My Hero Academia: The Strongest Villains, Ranked

Summary

Villains in My Hero Academia are powerful due to their Quirks, not just physical strength.
Characters like Twice, Toga, Lady Nagant showcase unique and dangerous Quirk abilities.
Antagonists like Hood, Gigantomachia, and All For One pose significant challenges to heroes.

To ensure that the tension in any series remains high and thrilling, it’s essential for villains to possess sufficient power to keep the heroes constantly on guard. There are certainly no shortage of formidable antagonists in My Hero Academia who fit this criterion. Yet, strength in this series can manifest in various ways. While physically overpowering a hero is crucial, what truly makes many villains so potent and menacing is their unique abilities or Quirks.

In various shapes and forms, idiosyncrasies abound, but when an individual chooses to employ their abilities for nefarious purposes such as causing harm and misery, they become challenging adversaries for the noble heroes. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that many of these antagonists, initially appearing less formidable, have transformed into unbelievably powerful entities, even giving top-tier heroes a run for their money. In light of this, let’s delve deeper into the capabilities and accomplishments of these My Hero Academia villains, examining how they stack up against one another in terms of raw power. Keep in mind that this analysis contains significant spoilers for the entirety of My Hero Academia and will only consider villains from the primary series; those seen in films and Vigilantes will be excluded from our discussion.

This list contains spoilers!

11. Twice

Twice’s Quirk Allows Him To Always Outnumber His Opponents With Clones

First Appearance: Episode 43

Twice has a rocky relationship with his Quirk, as it led to him losing control and creating numerous copies of himself. This made it difficult for him to distinguish which was the original. However, over time he learns to harness its power effectively, culminating in an attack that ranks among the most destructive in the series: The Sad Man’s Parade.

When Twice activates his power, he generates countless duplicates that could engulf an entire city rapidly during the Meta Liberation War. This attack posed such a threat that the heroes decided to dispatch Hawks specifically to eliminate Twice, as a precaution against potential complications they might face managing him in the future.

10. Toga

Being Able To Steal Other People’s Quirks Makes Toga A Dangerous And Very Unpredictable Villain To Deal With

First Appearance: Episode 31

In society, Toga found herself an outcast due to her excessive thirst for blood. Although she was often made to feel embarrassed about this unique ability, the young and ruthless villain cleverly utilized it in the commission of numerous crimes with the League. For instance, after drinking Uraraka’s blood, Toga could temporarily transform into the student and employ her Gravity Quirk to cause Curious to fall fatally.

Option: She’d likewise employ it in the closing conflict, transforming into the deceased Twice, thus enabling her to summon Sad Man’s Parade, filling the battlefield with duplicates. It should be noted that Toga is not only formidable due to her Quirk; she’s also quite skilled in physical combat, as evidenced by her near-fatal attack on Uraraka using a knife during their decisive clash at the story’s end.

9. Lady Nagant

Japan’s Top Marksman Can Make Quick Work Of An Enemy, No Matter The Range

First Appearance: Episode 133

Initially renowned as a hero, Lady Nagant eventually grew disenchanted with the hero community when she was manipulated like a chess piece. This experience ultimately pushed her towards All For One. However, it’s important to note that Lady Nagant isn’t your average criminal; she’s a formidable villain who possesses an exceptional ability to eliminate her targets from great distances, thanks to her remarkable marksmanship and Rifle Quirk.

From my vantage point, it’s clear that her ammunition boasts an extraordinary ability to bend around structures. This implies that if a hero happens to be moving a bit leisurely, they could find themselves unexpectedly targeted by one of her shots. In such a scenario, Midoriya might need to employ several of his Quirks to dodge Nagant’s barrage. Most heroes would undoubtedly face significantly greater challenges when it comes to subduing her.

8. Muscular

The Muscle Augmentation Quirk Provides Goto With Freakish Strength And Durability

First Appearance: Episode 39

It’s quite unexpected that Muscular emerges so early in the series given his immense power. As a ruthless killer with an insatiable desire for causing pain and misery, Muscular is a formidable adversary who leverages his Muscle Augmentation ability to crush any heroes attempting to hinder him.

He is primarily recognized for murdering the heroic duo called Water Hose. Despite his destructive acts being eventually halted by Midoriya, this occurred when the young pupil chose to fully unleash One For All, causing immense damage to his own body in the process. Later in the narrative, Muscular would be more readily captured by Midoriya, but only because the latter had gained the ability to simultaneously use multiple of the Vestige’s Quirks at once by that time.

7. U.S.J. Nomu

Even All Might Had A Hard Time Getting Past This Nomu’s Shock Absorption

First Appearance: Episode 8

Indeed, it’s clear that the menacing Nomu, who suddenly appeared in the U.S.J arc, was engineered specifically to challenge All Might. This explains why this peculiar villain exhibits an extraordinary level of strength. In the U.S.J., Nomu reveled in overpowering any hero who dared confront him with his massive fists and powerful attacks. However, what truly sets him apart as a formidable fighter is his resilience.

Observing from afar, I witnessed the resilience of the Nomu in U.S.J., its Shock Absorption Quirk allowing it to withstand countless punches that would have easily defeated other villains. This showcase of durability underscores the formidable nature of this fearsome creature. Although it can be contained using the appropriate tool or Quirk, engaging in a one-on-one battle against it without One For All would undoubtedly prove challenging, if not downright difficult.

6. Overhaul

Overhaul Can Use His Quirk In Plenty of Creative Ways To Take Down A Hero

First Appearance: Episode 65

Overhaul appears more like a strategist than a warrior, yet when pushed into conflict, he turns out to be quite elusive to defeat. In his fight against Mirio, Overhaul skillfully manipulates the surroundings using his Quirk until ultimately, he’s cornered and is forced to merge with his trusted ally, Shin.

When Overhaul transformed into his massive form, Izuku had to unleash numerous full-strength attacks to penetrate the Yakuza member’s defenses. If Eri hadn’t been present to aid him, it would have been extremely difficult to halt Overhaul altogether. Overhaul is a brilliant tactician with an exceptionally potent Quirk, allowing him to outsmart opponents in a variety of ingenious ways.

5. Dabi

Dabi Has Caused An Immeasurable Amount Of Damage With His Powerful Blueflame Quirk

First Appearance: Episode 31

Observer’s Perspective: The infernal Quirk, Hellfire belonging to Endeavor, is renowned for its immense power within this series. Yet, Dabi’s blazing pyres surpass even that standard. Despite the self-inflicting harm these blue flames cause on his own physique, he has grown desensitized to such sensations, enabling him to unleash an abundance of highly perilous assaults without a second thought about the repercussions.

For instance, Dabi’s flames were intensely hot, burning Hawk’s wings and rendering him incapacitated for quite some time. This not only weakened the team of heroes but also demonstrated his potential to cause significant damage, as seen during the final war when Dabi’s Quirk reached unprecedented levels of power, threatening to destroy an entire city. It’s no wonder he became a considerable concern for the heroes near the end of the series.

4. Hood

Hood Shows The Frightening Potential Of The High-End Nomus

First Appearance: Episode 87

In a nutshell, Hood – an exceptional High-End Nomu – showcases just how formidable these monstrous beings can become when nurtured and developed over time. This towering powerhouse was capable of matching the might of not one, but two top-tier heroes, Endeavor and Hawks, simultaneously. However, it was only Endeavor’s ultimate Prominence Burn attack that managed to bring Hood down.

Beyond this, it’s made clear that Hood outshines other Nomu with his superior intellect. Instead of recklessly charging at targets, he employs a more tactical approach, utilizing his array of potent abilities thoughtfully. Despite appearing for only one story arc, Hood leaves an indelible impression as one of the most formidable adversaries the heroes have encountered.

3. Gigantomachia

An Incredibly Durable Monster Capable Of Flattening Entire Cities To The Ground

First Appearance: Episode 31

Although appearing initially as just a huge, seemingly thoughtless giant, Gigantomachia plays a significant role in the plot’s unfolding. This fearsome titan was crafted by All For One to serve as an indomitable weapon, obedient only to his master’s commands, proving to be a powerful asset for the villain to employ whenever needed. Gigantomachia demonstrated his immense power and resilience during confrontations with the League of Villains, enduring for weeks without showing any signs of exhaustion.

Although a few heroes like Jeanist and Shinso have managed to contain Gigantomachia, defeating him in battle is no small task. In fact, only Mt. Lady has been able to keep him at bay physically, but even she, being a giant herself, was ultimately overpowered by the immense power of All For One’s creation.

2. All For One

All For One Has A Wide Selection Of Quirks At His Disposal To Use In A Fight

First Appearance: Episode 33

Generally speaking, All For One tends to manipulate events from behind the curtains, serving as a guide for Shigaraki and other members of the League of Villains. However, it’s important to note that his capabilities extend beyond mentorship – he’s more than capable in combat. His diverse range of Quirks allows him to inflict massive damage while maintaining his own safety. During the Hideout Raid Arc, for instance, he tested All Might to the utmost limit and skillfully employed techniques like Impact Recoil to parry All Might’s powerful attacks.

In the final battle, he takes it up a notch with the Rewind Power, transforming into a younger and more powerful version of himself. This form makes it effortless for him to obliterate clusters of heroes instantly. While Shigaraki may have the overpowered Decay Quirk, All For One’s combat prowess remains impressive without it.

1. Tomura Shigaraki

Inheriting All For One And Awakening His Decay Quirk Turned Shigaraki Into An Unstoppable Villain

First Appearance: Episode 8

Initially, Shigaraki demonstrated impressive strength with just his Decay Quirk. However, when Dr Garaki bestowed All For One upon him and unlocked Decay’s full power, Shigaraki’s abilities soared to unprecedented levels. Equipped with regenerative powers, Shigaraki could endure countless attacks from America’s top hero, Star and Stripe, and even survive a nuclear blast before ultimately defeating the Pro-Hero permanently.

In the heart-pounding climax of our battle, I found myself standing toe-to-toe with Shigaraki, a foe so formidable that the mere touch of his feet would level the ground beneath us. The heroes, trembling with fear, took to the skies in a colossal fortress, knowing this was our only chance to keep everyone safe. Even an entire league of heroes struggled to make a dent in Shigaraki’s power.

In a moment that will forever be etched in history, it was young Midoriya who stepped forward, ready to face the ultimate test. With all his might and courage, he charged at Shigaraki, channeling the immense power of One For All into every punch, every kick. In a selfless act, Midoriya forced One For All into Shigaraki, sacrificing his own Quirk to vanquish the villain in one final, heroic stand. This was the day we defeated Shigaraki, and it will always be remembered as the day when bravery triumphed over terror.

2025-04-18 11:45