My Hero Academia has some of the most well-written characters, especially their villains. Each villain is given a reason for the way they are, no villain is left unnoticed. Everything plays into the system, it’s beautiful. Hence, it’s only right that we appreciate these characters who bring life to the story. Here is our pick for the top 10 My Hero Academia Villains.
Top 10 My Hero Academia Villains
10. Muscular
Imasuji Goto, aka Muscular, is a minor antagonist in the show. He made his first appearance in the Forest Training Camp Arc, where the UA students went to train under Pro Heroes. He was the vanguard for the mission in the League of Villains, however, he acted as a distraction for Midoriya to take down. This helped the LoV to successfully kidnap Bakugou Katsuki.
He is a sociopath and relishes killing innocent people. His character is one exception to a lovable villain. Over time as our young heroes grow strong, he becomes weaker in comparison. His reunion with Vigilantee Deku served as a good comparable scale to show how far the young hero has come.
9. Gigantomachia
Gigantomachia is a major antagonist in the show. Loyal to his master, he used to serve as All for One’s bodyguard during the Reign of Terror. He is very loyal and obedient to his lord, instantly calming down when he hears his voice. This is surprising and an amazing feat considering he is hot-tempered and impatient.
He is a force to be reckoned with against the Heroes. This is proven as most of the ambush strategies by the Pro-Heroes include a plan to distract and take him out of the field. His loyalty to All for One proves to be the greatest asset Shimura receives as a successor. Following his previous career choice, he begins to act as a bodyguard for Shigaraki as well.
8. Overhaul
Chisaki Kai, aka Overhaul, is a major antagonist in the show. He is the leader of the Yakuza Organization and aims to rule over the criminal world after the defeat of All for One. He proposed an alliance with the League of Villains, however, there was no progress on that front. He used Eri to make Quirk Erasure Bullets, making them the foundation of his grand plan to take down society.
He has a very cruel personality, never hesitating to use his henchmen as shields to protect himself. His reverence for his boss is misguided as what he does is said to be in line to bring the Yakuza to its former glory. He tortures and gaslights Eri to the extent that she fears that everything is her fault. As a villain, Chisaki is a ghastly one.
7. Gentle Criminal
Tobita Danjuro, aka Gentle Criminal, is a major antagonist in the show. He is a chivalrous thief. He steals but in the most gentlemanly way possible. He, with his partner La Brava, make their name by posting their crimes online. He made his appearance during the U.A. Cultural Festival Arc.
Gentle is one of those villains that you love. He has a code of honor, where he does not use violence and does not hurt innocent people. He targets those he deems “un-gentlemanly” in their actions. His code of honor is strong, yet falters when in high-pressure situations. However, it bounces back as soon as he calms down.
6. Lady Nagant
Tsutsumi Kaina, aka Lady Nagant, is a minor antagonist in the show. She is a former Pro-Hero, who has seen the dark side of the Hero Association. This led her to reconsider her actions and believe that the world All For One desire won’t be too bad. Despite her changing sides, she still holds strong beliefs in justice.
Having broken out of Tartarus, she was assigned to bring back Midoriya to All For One. Yet, what she brought back was her old belief, the belief that there is good in this world and that Heroes exist to protect the people. Her bloodied hand met with the most pure soul in the show, and she had no choice but to change sides again. Her story and development make her one of the most distinguished characters.
5. Himiko Toga
Himiko Toga is a major antagonist in the show. She is a member of the League of Villains and is their main infiltrating asset. Born with the quirk “Transform”, she can access any place she wants by transforming her entire body into another. Her presence in the LoV has helped them through countless times, being able to bypass multiple areas and gather information.
She is a well-written character, being the catalyst for her own character development as well as others. She is a beloved character in the community, but she managed to steal all of our hearts with her progress in the manga. Truly one of the best-executed characters of all time.
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4. Dabi
Todoroki Toya, aka Dabi, is a major antagonist in the show. He is a member of the League of Villains and acts as one of their most powerful offensive force. He has no wish to live in the world that All For One is aiming for, what he wishes is to exact his revenge on his father.
“The past never dies“, one of his most iconic lines truly describes his character best. Hell-bent on taking his father’s truth out to the world, he was a boy who burnt down his body to climb up the ladder of his father’s expectations. Nearly dying, he managed to get another chance at life at the cost of never using his quirk again. However, he was determined to burn down his father with the flames far hotter than his. He is a prime example of “villains are just broken heroes”.
3. Hero Killer: Stain
Akaguro Chizome, aka Stain, is a major antagonist in the show. He is an anti-hero rather than a villain, yet the world there perceives him to be one. He kills off heroes who do not live up to his sense of justice, which is modeled after All Might. Absolute strength and unshakable justice are what he seeks from the Hero Society.
His meeting with Deku went exactly how it went for Shigaraki when Gigantomachia met him. After his break from Tartarus, he rejected All For One’s proposal and escaped. Finding his way through the dystopian world, he is able to meet the one he reveres. Finding his idol to be just another Hero who has lost motivation, he manages to show All Might what he meant for the world. Stain is one of the most cherished characters in the community.
2. All For One
Shigaraki, aka All For One, is the overarching antagonist in the show. He is the reason everything began in the first place. The entire League of Villains was founded by him as he skimmed through years terrorizing the world. He has all the quirks in the world and was involved in the birth of One for All.
He is a true menace. He has no care for anyone other than himself and would sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals. He is a villain who is not loved for how good they are but for how worse they are. His existence in the story makes the story worth experiencing, a well-written character who defines the standards for the characters of his universe.
1. Shigaraki Tomura
Shimura Tenko, aka Shigaraki Tomura, is the main antagonist in the show. He is the leader of the League of Villains and the successor to All For One. He was implanted with his master’s quirk, allowing All For One to gain control over his body. However, he had developed into a very strong character by that point, making him resist his master’s control and become the true user of All For One.
He has been a very interesting character throughout the start. He was timid and his only desire was to take down One For All. However, with time and losing his master’s assistance, he slowly grew to be more resilient and strong-willed. His past links him to almost all of the major characters of the show, making him a proper center of the show. His connections allow the story to receive a massive development and allow the plot to be as solid as it is.
Conclusion
My Hero Academia has a roster of incredibly written characters, almost surpassing many other Shonen by leaps and bounds. The more the story continues, the more the community realizes that what makes this show so good is its villains, those with world-destroying agendas. They are the ones that bring the story the depth it requires.