3507


Many times in _Attack on Titan_ , the various soldiers mention something
called "three-dimensional maneuvering", which appears to be an effective
strategy for the battles with the Titans. At the end of chapter 3, there is a
"rough explanation" about it:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/F3YCc.jpg)

However, it doesn't really explain what three-dimensional maneuvering _is_ ,
and the manga doesn't seem to show very well what the soldiers are doing when
they perform these maneuvers. Logic would dictate that a three-dimensional
maneuver can be any maneuver since movement in the real world is in three
dimensions. However, this term seems to mean something specific.

What is a "three-dimensional maneuver", and how is it special or effective
against the Titans?


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2013-04-10T14:02:56.220
3321
2023-04-28T04:36:41.637
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question
attack-on-titan
What is a "Three-Dimensional Maneuver"?


  * Forward-backward is 1 dimension (line)
  * Left-right is 2 dimensions (square)
  * Up-down is 3 dimensions (cube)

From what I remember in the 1st episode of the anime (I have not read the
manga, sorry): several soldiers jumped from their horses into the trees using
cables. That would be 3 dimensions. Since staying on the horse would have been
2 dimensional.

About effectiveness: it might be a bit early to answer but throwing in a few
cents... I would guess that since Titans are so large they probably are tough
but not quick. So Titans can easily destroy walls, houses, or trees as seen in
episode 1 and the soldiers would need to run around these, making attacking
less effective (and more dangerous) since most of the time they would be
avoiding rubble and falling objects.

So getting into the air might be a lot more effective. I imagine they would
use those cables to try and pin a Titan down and make it fall down.


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2013-04-10T18:45:08.033
3322
2016-12-04T07:56:04.110
2016-12-04T07:56:04.110
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answer


According to what is shown in **Episode 3** , Three-Dimensional Maneuvering is
indeed being able to move in all three axes. We, normally, are able to move
two-dimensionally, meaning that we move along a horizontal plane. The gear
introduces a vertical axis, making it possible for humans to move to a desired
height as well.

[![Three-Dimensional Maneuvering
Gear](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iDNpN.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iDNpN.jpg)

As to the advantages it might provide in fighting Titans, besides the ones
[Rinzwind says in his
answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/3321/what-is-a-three-
dimensional-maneuver/3322#3322) (avoid falling rubble and the like; and also,
to make people move a lot faster), I guess the most evident one would be the
fact that people do not need to fight at a height that only reaches a Titan's
feet or legs and being able to rise enough to be able to attack them where it
might do some actual damage. From the **Attacks on Titan** episodes I've seen
so far (3 episodes), humans always go for the neck, meaning that this gear
allows them to strike on more (presumably) vulnerable spots.


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2013-04-23T09:49:34.323
3507
2023-04-28T04:36:41.637
2023-04-28T04:36:41.637
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answer