Bertholdt Hoover

Overview

Bertholdt Hoover was one of Marley's five Warrior candidates sent to infiltrate Paradis Island and reclaim the Founding Titan. He inherited the Colossal Titan, the largest of the Nine Titans, standing at approximately 60 meters. In the year 845, Bertholdt transformed outside Wall Maria, creating a massive breach that allowed the Titan invasion to overwhelm the Shiganshina District. This single act killed hundreds of thousands of people and set the entire narrative of Attack on Titan in motion. Bertholdt, alongside Reiner Braun and Annie Leonhart, infiltrated the 104th Training Corps to locate the Founding Titan while hiding their true identities as enemy Warriors.

Born in the Liberio Internment Zone of Marley, Bertholdt was selected as a Warrior candidate at a young age due to his parents volunteering him for the program. He was trained alongside Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart, Marcel Galliard, and Porco Galliard. When Marcel was killed by Ymir during the initial Paradis mission, the remaining four Warriors spread the cover story that they were refugees from a destroyed village. Bertholdt, Reiner, and Annie then enrolled in the 104th Training Corps, where Bertholdt graduated fourth in his class. Despite his towering human height of 192 cm and the devastating power of the Colossal Titan, Bertholdt was defined by profound insecurity, guilt, and a desperate longing for acceptance. His internal conflict between duty to Marley and his growing attachments to his Paradis comrades in the end consumed him.

Appearance

Bertholdt Hoover is one of the tallest characters in the series at 192 cm (6'4"), with a lean, lanky build that makes him appear even taller. He has short, dark brown hair parted to the side, large eyes with heavy eyelids that give him a perpetually tired or anxious expression, and a long, narrow face with prominent cheekbones. His posture is often hunched or slouched, as if he is trying to make himself smaller — a physical manifestation of his desire to avoid attention. He wears the standard 104th Training Corps uniform during his time with the Paradis military, consisting of a white button-up shirt, dark necktie, brown jacket, and light brown trousers fitted with ODM Gear straps.

The Colossal Titan form is Bertholdt's most iconic visual. It possesses no skin — only exposed muscle tissue with a skeletal structure visible in places, producing superheated steam from its entire body. The Titan's face lacks a nose and has small, glowing yellow-orange eyes, with large ears that taper to points. Its mouth is perpetually slightly open, revealing rows of teeth. The transformation itself generates a massive, cataclysmic explosion that devastates the surrounding environment. When Bertholdt partially transforms to produce steam without a full body transformation, his human form emerges from the nape surrounded by muscular Titan tissue. In combat during the Battle of Shiganshina, Bertholdt's appearance grows increasingly desperate as he sheds layers of his Titan form, his human body visible through the muscular armor.

Personality

Bertholdt's defining trait is his overwhelming guilt. He is acutely aware that his actions at Wall Maria resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, and this knowledge haunts him throughout the series. Unlike Reiner, who develops a dissociative identity disorder to cope with the duality of his existence as a Warrior and a soldier, Bertholdt carries his guilt with full consciousness. He rarely speaks, preferring to let Reiner take the lead in social situations. His quietness is not stoicism — it is the silence of someone who is terrified of being discovered and equally terrified of the person he has to be when he transforms into the Colossal Titan.

Bertholdt is deeply insecure about his worth as a person and as a Warrior. He frequently seeks validation from Reiner and looks to others for direction, lacking the inner conviction that drives characters like Eren or Erwin. Despite his physical size and the devastating power at his disposal, he sees himself as weak and indecisive. This self-perception is not entirely inaccurate — Bertholdt hesitates at critical moments, particularly when his personal feelings conflict with his mission objectives. However, this same sensitivity makes him capable of genuine emotional connection. His growing friendship with the 104th Corps members, particularly Armin Arlet, creates a painful contradiction that he cannot resolve. In his final moments, Bertholdt shows that he did have convictions — he genuinely believed in the mission to retrieve the Founding Titan, not for Marley's glory, but to protect his family back in Liberio from being turned into Pure Titans.

Abilities & Power

The Colossal Titan is the largest of the Nine Titans at approximately 60 meters tall, dwarfing every other Titan form in the series. Its primary offensive capability is the transformation explosion — when Bertholdt transforms, the energy release incinerates everything within a considerable radius. This is not a power that can be used casually, as it takes significant time to regenerate the Titan body after each transformation. The Colossal Titan generates superheated steam from its entire body surface, creating a defensive shroud that burns any attacker who approaches. Bertholdt can control the temperature and volume of this steam, from a gentle haze to an explosive burst that can melt ODM Gear wires and boil soldiers alive inside their harnesses.

The Colossal Titan's physical striking power is immense. A single kick from its foot can level city walls and send enemies flying hundreds of meters. Despite its enormous size, the Colossal Titan is not particularly agile — its strength lies in area denial and overwhelming force rather than precision combat. Bertholdt demonstrated advanced strategic use of his powers during the Battle of Shiganshina, where he shed portions of his Titan's muscle mass to create steam explosions at specific intervals, controlling the battlefield and countering the Survey Corps' ODM-based assault tactics. He also displayed the ability to partially transform, emerging from a burst of steam as a partial Colossal form rather than committing to a full transformation.

As a human, Bertholdt demonstrated above-average combat capability. He graduated fourth in the 104th Training Corps, indicating solid proficiency with ODM Gear, hand-to-hand combat, and tactical thinking. His tall frame gives him an advantage in reach during armed combat, though his lanky build makes him less durable than more muscular soldiers. Bertholdt is also a capable infiltrator — he maintained his cover identity for five years, living among the people he was sent to destroy, without ever breaking character. This required tremendous psychological endurance, even if it came at the cost of his mental health. His strategic mind is understated but present — he correctly identified Armin as the greatest tactical threat among the 104th and focused on eliminating him during the Shiganshina battle.

Story Arcs

The Breach of Wall Maria

Bertholdt's first and most consequential act in the series occurs before the main narrative begins. In the year 845, he transforms into the Colossal Titan outside the Shiganshina District and kicks a hole in Wall Maria, creating an opening large enough for countless Titans to pour through. This single action causes the fall of Wall Maria, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, and the displacement of the surviving population behind Wall Rose. Among the survivors are Eren Yeager, who watches his mother being eaten by a Titan, and Mikasa Ackerman, who fights to protect the young boy who saved her. The breach of Wall Maria is the inciting incident of the entire story, and Bertholdt is the direct instrument of this catastrophe. He carries the weight of this act for the rest of his life, and it shapes every subsequent decision he makes.

Infiltration of the 104th Training Corps

Following the breach, Bertholdt, Reiner, and Annie enroll in the 104th Training Corps under fabricated identities as refugees from the fallen Shiganshina District. Bertholdt graduates fourth in his class, demonstrating competence without drawing excessive attention. During this three-year period, he forms genuine bonds with his comrades — particularly with Reiner, who is his childhood friend and fellow Warrior, and with Annie, who shares the burden of their secret mission. He also develops a complex relationship with the other cadets, especially Armin and Eren. Bertholdt struggles with compartmentalizing his two identities: the quiet, dependable soldier and the enemy Warrior who has already killed thousands. The cognitive dissonance becomes increasingly unbearable as the training period ends and the real mission begins.

The 57th Expedition and Female Titan Arc

When the Survey Corps launches the 57th Expedition Beyond the Walls to capture the Female Titan, Bertholdt participates as a member of the formation. He witnesses Annie Leonhart being cornered by the Survey Corps and encasing herself in crystal. The loss of Annie to her crystal imprisonment is a severe blow to the Warriors' mission, leaving Bertholdt and Reiner as the only remaining active infiltrators. The psychological strain of this period intensifies dramatically. Reiner begins to crack under the pressure, developing split personalities — one the dutiful Warrior and the other the loyal soldier. Bertholdt watches his partner deteriorate while maintaining his own composure, but the effort leaves him increasingly isolated and tormented. He and Reiner escape by fleeing to the Walls' interior, abandoning their posts.

Clash of the Titans and the Revelation

During the battle in the Utgard Castle and the subsequent confrontation, Reiner finally breaks down and confesses to Eren that he is the Armored Titan. Bertholdt, who has no choice but to support his partner, transforms into the Colossal Titan to assist in kidnapping Eren. A running battle ensues through the abandoned villages of Wall Rose, with the Survey Corps, including the newly revealed Titan shifters Ymir and Historia, pursuing the Warriors. During the chaos, Ymir sides with the Warriors after learning the truth about her own past, and she helps secure Eren's capture. However, the combined efforts of the Survey Corps force the Warriors to retreat without their prize. Bertholdt and Reiner escape with Ymir, but the mission to capture the Founding Titan has failed. This arc represents the end of Bertholdt's infiltration — his true identity is now known to the Survey Corps, and he becomes an open enemy of Paradis.

The Battle of Shiganshina — Final Stand

The climax of Bertholdt's story occurs during the Battle of Shiganshina, where the Survey Corps launches an operation to retake Wall Maria and eliminate the Warriors. Bertholdt fights with desperate intensity, using the full destructive power of the Colossal Titan to hold back the Corps while Zeke Yeager maneuvers the Beast Titan's forces. He creates a massive steam explosion that forces the Survey Corps to retreat and reconsider their approach. Armin devises a plan to defeat Bertholdt: using the formation's remaining Thunder Spears to create a massive explosion that will burn Bertholdt out of his Titan. Armin activates this plan by impaling himself on the Colossal Titan's hand while carrying a Thunder Spear, triggering a blast that incinerates both Armin and Bertholdt simultaneously.

After the explosion, both Armin and Bertholdt lie critically wounded on the rooftop. Captain Levi faces the agonizing choice of which one to save with the Titan serum. He chooses Armin, and Bertholdt is fed to Armin, transferring the Colossal Titan power. In his final moments, Bertholdt's memories are inherited by Armin, revealing the full scope of the Warriors' childhood in Liberio and their motivations. Bertholdt's death marks the end of the original Warrior trio that breached Wall Maria, and the transfer of the Colossal Titan to a soldier of Paradis represents a turning point in the power balance of the conflict.

Relationship Network

Reiner Braun. Reiner is Bertholdt's closest companion and the person he trusts most in the world. The two grew up together in Liberio, trained as Warriors, and executed the Paradis mission as a team. Bertholdt relies on Reiner for emotional support and tactical direction, following Reiner's lead in most situations. When Reiner develops split personalities, Bertholdt becomes the steady presence that anchors him. Their partnership is one of mutual dependence — Reiner provides strength and decisiveness, while Bertholdt provides quiet support and loyalty.

Annie Leonhart. Annie is the third member of the original Paradis infiltration team. Bertholdt shares a quiet, unspoken understanding with Annie — both are introverts who struggle with the moral weight of their mission. Annie's decision to encase herself in crystal after being cornered by the Survey Corps leaves Bertholdt and Reiner alone. Bertholdt's feelings for Annie are ambiguous but deeply felt; in his memories inherited by Armin, Annie is one of the few people Bertholdt considers a true friend.

Armin Arlet. Armin is simultaneously Bertholdt's friend and his ultimate foil. During their training days, Bertholdt knew Armin as a brilliant but insecure strategist. The two shared a quiet camaraderie as fellow intelligent but physically unremarkable soldiers. In the Battle of Shiganshina, Armin becomes the architect of Bertholdt's defeat, using the same strategic brilliance that Bertholdt had observed during training. Armin inherits the Colossal Titan and Bertholdt's memories, becoming the keeper of his legacy.

Eren Yeager. Bertholdt's relationship with Eren is defined by the breach of Wall Maria, which directly caused the death of Eren's mother. Eren views Bertholdt with profound hatred, and Bertholdt accepts this hatred as justified. Despite this, their interactions during the training period were neutral to friendly, with Eren treating Bertholdt as a respected comrade. The revelation of Bertholdt's true identity is a deeply personal betrayal for Eren.

Marcel Galliard. Marcel was the original leader of the Warrior infiltration team before his death. He was killed by Ymir immediately after arriving on Paradis, leaving Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie to execute the mission without him. Marcel's death forced Bertholdt into a more active role than he was prepared for, potentially contributing to his psychological struggles throughout the series.

Cultural Impact & Popularity

Bertholdt Hoover holds a unique place in Attack on Titan's narrative as the character whose single action — the breach of Wall Maria — sets the entire story in motion. He is the catalyst for every major event that follows, from Eren's transformation into a Titan to the revelation of the truth about the world beyond the Walls. Fans and critics have praised Bertholdt as among the most psychologically realistic portrayals of guilt in anime. His quiet suffering, his inability to reconcile his duty with his conscience, and his ultimate defeat at the hands of the friend he secretly admired make him a tragic figure rather than a simple villain.

Bertholdt's Colossal Titan transformation sequences are among the most iconic visual moments in anime history. The first transformation outside Wall Maria, with the massive hand gripping the wall followed by the explosion of steam and debris, is a defining image of the series as a whole. The Colossal Titan's design — skinless, muscular, perpetually steaming — has influenced Titan designs in subsequent media. Bertholdt's final battle in Shiganshina, where he fights with desperate intensity while Armin orchestrates his defeat, is widely regarded as among the most emotionally charged confrontations in the series. His passing of the Colossal Titan to Armin creates a symbolic inheritance — the most destructive Titan power passes from a reluctant Warrior to a determined soldier, representing the transfer of responsibility for the future of the world.