Colossal Titan - Attack on Titan
The Colossal Titan is the infamous Titan known for its terrifying and enormous size and its abilities to appear seemingly from thin air. It was one of the first Titans to successfully attack the Wall in the year 845 after a century-long period of peace. The Colossal Titan is noted to have peered over the 50 meter wall of Shiganshina and even managed to destroy it with a single swift kick. This unprecedented event allowed hoards of Titans to flow into the city, leading to over 10,000 citizens being devoured and many more becoming refugees, eventually causing the fall of Wall Maria. In the beginning of the series, the ability to transform into the Colossal Titan was held by Bertolt Hoover, though the power was eventually transferred to Armin Arlelt.
Appearance
Towering at 60 meters tall, the Colossal Titan effortlessly broke down the outermost wall in the Fall of Shiganshina Arc. In addition to its size, its spine chilling appearance can bring terror to all that witness it. The Colossal Titan’s appearance resembles a human body without any skin whatsoever, leaving muscle, exposed tendons, and fibers that hold everything together in full view. Viewing a regular human body without skin is terrifying, however, seeing a skinless disproportionate humanoid being standing 60 meters tall with an evil, menacing expression amplifies this feeling of unease significantly.
Abilities
While the Colossal Titan excels in sheer power and size, it has an incredibly limited range of mobility. That said, it does have a defense mechanism that allows it to protect itself from enemies. The Colossal Titan can release hot steam on command, which will quickly burn anyone touching its muscles directly or swinging around on their maneuvering gear nearby. Releasing steam requires a large amount of energy and comes at the expense of not being able to move, as the energy that would normally be used to control its muscles is used to generate steam instead.
Using its steam abilities slowly degenerates other parts of the body as well. The more the Colossal Titan uses its steam, the more muscle mass is consumed until the Colossal Titan only has bones left. Luckily, Titans have regenerative properties, so its muscles can be regenerated as long as it has enough time to do so. Either way, using this ability renders it immobile until it can regenerate enough power to be able to move its massive body.
The Colossal Titan also seems to have the ability to control how much energy is released whenever it transforms. Bertholt is shown releasing varying levels of explosions when he transforms into the Colossal Titan that can range in scale from a minor gust of wind to a miniature nuclear explosion.
Origins
In an attempt to kill Armin, the Colossal Titan releases an incredible amount of steam as Armin hangs on to his maneuvering gear, which is anchored to its teeth (Season 3, Episode 17). However, Armin’s strong will to protect Eren gives him the strength to continue hanging on to prevent the Colossal Titan from killing him. The Colossal Titan ended up using its steam to burn Armin until it thought he was dead. Eventually, the Titan let Armin go.
While distracted, Bertolt realizes that Eren had hardened his Titan to cover the entrance. To Bertolt’s surprise Eren comes spinning and cuts Bertolt out of the Colossal Titan’s nape. Limbless and powerless, Bertolt comes flying out of his Titan while Eren drags him out. In the end, both Armin and Bertolt are left on the brink of death as a result of this attack.
Transfering Power
The power of one of the Nine Titans (special Titans like the Colossal Titan, the Female Titan, the Armored Titan, and so on) can be “inherited” if another Titan devours the original holder of the power. In Season 3, Episode 18 of the anime follows scenes of Eren trying to convince Levi to revive Armin with their vial of Titan serum. Armin, badly burnt from the steam, is on the brink of death. The Titan injection would cause the one who received it to turn into a Titan and gain their regenerative properties, but would then have to consume someone with the power of the Nine Titans in order to become human once again.
Commander Erwin, who previously was hit by debris caused by the Beast Titan, was also currently in critical condition and on the verge of death. In the end, Captain Levi was the one to choose the recipient of the injection. In other words, Levi held the life of both Armin and Erwin in his hands, but he could only save one of them.
Levi, in a charitable act to end Erwin’s suffering, allows him to peacefully rest and revives Armin with the Titan serum. Armin, after being injected with the Titan serum by Levi, becomes a pure Titan. In his mindless state, he manages to find the limbless Bertolt and eats him, gaining the powers of the Colossal Titan and turning back into a human as a result.