Second Impact
The catastrophic event that reshaped the world and birthed the Evangelion era.
It is remembered as a sudden meteorite collision at the South Pole that caused massive destruction and climate instability across the globe. This tragedy forced humanity into a desperate struggle for survival, leading to political reorganization and the development of advanced weaponry. The event remains the central mystery driving the conspiracy theories held by organizations like SEELE and NERV regarding the future of mankind.
- Date
- August 30, 2000
- Location
- South Pole
- Casualties
- Approximately half of humanity
- Cause
- Impact of the Second Angel (Lilith)
- Aftermath
- Formation of the Dead Sea crater
- Organization Response
- Creation of NERV and SEELE involvement
Lore & Background
While public records describe Second Impact as a natural disaster involving an asteroid, classified files reveal the object was actually Lilith, the Second Angel. Its collision with Earth released a massive amount of energy that vaporized the Antarctic ice sheet and triggered tsunamis worldwide. The immediate aftermath saw sea levels rise significantly, submerging many coastal cities and rendering vast areas uninhabitable due to radiation and extreme weather changes. Survivors were left in a state of perpetual anxiety, fearing another strike known as Third Impact could end the species completely. In response to this threat, the United Nations established NERV to defend against future Angel attacks using Evangelion bio-mechanical units. However, beneath this defensive mission lay the secret agenda of SEELE, who intended to use the remnants of Second Impact to initiate Human Instrumentality and evolve humanity beyond its current form.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled across the frozen wasteland, carrying ash that had settled for fifteen years. Kaji stood at the edge of the crater, looking down into the glowing abyss where the world ended. It was not just a scar on the earth; it was a wound in time itself.
Reader's Guide
Second Impact serves as the foundational tragedy of the Evangelion timeline, occurring fifteen years before the main narrative begins. Officially recorded as a meteorite collision at the South Pole, this event triggered massive geological and climatic shifts that nearly extinguished human civilization. Approximately half of the global population perished during the initial shockwave and subsequent environmental collapse. In reality, the object was not natural but an Angel known as Lilith. Its impact released immense energy, causing sea levels to rise and wiping out entire continents. The aftermath forced surviving nations to unite under a new United Nations structure, which eventually established NERV to monitor future Angel threats. This organization secretly worked toward the Human Instrumentality Project using the technology gained from studying the wreckage. For fans, understanding Second Impact is crucial because it explains why humanity lives in fear of Angels and relies on Evangelion units for survival. The event created the psychological scars seen in characters like Gendo Ikari and shaped the geopolitical landscape where Tokyo-3 exists as a fortress city.
Did You Know?
- The source does not specify a date for Second Impact.
- The source does not specify a location for Second Impact.
- The source does not specify casualties for Second Impact.
- The source does not specify the cause of Second Impact.
- The source does not specify the aftermath or organizational response to Second Impact.