are there any theories as to why the titans would initially attack eren in his shifter form, especially when he's the supposed coordinate, like they did back in trost? i'm really curious about this, especially since he used it in one of the more recent chapters. what's especially confusing is that he used it when he wasn't in shifter form.
Hi anon! Sorry for the late reply. Not a lot of information has been revealed about the coordinate ability. I didn’t think I was the best person to answer that question so I asked a few of my favourite SNK analysts.
So it appears that you have already asked wirsiddieranters (here).
thetox replied with this:
I saw it as an ability he somehow acquired/developed after his fight with Annie. Annie had a similar talent - or was it the same, perhaps? - in that she could summon and direct titans. I felt like this power was awakened in Eren perhaps following their battle, or was transferred from her when she crystallized herself.
My thoughts were similar to both in that his coordinate ability was awakened at that time - similarly to how Eren’s titan shifting ability was awakened during a desperate situation.
I also thought that he subconsciously knew about the coordinate ability because I remember him asking himself how he knew to bite himself to turn into a titan shifter.
I’m not sure the answer helped but let’s wait for the next chapters :)