So, you’re looking at a list of episodes Attack on Titan and realizing it’s kind of a mess, right? I get it. This isn't like Friends where you just go from Season 1 to Season 10. Wit Studio and MAPPA really put us through the ringer with the naming conventions. "Final Season Part 3, Section 2, The Conclusion (Actual Final Version)"—it’s enough to make anyone want to give up and just go outside. But don't. This show is arguably the greatest piece of dark fantasy fiction ever televised.
You’ve got 88 episodes in total if you’re counting the TV run, but that doesn't include the OVAs (Original Video Animations), which honestly, you really should watch if you want the full picture. Especially No Regrets. Seeing Levi's backstory changes how you view his entire stoic "I don't care" vibe in the main series.
Breaking Down the Seasons (The Easy Part)
Season 1 started it all back in 2013. Twenty-five episodes. It was simple then. Eren wanted to kill Titans. We all thought we knew what the show was about. We were wrong.
Then came the four-year wait. By the time Season 2 dropped in 2017, the hype was nuclear, but we only got 12 episodes. People were mad. I remember the forums being a salt mine. But those 12 episodes? Pure gold. "Warrior" is still one of the highest-rated episodes of television in history for a reason.
Season 3: The Game Changer
Season 3 split itself into two halves.
- Part 1 (Episodes 38–49): This was the "Uprising" arc. Less Titan fighting, more human-on-human politics. Some people hated it; I thought it was brilliant world-building.
- Part 2 (Episodes 50–59): This is the Return to Shiganshina. If you haven’t seen "Hero" or "Perfect Game," you haven't lived. This is where Erwin Smith secures his spot as the greatest commander in anime history.
The Final Season Headache
Then MAPPA took over from Wit. This is where the list of episodes Attack on Titan starts looking like a math equation.
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The "Final Season" started in 2020. It ran for 16 episodes. We thought that was it. Then came Part 2 in 2022—another 12 episodes. Then Part 3. But Part 3 wasn't a weekly show. It was two massive specials.
The first special, The Final Chapters Special 1, aired in March 2023. It’s an hour long. Then, finally, in November 2023, we got the actual, for-real, no-kidding end: The Final Chapters Special 2. It’s basically a movie. If you’re looking at a streaming service like Crunchyroll or Hulu and you see "Episode 88," that's the one. It wraps up everything. Every heart-wrenching, world-shattering thread.
Why the Episode Order Actually Matters for the Lore
You can't skip. You just can't. Attack on Titan is built on "Chekhov’s Guns." Something happens in Episode 6 that doesn't pay off until Episode 70.
Take the basement. We waited three seasons for that basement. When Eren, Mikasa, Levi, and Hange finally get there in Episode 56 ("The Basement"), the show fundamentally changes. It stops being a "zombie horror" show and becomes a gritty, historical allegory about cycle-of-hatred politics. If you aren't following the list of episodes Attack on Titan in the exact chronological order, the reveal in "That Day" (Episode 57) won't hit you the same way. It needs the buildup.
Honestly, the way Hajime Isayama (the creator) structured this is terrifyingly smart. He hid clues in the very first second of the first episode. "To You, 2,000 Years From Now"—the title itself is a spoiler you won't understand for nearly a decade.
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The OVAs: Are They Mandatory?
Technically? No. Emotionally? Yes.
If you’re looking for a complete list of episodes Attack on Titan, you’ll see eight OVA episodes floating around.
- Ilse's Notebook: Watch this after Season 1. It explains a lot about Titan intelligence that the main show ignores for a while.
- The Sudden Visitor / Distress: These are more "fun." One is literally a cooking battle. It’s the only time these characters are happy. Let them have it.
- No Regrets (Parts 1 & 2): Essential. It’s Levi’s origin story.
- Lost Girls: Focuses on Annie and Mikasa. If you want to understand Annie's motivations before she becomes the "villain," watch this.
Don't Forget the Recap Movies (Or Actually, Do)
There are several recap movies like Guren no Yumiya and The Roar of Awakening. Unless you are incredibly short on time, skip them. They cut out the character beats that make the deaths hurt. And in this show, you want the deaths to hurt. That's the point. It’s about the struggle.
The Best Way to Watch Right Now
If you are starting today, here is the path of least resistance.
- Season 1: Episodes 1–25.
- OVAs: Specifically Ilse's Notebook and No Regrets.
- Season 2: Episodes 26–37.
- Season 3 Part 1: Episodes 38–49.
- Season 3 Part 2: Episodes 50–59.
- The Final Season Part 1: Episodes 60–75.
- The Final Season Part 2: Episodes 76–87.
- The Final Chapters: The two long specials (sometimes listed as Episodes 88 and 89).
Check the production dates. If you see something from 2013, it’s the start. If it’s 2023, it’s the end. Simple.
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Common Misconceptions About the Ending
There was a lot of noise about the ending. The manga ending was controversial. When the final episode (the end of our list of episodes Attack on Titan) aired, MAPPA actually expanded on some of the dialogue. They made Eren’s motivations a bit clearer. They smoothed out the rough edges that manga readers complained about.
It’s a heavy ending. It doesn't give you a "happily ever after" because this world doesn't allow for one. It stays true to the themes of the very first episode.
Actionable Steps for Your Rewatch
If you're a returning fan or a newcomer, here's how to actually digest this beast without burning out.
- Pay attention to the eye colors: Sounds weird, but the "Founder" influence is often shown through subtle shifts in character design.
- Watch the end-credits scenes: Attack on Titan is notorious for putting massive, plot-altering teasers after the credits. Season 3 Part 2 has one that will literally make you jump out of your seat.
- Track the "Attack Titan" name: Notice when the phrase is actually used. It’s not just a title; it’s a description of the Titan’s core nature.
- Use a tracker: Sites like MyAnimeList or LiveChart are great for keeping your place in the list of episodes Attack on Titan, especially with the weird naming of the final season parts.
The series is a masterpiece of planning. Every "filler" moment usually turns out to be a load-bearing pillar for the finale. Grab some tissues, maybe a stress ball, and start from Episode 1. You won't be the same person when you hit Episode 88.