<p>This has no answer yet, and probably will not for a while. The author has stated the publication will run for at least another three years from the date of the linked article (<a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-09-22/attack-on-titan-creator-isayama-manga-to-end-in-about-3-years/.79025" rel="nofollow noreferrer">September 2014</a>).</p>

<p>Below is what has been revealed so far: </p>

<ol>
<li><blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> The reason seems to be that the Coordinate, which has the power to control Titans, is "lost".  Mindless titans can't be controlled without it.</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> It could be said that Colossal Titan only emerged recently to take down the wall since a Titan of that size and power has never been available before. </p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> Titans are actually used to enslave/control the population (since the royal family seemed to have had the Coordinate power for several generations). They never attempted to use it against the "enemy" before Eren took control of it, which is odd. Bertolt, Reiner, Annie could actually be working for the king, since the royal family "lost" the Coordinate to Eren's father. </p>
</blockquote></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-09T07:20:27.807Z
I edited the number of years from seven to three, since I can't find any source stating that the publication will run for 7 years.
nhahtdh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-15T23:27:04.677Z
At this stage, even the mangaka and editors probably don't know exactly how long it will take to wrap the story up. Most likely, it will be determined by (1) how long it takes for the writer to develop all his desired themes and plotlines and/or, most importantly (2) the continued level of popularity. If it stays as popular as it is now, the series could last as long as One Piece! If people start to tire, then editorial decree will mandate winding things up quickly!
Meir Illumination
CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-01-08T16:53:32.877Z
2018-07-29T01:23:44.320Z
2018-07-29T01:23:44.320Z
Quikstryke
<p>The exact answer has not been revealed, but some conclusion can be drawn from different episodes and chapters of anime and manga.</p>

<p>The prelude of several episodes of Attack on Titan stated that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Over a hundred years ago, humanity suddenly found itself faced with a new predator. They were more powerful than humans. Humanity was immediately pushed to the brink of extinction. The survivors built three walls: Maria, Rose, and Sina.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>From the anime and manga:</p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p> <ul><li>The Female Titan spared Armin's life several times.</li>
 <li><a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/7561/6345">The walls were built with the exoskeletons of titans.</a></li>
 <li>Colossal Titan, Armored Titan, Female Titan (i.e. Bertolt Hoover, Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart respectively) and other Titan Shifters actually lived among humans.</li>
 <li>Ymir turned into titan and protected her friends from other titans.</li>
 <li>Rich people and the top brass who mainly lived inside Wall Sina knew a lot about the titans, the walls and the titan inside the walls.</li>
 <li>The titans who broke through the wall and led other titans inside were mainly the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan, and their objective was to search for the mysterious power known as the "Coordinate".</li></ul></p>
</blockquote>

<p>These points lead me to conclude that their main intention is not to destroy humanity, but to find the <strong>Coordinate</strong> ability for which they may destroy humanity. The relation of the Titan Shifters with human, and their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their friends shows that their main intention was not to destroy humanity. And humans are not as weak as they seem to be; titans need to make some effort to destroy all humans, and those titans with brain know that. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T08:47:13.277Z
but they could easily found the basement of Jager in 5 years if they searched the town. and if they wanted eren they could have easily got him. so they are not so quick about searching the coordinate too for some reason
Esqarrouth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T16:40:24.737Z
Seems you are not caught up in the manga :(
Quikstryke
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-09T04:37:39.293Z
@Quikstryke I am up to date with manga.
mirroroftruth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T08:33:51.043Z
2015-02-07T19:07:20.000Z
2017-04-13T12:54:49.117Z
mirroroftruth
<ol>
<li><p>The Titans can't wipe out the human race by themselves. They couldn't break through the wall for over 100 years, and still required the help of the intelligent <a href="http://shingekinokyojin.wikia.com/wiki/Titan_Shifter" rel="nofollow">Titan Shifter</a> to break through the wall at all.</p></li>
<li><p>I think certain Titan Shifters are on a kind of a mission — maybe they want to show the human race that they can't sit around and do nothing? Or perhaps they have an even bigger goal?</p></li>
<li><p>I read somewhere (sadly I can't remember where) that the Titans stopped their mission of attacking because they are afraid of the new Titan Eren. He could be a problem if he finds out the truth behind the Titans.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-21T21:03:50.823Z
The technical term for "Human Titan" is [Titan Shifter](http://shingekinokyojin.wikia.com/wiki/Titan_Shifter) btw ;) I'm not sure what you mean with "the truth behind the Titans". Are you talking about the titans in the wall, about the origin of the titans, about the first king's mission, ...? If you specify a bit more, I might be able to tell you where it was mentioned.
Peter Raeves
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-22T06:13:50.817Z
@PeterRaeves "the truth behind the titans" means the true about the normal one, why do they eat human even if they don't need to eat... what do they need to eat... and more
Based on my knowledge which is just about the anime, i think it was after the second attack. On the Wall Rose. Where Eren had his first transformation.
Kjenos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-22T07:34:30.993Z
In chapter 18, Ilse did mention what you mentioned and later there were the experiments, which probably mention some of the truth about titans as well. I can't seem to find where it is mentioned that the titans are afraid of Eren though. Afair, it also doesn't stroke with future events, so not sure whether that was part of the reason. I should re-read the manga one of these days
Peter Raeves
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-22T07:37:38.987Z
@PeterRaeves probably it's also a slight difference between the manga and the anime. i will have a look too, if i found something. maybe tomorrow, not today.
Kjenos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-21T08:54:51.727Z
2015-06-02T19:47:57.127Z
2015-06-02T19:47:57.127Z
Kjenos
<p>It seems like the Titans have a really huge advantage like the colossal, armored, female Titan. They could probably charge at Wall Sina instantly, take it down and wipe out humanity. The female Titan spared Armin's life a few times, when she could take him out in seconds.  </p>

<p>So it seems the Titans are capable of killing all the humans completely but they don't. Why is that so?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-07T18:41:02.877Z
Likely related: [What is the motive behind the Titan Shifters' actions?](http://anime.stackexchange.com/q/8499/274)
Cattua
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-09T19:39:35.383Z
Read the manga and you'll know.
Peter Raeves
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-10T04:23:46.663Z
As the manga progressing, manga itself is answering your question, if you really want to know the answer, read manga. Reading manga will be good then getting spoiled by reading answer.
mirroroftruth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-02T17:22:36.840Z
Levi. That's why :)
SeasonalShot
<attack-on-titan>
Why didn't the Titans wipe out humanity yet?
# Why didn't the Titans wipe out humanity yet?
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-01-07
It seems like the Titans have a really huge advantage like the colossal, armored, female Titan. They could probably charge at Wall Sina instantly, take it down and wipe out humanity. The female Titan spared Armin's life a few times, when she could take him out in seconds.

So it seems the Titans are capable of killing all the humans completely but they don't. Why is that so?
**Tags:** attack-on-titan
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Likely related: [What is the motive behind the Titan Shifters' actions?](http://anime.stackexchange.com/q/8499/274)  
> **username_2**: Read the manga and you'll know.  
> **username_3**: As the manga progressing, manga itself is answering your question, if you really want to know the answer, read manga. Reading manga will be good then getting spoiled by reading answer.  
> **username_4**: Levi. That's why :)  
---
## 3 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2015-01-08. Score: 3
This has no answer yet, and probably will not for a while. The author has stated the publication will run for at least another three years from the date of the linked article ([September 2014](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-09-22/attack-on-titan-creator-isayama-manga-to-end-in-about-3-years/.79025)).

Below is what has been revealed so far:

1. > The reason seems to be that the Coordinate, which has the power to control Titans, is "lost". Mindless titans can't be controlled without it.
2. > It could be said that Colossal Titan only emerged recently to take down the wall since a Titan of that size and power has never been available before.
3. > Titans are actually used to enslave/control the population (since the royal family seemed to have had the Coordinate power for several generations). They never attempted to use it against the "enemy" before Eren took control of it, which is odd. Bertolt, Reiner, Annie could actually be working for the king, since the royal family "lost" the Coordinate to Eren's father.
> **Comments:**
> **username_6** (2015-05-09): I edited the number of years from seven to three, since I can't find any source stating that the publication will run for 7 years.  
> **username_7** (2015-08-15): At this stage, even the mangaka and editors probably don't know exactly how long it will take to wrap the story up. Most likely, it will be determined by (1) how long it takes for the writer to develop all his desired themes and plotlines and/or, most importantly (2) the continued level of popularity. If it stays as popular as it is now, the series could last as long as One Piece! If people start to tire, then editorial decree will mandate winding things up quickly!  
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-08. Score: 0
The exact answer has not been revealed, but some conclusion can be drawn from different episodes and chapters of anime and manga.

The prelude of several episodes of Attack on Titan stated that:

> Over a hundred years ago, humanity suddenly found itself faced with a new predator. They were more powerful than humans. Humanity was immediately pushed to the brink of extinction. The survivors built three walls: Maria, Rose, and Sina.

From the anime and manga:

> * The Female Titan spared Armin's life several times.
> * [The walls were built with the exoskeletons of titans.](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/7561/6345)
> * Colossal Titan, Armored Titan, Female Titan (i.e. Bertolt Hoover, Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart respectively) and other Titan Shifters actually lived among humans.
> * Ymir turned into titan and protected her friends from other titans.
> * Rich people and the top brass who mainly lived inside Wall Sina knew a lot about the titans, the walls and the titan inside the walls.
> * The titans who broke through the wall and led other titans inside were mainly the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan, and their objective was to search for the mysterious power known as the "Coordinate".

These points lead me to conclude that their main intention is not to destroy humanity, but to find the **Coordinate** ability for which they may destroy humanity. The relation of the Titan Shifters with human, and their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their friends shows that their main intention was not to destroy humanity. And humans are not as weak as they seem to be; titans need to make some effort to destroy all humans, and those titans with brain know that.
> **Comments:**
> **username_0** (2015-01-08): but they could easily found the basement of Jager in 5 years if they searched the town. and if they wanted eren they could have easily got him. so they are not so quick about searching the coordinate too for some reason  
> **username_5** (2015-01-08): Seems you are not caught up in the manga :(  
> **username_3** (2015-01-09): @Quikstryke I am up to date with manga.  
---
### Answer by username_8 on 2015-05-21. Score: 0
1. The Titans can't wipe out the human race by themselves. They couldn't break through the wall for over 100 years, and still required the help of the intelligent [Titan Shifter](http://shingekinokyojin.wikia.com/wiki/Titan_Shifter) to break through the wall at all.
2. I think certain Titan Shifters are on a kind of a mission — maybe they want to show the human race that they can't sit around and do nothing? Or perhaps they have an even bigger goal?
3. I read somewhere (sadly I can't remember where) that the Titans stopped their mission of attacking because they are afraid of the new Titan Eren. He could be a problem if he finds out the truth behind the Titans.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2015-05-21): The technical term for "Human Titan" is [Titan Shifter](http://shingekinokyojin.wikia.com/wiki/Titan_Shifter) btw ;) I'm not sure what you mean with "the truth behind the Titans". Are you talking about the titans in the wall, about the origin of the titans, about the first king's mission, ...? If you specify a bit more, I might be able to tell you where it was mentioned.  
> **username_8** (2015-05-22): @PeterRaeves "the truth behind the titans" means the true about the normal one, why do they eat human even if they don't need to eat... what do they need to eat... and more
Based on my knowledge which is just about the anime, i think it was after the second attack. On the Wall Rose. Where Eren had his first transformation.  
> **username_2** (2015-05-22): In chapter 18, Ilse did mention what you mentioned and later there were the experiments, which probably mention some of the truth about titans as well. I can't seem to find where it is mentioned that the titans are afraid of Eren though. Afair, it also doesn't stroke with future events, so not sure whether that was part of the reason. I should re-read the manga one of these days  
> **username_8** (2015-05-22): @PeterRaeves probably it's also a slight difference between the manga and the anime. i will have a look too, if i found something. maybe tomorrow, not today.  
---
