Spoiler warning: This article contains major spoilers for Attack on Titan, including events involving Bertholdt Hoover, Armin Arlert, and the Nine Titans.
The Colossal Titan is one of the most recognizable and frightening figures in Attack on Titan. If you are asking who is the Colossal Titan, the simplest answer is Bertholdt Hoover for most of the early story. He is the mysterious 60-meter Titan responsible for appearing outside Wall Maria and helping trigger the disaster that changes Eren Yeager’s life.
But that answer only covers part of the story.
The Colossal Titan is not one permanent character. It is one of the Nine Titans, meaning its power can pass from one Eldian inheritor to another. Bertholdt possesses the power during the beginning of the series, while Armin Arlert eventually becomes its next inheritor.
What makes this Titan especially interesting is that its enormous size is not actually its most dangerous feature. Its transformation, extreme heat, steam generation, and psychological impact make it closer to a strategic weapon than an ordinary Titan.
Understanding that difference makes many major Attack on Titan scenes much easier to appreciate.
Who Is the Colossal Titan?
The original Colossal Titan revealed in the main Attack on Titan storyline is Bertholdt Hoover.
Bertholdt is an Eldian Warrior working for Marley alongside:
- Reiner Braun
- Annie Leonhart
- Marcel Galliard
Their mission is to infiltrate Paradis Island and recover the Founding Titan.
Bertholdt possesses the Colossal Titan, while Reiner possesses the Armored Titan and Annie possesses the Female Titan.
The shocking part is that Bertholdt spends years living alongside the same people whose home he helped destroy.
He joins the 104th Training Corps with Eren, Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha, and the others. Because he is quiet, reserved, and rarely draws attention to himself, he initially seems far less suspicious than Reiner.
That personality makes the eventual truth more disturbing.
The massive creature that appeared over the wall was not a mindless monster. It was someone Eren and the others knew personally.
What Is the Colossal Titan?
The Colossal Titan is one of the Nine Titans, special Titan powers inherited by Subjects of Ymir.
Unlike ordinary Pure Titans, the Nine Titans are controlled by human beings known as Titan shifters.
The Colossal Titan is known primarily for four characteristics:
- Enormous size
- Explosive transformation
- Extreme heat
- Powerful steam generation
It stands approximately 60 meters tall, making it significantly larger than most Titans encountered during the early parts of the series.
Its appearance is also distinctive.
The Colossal Titan appears almost completely without skin. Its exposed muscles and tendons make it look like a gigantic anatomical model rather than a normal humanoid creature.
However, focusing only on its height misses what makes the Titan truly dangerous.
Why Is the Colossal Titan So Powerful?
The Colossal Titan functions less like a traditional fighter and more like a battlefield weapon.
A skilled user can change the surrounding environment simply by transforming.
Its Transformation Can Create a Massive Explosion
Titan transformations normally produce energy, but the Colossal Titan can generate an extraordinarily destructive blast.
Later in the series, its transformation is shown behaving almost like a massive bomb.
Buildings can be destroyed.
Ships can be thrown apart.
People standing close to the transformation point may have almost no chance of surviving.
This gives the Titan a strategic advantage that most other Titan shifters do not possess.
The user does not necessarily need to win a physical fight.
Simply transforming in the correct location can decide the battle.
It Produces Extreme Heat
The Colossal Titan constantly releases tremendous heat from its enormous body.
Anyone trying to approach it can be exposed to temperatures strong enough to cause severe burns.
That becomes especially important because soldiers using ODM gear normally defeat Titans by approaching their necks.
Against the Colossal Titan, getting close enough to strike the nape can itself become deadly.
It Can Release Huge Amounts of Steam
The Colossal Titan can rapidly convert its body mass into steam.
This produces a powerful defensive barrier around it.
Enemies approaching from the air can be pushed backward or burned before reaching the nape.
Bertholdt demonstrates how effective this ability can be when defending himself from Armin.
But the ability has an important limitation.
The Colossal Titan is literally consuming its own body mass while generating that steam.
That weakness becomes one of the most important tactical discoveries in the story.
The Colossal Titan’s Biggest Weakness
The Colossal Titan looks almost unbeatable when it first appears.
It is taller than the walls.
It produces devastating heat.
Its transformation can destroy entire areas.
But its strength comes with a major tradeoff: energy consumption.
Using intense steam causes the Titan’s body to deteriorate.
The more steam it releases, the more muscle mass it loses.
This creates a tactical opportunity.
Instead of trying to overpower the Colossal Titan directly, an opponent can force it to keep producing steam until its defenses weaken.
Armin recognizes this during the battle in Shiganshina.
His strategy is not based on being stronger than Bertholdt.
It is based on understanding how Bertholdt’s power works.
That distinction is important because it reflects one of Attack on Titan’s recurring themes: intelligence and information can matter more than raw strength.
How Did Bertholdt Become the Colossal Titan?
Bertholdt Hoover was chosen as part of Marley’s Warrior program.
Marley trained Eldian children to inherit the powers of the Nine Titans and serve the country’s military interests.
Bertholdt was selected to inherit the Colossal Titan.
Despite possessing one of the world’s most destructive abilities, Bertholdt’s personality is initially quiet and uncertain.
That contrast is intentional.
He controls a Titan capable of catastrophic destruction, yet he frequently struggles with confidence and relies heavily on Reiner’s leadership.
As the story progresses, however, Bertholdt becomes more decisive.
By the battle of Shiganshina, he understands that his enemies are people with their own lives and motivations but chooses to fight anyway.
This makes him more complicated than a simple villain.
Why Did the Colossal Titan Attack Wall Maria?
The attack on Wall Maria was part of the Marleyan Warriors’ mission to infiltrate Paradis Island.
Marley wanted control of the Founding Titan, which was believed to be somewhere inside the walls.
Bertholdt used the Colossal Titan to destroy the outer gate of Shiganshina District.
Reiner’s Armored Titan later broke through another gate.
Their actions allowed Pure Titans to enter human territory.
The consequences were enormous.
Thousands of people were displaced or killed, and Eren witnessed the death of his mother.
At first, the attack seems like a random assault by monsters.
Later, viewers learn that it was a military operation carried out by human-controlled Titans.
That revelation completely changes how the opening episode should be understood.
When Is the Colossal Titan’s Identity Revealed?
One of Attack on Titan’s most memorable revelations happens when Reiner unexpectedly tells Eren the truth.
Reiner identifies himself as the Armored Titan and reveals that Bertholdt is the Colossal Titan.
What makes the moment unusual is how casually the information is initially delivered.
Instead of building toward a conventional dramatic confession, Reiner almost speaks as though he is discussing an ordinary plan.
That presentation makes the scene feel unsettling.
Bertholdt’s reaction also matters.
He understands immediately that Reiner has crossed a line that cannot be undone.
From that moment, their hidden identities are no longer sustainable.
Who Becomes the Colossal Titan After Bertholdt?
After Bertholdt’s defeat during the battle of Shiganshina, Armin Arlert becomes the next Colossal Titan.
Armin is severely burned while helping Eren defeat Bertholdt.
At the same time, Commander Erwin Smith is critically injured.
The Scouts possess only one Titan injection, creating one of the most emotionally difficult decisions in the series.
Ultimately, Levi chooses Armin.
Armin receives the Titan serum, transforms into a Pure Titan, and eats Bertholdt.
By consuming a holder of one of the Nine Titans, Armin inherits the Colossal Titan’s power.
From this point onward, Armin is the Colossal Titan.
Bertholdt vs. Armin: Who Is the Better Colossal Titan?
Comparing Bertholdt and Armin is interesting because possessing the same Titan does not make them identical fighters.
Bertholdt Hoover
Bertholdt had considerable training as a Marleyan Warrior.
His advantages included:
- Extensive Titan training
- Strong transformation control
- Combat experience
- Understanding of the Colossal Titan’s steam ability
- Greater willingness to use overwhelming destruction during certain battles
Bertholdt becomes particularly dangerous once he stops hesitating.
Armin Arlert
Armin’s greatest strength is not physical combat.
It is strategic thinking.
He understands battlefield positioning, psychological behavior, and long-term consequences better than many characters around him.
When Armin uses the Colossal Titan, he tends to treat it as an extremely dangerous strategic asset rather than simply another combat form.
That approach suits the Titan surprisingly well.
The Colossal Titan is most effective when the user carefully chooses where and when to transform.
In that sense, Armin’s intelligence may be more valuable than traditional fighting skill.
Why the Colossal Titan Is Different From the Armored Titan
The Armored Titan and Colossal Titan attack together early in the story, but their battlefield roles are completely different.
| Trait | Colossal Titan | Armored Titan |
|---|---|---|
| Main user early in story | Bertholdt Hoover | Reiner Braun |
| Approximate height | 60 meters | 15 meters |
| Main advantage | Destruction and heat | Armor and durability |
| Combat style | Area devastation | Close-range assault |
| Special defense | Steam | Hardened body armor |
| Mobility | Relatively slow | Much faster |
| Best role | Strategic weapon | Front-line attacker |
The Armored Titan is designed to break through resistance.
The Colossal Titan is designed to change the entire battlefield.
This explains why Marley deploys them together during the attack on Paradis.
Their abilities complement one another.
Three Details About the Colossal Titan That Are Easy to Miss
Several aspects of the Colossal Titan become more interesting when looking beyond its obvious powers.
1. Its Greatest Weapon Is Often the Threat of Transformation
The Colossal Titan does not always need to transform to influence a battle.
Once enemies understand what its transformation can do, the possibility alone changes their behavior.
They cannot safely surround the user.
They must consider evacuation distance.
They cannot treat capturing the Titan shifter like capturing an ordinary soldier.
In military terms, the Titan creates deterrence before it even appears.
That psychological effect is rarely discussed compared with its size.
2. Bertholdt and Armin Reflect Opposite Uses of the Same Power
Bertholdt inherits the Titan as a child soldier trained by Marley.
Armin inherits it after spending years fighting against Titans.
Both carry enormous destructive power, but their relationship with that power is different.
Bertholdt gradually accepts destruction as part of his mission.
Armin becomes increasingly uncomfortable with what possessing such a weapon requires him to do.
The Titan therefore becomes more than a physical ability. It becomes a way of exploring how different people respond when they gain the power to kill thousands instantly.
3. The Titan’s Size Is Also a Tactical Disadvantage
Being 60 meters tall sounds like an automatic advantage.
It is not.
The Colossal Titan:
- Uses enormous amounts of energy
- Has limited endurance compared with smaller shifters
- Cannot move as quickly as many other Titans
- Is impossible to hide after transforming
- Creates serious risks for allies standing nearby
This means its user must think carefully before transforming.
The Colossal Titan is devastating when deployed correctly but inefficient in situations requiring prolonged, precise combat.
Common Misunderstandings About the Colossal Titan
Mistake 1: Thinking Bertholdt Is Always the Colossal Titan
Bertholdt is the first major known holder, but Titan powers can be inherited.
Armin eventually receives the Colossal Titan.
Mistake 2: Thinking Its Only Ability Is Being Huge
Its transformation and steam abilities are arguably more strategically important than its height.
Mistake 3: Assuming It Is Invincible
The Colossal Titan has extraordinary destructive power but limited endurance.
Its steam defense consumes its own body mass.
Mistake 4: Treating Bertholdt as a Mindless Villain
Bertholdt understands the suffering his actions cause.
His character becomes more interesting precisely because he recognizes the humanity of his enemies while continuing his mission.
Why the Colossal Titan Matters So Much to Attack on Titan
The Colossal Titan is more than an iconic monster.
It represents the changing perspective at the heart of the series.
At the beginning, viewers see a gigantic creature attacking helpless humans.
The conflict seems simple:
Humans are victims. Titans are monsters.
Then the story reveals the person inside.
Later, it reveals the political system that sent him.
Eventually, the audience realizes that the attack on the walls was part of a conflict much larger than Eren initially understood.
That evolution is one reason the Colossal Titan remains so memorable.
The same creature that introduces the apparent monster of the story eventually helps reveal that the real conflict is between human societies, historical grievances, military systems, and competing ideas about freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Colossal Titan in Attack on Titan?
Bertholdt Hoover is the Colossal Titan during the early and middle parts of Attack on Titan. He is a Marleyan Warrior sent to Paradis Island alongside Reiner, Annie, and Marcel. After Bertholdt’s defeat, Armin Arlert inherits the Colossal Titan.
Is Armin the Colossal Titan?
Yes. Armin becomes the Colossal Titan after being injected with Titan serum and consuming Bertholdt Hoover. He inherits the same Titan power but uses it differently because of his personality and strategic thinking.
How tall is the Colossal Titan?
The Colossal Titan is approximately 60 meters tall. That enormous height allows it to tower over most ordinary Titans and stand above the walls surrounding humanity’s territory.
Why does the Colossal Titan release steam?
The Colossal Titan can rapidly release heat and steam from its body to repel approaching enemies. The ability is extremely effective against soldiers trying to reach its nape, but producing steam consumes the Titan’s body mass and eventually weakens it.
Is the Colossal Titan stronger than the Armored Titan?
It depends on the situation. The Colossal Titan has far greater destructive potential, especially during transformation, while the Armored Titan is faster and better suited to sustained close combat. They serve different battlefield roles rather than functioning as direct equivalents.
Who killed Bertholdt Hoover?
Bertholdt is defeated through a strategy involving Armin and Eren during the battle of Shiganshina. After Bertholdt is captured, Armin is transformed into a Pure Titan and consumes him, causing Armin to inherit the Colossal Titan.
Conclusion
The answer to who is the Colossal Titan begins with Bertholdt Hoover but eventually leads to Armin Arlert.
Bertholdt uses the Titan as a Marleyan Warrior during the attack on Paradis, while Armin later inherits the same power after the battle of Shiganshina.
Its enormous 60-meter body makes it visually unforgettable, but size alone does not explain why the Titan is so dangerous. Its explosive transformation, intense heat, defensive steam, and ability to devastate entire areas make it one of the most strategically important of the Nine Titans.
Perhaps the most interesting part is that the Colossal Titan changes meaning depending on who controls it. In Bertholdt’s hands, it represents the destructive mission that begins Eren’s story. In Armin’s hands, it becomes a burden carried by someone who understands exactly how terrible that destructive power can be.
That contrast is what makes the Colossal Titan more than simply the biggest Titan in Attack on Titan.
