8 Quirks in MHA Designed for Villains, Not Heroes

Summary

Certain quirks in My Hero Academia are inherently suited for villainy due to their cruel and destructive nature.
Dictator’s Despot quirk allows him to puppeteer others, forcing them to attack against their will.
All For One allowed the main antagonist to become the Symbol of Evil by stealing, copying and transfering quirks over the course of hundreds of years.

In the comic series, “My Hero Academia,” created by Kohei Horikoshi, a majority of the populace possess unique abilities known as ‘quirks.’ These quirks enable individuals to perform extraordinary, useful, and often incredible feats. Predominantly, people apply their quirks towards bettering society, whether it’s through everyday employment or by joining the ranks of Pro Heroes – dedicated individuals who protect and serve humanity.

Regrettably, not everyone shares such good fortune, as some quirks appear to cater more to villainous behavior, leaving little room for alternative choices other than embracing a life of crime. However, it’s crucial to remember that in the world of My Hero Academia, no one should be defined by their quirks. Unfortunately, some individuals face greater challenges than others, and the eight characters discussed below are a poignant illustration of this difficult situation.

1. Gas

Mustard

Debut: Chapter 73 (Manga), Episode 41 (Anime)

Little is understood about the young antagonist called Mustard beyond the fact that he appears to harbor animosity towards the students at U.A. High School. This attitude may stem from his dangerous ability, Gas, which enables him to create vast clouds of poisonous gas with harmful properties capable of putting anyone into a deep slumber.

Interestingly, Midnight and Somnambulist share a similar hero name, yet their abilities differ significantly. While Midnight’s power is relatively harmless, Mustard’s Gas is highly dangerous, not only to those around him but also to the user himself. This toxicity makes it hazardous, as he must wear a gas mask to use it. It’s worth noting that this quirk would be difficult to employ for anything other than incapacitating innocent people due to its harmful nature.

2. Day Dream

Deborah Gollini

Debut: My Hero Academia: You’re Next

The films based on “My Hero Academia” have unveiled numerous unique characters, but among the coldest is Deborah Gollini from the fourth and latest movie, “My Hero Academia: You’re Next.” Her special ability is called “Day Dream,” which lets her mesmerize her victims and make them live through their most cherished dreams within a fantasy.

Initially, Deborah’s peculiar trait might appear somewhat appealing, yet it’s crucial to highlight that this ability leaves her victims in a near-unbreakable comatose state. To compound matters, Deborah, under Anna Scervino’s Overmodification, gained the power to hypnotize vast groups of people simultaneously, causing them to fall asleep. While putting innocent people to sleep is malevolent on its own, forcing them into a deep coma where they are compelled to live out their most treasured dreams can be exceptionally cruel.

3. Despot

Dictator

Debut: Chapter 318 (Manga), Episode 135 (Anime)

The antagonist, referred to as the Dictator, may have a minor role, but he is undeniably unsettling. His disquieting appearance and chilling trait, Despot, contribute significantly to this feeling. With his ability, he can manipulate strings from his body to control others, and it appears that he can exert influence over large groups of civilians simultaneously.

What makes Despot particularly harsh is that he maintains the ability to act freely in his subjects, yet they’re unable to resist his control – thus compelling them to attack his adversaries against their will. Remarkably, this characteristic mirrors the Ito Ito no Mi from One Piece, a Devil Fruit consumed by the notoriously cruel and merciless anime antagonist, Donquixote Doflamingo.

4. Bloodcurdle

Chizome Akaguro (Stain)

Debut: Chapter 47 (Manga), Episode 28 (Anime)

Bloodcurdle empowers its wielder, the notorious villain Stain, with the ability to immobilize anyone he consumes blood from. Given the grisly aspect of this power, Stain must adopt a more aggressive fighting style and constantly carry sharp instruments such as knives or swords to make full use of it in battle.

Due to this disturbing trait and Stain’s perspective on Pro Heroes, he transformed into a merciless avenger who pursued and eliminated villains. However, his path eventually led him to become a villain as well, targeting any Pro Hero who wasn’t All Might. To add to the complexity, even the notorious All For One chose to seize Bloodcurdle during the Final War Arc for his own purposes.

5. Queen Bee

Kuin Hachisuka

Debut: Chapter 5 (Vigilantes Manga)

Vigilantes. Her power, called Queen Bee, lets her control these bees in sinister ways. Not only can she make them aggressive, but she can also command the swarm to act as explosives at a distance. This gives them destructive capabilities that are dangerous and harmful.

It’s worth noting that Kuin is a genuine, sentient being resembling a bee, requiring a host to operate effectively. Consequently, she has exploited several unsuspecting girls during the narrative of Vigilantes. Even the typically benevolent Pop☆Step transformed into the ruthless villain Bee☆Pop when overtaken by Queen Bee.

6. Double

Jin Bubaigawara (Twice)

Debut: Chapter 77 (Manga), Episode 43 (Anime)

Initially, Twice’s ability, Double, doesn’t appear to be malicious at first sight. This is because he has the power to duplicate anything or anyone he touches, even replicating other people’s unique abilities. It’s worth noting that several well-known superheroes from comics and films possess similar powers, which they often use to combat crime and protect civilians.

However, Double distinguishes itself due to its impact on the user psychologically. As Twice manufactures duplicates of himself, these clones soon develop independent will and start fighting each other (and sometimes their creator), vying for dominance. This chilling aspect led to a decline in Twice’s mental state, forcing him into villainy. It was this unsettling trait that made his Ultimate Move, the Sad Man’s Parade, a pivotal element in All For One’s strategy during the Final War Arc, as it unleashed a multitude of Twice clones onto the battlefield, overpowering all the Pro Heroes.

7. All For One

All For One

Debut: Chapter 59 (Manga), Episode 33 (Anime)

As a die-hard fan of My Hero Academia, it’s no surprise that All For One, the series’ primary antagonist, possesses a quirk tailor-made for a sinister mastermind like him. Known simply as All For One, his extraordinary ability enables him to swipe, replicate, and transfer other individuals’ superpowers, a skill he’s honed over centuries to amass a formidable following and ultimately claim the title of Evil’s Emblem.

The ability known as All For One could theoretically be employed for benevolent purposes, but its capability to rob individuals of their unique powers (leaving them powerless) gives off an impression that it’s a tool best utilized by calculating and merciless controllers who care little about the well-being of others. This quirk is so inherently malicious that another comparable one, dubbed One For All, was inadvertently created and has been solely wielded for the purpose of defeating All For One himself.

8. Decay

Tomura Shigaraki

Debut: Chapter 16 (Manga), Episode 11 (Anime)

Tomura Shigaraki appeared to activate his power, Decay, but lacked command over it. Tragically, he disintegrated his family unintentionally, leaving only his father as a deliberate victim. Following this event, Shigaraki fell under the guidance of All For One and harbored a single ambition: to harness his newfound quirk to demolish the world that he felt had neglected and wronged him.

In the world of My Hero Academia, Decay – particularly after it was activated by Shigaraki during the Meta Liberation Army Arc – appears to be a sinister ability, fitting only for a malevolent character. However, there’s a crucial aspect to this power that often goes unnoticed: All For One created Decay by duplicating Kai Chisaki’s Overhaul and stripping it of its regenerative properties. Later, he passed this modified version on to Shigaraki. This implies that in the storyline of My Hero Academia, Decay was intentionally designed as a quirk for a formidable villain, who could potentially inherit All For One’s legacy.

2025-04-19 19:11