RubyZiggy07 said:King (Eren) – The king is the heart of the board. Lose him, and everything collapses. Every other piece exists, in some way, to keep the king alive, often throwing themselves into danger to shield him. The king has freedom of direction but not of speed — he can step anywhere, yet only one square at a time. While he’s technically stronger than a pawn, using the king aggressively is almost always a mistake. Every move he makes must be deliberate and carefully weighed. One careless step can decide the entire match.
Queen (Levi) – The queen is unmatched in raw strength. She can move in any direction — straight or diagonal — and as far as she wants. This makes her both the deadliest attacker and one of the strongest defenders. She dominates the board, controlling space and eliminating threats before they reach the king. Historically, queens were sometimes even more influential than kings, and that idea carries over here: the queen often feels like the true force behind victory.
Bishops (Armin & Jean) – Bishops represent knowledge and belief, standing close to power from the very start. They are restricted to diagonal movement, which makes them specialists rather than generalists. They excel at slipping through gaps and striking from unexpected angles. Each bishop is locked to a different color for the entire game, symbolizing two perspectives within the same system. On their own they’re limited, but together they can quietly control large portions of the board.
Knights (Erwin & Hange) – Knights are the wild cards. Unlike every other piece, they don’t move in straight lines but in an L-shaped pattern, allowing them to jump over obstacles. This makes them unpredictable and perfect for surprise attacks. Using knights effectively requires creativity and planning — they thrive on unconventional tactics. At the start of a match, only pawns and knights are capable of initiating action, highlighting how knights break the usual rules from the very beginning.
Rooks (Mikasa) – Rooks symbolize fortresses and defenses. Positioned on the edges, they represent the outer walls guarding the king. They move only in straight lines — forward, backward, and sideways — which makes their role clear and direct. Rooks are powerful but need open paths to function, making them easier to anticipate than other pieces. Their true strength lies in protection: blocking threats, controlling lanes, and standing as a barrier between danger and what matters most.
Pawns (Krista, Connie, Sasha, Marco, everyone else) – Pawns are the common soldiers. They move slowly, only forward, and can only attack diagonally. Most of them are expected to fall — sacrificed to gain space or protect stronger pieces. They’re usually the first to step into danger, the most expendable on the surface. Yet pawns hold a hidden power: if one survives long enough to reach the far side of the board, it becomes a queen. Even the weakest piece can become something عظ. No piece is truly meaningless, and every sacrifice carries weight.
