Mikasa is a part of the Ackerman bloodline, which means she has warrior blood in her. Her ancestors were the bodyguards of the King of Eldia. This clan had high combative abilities that greatly enhanced their fighting skills and all this was genetically passed down to the Ackermans. Due to their incredible physical strength, this clan is even said to possess the Power of the Titans as humans, without the need for transformation.
As we mentioned, the Ackerman family was created by the Eldian Empire, which combined the subjects of the Ymir and the Titans to create a race that could serve and protect the Eldian Kings. An Ackerman family member is activated when the host figure commands them to act. Mikasa’s powers were activated by Eren when he told her to attack the abductors who attacked them when she was still a child. Eren even goes so far as to suggest that Mikasa’s powers bind him to her because he is her host.
Mikasa is considered one of the best of humanity. She is a brilliant tactician and soldier, and also a great leader and friend. Mikasa often confronts the grim fate that awaits the characters in Attack on Titan. It’s not just her physical strength that amazes, but her emotional strength as well.
The best fighter of the 104th squad shows us more than once how much physical strength she possessed. We see her fight with the Female Titan to get back Eren in Season 1 and the most difficult battle for her — the fight with the Yeagerists in the most recent season. These and other fights prove how incredibly strong Mikasa Ackerman is. After Eren’s first transformation (when they’re considering killing him), they hesitate to take her out with their cannons. “She’s equal to 100 soldiers, easily...if we lost her...it’d be quite the tragedy”.
As for intelligence, Mikasa, who is silent, serious, “unemotional” and seems to rely only on physical strength, is one of the most analytical characters of the series. Her natural ability to use the Omni Directional Mobility Gear once again proves her quick thinking and analytical skills. In addition to this, mastering the techniques and skills of Vertical Maneuvering Equipment and Thunder Spears demonstrates her combative prowess.
As for mental strength, we can name her the strongest in the series. She endures the trauma of her parents’ death who were killed in front of her, then she lost her adopted parents again and endured this, too. Finally, she killed with her own two hands the love of her life, Eren. After he calls her a slave to him, she proves without a doubt that she’s her own person with her own autonomy by doing what’s right and preventing a twisted Eren from hurting any more innocent people. Even this did not break her and she continues to live on which I guess was even strange to many manga readers, but it’s clear that she endured all this because of her mental stability.
After all this, Mikasa did not turn to the side of evil, did not give up and did not dismiss Eren’s horrible actions. After all the listed events, she confirmed her immense mental power which was expressed in her usual calmness, rationality and to some extent, optimism. It’s even seen that she started a family with someone other than Eren in an attempt to build her own future and happiness.
These three main things make Mikasa Ackerman one of the the best characters in Attack on Titan and one of the most memorable, powerful and iconic characters in anime history as a whole.
