This list will contain spoilers up to the end of MHA season 7
Summary
As a popular anime with seven current seasons, a spin-off series, and a ton of external material to get through, it’s fair to sayMy Hero Academiafans have plenty of content to enjoy. However, when returning to Deku’s journey in the mainline series, it can sometimes be difficult to know which episodes are worth returning to most, considering there’s definitely a handful that do the best job at representing the fun and excitement that the series is known for.
On the other hand, some fans may simply want to test outMy Hero Academiabefore diving in head first, and an easy way to do this is to experience the best episode from each season. While it certainly isn’t easy choosing just one from each season, considering how many incredible episodes are out there, the ones listed below are among the very best at highlighting what makesMy Hero Academiaso special.
1Season 1: Episode 12
All Might Finally Gets To Showcase His True Power In An Explosive Battle
Author Hoikoshi did an excellent job setting up the world and characters in the first season of the anime, and while many fans look back fondly on that first episode, the one that really got many people hooked on the story was episode 12. This marks the point where All Might enters the fray to take on a dangerous mutant known as a Nomu, who, thanks to its regenerative properties, is unable to receive any incoming damage.
However,All Mightputs this to the test by smashing the Nomu with a barrage of heavy-hitting attacks, eventually managing to overcome the monster’s healing to send it flying high into the stratosphere. The shock waves emanating from All Might’s attacks really emphasized just how strong this guy truly is, and why he deserves to be seen as a role model. Additionally, this episode also did a good job of shedding some light on the villains, who were only recently introduced to the story.
2Season 2: Episode 10
The Epic Duel Between Deku And Todoroki Is One No Fan Will Ever Be Able To Forget
When most fans think back to the Sports Festival, which takes place very early on in the story, their minds will most likely go straight to the epic duel betweenDeku and Todoroki. These two didn’t exactly get along very well when they first met, so there was already tension brewing in the air by the time this battle kicked off. While the animation does an excellent job of presenting this fight as being very flashy and vibrant, what really makes this fight such a standout is the underlying themes that are connected to it.
Not only was this Deku’s chance to familiarize himself with the devastating power of One For All, but it’s also where Todoroki learns to accept the fire side of his Quirk as his own ability, rather than a lingering remnant of his abusive father. It’s a stunning display of strength from both students, which is amplified by the emotional core that is at the heart of the episode.
3Season 3: Episode 11
Arch Rivals Come Face To Face In An Earth-Shattering Showdown
ThoughAll For Onehad been mentioned here and there in the first two seasons, he wouldn’t actually make his debut until season 3, where he decided to face off against his arch-rival All Might once again, this time, with the whole world watching. Because All Might was at the very limit of his power when accepting this challenge, it makes this episode extremely intense from beginning to end as fans wonder how on earth he can manage to overcome such a formidable villain.
This episode ensures fans' eyes are glued to the screen the whole way through by providing some of the most explosive and jaw-dropping action sequences in the series, with All For One and All Might throwing out all kinds of devastating attacks to whittle each other down. It ends off with All Might delivering the meteoric United States of Smash, before uttering the now iconic words “you’re next” while pointing at Deku.
4Season 4: Episode 23
The School Performance Provided A Nice Break From The Intensity Of The Story
Admittedly, some fans may point towards one of theOverhaulepisodes in season 4 as their favorite, and while that’s definitely valid considering how interesting he is as a character, the School Festival stands above the rest for a few reasons. The main one is that it acted as a beautiful payoff to an extremely dark and intense portion of the story, allowing the kids to flex their creative muscles and come together in one grand celebration, which is animated to perfection and sung with real heart and soul by Jiro.
At the same time, it also provides closure for Eri, who finally cracks a smile after all the horrible abuse she faced in the past. It’s honestly hard not to get choked up watching this episode, and in many ways, it really feels like Horikoshi is celebrating the success of the series with his fans while also providing some very memorable character moments in the process.
5Season 5: Episode 23
Shigaraki’s Tragic Backstory Is Finally Revealed To The World
Despite acting as the major villain ofMy Hero Academiafor a good chunk of the story, not much is actually known about the League of Villains' mastermind known as Shigaraki, at least until the My Villain Academia arc in season 5. While this episode starts off showcasing theintense battle between Shigaraki and Re-Destro, it’s not long before Shigaraki’s memories begin flooding back to him, forcing him to acknowledge his tragic past as audiences watch on.
There’s no doubt that Shigaraki’s backstory is one of the saddest in the entire series, and in many ways, it helps to give viewers an idea of why he would become so destructive and violent once he grew up. Having an awesome clash in the background with a fresh new backstory revealed in the middle makes this episode a classic, and one which is well worth re-watching.
6Season 6: Episode 11
Dabi’s Dance Broke People’s Trust In Hero Society, Changing Everything In The Process
It would be no exaggeration to say that Dabi’s Dance was the event that truly broke the population’s trust in the heroes. Dabi’s Dance is shown in episode 124, and refers to a moment where Dabi, being broadcast to the entire country thanks to Skeptic, decides to reveal the abusive actions of his father, Endeavor, to everyone who was watching.
Not only that, he would also show footage of Hawks brutally killing Twice in cold blood, which seemed a little too vicious and immoral for a hero. The atmosphere and tone ofMy Hero Academianever really felt the same after this episode, becoming much darker and a lot more mature. The episode also contains some very interesting confrontations in dialogue between Uraraka and Toga, which would be paid off a little later down the line in the final war.
7Season 7: Episode 17
Deku Finally Manages To Reach Shigaraki, Kicking Off The Final Battle
The final war against the villains didn’t exactly start off the way the heroes had hoped. After theWarp Gateswent horribly wrong, Deku ended up being transported to Toga and Uraraka, rather than being sent directly to Shigaraki. Therefore, a good portion of season 7 is dedicated to Aizawa and the other heroes holding Shigaraki down, but in episode 155, Deku makes his epic entrance onto the battlefield, throwing Shigaraki down to the surface so they can have their final confrontation to end the conflict once and for all.
That’s not all, though, as this episode also shines a light on Gentle and La Brava, twofan-favoriteswho unexpectedly made their return in the final arc. This is also the episode where Lady Nagant returns to fire a bullet at Shigaraki’s hand before he destroys all of UA, which is definitely one of the most intense moments in the entire war.Star and Stripes’introduction and All Might’s rematch with AFO are definitely standouts from the season, but there’s so much going on in this particular episode that it really does feel like the most important of the bunch.
