa and Armin take her into the next room as the Blouse family weep.

In a separate room, Mikasa sits with Gabi and Armin; when asked by Gabi why she saved her, Mikasa does not give any reason why when Eren unexpectedly appears. Before they can say anything, Eren silently holds up his right hand which is bleeding. Understanding Eren's intent if they do not comply, Mikasa and Armin obey his request to sit down at the table. As they hear Floch lead the others away, Mikasa can only sit in stunned silence while Eren and Armin begin to talk. When Eren mentions himself finally being free, Mikasa says that he is not and is being controlled by Zeke. She mentions how Eren was not like this ever before and brings up how he saved her from being kidnapped all those years ago, pointing to the scarf Eren gave her. Eren glares at her and firmly reminds her to keep her hands on the table. Stunned by this reaction, Mikasa silently complies.

After Eren calls Armin a useless traitor, Mikasa asks Eren what he is doing and hears that Eren learned about her family's lineage from Zeke as well. She hears from Eren that the Ackerman clan can manifest the power of the Titans while remaining in human form and will activate in the presence of a person recognized as the king. He muses that her instincts as an Ackerman are the sole reason why Mikasa has stuck by him for so long. Bringing up the example of her attempted kidnapping, Eren reminds Mikasa that she only acted when he told her to. Realizing this, Mikasa tries to explain it off but Eren remarks that Ackermans also suffer severe headaches due to their true selves fighting the urge to protect the host. Recalling that it happened to her, Eren flatly states the real Mikasa died that day in the hut and all that is left are her Ackerman instincts. Mikasa is unable to speak and starts to break down and cry when Eren remarks he has always hated her, calling her nothing more than an obedient slave.

When Armin tries to assault Eren, Mikasa swiftly blocks his attack and slams him into the table, much to both their shock and horror. As Eren starts beating Armin, Mikasa continues to cry and begs him to stop. Eren then orders her, Armin and Gabi taken away to Shiganshina District. Afterwards, Mikasa is relocated to a prison cell alongside the other captives. During her imprisonment, Jean inquires more about her recent encounter with Eren from Armin but Mikasa rebuffs the remarks not wanting to explain. They are then interrupted by Yelena who came to explain Zeke's true intentions. Afterwards, Mikasa remains idle as the others react to Yelena's explanation of the euthanization plan.

As the fight on the rooftop ensues, Mikasa and the other prisoners wonder what the sound overhead them was about. Onyankopon arrives shortly to release them, requesting that all imprisoned soldiers join the fight against Marley to keep Eren safe. As they head to put on sets of vertical maneuvering equipment, Mikasa and Armin discuss what Eren's motivations might be for pushing them away. Although Armin is unsure of Eren's intentions, he assures Mikasa that Eren was lying about her Ackerman genes, and simply used his knowledge of her headaches to give his lie credence. As she is suiting up, Mikasa is visited by Louise, who tries to bond with her. Mikasa ignores the girl, and departs for the battle field; before leaving, she folds up the scarf given to her by Eren and leaves it behind.

Along with the others, Mikasa notices Zeke getting shot and falling off the wall. As Armin decides they must neutralize the Cart Titan, both of them are shot at by several Marleyan soldiers hiding in a nearby house. After Connie destroys it with a Thunder Spear, Mikasa goes with Armin to the Cart Titan while Commander Pixis and Nile Dok of the Military Police coordinate efforts on the ground. Suddenly, a loud scream is heard throughout the district; Mikasa sees several flashes of light and realize that Zeke has transformed the affected soldiers into Pure Titans.

Reaching the top of the wall where the Cart Titan is stationed, Mikasa saves Armin after he destroys the Titan artillery cannon atop its back. Cutting through the soldiers accompanying it, Mikasa then glares at Pieck. She is then charged by the Cart Titan and angles out of range while preparing to strike it. Before they can engage, Eren and Zeke make contact, causing the Wall to collapse and abruptly ending Mikasa's attack.

Mikasa and Armin are horrified to see the Titans inside emerging. Looking at Eren's new Titan form, Mikasa wonders if there was any other choice they could have made, or if she had answered differently when Eren had asked her what he meant to her, that could have avoided the battle they find themselves in now. As the Wall Titans begin to march, Armin assumes that Eren is using the Founding Titan to send the Wall Titans to attack the forces amassing in Marley to attack Paradis. However, he is perplexed to see that all of Wall Maria is crumbling, telling Mikasa that an attack on Marley should have only required the Titans contained in Shiganshina's outer Wall. They are interrupted by Eren, who begins speaking to all Subjects of Ymir through the Founding Titan. To Mikasa's shock, Eren declares that he is going to be using the Founding Titan to completely exterminate all life outside Paradis Island.

Mikasa and Armin regroup with Jean and Connie, who have Falco with them. Noticing their fellow soldiers being attacked by Titans, Armin and Jean go to help them but Mikasa points out that they need to deal with Falco. Jean suggests feeding the boy to one of the Titans while Connie argues that his mother should be allowed to eat Falco. Armin does not want to sacrifice Falco at all, arguing that killing him will only breed more animosity with the Warriors. The group is attacked by a Titan, allowing Connie to flee with Falco before the group can stop him.

The group returns to the military headquarters where they rally the soldiers trapped inside to help them kill the Titans which have amassed around the building. After clearing out the first wave of Titans, Mikasa's group lies in wait at the building while more soldiers lead the remaining Titans to the building to be killed, subsequently clearing all of them.

When combat had ended, Mr. Blouse brings Mikasa and Armin to go meet with Gabi, who begs them to return Falco to her. Armin explains what has happened to Falco and Gabi desperately tries to argue that Eren can return Connie's mother to normal with the Founding Titan in order to spare Falco. Gabi argues that he was capable of even removing the Armored Titan's hardened skin, prompting Mikasa to ask Gabi about Reiner's whereabouts.

Mikasa tries to convince Armin not to pursue Connie to Ragako, but is unsuccessful. As Armin is leaving Mikasa tries to ask Armin what they will do about Eren, causing Armin to lash out at her for not focusing on more pressing issues that they have. He then tells her that Erwin would have had better judgment in that moment, and departs. As Armin leaves, Mikasa notices that her scarf is no longer where she left it.

Mikasa later finds Jean and Floch with a dead Volunteer and demands to know what happened. Floch claims to be acting on Eren's behalf to wipe out any resentment Paradis might have. Floch attempts to recruit Jean but Mikasa interrupts him, demanding to know what happened to Hange and Levi. Floch reveals to her shock that Zeke killed them.

The next morning, Mikasa finds Louise in the infirmary wearing her missing scarf. Louise claims that Eren told her to throw the scarf away, so she decided to take it instead, prompting Mikasa to demand that she return it immediately. Later, Mikasa and Jean are contacted by Hange, who informs the two of the plan to join forces with Marley to stop Eren. Mikasa agrees to it. After receiving the signal from Jean to leave the military headquarters, Mikasa departs with her comrades. On their way out of Shiganshina, they pick up and join forces with Annie and Reiner.

That night, the combined forces of Marley and Paradis share a meal as they discuss how to oppose Eren. As tensions run high between the Survey Corps and the Warriors, Annie demands to know if the Corps will be able to kill Eren if no other option is presented. Mikasa states that killing Eren is not the only way to stop him, confirming Annie's suspicions that Mikasa and her friends would try to stop the Warriors from killing Eren. Mikasa steps up to confront Annie, but she defuses the situation by assuring Mikasa that she has no issue with Eren living if he can be convinced to stop the Rumbling.

The next day the group travels to Paradis' harbor with the intention of using the Azumabito clan's airship to pursue Eren, only to find that the harbor has been occupied by Yeagerists. As the group gears up for a confrontation Annie suggests launching an all-out attack and Mikasa reminds her that they cannot risk getting the Azumabito killed in the crossfire. The discussion is interrupted by Hange, who reveals to everyone's horror that Eren and his Titans have apparently already reached Marley.

The group settles on a plan to try to trick Floch into handing over the Azumabito mechanics so that they can operate the ship. Floch instead tries to execute the Azumabito, necessitating Mikasa to intervene and save them. Mikasa helps Kiyomi disarm Floch and his guards, but Floch manages to escape and alert the other Yeagerists to their attack. Mikasa, Hange, Jean and Magath lead Kiyomi and the mechanics to the basement of the building they were being kept in and take shelter there so that Annie and Reiner can transform and fight without risk of collateral damage.

After it is decided that the flying boat will be taken to Odiha so that it can be prepped for flight under more favorable conditions, Mikasa brings news of the change to Annie and Reiner and instructs them to protect the Azumabito service crew. As Mikasa engages the Yeagerists, she is alerted by Hange about reinforcements arriving by train but is shocked to see the train derail itself. Once the boat is ready to depart, Mikasa helps carry an injured Annie onboard.

On board the ship, Mikasa and Jean are seen holding back Annie, who is in distress, after Hange reveals that Liberio cannot be saved from the Rumbling anymore.

Vertical Maneuvering Equipment
While she was still training, Keith even noted that Mikasa's performance is exemplary in every subject and that she is truly a genius. Having a prodigious skill in vertical maneuvering equipment, she can use blades to easily strike and slash Titans with speed and efficiency. This has led to her being mentioned as a military genius many times and "as valuable as a hundred average soldiers." Her mastery and remarkable will allows her to display a lethal force against Titans rarely seen among soldiers, recruits or veterans alike. This has been proven true when she took on Annie in her Titan form, who had killed numerous experienced veterans with ease before, and survived.

Usage of Thunder Spears
While being a new way of weapons manipulation, Mikasa easily mastered how to use Thunder Spears. She has the strength to carry up eight spears with ease, before simultaneously throwing and detonating them on Titans with greater accuracy than the weapon inventor.

Strength
Owing to the need to protect her adoptive brother who often runs off looking for trouble, Mikasa had honed herself to be a talented fighter at a very young age. She often threw boys bigger than her with ease and scared them enough to run away upon seeing her despite their superior numbers. Having undergone intense training, Mikasa is strong enough to lift Eren and several equipment boxes off the ground without effort.

Awakened power
Being an Ackerman, Mikasa has "awakened" a dormant power within her earlier in her life when her parents were murdered and she was going to be kidnapped until Eren saved her. It has been described as "knowing exactly what needed to be done," developing fighting instincts and perfect self-control of her body far above the average human. This is because she can access the Power of the Titans to a limited extent without transforming. She is able to connect to every single Ackerman before her via the paths and gain their battle experience.

Being the child of an Ackerman and an Asian, Mikasa retains the ability to resist memory manipulation from the Founding Titan.

Relationships

 * Mikasa's mother and father - Mikasa shared a loving bond with her biological parents, and was happy with the simple life they shared. Being one of the last members of an Asian clan, Mikasa's mother had Mikasa undergo a scarring ritual involving the engraving of their clan's mark on her right forearm. She praised Mikasa for receiving the mark without making a fuss and encouraged her to carry on the legacy with her own children. Mr. Ackerman was a kind father to Mikasa, and she was very relaxed around him. She was not shy of asking either parent anything she did not know, and trusted them completely. The day a trio of robbers attacked and killed her parents in front of her, Mikasa lost all hope and believed her world had gone cold until Eren's father decided to adopt her.
 * Grisha Yeager - Though he initially hoped Mikasa would get along with Eren as a friend, in the end Grisha took in Mikasa after the brutal murder of her parents. He treated her kindly as if she were his own daughter, and for that Mikasa respected and gratefully relied on him as her father figure.
 * Carla Yeager - Carla took care of Mikasa during her stay in the Yeager household. Much like her husband and son, she treated Mikasa as a family member and took care of her. The two seemed to have an implicit understanding between them when it came to keeping Eren out of trouble. Carla urged Mikasa to look out for her reckless brother and give him help when he needed it. During the Titans' assault on their home town, she desperately tried to lift the roof beam preventing Carla from running away from the danger. Despite Carla's pleas, she tearfully refused to leave her and could not bring herself to watch as a Titan eventually killed and ate her.
 * Eren Yeager - She always wears a scarf, given to her by Eren, as a token of the moment when he first wrapped it around her in an attempt to comfort her when she had first lost all hope. From the time he saved her life and accepted her into his home, Eren has been a great source of strength and comfort for her, and when she had thought him dead, she very nearly allowed herself to die as well, but kept living on to remember him. She became distraught when learning Eren had been abducted, wrapping the scarf over her face to hide her sadness. Because he is the only family she has left, she will go to any lengths to ensure his safety, and vows to follow him wherever he may go, stating her only wish is to remain by his side; when she discovered that Eren will die in a few years due to the "Curse of Ymir," Mikasa visibly had trouble accepting this and, not wanting to face the reality that she will lose Eren, blatantly said it was not true. Due to Mikasa's protective nature over him, Eren often becomes annoyed and tells her not to treat him like her baby brother. Because of her intense devotion to him, several people, from Ian to Jean and even Levi, are confused about the nature of their relationship. Interestingly, Mikasa only ever blushes when Eren is involved. Examples of this include her embarrassed blush when Ian mistook him for her lover during the reconquest of Trost, Armin leaving her alone with Eren after capturing the Female Titan, and, when she believed she was about to die, thanked Eren for everything he has done for her. After going across the sea, Eren asks Mikasa about what he means to her. Mikasa stammers a little before replying that he is "family," as the others arrive and interrupt them, disappointing Eren. Their relationship somewhat suffers after interacting with some Marleyans and after the Battle of Liberio; seeing Eren seemingly dismissive of her concerns about the numerous innocent civilians he killed prompts Mikasa to see that he has become colder and more detached, worrying her about his overall state of mind. Their bond is, at least temporarily, tested once Eren seemingly fully commits to the Yeagerists and insults her, claiming he has always hated her.
 * Armin Arlert - Mikasa is a very close friend of Armin's. She frequently helped Eren fend off the older boys who bullied him when they were children. Mikasa recognizes Armin's ability to reason out the best solution and come up with the best strategy during dire situations, and is faithful to him and trusts him deeply, as shown when she refused to leave him behind to his death during the Battle of Trost. She encouraged him to have more confidence in himself whenever he doubted or criticized himself. Her faith in him, along with Eren's, were responsible for Armin's boost in confidence from the time he attempted to convince a hostile brigade of soldiers of Eren's value as a military weapon. Additionally, when Armin was dying from being almost burned to death she is seen breaking down because Levi would not give Armin the Titan injection, demonstrating how much she cares for his well-being. Years later, after the Battle of Liberio and Eren’s betrayal, Mikasa has come to rely on Armin for emotional support and reassurance, the pair often accompanying one another.
 * Hannes - it is implied that Mikasa was grateful towards Hannes for rescuing her and Eren from being killed by the Titan that ate their mother. Despite admitting to his cowardice in front of her, she did not resent him for failing to rescue Carla, and she valued him as one of the few people left with whom she shared memories of more peaceful times. Hannes comforted her when she was depressed over losing her adoptive brother, and also encouraged Mikasa not to give up, which snapped her out of her grief. When she was seriously injured, Hannes defended both her and Eren from the Smiling Titan, only to lose his life in the end. Retreating on horseback the safety of Wall Rose, Mikasa appeared to be in anguish over his loss, and still grieves for Hannes with Eren and Armin.
 * Annie Leonhart - Mikasa had a rivalry with Annie when they were both part of the 104th Training Corps. This would turn into outright animosity once Annie was confirmed to be the Female Titan who was responsible for the deaths of countless soldiers and Eren's attempted kidnapping. Mikasa is likely jealous of Annie's relationship with Eren, since she throws Reiner bodily on top of Eren and Annie in order to interrupt their training when Annie is demonstrating how to do a throw.
 * Reiner Braun and Bertolt Hoover - It is not known if Mikasa had any interaction with either Reiner or Bertolt but after it is revealed they were behind the fall of Wall Maria, Mikasa has shown nothing but rage and anger towards them. However, Mikasa realizes that when she attacked both of them after Reiner revealed their identities as the Armored Titan and Colossus Titan, she hesitated and was unable to finish them off. She agonizes over this failure, recognizing that she should have been able to kill them with her level of skill. When she finally caught up to them, she flew into a murderous rage, threatening Ymir and even Krista when they came between her and the traitors. Calling them a "plague upon humanity," and stating that there is no reason to care what their reasons and motivations might be, she also encouraged the others to kill them without mercy. However, her rampage was stalled by Bertolt's emotional confession.
 * Jean Kirstein - Her primary interactions with him relate to his rivalry with Eren, and it is unclear whether she is even aware of his affections for her. When he grimly admonished Eren for attacking her, Mikasa felt Jean was attempting to discredit Eren, and quickly became defensive on his behalf. It is implied that he continues to harbor feelings for Mikasa, as he lost his composure when he saw a Titan had grabbed her, and furiously attacked it head-on in order to save her.
 * Sasha Blouse - Mikasa maintained a good relationship with Sasha and respected her instincts. She cared deeply about her friend and like the others was deeply distressed by her death, crying as she died.
 * Louise - Mikasa briefly interacts with Louise during the Battle of Trost District and left a lasting impression on the girl. Years later, Mikasa reunites with Louise but is slightly put off by her constant idolization and also disapproves how she has decided to follow Eren and the Yeagerists. When Mikasa came to a hospital for her scarf where wounded Louise was in, Louise explained how Mikasa inspired her to join the Survey Corps and devote her heart. However, Mikasa indifferently demands her scarf back and silently leaves.
 * Levi Ackerman - Their relationship began in a negative fashion, as she witnessed him beat Eren during a military trial. She once swore to make him pay for his abuse, and lashed out at him when the Female Titan managed to kidnap Eren after slaughtering Levi's squad. Regardless, he expresses an understanding of her and is wounded saving her life—while temporarily sidelined, he repeatedly offers her advice, and she herself agonizes over causing his injury. It is unknown if she still bears a grudge against him, though she eventually comes to accept his leadership. They both share the last name Ackerman, although their relationship is unknown.

People killed

 * One unnamed robber
 * One member of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad
 * Two Marleyan soldiers
 * At least eight members of the Yeagerists

Failed attempts

 * Annie Leonhart
 * Reiner Braun
 * Bertolt Hoover
 * Ymir
 * Traute Caven
 * Younger sister of Willy

Trivia

 * Mikasa ranked third in the First Character Popularity Poll.
 * Mikasa ranked seventh in the Second Character Popularity Poll.
 * Mikasa tied with Bertolt Hoover for sixth in the Third Character Popularity Poll.
 * The name Mikasa has several significant links in Japanese culture:
 * The name, literally meaning "three bamboo hats," was a unique pre-dreadnought battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and served as a flagship during the Russo-Japanese War. The manga's author, Hajime Isayama, supposedly named Mikasa after this vessel due to his belief that series' with female characters named after famous warships come to be successful.
 * Mount Mikasa in Nara, Japan. An annual festival involves burning the dead grass on the mountain.
 * The princely house of Mikasa-no-miya, a branch of the Imperial family in Japan.
 * Mikasa's surname is derived from the German name "Ackermann" meaning "fieldman." A similar Swedish surname, "Åkerman" means "exists".
 * Mikasa is the heaviest known female character in the series, weighing.
 * Jean is unsure whether or not Mikasa can become a Titan since they do not know what the Ackerman clan is.
 * Mikasa's blood type is AB.
 * Mikasa shares a birthday with Falco Grice.
 * According to an interview with Isayama, Mikasa will opt to not wear her scarf if it is too hot out.
 * According to Isayama, if the 104th Training Corps had an arm wrestling competition, Mikasa would place first.
 * In a Volume 11 sideart Isayama portrayed several characters transformed into Titans. Mikasa took the form of a masculine, heavily muscled Titan.
 * Mikasa is one of the Attack on Titan characters who were made into Nendoroid figures, along with Eren, Levi, and the Colossus Titan. A Nendoroid playset of the Attack on Titan setting was also made.
 * In the game Age of Gunslingers Online, a special Titan Mode was made as a tribute to the series. It features Elsa, an NPC modeled after Mikasa and voiced by . A trailer of this mode can be viewed here. A special skin for the Blade Class is also available for purchase.
 * In The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror XXV," several other incarnations from other animated franchises of the family are shown, each one with a respective theme. In the anime theme, each of the family members were depicted as a specific anime character. Lisa portrayed Mikasa, with her traditional hairstyle and military outfit using the vertical maneuvering equipment.
 * Metalcore band Veil of Maya made a song called "Mikasa" which is based of this character.

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ميكاسا أكرمان Mikasa Ackermann Mikasa Ackerman Mikasa Ackerman Mikasa Ackerman ミカサ・アッカーマン Mikasa Mikasa Ackermann pt-br:Mikasa Ackerman Микаса Аккерман Мікаса Акерман 米卡莎·阿卡曼