What if Rainer had been captured by the Eldians at the Battle of Shiganshina?

Key foods

• Rainer's arrest could lead to a shift in alliances and possible delays in the Ramblings of Erin plan.
• The Eldians may have exploited the relationship between Rainer and Zeke to discover Marley's true intentions.
• Even with Rainer in custody, Eren's decision may ensure that Rumbling goes ahead as intended.

Anime often follows parallel scenarios where an event in the anime's story arc takes a different path. These plot twists create debate among viewers about how different the outcome of each series could have been, and can lead to theory after theory about what could have been. as much as demon slayer It raises questions regarding the character's actions and reactions to them throughout the plot attack on titan It has certain points that may have gone in different ways.

At the Battle of Shiganshina, Rainer Brown—the Armored Titan—narrowly escaped being captured by the Eldians. But what if he didn't? What if Reiner was caught joining Bertolt? This brings up a wide range of interesting perspectives, each of which has far-reaching implications for Eren's plan for Rumbling.

Catch the fallen hero

Immediate consequences of Rainer's arrest

If the Eldians had captured Reiner in that fight, they probably would have immediately turned their focus to interrogating him. Given that he has a lot of insight into Marley's army and its giants, Rainer will be a veritable gold mine of information. However, being the tough soldier that he is, Rainer will likely remain loyal to Marley and resist attempts to get him to betray his country.

On the other hand, his intense trauma of betraying his former comrades in Paradise may have affected him. Rainer's inner turmoil about his dual identity as a Marlian warrior and Eldian sympathizer could have been crucial to his answers, leading him to reveal critical information about Marlian's plans. This is information that could significantly change Paradis' strategy in future battles.

Obstacle over Zeke's plan

How might this have affected Zeke's role?

Rainer's capture may change everything in Zeke's plans. And we know that it was his alliance with Paradise that set off a chain of events for Eren to activate Rumbling. If Rainer had been captured, the level of trust between them and the Eldians could have been different. Not only that, but Zeke's Beast Titan plays a very important role in Rumbling. His royal blood is required to fully activate the Founding Titan's power. The Aldians were more suspicious of Zeke's role, and as such, their cooperation may have been a bit slow, delaying Eren's ultimate goal.

If the Eldians knew they were taking advantage of Reiner's relationship with Zeke, they might have tried to use such a bond with Zeke to get rid of his true motivations much earlier, possibly even if they could have delayed Rumbling or taken another route. to choose Set up Zeke's involvement somehow. For example, with Rainer's knowledge in hand, Paradise might take a different approach to Marley, even using Zeke's position to negotiate.

Could Rainer's recording stop the roar?

It might set off a chain reaction in Eren's larger plan to completely disrupt Rumbling. They would hold Rainer hostage, guide the Eldians to weaknesses and strategies that Marley has in store for them, or even how to avoid an all-out war by building better defenses and find diplomatic solutions to end hostilities. Had Reiner buckled under questioning and revealed Marley's true intentions, Paradis might have focused all of his efforts on defense rather than Eren's offensive path.

However, all this time, Eren had already planned and even manipulated events for Rumbling. Rainer's capture alone may not have been enough to stop Rambling, as Eren's goals were broader than captives. Even with Reiner in custody, Eren's determination to realize his vision of Eldian freedom may allow Rumbling to happen regardless, but perhaps with a little more complexity.

Marley's revenge

How will Marley react?

Marley's reaction to Rainer's arrest was sharp and aggressive. Losing such a valuable key figure in the war against them weakens their position. Marley may have taken the immediate desperate step of sending a rescue mission with more fighters to Paradise Island. There was conflict earlier than what happened in the mainstream. Marley's desperation to recover his Armored Titan led to much more brutal strategies that would have put both countries well past the point of no return.

In this case, Marley's extreme aggression may force Paradise to take more drastic measures to defend itself, accelerating the need for Eren's Rumbling to become a reality. Successfully rescuing Rainer will provide insight into Paradise's defenses and giants and accelerate their battle plans.

We are, Rainer

Did Rainer play a bigger role in the final conflict?

Had he been captured, his role in the later stages of the war between Marley and Paradise would have been quite different. For a long time, Rainer was shown to be a tragic figure torn between two worlds: his loyalty to Marley and his sympathy for his former comrades who ended up in Paradise. In captivity, Reiner may have time to reflect on the choices he's made and the people he's loyal to, which could lead to him changing his priorities, perhaps even joining the Jiggrists and Eren himself as much as possible. .

On the other hand, if Rainer refused to help, the Eldians could use Rainer's interrogation and knowledge of what was about to happen to Marley as an opportunity to formulate a plan and arrange to capture his Armored Titan. One of their numbers. They can then, with the information Rainer provides, actively seek out other Titan serums and execute a planned transformation. Giving Rayner's Titan to a Parady loyalist would bolster their military might and give them weapons in the event of a possible future conflict against Marley. This newly acquired Armored Titan could be used for further improvements to Paradise's defenses or even as a deterrent against foreign forces, dramatically shifting the balance of power.

Destruction of humanity without change

Was the roar inevitable?

Even though Rainer's capture may change the course of events in the conflict, the melee may be inevitable due to Eren's extensive planning. Eren had long predicted that the need for Rambling would be necessary to free Aldia, no matter who stood in the way. Barring his capture by Rainer, although Rumbling could have happened much later, his manipulation of Zeke and the Titan Founder's power would have most likely made it happen – maybe just a little later and in a different range.

Either way, Rainer's capture wouldn't have changed Eren's original motivations or his ultimate goal. The Rumbling was several years in the making and intertwined with Eren's belief that it was the only protection for Paradise. Although Rainer's capture could delay Rumbling or introduce new variables, Eren's unique move will likely ensure that the plan goes ahead as planned.

His capture during the Battle of Shiganshina could have led to anything from misaligned alliances to changing timing regarding major plot points. Given that Eren specifically designed Rumbling, it's likely that the endpoint will remain the same. Rainer's capture may cause minor delays and new action plans, but the motivations behind the characters still drive the story to its tragic and inevitable conclusion.