My Hero Academia is one of the most popular anime around, ending on a high note as almost all the characters got the closure they deserved. The main character goes through a great journey, gradually training his body to use One for All at a manageable level.

related
9 Most Memorable Villains in My Hero Academia
These villains are memorable not because they aren't strong or powerful, but because their motivations often feel shallow, among other things.
Midoriya's powers only grew over time, allowing him to face off against tough opponents and emerge victorious by unleashing massive power when needed. Some of the best fights out there My Hero Academia It involves putting everything on the line to win.
8 VS class 1-A
An exhausted Deku conceded defeat and was sent back to UA
- Appears on: Dark Hero Arc
- Victor: Class 1-A
After the Paranormal Liberation War arc, Midoriya made the big mistake of taking the fate of the world on his shoulders instead of relying on other people. This causes his classmates to come and force him to go back to UA and rest before he burns himself.
Midoriya's fatigue prevents him from fighting at full strength, while Bakugo's apology makes it clear that he made the wrong choice in neglecting his friend. He agreed to return to UA and enjoyed a long vacation that helped him get ready for what would be his final fight.
7 VS Kaina Tsutsumi (Lady Nagant)
Shows how far Midoriya has come, showing new powers
- Appears on: Dark Hero Arc
- Victor: Izuku Midoriya
Even though he was exhausted after taking out so many villains, Midoriya was still vigilant trying to stop Lady Nagant from doing her evil deeds. He used his newly acquired Fa Jin to increase his speed and outrun the precision bullets he sent.
However, Deku did not go beyond the ocean and tried to help Lady Nagant find the light. He managed to convert his experience, though it triggered a Quirk that caused an explosion planted in his body by All for One. However, Midoriya managed to rescue him, turning him into a valuable ally during the Final War.
6 VS Katsuki Bakugo
It's a fight to settle differences that extend to Bakugo's character
- Appears on: Temporary Hero Licensing Exam
- Victor: Katsuki Bakugo
Bakugo torments Midoriya the whole time for being Quirkless, only to find himself playing second fiddle to his victim when he gains a powerful Quirk. However, the breaking point in their relationship came when Bakugo blamed himself for losing All Might.

related
My Hero Academia: 13 Best Abilities That Aren't Quirks
Even though these abilities in My Hero Academia aren't quirk-based, they're still pretty scary in a superhero-themed world.
The two friends clash in a hellish battle that leaves Bakugo victorious and unleashes his insecurities. This prompted Midoriya to tell Bakugo the truth, lightening his burden and helping the fiery hero refocus.
5 VS Goto Imasuji (Muscle)
A brutal battle where Midoriya proves his worth as a hero
- Appears on: Arc forest training camp
- Victor: Izuku Midoriya
My Hero AcademiaHero training exercises turn out to be deadly more often than not, with the jungle training camp being a prime example. The League of Villains once again wreaks havoc, with Midoriya facing off against a psychotic villain named Muscular.
He was forced to use 100% of his power to stop Muscular from harming civilians. The fight feels like a losing effort until Midoriya pulls out all the stops with a Hail Mary attack that stops Muscular in his tracks once and for all.
4 VS Kai Chisaki (Update)
Eri's power allows Deku to use 100% of one for all
- Appears on: Shie Hassaikai arc
- Victor: Izuku Midoriya
The overhaul is one of the worst in the series. There was no end to the torture for Mirio and Midoriya, who were able to stop this villain without knowing the threat. The end of the Shie Hassaikai arc features Nighteye in despair and suffering a fatal blow after his Foresight Quirk fails him.
However, Midoriya proved him wrong by unleashing 100% of his power to save Eri, only to find that the little girl's Quirk prevented her body from taking any permanent damage. This allowed him to go 100% of his Full Cowl ability, unleashing a series of devastating blows that brutally knocked down this enemy and led to a crushing defeat as Midoriya saved the day and destroyed the evil gang of Overhaul.
3 VS Shoto Todoroki
The best fight at the UA school festival where Todoroki finally accepts his power
- Appears on: UA Sports Festival Arc
- Victor: Shoto Todoroki
For an arc that seems like an excuse to let the audience have some fun, it's amazing to see Midoriya and Todoroki clash. The latter deliberately muted his firepower, which did not sit well with Midoriya.

related
My Hero Academia: The 10 Most Powerful Emitter Quirks, Ranked
From creating tornadoes to setting new rules for everything, these are the most powerful Emitter quirks in My Hero Academia.
He wants to train Todoroki to the highest level to become the greatest hero he can be, with his words striking when Todoroki finally accepts his father's powers and chooses to make them his own. . The result was a massive confrontation that caused the teacher to intervene, reducing Midoriya's influence as he left the ring and was defeated.
2 VS Tomura Shigaraki
The final showdown of the Paranormal Liberation War where Deku pulls out all the stops
- Appears on: Paranormal Liberation War Arc
- Victor: None (cut by Gigantomachia)
The end of the Paranormal Liberation War arc showed the extent of Shigaraki's power. He was able to use Quirk Deay without touching anything, causing untold destruction in his wake that only Aizawa's Erasure Quirk could stop.
Midoriya took this opportunity to beat Shigaraki as much as possible while saving the people around him. He unlocks the power of the Float in the process but doesn't get the job done, with Gigantomachia's breakdown giving the villains all the power they need to turn society against the Pro Heroes' ideas.
1 VS Tomura Shigaraki/All For One
Tomura And All For One To Make Up For The Mighty Deku
- Appears on: Final Battle Arc
- Victor: Izuku Midoriya
The Final Battle is one of the most bombastic arcs My Hero Academiaperform as a team of heroes to stop the Paranormal Liberation Front from destroying the world. To make matters worse, All for One tried to take over Shigaraki's body, causing them to merge and form a psychic entity that needed to be stopped by any means necessary.
With the other heroes defeated, it's up to Midoriya to save the world from this terrifying threat. He pulled out all the stops, combined two Quirks to harness the power of Blackchain and enabled Gearshift to force this restless Shigaraki into making mistakes. With help from Lady Nagant, Deku gains the upper hand as Tomura manages to regain control of his body at the end of a brutal battle.

- Date of publication
- April 3, 2016
- Studio
- bones
- Creator
- Kōhei Horikoshi