8 of the Most Horrifying Deaths on Attack on Titan

Anyone can die at any time; Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is compared to be the 'Game of Thrones' of anime. Here are our picks for the most horrifying deaths in the series up to season 3. Beware of spoilers.
Also, this list looks at which deaths are gruesome and awful to watch and does not consider the emotion of the deaths i.e. the sadness associated with the loss of a character.

8. Alma

Episode: Season 3, Episode 3 - Old Story

In order to maintain Rod Reiss's familial history a secret, Kenny kills Historia's mother, Alma, using a dagger. All the while, Historia is made to watch as her mother bleeds out on the ground. This death is plain murder and horrifying to watch.

7. Marco Bodt

Episode: Season 1, Episode 13 - Primal Desire, the Struggle for Trost, Part 9

Marco discovers Reiner and Bertholt speaking about "their titan" and "hard work making the hole". He chastises the two and tells them to focus on the mission. However, he becomes suspicious of the two and begins to piece the information together.

As Marco jumps away, Reiner lunges onto his back, pinning him down on the roof of a nearby house. Reiner restrains Marco as Annie arrives. Marco cries out to Annie for help, but his expression changes as he realises that Annie is also a part of the plot. Reiner forces Annie to remove Marco's ODM gear, leaving Marco defenceless as a titan comes to eat him.

6. Petra Ral (and Levi Squad)

Episode: Season 1, Episode 21 - Crushing Blow, The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 5

Levi Squad faces off against the female titan in the forest, allowing for Eren to escape. They slash off the titan's eyes and swoop in for the kill. However, the titan bites off her attacker in mid-air, confusing Petra and Oluo. Petra is in shock as she realises that the female titan regenerated faster by focusing on one eye. The survey corps elite member zips off in one direction and is unable to readjust her ODM line. In one flash, the titan stomps on her - instant kill.

The horrifying position of her body after death still brings nightmares to our writers.

5. Carla Yeager

Episode: Season 1, Episode 1 - To You, in 2000 Years, the fall of Shiganshina

When the colossal titan and armoured titan attack Shiganshina, a huge boulder pins down Eren's mother. Eren and Mikasa try to help her out but are unsuccessful. Hannes does show up, but he is unable to fend off the Smiling titan.

Eren and Mikasa are evacuated by Hannes, but they witness Carla Yeager being picked up by the monstrous Smiling titan. Carla Yeager's body lies limp in the hands of the Smiling titan as it bites down, at her midsection, sending blood into the air.

4. Nanaba

Episode: Season 2, Episode 4 - Soldier

Nanaba and Gelgar are the only ones left with ODM during the Seige of Utgard Castle. After Lynne and Henning are killed by the beast titan, Nanaba fends off the oncoming titans to the best of her abilities. However, after Gelgar sustains a head injury, he falls down. Nanaba goes to save him, but she gets trapped in between a horde of titans.

Nanaba calls out for her father, begging for mercy as the titans tear her to pieces. 

3. Kaya's mom

Episode: Season 2, Episode 2 - I'm Home

Sasha separates from the rest of the group and heads on for her village. There she finds out that most of the villagers have escaped. She sees a house with a titan inside and enters. To her horror, she finds out that a titan has been eating a woman, very slowly.

Kaya, the woman's child is present there - numb, unable to move and witness to the slow killing of her mother.

2. Hannes

Episode: Season 2, Episode 12 - Scream

Hannes accompanies Erwin and the scouts in an attempt to rescue Eren from the Armoured Titan. Through the combined efforts of Armin and Erwin, they are successful in freeing Eren but Reiner's titan throws leaves Eren and Mikasa defenceless against the Smiling titan.

In a "redemption" moment, Hannes comes to protect those two and engages the Smiling titan. He is able to get a few cuts in, but eventually, the titan grabs Hannes. Eren tries to transform but is unable - having to watch helplessly as the Smiling titan bites down on Hannes at the knees. The life drains out from his eyes as Eren screams in agony.

1. Miche Zacharius

Episode: Season 2, Episode 1 - Beast Titan

Miche separates from the scouts warning the villages and heads off to distract the oncoming titans. He faces off and kills most of the titans and is about to leave. As his horse rushed to him, the Beast titan lifts the horse and throws it at Miche. Miche falls off the roof and onto the hands of the small titan.

After a shocking revelation by the Beast, Miche is torn into pieces by the titans that were left standing.

All the photos are the intellectual property of Wit Studio and Hajime Isayama. Peaceful Sparta used this article as an excuse to watch Attack on Titan for the twelfth time.