Top 20 Best My Hero Academia Fights

And this is why you always show respect to your seniors. You never know when one might strip naked and punch you in the gut. That came out wrong. As arguably the strongest student attending U.A High, the always cheerful Mirio decided to show the heroes of tomorrow the staggering difference in their POWAAAH! With but a single strike, Mirio takes out every member of the class, giving them a little taste of how strong a person can become after a little bit of experience.

Most would flinch at the idea of facing off against the guy who can re-enact Apocalypse Now with his bare hands, but not this cinnamon roll. Inspired by Midoriya’s courage and fuelled by the desire to aid her family in their time of crisis, Uraraka takes on the full force of Bakugo’s explosions one after another. It’s a true test of endurance, and while it looked like Uraraka might have clenched victory when she made it rain freakin’ meteors, she just couldn’t cross that final hurdle.

#17: Midoriya & Bakugo vs. All Might

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They say you should never meet your heroes, but then again those people didn’t have to actually fight them! As part of their final exam, our two-favorite costumed rivals find themselves facing off against their idol in order to pass. Things are made infinitely more complicated due to Deku and Kacchan’s inability to see eye to eye. However, desperation has a strange way of forcing cooperation, as the two somehow manage to work together in order to get the better of All Might, scoring another win for the books. This battle also serves as a stepping stone for Bakugo, who was given a harsh lesson in how not everything can be solved with explosions…most of time.

Doesn’t matter if it's against one foe or several, this battle hungry bunny will take on any enemy to complete her duty. After tracking down All For One’s faithful servant Dr. Garaki, Mirko quickly finds herself in a life or death battle against the mad doctor's deadliest creations, the High-End Nomu. With a ferocity that contradicts the nature of her Quirk, this badass bunny girl single-handedly takes on the High Ends. Even when they slowly start to overwhelm her, Mirko refuses to just quit and powers through the High-Ends lethal blows, sacrificing her own body to see her mission through. With such an intense drive and will power, it’s no wonder Mirko became one of the top five heroes.

Deku’s newfound mastery of One for All is put to the test as he takes on Japan’s greatest sniper. Hired by All For One to capture Deku, the former Pro Hero Lady Nagant proves quite the troublesome foe. Along with her unparalleled marksmanship, Lady Nagant’s arsenal also includes Air Walk. A second Quirk granted to her by All For One that greatly boosts her mobility, allowing her to stay one step ahead of Deku even with his superior speed. In the end, Lady Nagant underestimates Deku’s abilities and altruistic nature as he uses the power of Faux 100 Percent to end their fight with a single high velocity blow. It’s a shame that All For One’s interference turned this victory into a tragedy.

In a battle between two villains driven by extreme goals, the more dangerous villain always comes out on top. As the League of Villains wage war against the Meta Liberation Army, Shigaraki confronts the rebel group's leader in a battle that pits the legacy of Destro against All for One’s successor. At first, Shagaraki experiences a one-sided beating as he is powerless to stop Re-Destro from tossing him around like a rag doll. It isn’t until Shigaraki conquers his traumatic past and experiences his own Plus Ultra moment that he unlocks his Quirk’s true potential. Fully embracing his desire for destruction, Tomura unleashes a devastating counterattack that puts the fear of evil into Re-Destro and his army.

Who knew a fight over a school festival could get so intense? After a chance encounter with the elusive Gentle Criminal, Deku ends up fighting him after the latter reveals his goal of infiltrating U.A.’s Culture Festival. Although not as nefarious as some of the other villains he’s faced, Deku refuses to let Gentle’s plan succeed as the hopes of so many people were relying on the festival’s success. With neither side willing to back down, Deku and Gentle engage in an epic clash of fists and ideals that pushes both fighters to their limits. Considering how easily Deku could have become like Gentle, it’s no wonder he considers their battle to be his toughest up until that point.

Although he tends to avoid the spotlight, Eraser Head’s reputation easily inspires fear and respect in both heroes and villains alike. When the League of Villains invade U.A.'s training facility, Eraser Head does not hesitate to jump into battle alone to protect the future generation of heroes. Despite being outnumbered ten to one, Eraser Head makes quick work of the League’s thugs thanks to his fearsome fighting skills and his ability to nullify Quirks with a glance. Although he eventually meets his match against the terrifying Nomu, Eraser Head still fights through unimaginable pain to ensure his students’ safety. His resilience and fighting ability are so legendary, that even Tomura Shigaraki, who despises hero society, can’t help but praise him.

#11: Red Riot & Fat Gum vs. Rappa & Tengai

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Although he may not be the series main protagonist, you’d best not underestimate the power and chivalry of Eijiro Kirishima, aka Red Riot. While raiding the Shie Hassaikai’s compound, both Kirishima and his Pro Hero mentor Fat Gum eventually find themselves locked in battle with yakuza members Rappa and Tengai. Along with Tengai’s Barrier Quirk blocking their every attack, the heroes barely survive Rappa’s punches which shatter even Kirishima’s Unbreakable. Despite the blow to his pride, Kirishima makes an epic comeback and hardens his resolve as he tanks a barrage of Rappa’s deadly punches. Thanks to his efforts, Kirishima buys Fat Gum enough time to counter attack with his own Ultimate Move, defeating their opponents and demonstrating the superiority of their own spear and shield combo.

Sometimes the most intense battles aren’t about beating the villain, but getting the hero to stand down. After pushing himself to his limits hunting down Tomura Shigaraki and All For One, Deku faces an even bigger challenge when he is forced to confront his friends from Class A who refuse to let him fight alone. Despite Deku’s best efforts to resist, his classmates' perseverance and empathy slowly tears away at his emotional armor. In the end, the one who breaks through to Deku is none other than his rival Bakugo, who stops him with something even stronger than his explosions, the honest truth. After all Deku’s done to help his friends, it’s pretty amazing to see the lengths Class A will go to return the favor.

#9: All Might vs. Noumu

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Our first real example of why All Might truly is the pillar of the superhero community, this clash against the likes of the monstrous amalgamation known as Noumu was the perfect way to see out the first season. And by that, we mean watch the two of them punch the ever-loving crap out of each other. Despite running on fumes, All Might manages to push himself back from the brink and snatch victory from Noumu’s hideous jaws. Who knew going Plus Ultra involved delivering a strike that could send someone flying into the stratosphere?

Being a hero means willing to make sacrifices…even if it means nearly getting both of your arms broken into bloody chunks while a villainous pile of flesh tries to crush you. Or maybe that’s just Deku. Determined to protect Koda from his parents’ murderer, Midoriya pushes himself further than ever before, willing to let his own Quirk cripple him in order to save his young charge from harm. Now that we think about it, Muscular really didn’t stand much of a chance. The sight of Midoriya screaming in both pain and triumph still makes us choke up…

The bloody crusade of the Hero Killer Stain served as a brutal reminder to our heroes that the society they lived in was not all clear cut. After his brother is grievously injured during one of Stain’s quests to wipe all so-called pretenders, Iida sets out to take his revenge, only to find himself grossly outmatched thanks to Stain’s ability to immobilize his victims by ingesting their blood. It may have looked like curtains, but thankfully Midoriya and Todoroki managed to leap in at the last second to even the playing field. Stain’s Bloodscythe and fancy knife work may have been nothing to sneer at, but even he couldn’t withstand a Class 1-A combo!

Watching Mirio go Plus Ultra and risk everything in his battle against Overhaul was without a doubt one of the series most inspiring moments (Xref). However, it’s also a precursor to an even greater moment: Deku’s final clash with Overhaul. With a little help from Eri’s Quirk Rewind, Deku manages to draw out the full power of One For All without fear of causing permanent damage to himself. Even when Overhaul turns himself into a full blown monster, the yakuza is powerless in the face of Deku’s unrestrained might. With stunning animation, Deku unleashes a heaping dose of karma against Overhaul for all the pain he inflicted on Eri and smashes his dark ambition to pieces.

It was the rematch we were all waiting for, and it turned out to be more emotionally poignant than any of us were prepared for. After finally figuring out that Midoriya’s power came from All Might, Bakugo challenges his rival to a second showdown; no holds barred, winner takes all. Not only is the fight an exquisite sight to behold from a visual standpoint, but a perfect showcase for the twos’ newfound maturity as both human beings and heroes. We dare you to not feel an inkling of pride for Bakugo after you see him finally accept his new reality as Midoriya’s equal. They grow up so fast!

Now THIS is what makes tournament arcs all worthwhile. Determined to make him embrace all aspects of his Quirk, Deku went all out in order to push Todoroki to his absolute limit. Inspired by his opponent’s unwavering desire to become a hero, the scarred bad boy finally relents, paving the way for his twin elements to take on the force of One for All. The fight is utterly jaw-dropping, all held together by Midoriya’s innate ability to inspire those to be the best that they can be…while simultaneously beating the crap out of them.

He may not have been the hero they wanted, but at least he’s determined to become the hero he needs to be. After being attacked by the High-End Nomu Hood, Endeavor wastes no time in retaliating. Unfortunately, Endeavor soon learns that incinerating his opponent is much easier said than done. With enough strength to cleave through a building and regenerate from even the deadliest attacks, Hood proves to be more than a match for Endeavor and his hellflames. As Hood gradually overwhelms him, Endeavor begrudgingly calls upon his own Plus Ultra moment to surpass his limits and perform one last all-out attack. Burning with the intensity of a small sun, Endeavor vaporizes Hood and leaves quite the impression as the new number one hero.

If you thought the original All For One was terrifying, his successor is a whole other breed of evil. Especially when he destroys entire cities with a single touch. As the newly resurrected Symbol of Fear begins his rampage, the remaining heroes rally together in a desperate attempt to bring him down. Unfortunately, even when outnumbered and having his powers suppressed, Shigaraki’s enhanced physical strength still made him virtually unstoppable. Regardless of raging infernos, devastating explosions, and even several strikes from One For All at full strength, none of the heroes’ best efforts can deter Shigaraki from making his twisted dream a reality. Hard to imagine that this legendary brawl is merely the prologue to an even greater final clash.

#1: All Might vs. All For One

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Take the classic concept of good vs. evil, inject it with some top tier animation, make the whole thing a swan song for a much beloved character, and what do you get? Quite possibly one of the most awesome battles in modern anime. Once again thrown into a confrontation with his nemesis All for One, All Might is given no choice but to use every last ember of his Quirk to win the day against the League of Villain’s head honcho. It’s a breath-taking spectacle, one perfectly fitting of the Symbol of Peace’s last stand. Remember, when you throw down with All Might, he won’t just punch you, he’ll drop an entire metaphorical country on you! Which “My Hero Academia” fight do you think went beyond Plus Ultra? Let us know in the comments below.