Zeke Jaeger, son of Grisha Jaeger and Dina Fritz, belonged to the Eldian Restorationists before his parents entered him into Marley's Warrior Program. His mother's royal Eldian bloodline granted him unique status. Neglected as a child by parents consumed by revolution, he overheard his father call him a failure during Warrior training. His sole significant bond developed with his Beast Titan predecessor, Tom Xaver, who became a father figure through games of catch and shared intellectual pursuits. This connection starkly contrasted with Grisha's pressure, ultimately leading Zeke to betray his parents to Marleyan authorities upon learning of their impending discovery—an act that spared his grandparents but doomed his parents to exile on Paradis Island. Inheriting the Beast Titan from Xaver, Zeke ascended to War Chief of Marley's Warriors. His Titan stood 17 meters tall with ape-like traits: dark fur covering most of its body, elongated arms, and exceptional throwing precision. This form enabled vocal command over Pure Titans and subjects injected with his spinal fluid. In human form, Zeke appeared tall and muscular with blond hair, a beard, and circular glasses, later adopting a cleaner look upon returning to Marley after Shiganshina. Zeke exhibited strategic brilliance and ruthless pragmatism, prioritizing mission objectives over sentiment. He refused to rescue Annie Leonhart and abandoned Bertholdt Hoover. His battlefield demeanor blended callousness with dark humor, like taunting Mike Zacharias during his Titan execution. Paradoxically, he expressed pity for Paradis citizens, seeing their sacrificial charges as tragedies born of stolen memories. This duality extended to his leadership: militaristic and punishing toward subordinates like Reiner Braun, yet affable and charismatic among comrades outside combat. Pieck noted his habitual secrecy, observing he lied constantly except when promising to save Eren. Zeke's core motivation stemmed from childhood-formed nihilistic beliefs. He advocated euthanizing the Eldian race through Founding Titan-induced sterilization, viewing this as "salvation" from suffering and warfare. Executing this plan required coordinating with Eren, whom he saw as another victim of Grisha's influence. Their alliance involved infiltrating Paradis and contaminating wine with spinal fluid to transform military officials. During the Shiganshina battle, Zeke slaughtered Survey Corps members with projectile attacks until incapacitated by Levi Ackerman, instilling profound fear of the captain thereafter. Manipulating both Marley and Paradis factions, Zeke collaborated with Eren to trigger the War for Paradis. Their contact enabled Eren's attack on Liberio, where Zeke facilitated his escape. The brothers later activated the Founding Titan in Paths, but Zeke's trust shattered upon witnessing Grisha's memories—particularly Eren manipulating their father to kill the Reiss family. This revealed Grisha's love for Zeke and contradicted Zeke's lifelong demonization of him. Helpless as Eren initiated the Rumbling, Zeke resigned to meaninglessness in Paths until Armin Arlert's leaf metaphor revived memories of playing catch with Xaver. This epiphany shifted his perspective: he sacrificed himself to help stop the Rumbling, enabling Levi to kill him while noting the beauty of the day—symbolizing regret over life's overlooked simple joys.