One of the most debated topics in the Attack on Titan fandom is whether Levi made the right choice when he chose to revive Armin instead of Erwin using the Titan serum. Since the entire series is set during a grim, violent war, heartbreaking deaths are to be anticipated and, unfortunately, don’t usually come as much of a surprise. But this moment in season three, episode #17, absolutely stunned me, showing two noble characters who took the concept of sacrifice to another level.

Attack on Titan is my favorite anime of all time, and even after all the different series I’ve watched over the years, no other show holds a candle to this absolute classic. The terrifying premise gripped me from the very first moment. I immediately became enthralled with the world Hajime Isayama had built, and invested in humanity’s struggle against the cruel and bloodthirsty Titans, rooting for the Eldians to achieve victory over the beasts and finally find freedom.

During the battle shown in episode #17 of season three, Armin Arlert, the incredibly intelligent best friend of Eren and Mikasa and an esteemed member of the Survey Corps, threw his body directly into the path of Bertholdt Hoover’s Colossal Titan, causing the boy to burn to death due to the boiling heat emitted by the Titan.

Erwin and Armin’s Sacrifices in Season 3 Shocked Me to My Core

Their Acts of Bravery Prove They Are Both Qualified to Be in Charge, Making Levi’s Choice Difficult

At the same time, the 13th Survey Corps Commander, Erwin Smith, and his men bravely stormed into battle against the Beast Titan. Zeke Yeager’s Titan form was a menacing adversary, and unfortunately dealt serious damage to his opponents, including leaving the Commander on the brink of death. These brutal moments both happened rather quickly, in such rapid succession that it barely left me enough time to process what had happened before Levi, the squad captain, was tasked with making the most difficult decision he had ever been faced with thus far: should he save Armin or Erwin using the revival Titan serum?

Erwin was one of Levi’s closest friends, which clouded his judgment and made his choice even more difficult and emotionally charged. However, the captain also recognized how Armin’s past instances of quick thinking helped the Survey Corps out of dangerous situations and his sacrifice proved him to be selfless, making him a worthy candidate for future Commander should Erwin perish. Eventually, the Captain chose Armin to revive, and this decision sparked waves of controversy. Who Levi should have picked to receive the life-giving serum is a hot-button issue, and most fans feel strongly one way or the other.

I Believe Levi Was Correct to Choose Armin Due to His Intelligence and Wise Planning

Armin’s Rational and Clever Approach to Strategy Gives Him an Advantage

Personally, I’ve heard convincing arguments on both sides of the debate, but I do firmly believe that Armin was the justified choice because his intelligence and rational decision-making helped lead the Scouts to victory in a number of situations. Erwin was an excellent commander and had many successes during his time in charge, so his efforts and accomplishments should not go unrecognized. Erwin did certainly make many mistakes though. Certain decisions Erwin made, like urging his men to carry out the Beast Titan suicide charge, felt more motivated by emotion than Armin’s more rational and careful outlook.

There are many situations where Armin’s unique approach to strategy succeeded. His most notable accomplishments include figuring out Reiner and Bertholdt were secretly Titans before anyone else, manipulating Annie into giving up her Female Titan identity, and finally, his season 3 sacrifice, in which he allowed himself to be burnt alive to protect those he cared about and humanity as a whole. I felt Armin focused more on clever, cunning schemes and using words to twist situations in his favor, while Erwin seemed to handle more of his missions with physical force and the manpower of an army behind him.

Armin Becoming Commander Fulfilled a Common Anime Trope

The Idea of Erwin “Passing On the Torch” to Armin Fits the Story Well

Neither man’s style of leadership is “wrong,” but, at this point in Attack on Titan, Armin’s skills felt more suited for the coming war than Erwin’s. Armin was young, fifteen at this time, while Erwin was in his thirties and beaten down by many tiring years of battle, making it seem logical for him to pass on the torch to a youthful recruit who was full of new ideas and fresh perspectives. This concept of a mentor figure passing on their legacy to a member of the new generation is a common anime theme, seen in shows like Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen.

One final reason I believe Armin was the better choice is due to his connection and long-standing friendship with Eren, who eventually started the Rumbling himself. Although Armin’s candid discussions with Eren did not result in a change of heart, he still played an integral role in the man’s life and understood him better than almost anyone else. There was no one better, other than perhaps Mikasa, to predict Eren’s next move, making Armin the ideal candidate to formulate a plan to stop Eren once he unleashed the Titans and started the dreaded Rumbling that wiped out millions.

Levi’s Choice Fulfilled Armin’s Character Arc, as well as Ensuring Success for the Scouts

Armin Played an Integral Role in Defeating Titans for Good

Armin was unsure of himself right after Erwin’s death, feeling he didn’t deserve the new role that had been bestowed upon him. But in only a matter of time, he rose to the challenge and contributed heavily to stopping the Rumbling and, unfortunately, putting an end to Eren’s life in order to accomplish this. The fact he was willing to kill his best friend in order to protect others makes Armin even more of a hero in my eyes, proving his absolute dedication to saving humanity. A far cry from the shy, nervous boy in season one, Armin became a true leader.

Many people would have preferred for Erwin to have received the serum and I understand why this topic is so controversial in the fandom. Erwin was an accomplished commander who played an integral role in defending humanity from the Titans for many years, and Armin was younger and not as experienced. However, I feel the ending of the series would’ve played out differently if it wasn’t for Armin’s wisdom, planning, bold ideas, and deep knowledge of Eren. Becoming the Survey Corps’ Commander seemed like a natural progression for Armin’s character arc, and he definitely proved himself in spite of his self-doubt.