57th Expedition / Forest of Giant Trees
Erwin uses the first expedition after Trost to set a trap for the spy hidden among the soldiers. The Female Titan cuts through the formation looking for Eren and causes enormous casualties. In the forest, Erwin's plan immobilizes her, but she escapes by calling other Titans. She then wipes out Levi's squad and nearly captures Eren, until Levi and Mikasa rescue him.
Sides
Survey Corps
Leaders: Erwin Smith, Levi AckermanLevi
Long-Distance Scouting Formation, Special Operations Squad
How it unfolded
The long-distance formation
The Corps advances in a formation using smoke signals. The Female Titan appears on the right flank and tears apart the scouts she encounters.
The forest trap
Erwin lures the Female into the forest and immobilizes her with hundreds of harpoons, but she hardens her nape and lets out a scream that draws the Titans to devour her body.
The fall of the Levi Squad
Regenerated, the Female pursues the Levi Squad. Gunther, Eld, Petra and Oluo die; Eren, transformed, loses the duel and is captured.
The rescue
Levi and Mikasa catch up to the Female; Levi badly wounds her and frees Eren. The expedition returns to the Walls in humiliation.
Notable deaths
- Dita Ness — Squad leader on the right flank; crushed by the Female Titan.
- Luke Siss — Ness's partner, crushed by the Female Titan.
- Gunther Schultz — His throat was slashed in mid-flight, without seeing his attacker.
- Eld Jinn — Bitten in half by the Female Titan.
- Petra Ral — Crushed against a tree by a kick from the Female Titan.
- Oluo Bozado — His blade broke against the hardened nape and the Female Titan killed him with a kick.