You’re Not a True My Hero Academia Fan Until You’ve Seen These 10/10 Episodes

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With a popular shonen anime like My Hero Academia, you’re guaranteed plenty of amazing episodes that fans won’t want to skip. Whether you’re a new or longtime viewer, it’s worth watching—and rewatching—the best episodes to truly appreciate not only the exciting action, but also the deeper themes. My Hero Academia isn’t just about flashy superpowers; it explores important emotional stories and thoughtful ideas about what it means to be human, which is why it’s become such a huge hit.

Many episodes of My Hero Academia are enjoyable, and some are simply lighthearted fun, like “Moving Into Dorms” from Season 3. However, the very best episodes truly showcase everything that makes the anime so popular, often featuring exciting and intense action. These episodes deliver peak My Hero Academia battles with characters’ unique abilities, and they powerfully explore personal stories of heroes fighting for what’s right or seeking recognition. Importantly, these standout episodes often mark significant turning points in the overall story, creating a clear shift in the narrative.

Season 2, Episode 10: “Shoto Todoroki: Origin”

Shoto Fights to Distance Himself From His Fiery Father

Fans consistently point to the fight between Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki as the most memorable moment of the UA Sports Festival. While Ochaco’s battle with Bakugo was important for her character, the real highlight came when Shoto was compelled to confront the origins of his Quirk. The fight was visually impressive, but My Hero Academia is more than just flashy powers – even well-developed and skillfully used ones.

Shoto faced internal challenges for the first time, something he’d been avoiding. While already powerful, he was only utilizing part of his abilities, and Deku realized Shoto had a greater responsibility to both himself and the world. The core message is that everyone has untapped potential, even if unlocking it requires confronting personal struggles. Shoto began to understand that facing problems and letting go of stubborn pride were more important than avoiding them. While his defiance of his father wasn’t wrong, this experience forced him to mature significantly in this excellent episode.

Season 3, Episode 11: “One For All”

All Might Scores the Most Bittersweet Victory in His Career

Image via studio Bones.

Like many of the best episodes of My Hero Academia, “One For All” features an exciting and action-packed fight, but the battle itself isn’t the most important part. The real story lies in what happens because of the fight. All Might’s surprising win over All For One wasn’t just a physical victory; it also meant both heroes needed to relinquish their roles, something neither of them wanted to do.

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The outcomes for All For One and All Might perfectly reflected who they were. While All For One was defeated and imprisoned, viewers sensed he wasn’t truly gone for good – and he eventually returned. All Might, the beloved hero, faced a more lasting decline, making this already excellent episode even more impactful. The story truly resonated because it highlighted the weight of loss for the hero, not the villain. All Might’s declaration that Deku was ‘next’ felt particularly poignant, as it wasn’t the passing of the torch anyone wanted, but it was unavoidable.

Season 4, Episode 13: “Infinite 100%”

Deku Risks it All to Win as a True Hero Against Overhaul

Image via studio Bones.

Deku steadily developed into the hero and symbol of peace he was meant to be, with some key moments helping him grow. One particularly impressive moment was his battle against the villain Overhaul. After Overhaul defeated Mirio and Sir Nighteye, it seemed like an impossible fight, but Deku was determined to win, no matter how difficult it seemed. This unwavering resolve proved he was truly deserving of All Might’s power, One For All.

While Deku physically defeated Overhaul with Eri’s help, allowing him to use One For All at full power, that battle was only part of what made the episode so strong. The fight itself earned a solid 8 out of 10, but Deku’s personal development added the final touches. This was the first time Deku truly fought as a hero against villains with serious consequences, a far cry from the USJ incident. This time, protecting the innocent Eri was paramount, and Deku was determined to keep his promise to her, even at great personal risk. That’s when his journey shifted from training to facing the real challenges of being a hero.

Season 4, Episode 25: “His Start”

Endeavor Struggles With the Burden of Being the New #1 Hero

Image via studio Bones.

Wow, Season 4 really stuck the landing with that final episode, “His Start”! What I loved most is how the fight wasn’t just about powers – it was all about the characters growing and dealing with really intense emotions. The stakes felt huge, not just for the heroes, but for everyone in Japan! With All Might gone, the country truly felt vulnerable. Honestly, seeing the Hood Nomu cause so much chaos was terrifying – it was a level of desperation and fear we hadn’t seen in the series before. That’s why Endeavor becoming the new #1 hero felt so earned and, frankly, amazing! It was a perfect moment.

Endeavor proved he was stepping up to become the next great hero by defeating Hood, finishing the fight with a powerful, symbolic gesture. This battle was a turning point for his character, marking the start of his path to redemption. For the first time, viewers were meant to root for Endeavor, rather than see him solely as a villain in his son Shoto’s story. The fight showcased the complexities of his character, as he performed a truly heroic act by defeating Hood.

Season 6, Episode 24: “A Young Woman’s Declaration”

Ochaco’s Talk Jutsu Was the Highlight of Her Personal Arc

Image via studio Bones.

I absolutely love how My Hero Academia isn’t just about epic battles, though it has plenty of those! What really grabbed me in Season 6 and beyond was seeing how much the heroes, especially the UA students, struggled. We really saw Deku buckling under the pressure of becoming the new symbol of peace – he was completely exhausted and needed his friends in Class 1-A to lift him up. But it didn’t stop there – he needed the people he was trying to protect to believe in him too! It was amazing to watch because Deku himself couldn’t find the right words to reassure everyone, but Ochaco stepped up with this incredible speech – seriously, her ‘talk jutsu’ was perfect! It was such a powerful moment and really showcased a different side of her character, making her shine in a whole new way.

Ochaco’s powerful speech was a turning point, allowing her to meaningfully support Deku and demonstrate her strong beliefs. It also did something My Hero Academia hadn’t done much before: it showed a real connection between professional heroes and the people they’re sworn to protect. The anime typically focuses on hero action, but this episode focused on building trust and emotional understanding. It highlighted that heroes are motivated by their principles as much as their powers, and Ochaco understands that perfectly.

Season 8, Episode 3: “The Final Boss!!”

Katsuki Bakugo Showed Off His Bottomless Grit Against the Symbol of Evil

Image via studio Bones.

This week’s episode of the series delivered another perfect, unforgettable battle, with Bakugo taking center stage. After seemingly sacrificing himself in Season 7, Bakugo was given a second chance and made the most of it. Seeing him use his Explosion Quirk to finally defeat the villain All For One was incredibly satisfying and visually impressive, giving fans the resolution they’d been hoping for.

Fans were thrilled to see Bakugo fighting as a genuine hero, finally putting aside his rivalry with Deku and focusing on the greater good. He bravely risked his life not to prove himself, but to fulfill his duty as a hero. While still assertive and proud, Bakugo’s actions were now driven by a desire to help Deku create a safer future for everyone. This newfound humility felt natural and didn’t diminish the qualities that made him such a compelling character.

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2026-02-12 19:40