Sneak Attack

Armin argues that Eren's cruelty toward Mikasa and his supposed loyalty to Zeke are an act. Since only Eren can wield the Founding Titan, playing along keeps Zeke and Yelena in check while still protecting Paradis. Persuaded, Jean and Conny agree to fight, and the group leaves the Braus family and Nicolo behind to join the battle outside, where Reiner's Armored Titan has Eren pinned until a hurled boulder heralds the Beast Titan. Zeke batters the Marleyan airships out of the sky with volleys of crushed stone while a wounded Eren limps toward the Wall to reach him.

The imprisoned soldiers are released to defend the island. Pyxis, wearing the black armband of the spinal-fluid afflicted, assigns the limited ODM gear to unaffected troops and takes command of the rest on foot. Mikasa quietly leaves her scarf behind as she gears up. Outside, Yelena stands rapturous beneath the burning airships and, after a tense moment, urges Armin's group to help the brothers meet.

Nile smuggles Falco out of custody under the pretense of tying him up, delivering the boy to Colt and Gabi. Hiding from the Braus family, Gabi overhears them hoping she and Falco are unharmed, and the realization breaks her: the island holds no devils, only people. Falco confesses both his unwitting role in the Liberio raid and his feelings for her, admitting he may soon become a Titan. On Wall Maria, Pieck plays dead beneath her Cart Titan's steaming skeleton, giving Magath the opening to fire a shell into the Beast Titan's shoulder and blast Zeke off the Wall. Colt, Gabi, and Falco race toward where he fell.

Armin decodes Eren's behavior, convincing Jean and Conny that Eren is manipulating the Jaegerists rather than serving Zeke's euthanasia plan.

Zeke rescues Eren, repelling the Armored and Jaw Titans and downing Marley's airships with barrages of shattered rock.

The jailed Paradis soldiers are freed and organized under Pyxis, while Nile quietly reunites Falco with Colt and Gabi.

Gabi's worldview collapses after hearing the Braus family's concern for her; Falco admits he drank the spinal-fluid wine and confesses his love.

Magath's sneak attack lands, using Pieck's ruse to knock the Beast Titan from Wall Maria before Zeke can scream.

Sneak Attack is the 18th episode of season 4 and the 77th overall, produced by MAPPA, directed by Jun Shishido and written by Hiroshi Seko. It aired January 17, 2022 in Japan and February 20, 2022 in the US, adapting material from the chapters Judgment, Sneak Attack, and Two Brothers.

The episode title refers to Magath and Pieck's artillery deception. A small continuity slip has Gabi riding a horse despite an earlier episode establishing she never learned how.