Battle shonen anime are series that live and breathe their big moments. Whether it’s Ichigo’s first bankai in Bleach, or Naruto’s final battle with Sasuke in Naruto, these stories need to deliver memorable events for the audience to get excited for, and look back on fondly. My Hero Academia is no exception.
While a lot of emotions get created in these moments, the feeling of catharsis is easily the most satisfying, usually resulting from some big tension being released. This can be from the characters finding a solution to a long-lived dilemma, or clinching a victory from the jaws of defeat. MHA has some great cathartic moments itself, and these are some of the highest peaks in that category.
7 Deku and Friends Defeat Stain
This moment also ties in with Deku's development of ‘full cowling’, which finally allowed him to fight without needing a hospital visit afterwards. While Stain is an intimidating villain, the catharsis comes less from defeating him, and more from what the battle draws out of the UA students.
Iida, for one, finally gets some character development, forcing him to put aside his desire for revenge and become a more dependable ally. Following on from the sport’s festival, Shoto also first uses his fire powers properly in this fight, paying off Deku’s efforts to help him heal in the previous arc.
6 Deku Discovers Shoot Style
As much as full cowling was notable for finally allowing Deku to fight sustainably, ‘shoot style’ was truly a revelation for him and the audience. It seems obvious in hindsight. If his arms were in danger of permanent damage, Deku should simply focus on his legs. However, the revelation still feels like a novel idea.
In a way, shoot style multiplies the satisfaction of full cowling, as now Deku is not only able to fight without breaking his bones, but has also developed a unique fighting style of his own. And the subsequent upgrades to his suit make it look better than it ever has.
5 Deku Versus Bakugo 2
There’s a lot of talk about the rivalry between Deku and Bakugo, but really, for the longest time it wasn’t a rivalry at all. In the first 3 seasons, Bakugo was a pure aggressor, with very little pushback from Deku. That all changed after this fight.
Hot off the heels of his rescue and All Might’s retirement, Bakugo invites Deku out for what becomes a midnight slug fest. This is the first time Deku really retaliates against his former bully, and it’s satisfying to see Bakugo genuinely scared of Deku for once. Even better though, this fight leads to Bakugo finally finding out about Deku’s secret, and becoming a proper confidant for him and All Might.
4 Twice Overcomes His Trauma
Usually, victories for the villains only bring fear and dread, as opposed to catharsis. However, Twice is easily the most likable villain in the series. For most of the series, his quirk was held back by his fear of cloning himself and losing his identity. However, in the fight with the Meta Liberation Army, he finally overcame this limitation.
While it is bad news for the heroes in the long run, Twice is framed as the protagonist in his fight with Skeptic, making the birth of his new ability ‘sad man’s parade’ a victorious moment. This upgrade also turns the tides of the arc, allowing the League of Villains to come out on time, and makes Twice one of the strongest characters in MHA.
3 Eri Is Saved
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For a series about heroism, MHA spends a surprisingly small amount of time focusing on the people the heroes are trying to save. This is not the case with Eri, however. Even after being physically rescued, she needs time and help in order to move on from her trauma and learn to be a normal child.
With two entire arcs dedicated to this goal, it was bound to be a momentous occasion, especially with Deku having to stop Gentle Criminal from ruining the festivities on a time limit. When Eri finally smiles during Class 1-A’s festival performance, it’s one of the series’ strongest emotional beats.
2 Plus Ultra Prominence Burn
After All Might’s retirement, Endeavour had to prove not only to the audience, but to his society, that he was ready to be the number one hero. The battle against the high-end nomu proved to be a perfect way to kick off his new place in MHA’s world.
Not only was the fight was a blast to watch, but it genuinely made the audience root for Endeavour — something many didn’t want to do, due to his treatment of his family. However, seeing him utter the “plus ultra” mantra in order to win the fight, and walking away with newfound humility, made true redemption for his character a real possibility.
1 United States Of Smash
Endeavour’s potential, however, can not outstrip the genuine love everyone had for All Might. Back in the ‘hideout raid’ arc, after Bakugo was safely rescued from the villains, All Might could finally have his full rematch with All for One. This fight between the two strongest characters in the MHA is still one of the best fights in the series.
All for One’s plentiful supply of quirks made the battle tough for an already weakened All Might, but the number one hero was able to pull out one final attack to win the day. "United States of Smash’ is a powerful moment to watch, and its name also fittingly pays off the American theming of All Might’s attacks, creating what is easily the quintessential All Might moment.