Top 10 Strongest Characters in My Hero Academia

The perfect guide for both new fans and longtime followers of the superhero anime sensation

My First Encounter with My Hero Academia’s Incredible Powers

I still remember the first time I watched My Hero Academia. I was instantly hooked by the colorful world where 80% of people have superpowers (or “Quirks” as they’re called in the show). As someone who grew up loving superheroes, seeing Izuku Midoriya’s journey from a powerless kid to a hero-in-training was something that spoke to me on a personal level.

My Hero Academia presents us with characters who possess amazing abilities that range from creating explosions with their hands to controlling gravity. After watching all the seasons and reading the manga, I’ve had countless discussions with friends about who truly stands as the strongest in this incredible universe. Today, I want to share my top 10 list of the most powerful characters in My Hero Academia, based on their quirks, skills, and overall impact on the story.

Understanding Power in My Hero Academia

Before diving into our list, let’s talk about what makes a character powerful in the world of My Hero Academia. It’s not just about having a flashy quirk—it’s about how characters use their abilities, their training, their strategic thinking, and their growth throughout the series.

Some characters might have seemingly simple quirks but use them in creative ways that make them incredibly powerful. Others have overwhelming raw power but might lack the finesse or control to use it effectively. I’ve considered all these factors when creating this ranking.

Now, let’s meet the powerhouses who’ve shaped the world of My Hero Academia!

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Top 10 Strongest Characters in My Hero Academia

10. Endeavor (Enji Todoroki)

Starting our list at number 10 is the flame hero, Endeavor. As the current number one hero after All Might’s retirement, Endeavor has earned his spot through raw power and determination.

His Hellflame quirk allows him to generate and control intense fire, reaching temperatures hot enough to incinerate Nomus—artificial humans created to kill heroes. What makes Endeavor particularly dangerous is his mastery over his quirk, using techniques like Prominence Burn and Flashfire Fist to devastating effect.

Despite his questionable past as a father, Endeavor’s growth as both a hero and a person has been significant. His battle against the High-End Nomu showed us just how powerful he truly is, as he pushed beyond his limits to secure victory.

Endeavor may not be the most likable character, but his strength and combat experience make him a force to be reckoned with.

9. Mirio Togata (Lemillion)

Before losing his quirk, Mirio Togata was considered the closest student to becoming the number one hero, even among the professional heroes. His placement at number 9 reflects his peak power when he had his quirk.

Mirio’s Permeation quirk allowed him to pass through anything—walls, floors, even attacks would simply phase through him. While this might not sound combat-oriented at first, Mirio turned it into one of the most formidable abilities in the series.

By combining his quirk with incredible physical training and fighting skill, Mirio could seemingly teleport, appear from any surface, and deliver powerful strikes while being virtually untouchable. His fight against Class 1-A demonstrated this perfectly, as he defeated nearly 20 students with unique quirks without taking a single hit.

Even after losing his quirk, Mirio’s bravery and physical prowess allowed him to hold his own against Overhaul for several minutes, proving that his heroic spirit goes beyond just his powers.

8. Hawks (Keigo Takami)

As the former number two hero, Hawks earns the eighth spot on our list. His Fierce Wings quirk gives him large red wings with feathers he can control individually with extreme precision.

What sets Hawks apart is his incredible speed—he’s widely regarded as the fastest hero in the series. Combined with his ability to use his feathers as weapons, for reconnaissance, or to save civilians, Hawks is the definition of versatility.

His intellect and ability to work as a double agent infiltrating the League of Villains showcases his mental fortitude. Despite having a quirk that seems fragile (his feathers burn away when overused), Hawks compensates with speed and tactical thinking.

His battle against the villain Dabi demonstrated both his strengths and limitations, but his ability to hold his own against such a powerful foe confirms his place among My Hero Academia’s strongest characters.

7. Fumikage Tokoyami

It might surprise some to see a student so high on this list, but Fumikage Tokoyami’s power level, particularly with Dark Shadow at night, earns him the seventh spot.

Tokoyami’s quirk, Dark Shadow, manifests as a sentient shadow creature that can act independently. During daylight, Dark Shadow is manageable and serves as a useful ally in battle. However, in darkness, Dark Shadow becomes enormously powerful—strong enough that it took both Bakugo and Todoroki to subdue it during the training camp arc.

What makes Tokoyami particularly impressive is his growth throughout the series. Learning to better control Dark Shadow and developing techniques like Black Ankh, which covers his body with Dark Shadow as armor, has significantly increased his combat effectiveness.

With proper control of his quirk at night, Tokoyami could potentially be even higher on this list—his power ceiling is extraordinarily high.

6. Tomura Shigaraki

The main antagonist of the series, Tomura Shigaraki, takes the sixth spot on our list. His Decay quirk started as terrifying but limited—anything he touched with all five fingers would crumble to dust.

However, Shigaraki’s power has evolved dramatically throughout the series. After the Meta Liberation Army arc, his quirk awakened to new heights, allowing him to create decay chains that spread rapidly from his initial point of contact. This upgrade made him capable of destroying entire cities with a single touch to the ground.

After receiving Dr. Garaki’s modifications and inheriting All For One’s quirk, Shigaraki became even more formidable. The only reason he isn’t higher on this list is because he’s still mastering his new abilities.

Shigaraki represents a growing threat that continues to evolve, and his placement on this list could easily change as the series progresses.

5. Shoto Todoroki

Earning the fifth position is the prodigious son of Endeavor, Shoto Todoroki. His Half-Cold Half-Hot quirk grants him the ability to generate and control both ice and fire, making him one of the most versatile fighters in the series.

Shoto’s ice powers alone were enough to freeze an entire building during the U.A. Sports Festival, and his fire abilities rival those of his father. What makes him particularly dangerous is his ability to switch between these elements instantly, covering for the weaknesses of each.

As he’s grown throughout the series, Shoto has learned to use both sides simultaneously, creating techniques like Flashfreeze Heatwave that utilize the temperature difference between his powers to create devastating attacks.

The combination of his powerful lineage, exceptional quirk mastery for his age, and continued growth make Shoto one of the strongest characters, with potential to climb even higher as he continues to develop.

4. Best Jeanist (Tsunagu Hakamada)

Perhaps surprising to casual fans, Best Jeanist claims the fourth spot on our list. As a former number three hero, his Fiber Master quirk might seem simple—he can manipulate fibers, particularly those in clothing.

However, Best Jeanist has demonstrated just how formidable this quirk can be in the hands of a master. He can restrain dozens of villains simultaneously, create shields strong enough to withstand massive explosions, and even use the fibers in people’s clothing to perform a form of puppetry.

What truly elevates Best Jeanist is his combination of quirk mastery, combat experience, and strategic mind. He survived a direct attack from All For One—something few characters can claim—and returned to the battlefield to play a crucial role in later conflicts.

His ability to instantly restrain the giant form of Gigantomachia, even temporarily, showcases just how powerful Best Jeanist truly is when operating at full capacity.

3. Izuku Midoriya (Deku)

Taking the bronze medal in our power ranking is the main protagonist, Izuku Midoriya. Starting as a quirkless boy with a dream, Deku has grown to become one of the most formidable characters in the series.

Inheriting One For All from All Might gave Deku access to raw power that continues to grow as he masters it. Beyond the strength enhancement, Deku has unlocked the quirks of previous One For All users, including:

• Float, allowing him to levitate
• Blackwhip, creating controllable tendrils of energy
• Danger Sense, warning him of incoming threats
• Smokescreen, creating clouds of smoke for stealth and distraction
• Fa Jin, storing kinetic energy for explosive releases of power
• And several others as the series progressed

What makes Deku particularly powerful is not just his quirk arsenal but his analytical mind and unwavering determination. He studies his opponents, develops strategies on the fly, and pushes beyond his limits when necessary.

At his current level in the manga, Deku has become a one-man army capable of handling multiple high-tier threats simultaneously, earning him this high position on our list.

2. All For One

The second most powerful character in My Hero Academia is the primary antagonist, All For One. As one of the oldest characters in the series, All For One has had centuries to accumulate powerful quirks and perfect their use.

His namesake quirk, All For One, allows him to steal quirks from others and either keep them for himself or give them to someone else. This has allowed him to amass an arsenal of abilities, including:

• Super strength and durability
• Air cannons
• Warping
• Impact recoil
• Various sensory quirks to compensate for his blindness
• Countless other abilities we’ve only glimpsed

What makes All For One particularly dangerous is his intelligence and patience. He’s been playing the long game for generations, manipulating events from the shadows. Even when imprisoned, he continued his plans through Shigaraki.

All For One survived a battle with All Might at his prime and remained a threat even after being severely injured. The combination of his quirk versatility, experience, and villainous intellect makes him nearly unmatched in the world of My Hero Academia.

1. All Might (Toshinori Yagi)

Taking the top spot as the strongest character in My Hero Academia is the former Symbol of Peace himself, All Might. Even in his weakened state after his first battle with All For One, All Might remained the number one hero and the greatest deterrent to crime.

All Might’s quirk, One For All, had been cultivated through multiple generations before reaching him, making his version incredibly powerful. At his peak, All Might could:

• Change weather patterns with the air pressure from his punches
• Move faster than the eye could track
• Endure incredible amounts of damage
• Defeat hundreds of villains in mere seconds

What truly made All Might the strongest wasn’t just his raw power but how he used it. His sense of justice, his ability to inspire others, and his unwavering smile in the face of danger amplified the effect of his incredible strength.

Even after passing One For All to Deku and losing his powers completely, All Might’s legacy continues to influence the entire world of My Hero Academia, a testament to just how powerful he truly was in his prime.

Honorable Mentions

While creating this list, I struggled with leaving out several incredibly powerful characters who deserve recognition:

• Katsuki Bakugo: His Explosion quirk combined with his combat genius makes him one of U.A.’s most promising students.
• Mirko: The rabbit hero’s extraordinary physical abilities and combat prowess make her one of the top pro heroes.
• Gigantomachia: As All For One’s loyal servant, his multiple quirks and monstrous strength allow him to cause mass destruction.
• Overhaul (Kai Chisaki): His ability to disassemble and reassemble matter made him one of the most dangerous villains in the series.
• Star and Stripe: An international hero with a reality-warping quirk that could potentially counter even All For One.

How Quirks and Training Shape My Hero Academia’s Power System

My Hero Academia presents a fascinating power system where a character’s strength isn’t determined solely by their quirk but also by their training, experience, and creativity. Someone with a seemingly simple quirk can become formidable through intensive training and innovative applications.

This is what I love most about the series—it shows that becoming strong isn’t just about winning the genetic lottery with an amazing quirk, but about putting in the work to master your abilities and overcome your limitations.

Characters like Mirio and Aizawa prove that supposedly “weaker” quirks can become incredibly powerful in the right hands. Meanwhile, someone with a potentially overpowered quirk might be limited by their mindset or lack of training.

My Personal Thoughts on Power in My Hero Academia

Creating this list made me reflect on what “strength” really means in My Hero Academia. Is it just about who can punch the hardest? Or is it about the impact a character has on their world?

All Might’s true strength wasn’t just his amazing power—it was how he used that power to create a peaceful society. Similarly, villains like All For One demonstrate that power without moral compass becomes nothing more than destructive force.

I believe the message of My Hero Academia is that true strength comes from how we use our gifts to help others, not just the raw power of those gifts. It’s why characters like Deku, who started with nothing but gained power through his heroic spirit, resonate so deeply with viewers.

Conclusion: Beyond Raw Power

As we wrap up our journey through the strongest characters in My Hero Academia, I’m reminded that power takes many forms in this richly developed world. From All Might’s world-changing might to the specialized abilities of heroes like Hawks and Best Jeanist, strength manifests in diverse and fascinating ways.

What makes My Hero Academia special is that it continually challenges our perception of what makes someone truly powerful. Is it raw strength? Strategic thinking? Emotional resilience? The series suggests it’s a combination of all these factors.

As the story continues to unfold, these power rankings may shift. New characters emerge, existing ones grow stronger, and some may fall from their positions. That’s the beauty of a well-crafted series—it keeps evolving, just like its characters.

Who do you think are the strongest characters in My Hero Academia? Do you agree with my rankings, or would you arrange them differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Key Takeaways from My Hero Academia’s Strongest Characters

• All Might remains the benchmark for raw power in the series, even after his retirement
• Quirk versatility often trumps single-ability power, as seen with characters like All For One and Deku
• Experience and training can elevate seemingly basic quirks to extraordinary levels
• Mental strength plays a crucial role in determining a character’s true power
• Heroes and villains both occupy spots among the strongest, showing power itself is neutral—it’s how it’s used that matters
• Power scaling continues to evolve as the series progresses, with younger characters growing rapidly
• Strategic thinking often allows characters to overcome raw power disadvantages
• The strongest characters typically have either multiple abilities or have mastered their single quirk to its ultimate potential