The first wave of 3-4 meter Titans moves to eliminate the Survey Corp's horses while Reiner climbs up to do the same. Erwin reflects internally on his selfish ulterior motives for reaching the basement as he observes the battle. He decides to have Levi and the recruits defend the horses on the Wall Maria side whilst using Eren to lure Reiner into staying on the Shiganshina side. Reiner takes the bait he and Eren fight in close combat, with Eren's crystallization abilities finally letting him get the upper hand. Eren creates an opening for Hange and Squad Levi to successfully attack Reiner with their new anti-armour weapon, the Thunder Spears. The episode ends with several spears breaching the Armored Titan's nape and exploding above an exposed Reiner.
Tropes:
- All for Nothing: Reiner notes that if Eren escapes, it doesn't matter if the Warriors kill all of the Survey Corps, since they still lose the Coordinate and lose someone who can repair any breaches they make to the Walls again.
- And This Is for...: Eren doesn't say it aloud, but he angrily invokes the hometown he lost and is currently fighting in as he fights Reiner.
- Anti-Armor: The Thunder Spears are basically high-explosive warheads designed to breach the Armored Titan's armor.
- The Bait: Eren acts like this to draw Reiner into Shiganshina, where the Scouts can use the buildings to manoeuvre around with and safely attack with the Thunder Spears.
- Boring, but Practical: Erwin quickly realises that this is the reason that the Titans are trying to kill the horses instead of the Scouts themselves. Since they are still deep in Titan territory the Scouts will not be able to escape without their horses and then the Titans can surround Shiganshina and simply wait them out until they become so weak that they can kidnap Eren without a fight.
- Call-Back:
- Eren focuses his hardening on his fist to increase its potency before striking Reiner in the head, a technique that Annie used against him.
- When Sasha and Connie hesitate in delivering the fatal blow to Reiner Jean is the one to tell them that they resolved themselves to this course of action likely remembering that his own hesitation in the previous arc almost led to his death from one of the Interior Police and his subsequent vow to never hesitate in battle again.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends on Reiner's probable demise as half a dozen Thunder Spears blow up right near his human head.
- Didn't See That Coming: Since Reiner missed out on the entirety of the Uprising arc he naturally missed out on all the new technological advancments that the Scouts are made. Thus he is completely blind sighted when the Scouts reveal a weapon capable of destroying his armor and damaging his real body inside.
- Eye Scream: Mikasa and Hange fire Thunder Spears into the Armored Titan's eyes, exploding part of its head.
- Nerves of Steel: Erwin standing on top of the wall not even 20 meters away from the Armored Titan without moving a muscle.
- Oh, Crap!: Reiner panics right as the Thunder Spears breach his Titan's nape and promptly explode above him.
- Shown Their Work: Like the first time they fought, the MMA moves that Reiner and Eren use are mostly accurate, notably Eren utilizing a Kimura sweep from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
- Took a Level in Badass:
- Eren's training with his hardening abilities, on top of his strong grappling techniques, have let him surpass Reiner in combat prowess.
- Deliberately invoked by Hange in a flashback who points out that the last time the Scouts fought the Armored Titan they were almost completely useless and unable to prevent Reiner from escaping with Eren. The Thunder Spears, made from materials taken from the Interior Police, were deliberately designed to deal damage to the Armored Titan which the Scouts do in gusto.
- Xanatos Gambit: Erwin's ploy to have Eren draw Reiner's attention. If, more likely, Reiner abandons his original goal to pursue his number one target, the Scouts can defend their horses and the Scouts have a good chance to defeat Reiner with their Thunder Spears. If Reiner doesn't take the bait, Eren can circle around behind the enemy lines and he and the Scouts can pincer the Beast Titan.
