Attack on Titan: The Curse of Ymir Explained | Screen Rant
The Curse of Ymir has spurred countless theories regarding its nature and existence among fans of Attack on Titan, especially in terms of the effects it can have on Eren Jaeger’s arc. This curse spans back to the first Titan, Ymir Fritz, who is believed to be the only one to ever possess complete control over all Titans, as they are a fragmentary continuation of her power. Ymir had incredible control over her Titan body, which was immense and could be used to perform complex tasks such as cultivating entire fields and building bridges across mountain ranges.
Details about the Curse of Ymir were first revealed in Chapter #88 of Hajime Isayama’s manga, and Season 3 of the popular anime. As per the events of this particular episode, after the reclamation of Wall Maria, the Scouts were able to uncover the secrets within the basement of Eren’s childhood home. This is when the legend of the first Titan, Ymir Fritz, was uncovered, which stated that as Ymir herself was unable to live beyond 13 years after awakening her powers, no other Titan could surpass that limit. This implies that once an individual gains the ability to shift into a Titan, they have a total of 13 years, beyond which the curse hinders them from existing altogether. It has also been hinted that during the final years of a Titan’s life, their bodies are bound to weaken till they perished.
This begs the pertinent question: does the curse of Ymir truly exist? If one were to compare the curse’s details to the lives of actual Titans, there is much evidence in its favor. The most seminal example would be Grisha Jaeger, Eren’s father himself, who fed himself to Eren after having been in possession of the Attack Titan for 13 years. This is also true in the case of Eren Kruger, Uri Reiss, and Tom Ksaver, who suffered from extreme sickness and aged considerably during the final years of their existence as Titans. When analyzed in terms of Eren’s current arc of evolving into the very thing he sought to once destroy, the Curse of Ymir becomes all the more pressing, as it could lead to his death shortly. This concern is further exacerbated by the Attack on Titan manga’s more recent Chapter #130, in which Eren himself claims that he only has four years of survival left. However, can the Curse of Ymir be taken at face value, and is there a loophole of sorts that can be employed in the case of Eren?
It is important to take the following into consideration: as Eren possesses the power of multiple Titans, can his life be extended beyond the doomed thirteen-year span? Fans of the franchise pointed towards the fact that Grisha Jaeger, despite appearing worn out during his final year, did not age drastically as compared to the likes of King Uri Reiss. As Grisha inhabited the bodies of two Titans, is it possible that he could have lived for another 13 years after consuming the Founding Titan? As the Curse of Ymir is legitimized via fleeting occurrences, historical legacy, and hearsay, it is possible that Grisha might have survived the curse after all, but failed to take the chance of verifying its probable loopholes. Conversely, this could very well be a red herring, as it is known that Ymir’s death occurred after 13 years despite the fact that she possessed the powers of all Nine Titans.
Irrespective of whether the Curse of Ymir is real or not, it is most likely that Attack on Titan is fast-approaching a denouement like no other. The final season of the anime is still to answer what Eren’s master plan is, and whether he is truly the antagonist the show wants us to believe he is. This is inevitably tied to the fates of the Eldians and the Marleys, and whether freedom will emerge as a practical outcome at the brink of an apocalyptic war. Last but not least, there’s the mystery of Ymir herself, hailed as a savior and a tyrant all at once, while the truth could simply hinge upon the fact that her actions stemmed from an innate brokenness and a misguided attempt to bring balance into the world. Only the remaining episodes of the anime can proffer genuine answers to these questions, although it will be interesting to witness whether Eren’s arc will truly come to an end, and what his true motivations were all along.
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