My Hero Academia: 7 Heroes Who Would’ve Been Better Successors To All Might Than Deku

All Might chose Deku to inherit his power, One For All. Though Deku started as a weak, Quirkless teen, he eventually learned to control One For All and became a top Hero in My Hero Academia. While many fans agree Deku was the right person to take over for All Might, some believe other Heroes would have been a stronger fit.

While many of Deku’s classmates could have potentially taken over for All Might, a few already-established heroes were also strong candidates. These individuals possessed Quirks that would have been significantly enhanced by One For All, and importantly, their bodies were generally strong enough to handle the immense power it provides.

7. Mezo Shoji

Pro Hero Name: Tentacle Hero: Tentacole

Though Mezo didn’t appear often on screen, he was crucial in defending Central Hospital during the Final War, even managing to defeat a stronger-than-usual Spinner. After graduating, he rose to become Japan’s ninth-ranked Pro Hero, making him one of the most successful heroes from Class 1-A. Like Deku, Mezo is incredibly selfless, especially considering he faced discrimination for his unique appearance. Since becoming a pro, he’s become a symbol of hope and acceptance for all those with unusual appearances.

Mezo’s heroic deeds have gained him international praise, even earning him an award similar to the Nobel Peace Prize within the world of My Hero Academia. He’s a strong contender to inherit All Might’s power, and his ability could have significantly strengthened One For All. During fights, Mezo can instantly generate multiple arms, which, combined with One For All’s already incredible strength, would have created an overwhelmingly powerful attack against any villain. Plus, unlike Deku, Mezo was naturally quite durable, meaning his body would have been better equipped to withstand the immense strain of wielding One For All.

6. Eijiro Kirishima

Pro Hero Name: Sturdy Hero: Red Riot

Eijiro wasn’t initially very impressed with his Hardening Quirk, but his confidence grew once he was accepted into U.A. High School. Through rigorous training, he became one of the most powerful students in Class 1-A, evolving into a truly selfless Hero. He consistently put himself in harm’s way to protect others, a prime example being when he shielded Mina from a devastating attack by Gigantomachia. Had All Might witnessed this act of bravery before meeting Deku, he very likely would have immediately chosen Eijiro as his successor.

Beyond his strong spirit, Eijiro could have been a more suitable successor. His Quirk, combined with One For All’s incredible toughness, might have made him nearly invulnerable to physical attacks. Eijiro’s already strong body would have handled One For All’s power better, and the stamina boost would have let him use his Hardening ability for extended periods. Even a formidable opponent like All For One would have struggled to hurt him with those advantages.

5. Shota Aizawa

Pro Hero Name: Erasure Hero: Eraser Head

Shota Aizawa, the homeroom teacher for Class 1-A, is a Pro Hero known for being reserved, strict, and relying heavily on logic. While these aren’t qualities All Might usually looks for in someone to inherit One For All, he recognizes Shota’s skill and effectiveness as a hero. Like Deku, Shota would have needed training to handle One For All’s power, but his stronger tactical thinking would have allowed him to use it more strategically in battles, potentially avoiding many of the injuries Deku sustained.

Deku’s success with One For All came from his initial lack of a Quirk and his strong will, but Aizawa (Eraser Head) would have been an even more effective user due to his own powerful Quirk. Erasure is incredibly strong because it can cancel out other Quirks, and Aizawa could likely have defeated All For One and the League of Villains on his own if he’d possessed One For All earlier in the story. Even without it, Aizawa was a formidable opponent – villains with super strength struggled against him even when he only used his binding cloth, so adding One For All’s power would have guaranteed victory.

4. Katsuki Bakugo

Pro Hero Name: Bombshell Hero: Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight

Bakugo admired All Might as much as Deku did, and he’s determined to become the number one hero in Japan, surpassing his idol. Currently, he’s ranked fifth. While Bakugo can be explosive, rude, and quick to anger, he’s incredibly dedicated and hardworking. He even accomplished what many thought was impossible: saving All Might and defeating All For One during the final battle. That alone shows he deserved to be considered All Might’s successor.

Bakugo is strong enough to handle the immense power of One For All, and his naturally powerful Quirk has awakened to allow him to create many explosions simultaneously. As seen in the movie My Hero Academia: Heroes: Rising, when Deku briefly passed One For All to Bakugo, his body withstood the strain and his Quirk became even more destructive – capable of melting stone and creating huge craters. This brief experience suggests that if All Might had chosen Bakugo as the successor to One For All, he might have been able to defeat All For One much sooner.

3. Shoto Todoroki

Pro Hero Name: A.C. Hero: Shoto

Shoto endured intense daily training from childhood, driven by his father’s ambition for him to exceed All Might. Once he chose his own direction, Shoto rapidly became a top Pro Hero in Japan, achieving the No. 2 ranking just eight years after graduating. He possesses the dedication and selflessness needed to become All Might’s successor, a quality demonstrated during the Final War when he risked his life to prevent Dabi’s devastating explosion.

Shoto possessed the dedication to quickly learn and control One For All, and it would have greatly amplified his already powerful Quirk, Half-Cold Half-Hot. This Quirk allows him to both burn opponents with flames and freeze them with ice, and even combine the two for incredibly potent attacks. Given his determination, strength, and fighting skills – which rivaled Deku’s – Shoto likely would have been able to defeat any villain with One For All, making him a strong candidate to inherit the Quirk.

2. Cathleen Bate

Pro Hero Name: Star and Stripe

I remember being incredibly impressed by Cathleen Bate’s story. She was saved by All Might when she was younger, and from that moment on, she was determined to become a hero just like him. She actually succeeded, becoming the top hero in the United States! What’s really amazing is that All For One, a truly terrifying villain, was genuinely afraid of her. Her Quirk, New Order, let her give new properties to anything – even people – and she could have theoretically weakened All For One enough to defeat him with just a touch and a spoken name. While she didn’t get a ton of time on screen, Cathleen quickly stood out as one of the most compelling female characters in My Hero Academia.

When Japan needed help, she immediately offered assistance and was fiercely dedicated to her team, even willing to sacrifice herself for them. Her bravery continued even after her death – she intentionally damaged her unique ability when Tomura stole it, weakening many of his powers and making the final battle more manageable. While Deku was All Might’s initial choice as a successor, Cathleen was actually a stronger option. She possessed the physical build necessary to handle One For All’s immense power, was a seasoned Hero, and earned All Might’s respect. Crucially, she could have used her Quirk, New Order, to create a fail-safe that would have destroyed anyone attempting to steal One For All from her.

1. Mirio Togata

Pro Hero Name: Comedy Hero: Lemillion

When Deku started training to become a pro hero, Mirio was considered the best student at U.A. High. He was highly regarded for his incredible skills, strong fighting abilities, and likable personality, leading many to believe he would become the next top hero. Before All Might chose Deku, Mirio was also a leading candidate to inherit the One For All quirk. Although One For All is no longer being passed down, Mirio ultimately achieved success by becoming Japan’s highest-ranked hero.

Mirio is now among the most powerful characters in My Hero Academia. If he’d received One For All, he would have become so strong that even villains like All For One and Tomura Shigaraki would have struggled to defeat him. His Permeation ability allows him to become intangible and move through objects at high speeds, delivering powerful attacks. One For All would have amplified his speed and strength, potentially allowing him to defeat any villain with a single blow.

2026-05-26 14:35