My Hero Academia: Should the Quirkless Be Considered Weak?

My Hero Academia: Should the Quirkless Be Considered Weak?

Key Takeaways

  • Quirkless individuals face discrimination but can still be innovative and determined to become heroes.
  • Quirks manifest at age 4, and 80% of the world has them, leaving 20% as Quirkless targets.
  • Training and support items can help Quirkless individuals participate in battle against weaker villains.

As a die-hard fan of My Hero Academia who has devoted countless hours to binge-watching every episode and reading every manga chapter, I can confidently say that being Quirkless doesn’t mean being weak. On the contrary, it means having the courage, determination, and resourcefulness to overcome any obstacle, as evidenced by some of the most inspiring characters in the series.


People who lack certain characteristics, similar to Heteromorphs, often face discrimination and mockery because they cannot alter these traits. Yet, the outcome of their lives depends on how they respond to this situation.

In the world of My Hero Academia, those without superpowers (Quirkless) are often mistreated by their stronger peers. However, should we automatically label them as weak merely because they couldn’t defend themselves at one point in time? Quirkless individuals possess the potential to be resourceful and resilient, striving to carve out their own heroic paths, even if it proves challenging.

What are the Quirkless?

Even without a superpower, Quirkless individuals can also contribute to the Hero Society

In this world, an incredible number of people possess extraordinary abilities, or Quirks. The emergence of these abilities dates back around a century, and since then, each generation has inherited them, leading to their continuous evolution and improvement; this concept is often referred to as the Quirk Singularity by Dr. Kyudai Garaki.

To begin with the show, about 80% of the global populace possess some form of Quirks, no matter how minor, due to this extraordinary event. This leaves approximately 20% who do not have a Quirk, referred to as Quirkless. Given their greater numbers, these individuals with special abilities are frequently subjected to discrimination and mockery because they are in the majority.

  • Quirkless individuals are born with two joints in their pinky toe, and an x-ray can confirm whether an individual is without a Quirk.
  • Quirks would manifest when a child reaches the age of 4 years.
  • Children of Mutants can generally use their Quirks at birth, as the extra appendage is part of their body.

It’s been noted previously that people without powers (Quirkless) may encounter discrimination, similar to how Midoriya Izuku experienced it during Season 1 of “My Hero Academia”. Despite his frequent bullying, other Quirkless individuals didn’t seem to face the same level of discrimination. While living without powers might be a disadvantage in the Hero Society, it doesn’t significantly affect their everyday lives.

One key aspect to note is that people are often unaware who among them lacks a Quirk; each person decides when and if to reveal their own Quirk. For instance, Aoyama Yuga lived without a Quirk for some time before gaining the Navel Laser from All For One. Feeling distinct from others due to his lack of a Quirk, Yuga’s parents found a method to grant him one to prevent potential discrimination. It’s likely that Yuga kept his Quirkless status hidden from his peers, thereby shielding himself from prejudice.

I’ve always wanted to be equal with everybody else.

In the series, there’s a significant need for people with strong abilities, known as Quirks, that form the Hero Society. As a result, those without Quirks find themselves at the bottom of the social ladder, struggling to fit in and lacking a unique trait to stand out. But just because they don’t have a Quirk doesn’t make them weak against powerful villains; it’s not their Quirk that will cause them to lose a fight, but rather their strategy or tactics. Instead, Quirkless individuals are resourceful and possess alternative methods of combat.

Can the Quirkless be considered weak?

All heroes put in the extra work that defines their abilities, and so do they Quirkless

MangaMy Hero Academia: Vigilante
AuthorFuruhashi Hideyuki
Chapters126

People without unique abilities, or quirkless individuals, might seem less skilled when it comes to professional hero work, but that doesn’t mean they don’t possess their own effective combat strategies. In the series My Hero Academia: Vigilante, we meet Oguro Iwao, better known as the High-Speed Hero O’Clock, who was renowned for his ability called Overclock.

Oguro accomplished several feats as a Pro Hero until All For One stole his Quirk and gave it to Number 6, Rokuro Nomura. After having his Quirk stolen, Oguro worked and trained tirelessly to continue working as a vigilante, unraveling All For One’s plan and using his connections to save his daughter from the Villain Factory’s clutches.

Over the course of time, Oguro managed to vanquish numerous Instant Villains using only his bare hands, earning him respect from Koichi and Kazuho. While Oguro was a Pro Hero, Quirks provide an edge in battles. Yet, certain martial arts skills are essential for anyone aiming to engage a villain in hand-to-hand combat.

Ochaco Uraraka chose to intern at Gunhead’s agency to master martial arts. While having a Quirk can provide an edge in combat, it’s crucial for the user to understand the limitations of their Quirk since it may not be helpful in every fight. That’s why some Pro Heroes or Sidekicks are more effective at agencies where their specific Quirks are needed.

A person without a Quirk, given proper training, could potentially engage in combat, albeit against less formidable foes. Unlike Melissa Shield, who lacks a Quirk, chose an unconventional path by inventing Support Items to aid heroes on the battlefield. Though it’s not typical combat, enhancing the abilities of heroes with advanced technology that amplifies their Quirks is remarkable in its own right.

Typically, those without Quirks find themselves at a disadvantage in confrontations with formidable foes. Yet, if an individual possesses the skills, understanding, and battle experience, they wouldn’t be deemed as weak. Following All Might’s transfer of One For All to Midoriya Izuku, he once more became Quirkless. However, after accumulating wealth during his tenure as the Symbol of Peace, All Might and Melissa Shield created the Armored All Might super suit.

It’s because I wanted to become a hero no matter what.

It was Class A’s students who sparked the idea for this fight and provided All Might with the necessary strength to confront All For One. Despite All Might suffering defeat in that particular battle, had he faced off against another villain, victory would have been assured. It’s often assumed that those without superpowers are weak, but many have shown otherwise. A person’s lack of a Quirk doesn’t define their worth; it’s the choices they make and how they choose to live their lives that truly matter.

My Hero Academia is now available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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2024-11-24 06:04