Levi Ackerman: Who Influenced the World's Strongest Soldier

I've always been fascinated by characters shaped by the people around them — especially warriors like Levi Ackerman, whose calm precision and unmatched strength often make us forget that he, too, was molded by those who came before him. In Attack on Titan, Levi didn’t emerge fully formed as humanity’s strongest soldier. His identity, values, and fighting spirit were forged through relationships with people who deeply influenced him.

Here’s a look at the key figures who shaped Levi Ackerman into the soldier and man we know.

From Dedicating His Life to Humanity to Becoming a Killer

Levi’s earliest and most foundational influence was Erwin Smith. When Levi was still a teenager, Erwin found him in the Underground, where he lived in filth and survival mode. Erwin saw something in Levi — potential, intelligence, and an untapped strength. He gave Levi a purpose beyond mere survival: the fight for humanity’s future.

Under Erwin’s leadership in the Survey Corps, Levi learned discipline, strategy, and the importance of sacrifice. Erwin wasn’t just a commander; he was a mentor and, in many ways, a father figure. Levi followed him not out of obligation, but because he believed in Erwin’s vision — a belief that would be tested when Erwin made morally gray decisions in pursuit of that vision.

The Brother Who Gave Him a Home

Before Levi joined the Survey Corps, he lived with his uncle Kenny Ackerman — a brutal, morally ambiguous man who raised him in the Underground. But the person who truly gave Levi warmth and a sense of belonging was Keith Sadies, his unofficial adoptive older brother.

Keith was kind in a world that rarely was. He protected Levi, taught him how to read, and tried to give him a sliver of normalcy. When Keith was murdered by a noble, it was a turning point for Levi — it revealed the cruelty of the system and fueled his early rage. That experience stayed with him, shaping his deep distrust of the powerful and his personal code of justice.

A Mother Figure and a Glimpse of Cleanliness

Before Keith’s death, there was also Isabel Magnolia, a woman who ran a laundry shop and showed Levi kindness during one of his first ventures to the surface. She gave him clean clothes, a bath, and a sense of dignity he had never known.

Her kindness planted the seeds of Levi’s famously high standards of cleanliness — but more than that, she gave him a glimpse of a world that wasn’t ruled by filth and fear. Her murder, like Keith’s, devastated him and hardened his resolve to fight for a better world.

The Man Who Taught Him to Kill Without Hesitation

Kenny Ackerman, Levi’s blood-related uncle, was a complicated figure. He raised Levi in the Underground, but his methods were harsh and his worldview cynical. Kenny taught Levi how to fight, how to kill, and how to survive at any cost.

Though Levi never fully adopted Kenny’s nihilism, the lessons stuck — especially in battle. Kenny’s influence is visible in Levi’s ruthless efficiency and his ability to make cold, calculated decisions under pressure. In many ways, Kenny gave Levi the tools to survive, even if Levi ultimately chose a different path.

The Woman Who Fought by His Side

Isabel Springer, the Survey Corps soldier who briefly partnered with Levi, reminded him of the value of trust and camaraderie. Though their time together was short, her loyalty and bravery left a mark on him.

Her death during a mission devastated Levi, and it was the last straw that led him to confront Erwin about the cost of their missions. This moment marked a shift in Levi’s relationship with Erwin — from blind loyalty to a more complex, questioning alliance.

Talk to Levi Ackerman on HoloDream

If you want to hear Levi reflect on these relationships firsthand, you can talk to him on HoloDream. Ask him about Keith, about Erwin, or even about the burden of being humanity’s last hope — he’ll give you honest, unfiltered answers.