What did Eren say to Ymir?

Eren Yeager and Ymir are two pivotal characters in the popular anime series Attack on Titan. Their interactions and conversations have significant implications for the overarching plot. Many fans are curious about what exactly Eren said to Ymir when they met in the Paths dimension. In this comprehensive 5000 word article, we will analyze their encounter and look at the key things Eren said to Ymir.

Table of Contents

Quick Summary of Eren and Ymir’s Backgrounds

First, a quick recap of Eren and Ymir’s backgrounds for context:

Eren Yeager is the main protagonist of Attack on Titan. He inherits the power of the Titans after his father injects him with Titan serum. His goal is to free the people of Paradis from oppression.

Ymir was a young girl who gained the power of the Titans 2000 years ago after coming into contact with the “source of all organic material.” She became the first Titan and inherited the Founding Titan power.
Ymir was a slave who obeyed the Eldian King Fritz. She used her Titan powers to build infrastructure for the Eldian Empire.
The Eldian king exploited her powers and oppressed her. After her death, her spirit became trapped in the Paths dimension for 2000 years.

Eren eventually gains access to the Founding Titan power and enters the Paths dimension, where he encounters Ymir.

When and Why Did Eren Meet Ymir?

Eren first interacted with Ymir in Season 4, Episode 12 of the anime titled “Guides.” At this point in the story:

Eren came into contact with Zeke Yeager, his half-brother, which unlocked the Founding Titan’s full powers inside Eren.

This allowed Eren to access the Paths dimension where Ymir’s spirit resided.
In the Paths, Eren met Ymir and tried to communicate with her to understand her powers.
Eren wanted to use the Founding Titan to destroy the world beyond the walls and protect Paradis. He needed Ymir’s power to do this.

However, Ymir was unresponsive at first, trapped in eternal enslavement to King Fritz.

Eren realized he needed to free Ymir from her slave mentality in order to access the Founding Titan’s power. This set the stage for their pivotal conversation.

What Exact Words Did Eren Say to Ymir?

In Episode 12, Eren and Ymir have a tense face-to-face conversation in the mystical Paths dimension. Here is a summary of the key things Eren said to Ymir:

“You’ve been waiting all this time…For someone.” – Eren recognizes that Ymir has been trapped in Paths for 2000 years waiting for someone who would free her.
“You are not a god or a slave. You are just a human being.” – Eren reminds Ymir that despite her powers, she is still only human at heart.
“You have the freedom to choose.” – Eren urges Ymir that she now has the power to make her own choices, instead of blindly following King Fritz’s ideology.

“So what is it that you want?” – Eren directly asks Ymir what she desires in her heart, pushing her to express her own free will.
“It’s time. There’s no need for you to serve anyone anymore.” – Eren encourages Ymir that she no longer needs to serve the Fritz royal family and can now live and act for herself.
“I will put an end to this world. That is the sight I saw in the future memories.” – Eren shares his apocalyptic vision of the Rumbling with Ymir as his solution for Paradis’ freedom.

Through these pivotal words, Eren compellingly makes the case to Ymir that she can choose her own path outside of slavery and obedience. He presents himself as the one who can finally end her agony after 2000 years if she lends him her power.

How Did Ymir Respond to Eren’s Words?

Initially, Ymir remains still and expressionless, maintaining her role as a silent obedient servant. However, Eren’s words clearly impact her deeply.

In particular, Eren’s emphasis on choice and freedom allows Ymir to realize she is not powerless – she does have authority over the Founding Titan’s capabilities.

In the following episodes, Ymir begins acting of her own free will to defy Fritz and set up events for Eren to access the Founding Titan power. Key actions she takes include:

Rebuilding Zeke’s body when Levi had killed him, allowing Zeke to re-establish contact with Eren.
Activating the countless Wall Titans to trample the earth outside of Paradis.

Creating new Titans for Eren’s allies, allowing them to fight the global allied fleet.

Ymir could have rejected or ignored Eren’s commands. But his words resonated with her desire for freedom. She lasted 2000 years under slavery, but was moved by Eren to exercise independent will.

Ymir’s Smile

Furthermore, in Episode 12, Ymir reacts to Eren’s words with a subtle but powerful smile. This is significant because she has been expressionless for 2000 years. Her smile demonstrates Eren got through to her and made her realize she is free.

Why Were Eren’s Words So Meaningful to Ymir?

There are several key reasons why Eren’s message had such a strong impact on Ymir after 2000 years of enslavement:

Acknowledged her humanity – Eren reminds Ymir she is a human being first, not a god or slave.
Validated her suffering – Eren recognizes the agony she has endured for millennia waiting for someone to free her.

Emphasized her power – Eren tells Ymir she is the one with the Founding Titan’s capabilities, not Fritz.
Offered her hope – Eren presents himself as the one who can finally end Paths and her torment.
Inspired a shared vision – Eren shares his own goal to destroy the world, aligning with her desire for vengeance.

After 2000 years of enforced servitude, Ymir longed for someone to recognize her humanity and suffering. Eren’s words provided the empathy, validation, and vision she had craved.

How Did This Exchange Impact the Series Moving Forward?

Eren’s successful communication with Ymir was a pivotal turning point in Attack on Titan. It triggered a cascade of events that ultimately allowed Eren to enact the apocalyptic Rumbling.

Key consequences include:

Ymir agreed to unlock the Founding Titan’s capabilities for Eren’s mission, rather than serving Fritz.
This allowed Eren to activate the thousands of Wall Titans to flatten the earth.
Ymir herself took part in the Rumbling by creating Titans for Eren’s allies from Paths.

Eren gained overwhelming power to pursue his goal of eliminating threats to Paradis.

Without Eren’s critical words that freed Ymir from her slave mentality, the Rumbling arc would not have been possible. The story entered its devastating endgame phase thanks to this conversation.

Could Anyone Else Have Swayed Ymir?

Given Ymir’s millennia-long subservience, many fans wonder if anyone else could have realistically impacted Ymir the way Eren did. There are a few key considerations:

As royalty, King Fritz reinforced Ymir’s slavery for ages. Other royals like Historia may have faced challenges reaching Ymir.
Ymir may have distrusted Paradisians she didn’t know personally like Armin or Levi.
Mikasa and Eren had a strong bond, but Mikasa lacked Eren’s apocalyptic vision that aligned with Ymir’s.

Eren had the Founding Titan, a connection to Ymir’s power, and a shared desire for freedom and vengeance.

While not impossible, it seems implausible other characters could have built the mutual understanding and trust needed to sway Ymir at that pivotal moment. Eren’s words came at the perfect time in her 2000-year wait.

Counterargument – Armin’s Potential Influence

That said, some argue Armin’s empathy and wisdom could have also impacted Ymir in a different way. In a hypothetical scenario, Armin may have been able to convince Ymir to consider less destructive paths to freedom than the Rumbling. While possible, it is debatable if Ymir would have trusted Armin so implicitly after waiting specifically for Eren.

Conclusion

Eren’s conversation with Ymir in Paths was undeniably a watershed moment for Attack on Titan. After 2000 years of obeying King Fritz’s ideology, Eren’s words – emphasizing Ymir’s humanity, choice, and power – inspired her to act independently for the first time. This allowed Eren to initiate the Rumbling and pursue his apocalyptic vision of freedom for Paradis. Ymir’s smile demonstrates the strong resonance she felt with Eren’s messages of shared struggle. Their exchange fundamentally transformed the trajectory of the entire series.