My Hero Academia: Deku’s Most OP Moments, Ranked

With both the My Hero Academia manga and anime completed, it’s a great time to revisit the journey of its main character, Izuku Midoriya (also known as Deku), and how he grew in strength. He’s a truly inspiring figure – starting with no powers at all, he became one of the most powerful heroes and ultimately helped improve hero society in Japan.

Deku’s incredible power comes from inheriting the One For All quirk from his hero, All Might. Initially, this quirk only boosted his strength and speed, but he eventually gained access to six other quirks from the previous One For All users. Combined with his intelligence, this made him a formidable fighter. Throughout My Hero Academia, there are numerous instances of Deku demonstrating just how powerful he’s become, and these eight moments are the most striking examples.

Destroying The Robot To Save Uraraka

His First Real Time Using One For All

Chapter 3 (Manga) Episode 4 (Anime)

Deku trained for months to get used to the immense power of One for All, which he rightfully inherited. However, this was the first time he actually used the quirk, and it quickly became clear just how strong it really is.

During the final moments of the U.A. Entrance Exam, Deku noticed a large robot preparing to attack Ochaco Uraraka, a new friend he’d made that day. Without hesitation, he rushed forward and used his One for All quirk to deliver a powerful blow, quickly destroying the robot. Remarkably, he received no points for this act, as his only intention was to save Uraraka, demonstrating his true heroic nature and proving he deserved a place at U.A.

1,000,000% Delaware Detroit Smash

The Attack That Put An End To One Of The Most Dangerous Villains

Chapter 76 (Manga) Episode 42 (Anime)

Throughout the beginning of My Hero Academia, Deku used his powers in many situations, but he didn’t face a truly life-or-death battle with a villain until the Forest Training Camp Arc. When the League of Villains attacked the summer camp, Deku immediately tried to protect a boy named Kota from a dangerous villain called Muscular.

The battle was incredibly difficult for Deku, as the villain fought with brutal force and a remarkably strong quirk. However, seeing Kota’s bravery gave Deku the strength to perform a devastating new attack – the 1,000,000% Delaware Detroit Smash – which quickly tore through Muscular’s many layers of muscle. It was a stunning victory, and the moment Deku became a hero in Kota’s eyes.

Defeating Muscular With One Punch

The Perfect Example Of Deku’s Gradual Growth

Chapter 308 (Manga) Episode 132 (Anime)

Deku actually battled Muscular twice, but their second fight happened under very different circumstances. After the Paranormal Liberation War, Muscular broke out of prison and started attacking people in Japan. Several heroes attempted to stop him, but he proved too powerful – until Deku, who had just left U.A. High School, intervened.

Muscular was eager to defeat the hero who’d beaten him before, but Deku used his newly developed abilities to dodge every attack and deliver a powerful final blow, finally defeating the villain. This quick victory – against someone who almost killed him just months prior – showed how much Deku had improved. It’s worth noting that Yo Shindo had already weakened Muscular with his quirk before Deku arrived.

United States Of World Smash

Replicating All Might’s Most Powerful Technique

My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission

The My Hero Academia movies are considered official parts of the story, so anything Deku does in them counts. A particularly impressive moment is his final attack against Flect Turn in the third movie, World Heroes’ Mission. It’s one of his most memorable feats of strength.

During the fight, his primary strategy was to relentlessly attack the villain, aiming to overpower and shatter his Reflect quirk. He built up tremendous power, including maximizing his Full Cowl, and then delivered a devastating final blow – an attack he dubbed United States of World Smash, a nod to All Might’s iconic move against All for One. This feat was remarkable on its own, but the film’s stunning animation truly showcased the sheer force of the attack.

Dark Might’s Defeat

One Of The Few Villains (Aside From All For One And Shigaraki) That Got To Face Deku At Full Power

My Hero Academia: You’re Next

In the fourth film of the series, Deku and his friends face off against Dark Might, a formidable villain. Dark Might is attempting to control Japan using his powerful Alchemy ability and widespread influence. Deku is especially angered because Dark Might is tarnishing the reputation of his hero, and is also exploiting a young woman named Anna Scervino to amplify his powers.

In the film’s climax, Dark Might combined his abilities with Anna’s quirk, but it pushed him too far, transforming him into a giant monster. He battled the villain with Bakugo and Todoroki, but ultimately Deku landed the finishing blow. It wasn’t a specific named move, but a powerful, explosive kick that both defeated Dark Might and demolished his fortress. The stunning animation truly enhanced the impact of this final attack.

Overdrive + Detroit Smash: Quintuple

Deku Begins His Final Fight Against Shigaraki With A Deadly New Technique

Chapter 369 (Manga) Episode 151 (Anime)

Deku faced a tough challenge getting to Tomura Shigaraki, as Himiko Toga unexpectedly tried to stop him. Once he reached the Coffin in the Sky, a major and intense battle began. During the fight, Deku demonstrated his brand-new quirk, Gearshift, and immediately used it effectively.

Deku used his Gearshift ability to reach incredible speeds, entering an “Overdrive” state. This allowed him to surprise Shigaraki and deliver five powerful Detroit Smashes in rapid succession – a truly impressive feat. This moment demonstrated that Deku was ready to defeat All For One’s successor and end the Final War, despite All For One’s careful planning.

The Final Punch Against All For One

The Moment That Cemented Him As The Best Pro Hero Of All Time

Chapter 423 (Manga) Episode 167 (Anime)

Any list of Deku’s most powerful moments has to include the final attack that defeated All For One and ended the Final War. After All For One fully took control of Tomura Shigaraki’s body, Deku received crucial support from his friends and allies, who fought to create an opening for him to strike.

Wow, this scene in both the manga and anime just blew me away! It really showed why Deku is such an amazing hero. It’s not just about his incredible power, but how he brings out the best in everyone around him when things get tough. And it wasn’t just him, either – the previous One For All users and even Shigaraki helped him deliver a final hit that was so powerful, it literally cleared the sky! Knowing all of Japan was watching this battle on TV, it’s obvious – this was the moment Deku became the nation’s top hero, hands down.

Full Cowl – 100% Against Overhaul

The Only Time Deku Was Even Stronger Than All Might Himself

Chapter 157 (Manga) Episode 76 (Anime)

Deku became incredibly powerful as he learned to control One for All, but one moment especially made him seem unstoppable. During his fight with Overhaul, Eri used her Rewind quirk to heal Deku’s injuries as he used One for All, essentially undoing the damage he was taking and allowing him to push his abilities even further.

With this boost of power, Deku maximized his Full Cowl technique, creating what he called Full Cowl – 100%. In this enhanced state, he moved across the battlefield with incredible speed, almost as if he were flying, and delivered a series of powerful blows that quickly broke through Overhaul’s massive monster. It was one of the rare moments in the series where Deku matched, and even exceeded, All Might’s strength.

2025-12-15 17:36