This list contains spoilers up to the end of My Hero Academia season 7
Summary
While the first season ofMy Hero Academiawas already more than enough to get many people invested in the story, the immensely popular anime only got better from there. Deku’s journey to becoming a hero has been long, chaotic, and extremely exciting, with there being many twists and turns over the course of the adventure, and, of course, plenty of epic fights, which are an absolute joy to watch thanks to Studio Bones' stellar animation.
That being said, though, there are a select few episodes from the series' history that have stood the test of time as the most iconic and memorable. Whether this be because they introduce a fan favorite character, their fascinating story reveals, or even just the inclusion of a jaw-dropping battle between a hero and villain, there are many reasons why an episode can be seen as one of the best. With that being said, these are the highest-ratedMy Hero Academiaepisodes according to IMDB score ratings.
8Tenko Shimura: Origin
Season 5 Episode 23
While Shigaraki made it pretty clear early on in the story that his central goal as a villain was simply to destroy everything in sight, it was always evident there was some deeper reason why he had become so nihilistic. However, nobody could have anticipated just how dark and disturbingShigaraki’s backstorytruly was, and that’s exactly why this episode has become so well-known.
While a portion of the episode revolves around the intense battle between Re-Destro and Shigaraki, much of it takes place in a flashback, which provides fans with a glimpse at Shigaraki’s childhood, where he lived under an abusive father. By complete accident, Shigaraki ended up killing his entire family due to touching them with his Decay Quirk. The fact that it only took a single episode for fans to understand exactly why this villain was so motivated to wreak havoc and destruction across the world is a testament to just how much of an impact it had when it first aired.
7Lemillion
Season 4 Episode 11
In the lead-up to the raid on Overhaul’s base, Mirio had been hyped up by many of the Pro Heroes as anabsurdly powerful member of UA, despite him coming across as a little bit of a goofball anytime he interacted with Deku. When the attack on Overhaul was finally underway, it was this episode that gave Mirio the spotlight to showcase what he was truly made of, with the majority of it centering on his courageous fight against Overhaul.
The sleek animation does an excellent job at showcasing how exactly Mirio’s creative Quirk works in battle, with him phasing in and out of the walls and floors to attack Overhaul before he can expect it. Seeing him put his life on the line for a young girl showcased just how dedicated Mirio was to his position as a hero, and who could forget the heartbreaking moment where he ends up losing his Quirk from one of Overhaul’s Rewind bullets? It’s an episode that invokes such a mix of emotions, making it a real standout from season 4.
6Shoto Todoroki: Origin
Season 2 Episode 10
When most people think of the Summer School Festival, their minds will usually go straight to the fight between Deku and Todoroki, considering this is, without a doubt, the flashiest and most memorable battle in this early story arc. With the tension building between Deku and his newfound rival before the duel even kicks off,their inevitable showdown was truly one for the ages, with both students giving it everything they had while also learning how to utilize their Quirks throughout the entire fight.
While Deku was finding creative ways to dish out damage with One For All, Todoroki was forced to accept the fire side of his Quirk as his own power, rather than a lingering remnant of his abusive father, Endeavor. This fight was very much the wake-up call Todoroki desperately needed, and it ultimately ended up turning him into a very popular character, since this was only the beginning of his lengthy development arc seen throughout the story.
5Light Fades To Rain
Season 7 Episode 11
Light Fades to Rain is the episode that really took the stakes of the final war to a whole new level. In the episode before this, it seemed as though Bakugo might actually stand a chance of taking down Shigaraki for good, thanks to his new Panzer armor, but this unfortunately didn’t end up being the case. In this episode, despite putting up a valiant fight against the maniacal villain, Bakugo not only ends up losing but is killed in action.
There have been plenty of emotional moments scattered throughoutMy Hero Academia, but Bakugo’s death might just take the cake for beingthe biggest tearjerker of them all. The music in this episode goes a long way in elevating the emotional undertone of the flashbacks, along with the animation, which really took a step up in season 7.
4Infinite 100%
Season 4 Episode 13
NoMy Hero Academiafan will ever be able to forget the epic clash between Deku and Overhaul that comes near the end of season 4. While Overhaul had already proved he was more than capable of dealing damage with his Quirk in hand-to-hand combat, after he fuses himself with Shin to become a giant mutant, Deku ends up finding a pretty creative way to take the villain down once and for all. By strapping Eri to his back, Deku was able to use herRewind Quirkto prevent his body from taking any damage, which would always happen anytime he went 100% with his full power.
As a result, Deku becomes an absolute powerhouse during this fight, and thanks to the very vibrant color palette and sleek animation, the episode emphasizes just how absurdly strong One For All truly is when the user is able to unleash its true power. Overhaul caused so much pain and suffering up to this point that his defeat is definitely one of the most satisfying in the series, and a big reason why this episode is so fondly remembered by many fans.
3I Am Here
Season 7 Episode 19
If there is any episode that could sum up why the final war ofMy Hero Academiais so intense and exciting, it would definitely have to be I Am Here. Not only does the episode feature the ongoing battle between Shigaraki and thePro Heroes, but it also features none other than expert hacker La Brava. The major focus of the episode is on the Todoroki family.
With Dabi’s Blueflame Quirk going into overdrive, Endeavor and Shoto are forced to confront their family member before he obliterates all of Japan in one final blast. Seeing Endeavor being forced to confront his neglected son makes this battle extremely emotional and memorable, especially with the small flashbacks to the past, which show the family living in peace before everything went horribly wrong.
2His Start
Season 4 Episode 25
Endeavor is often seen as one of the best-written characters in the entire series, and it really does feel as though this was the episode that kicked off his journey of trying to repent for his past sins. With a high-end Nomu causing havoc across the city, Endeavor and Hawks are pushed to the limit of their abilities trying to fend off Garaki’s newest experiments. While the episode offers a flashy look at newcomer Hawks and his unique Fierce Wings Quirk in action, the real star of the show here is Endeavor.
Now that he was the number one hero, Endeavor really needed to prove his worth to the people of Japan in this fight against the Nomu, and it’s fair to say he certainly didn’t disappoint.Endeavor goes absolutely berserkduring this intense battle, to the point where he is forced to unleash his final ultimate ability, Prominence Burn, which is absolutely captivating to watch in the anime thanks to the animation. Because this Nomu was clearly far stronger than any that had come before, this episode is extremely unpredictable when watching it for the first time, and just one reason among many why it has been so well received.
1One For All
Season 3 Episode 11
It’s very common to hear people say that the first fight between All Might and All For One is the best in the entire series, and it’s honestly not hard to see why when you feast your eyes on it. While One For All had been mentioned here and there, this fight was the first time fans were able to see him in a real battle, but the fact that his enemy was none other than his longtime rival, All Might, who was already reaching the end of his time as a Pro Hero, ramping up the stakes to a boiling point. If All For One had fallen, not only would he be humiliated in front of the entire country, but All For One would be free to wreak chaos as he pleased, considering there was no one else even remotely close to stopping him.
As a result, the two go to extreme lengths to take one another down, with One For All showcasinghis deadly arsenal of Quirks, and All Might using up all the strength he had left to inflict any sort of damage. With the epic music swelling up in the background and All Might accepting his fate, he delivers what still remains as the most jaw-dropping attack ever seen inMy Hero Academia, United States of Smash. The final few moments of the episode show a weakened All Might pointing over to Deku, passing down the metaphorical baton to the next generation of heroes, and in turn, marking the beginning of a brand new era in the story.
