The Impact of Consuming a Pure Titan in Attack on Titan

Within Attack on Titan, the unique concept of "Titan shifters" revolves around the ability to transform into Titans by consuming spinal fluid from individuals with the same power. However, the consumption of a Pure Titan does not grant any additional abilities to the Titan shifter. This article delves into the implications of consuming a Pure Titan and explores the taboos surrounding such actions in the world of Titans.

The Nature of Pure Titans

Pure Titans are a distinct category of Titans that were born from humans who were injected with Titan spinal fluid. These individuals, however, lack the ability to return to their human form. Consequently, they possess no unique powers or abilities that could be acquired by consuming them. The consumption of a Pure Titan is akin to consuming any other human, offering no enhancement in abilities to the Titan shifter.

Taboos and Societal Norms

In the realm of Attack on Titan, cannibalism is deeply taboo. The act of consuming another human being is generally frowned upon by society, regardless of the consequences. While a Titan shifter would gain the strength and regenerative abilities of a Titan from consuming a Pure Titan, the illegality and taboo nature of the act are significant.

The Resistance of Pure Titans

When examining the effects of a Titan shifter consuming a Pure Titan, it is important to note that they do not provide any new powers. For instance, in Season 2, Ymir was seen biting the napes of Pure Titans, with the effect being equivalent to being sliced by a blade rather than gaining any transformative power. This suggests that the spinal fluid of Pure Titans lacks the necessary components to transfer Titan abilities.

Powers Transfer through Titan Shifting

The transfer of powers among Titan shifters occurs through the consumption of spinal fluid. Normally, for a power to be transferred, the shifter must ingest the spinal fluid of another Titan. There are also instances where the shifter must possess 'royal blood' to use certain powers, such as the Founding Titan and the Beast Titan. Without the requisite bloodline, ingesting the spinal fluid of these Titans would grant the shifting power but not the ability to use it independently.

Historical Examples and Implications

Historically, within the overarching story, Eren Jaeger exemplifies the exchange of Titan powers through consumption. His father, Grisha Yeager, consumed Titan shifters during his lifetime, thereby gaining the Attack Titan power and the Founding Titan power. These powers were then passed down to Eren, who now possesses both. Initially, the Titan goddess Ymir had all the shifting powers, which were subsequently divided. Eren now holds two of these powers, and the possibility of gaining more raises intriguing questions.

Conclusion

The consumption of a Pure Titan in Attack on Titan does not provide any additional powers to the Titan shifter. While there is the potential for regenerative and strength boosts, the act itself is highly taboo and frowned upon by society. The transfer of powers is a complex matter, requiring specific conditions such as the ingestion of spinal fluid or possession of 'royal blood.' As the series continues, the implications of these actions and the underlying mechanics could lead to further developments and plot twists.