MHA's Most Popular Characters, Ranked
The cast of My Hero Academia is undoubtedly one of the series’ strongest features. The wild, fluctuating dynamic between the characters is something fans never get tired of. At first glance, the show seems to have strayed away from one of the most iconic Shonen tropes: the power of friendship. Upon closer examination, however, the aforementioned friendship power is there all along. It’s just implemented in a different form.
Since My Hero Academia heavily relies on characters as vehicles for the story, there are plenty of individuals who stick out. The more screen time a character gets, the more likely they’ll be favored by the community, and this applies to almost every character. Many fans have already spoken up about who their personal favorites are.
Updated by Alexandra Locke on May 3, 2024: There are so many characters in My Hero Academia, but some stand out more than others. Whether it’s through personality or power, the best My Hero Academia characters have solidified their spots in fans’ hearts. This article has been updated to include even more of viewers’ favorite characters, as well as to update the formatting to CBR’s current standards.
Mitsuki Bakugo Is Fiery & Proud
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Mitsuki Bakugo is an unusual character in a list full of heroes. However, since her debut, fans can’t get enough of her fiery personality or her relationship with her son, Katsuki. Mitsuki is a strong mother raising a strong boy, and she doesn’t mess around. Whenever Katsuki gets out of line, she puts him back in his place.
Unlike Inko Midoriya, Mitsuki fully accepts the risks and realities of her son in Hero Training. Despite her outwardly hostile behavior, Mitsuki is incredibly proud of her son. She has complete faith in his abilities and can’t wait to see the hero he becomes. Her supportive nature earns her a spot in the rankings, but she falls at the bottom of the list.
Present Mic Isn’t Afraid To Be Heard
Deku charging toward the viewer with Eri riding on his back in My Hero Academia.
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Present Mic is a man of many facets. He is both a Pro Hero and a teacher at U.A. Plus, he has his own radio show. He is also seemingly U.A.’s built-in MC, which is where he truly shines. Present Mic is loud and rambunctious compared to his sullen friend, Shota Aizawa, but it’s Present Mic’s strange compatibility with him that makes both of them better.
Present Mic is responsible for a lot of the humor in the first few seasons of My Hero Academia. He is a beacon of light even in some of the darker moments – particularly in the Sports Festival. He has shown a more serious side to himself in recent seasons, but that is what makes him a more well-rounded and beloved character. Present Mic is a passionate soul who isn’t afraid of being heard.
Tenya Ida Is Consistently Ranked Among The Most Popular My Hero Academia Characters
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In the real world, Tenya Iida would probably have been branded as an uncool student, but he’s consistently ranked among the most popular characters in My Hero Academia. Tenya takes his classes very seriously, often pressuring his friends to do the same. This explains why they elect him as their class representative.
Tenya desperately tries to live up to the standards established by his elder brother, the famous Pro Hero Ingenium. Tenya feels that it’s his responsibility to carry the Iida family’s legacy forward. At the same time, he willingly renounces the path of vengeance with Deku and Todoroki’s help, further illustrating his magnanimous personality.
Hitoshi Shinso Might Have Villainous Powers, But Fans Love Him Even More For It
Hitoshi Shinso was constantly mocked and demeaned by his friends in middle school. They poked fun at his villain-like abilities and claimed that he could never be a Pro Hero. And yet, Shinso proves them all wrong by mastering his and using it to save lives during various conflicts.
Eraserhead takes Shinso under his wing, citing their similar attitudes toward relationships with society. Shinso couldn’t be less like a villain if he tried. However, his apathetic demeanor doesn’t paint a heroic picture, and being a Pro Hero is 90% public relations. However, Shinso’s determination to make it into the Hero Course proved to be a hit with fans. Finally, Shinso is finally being recognized for his incredible hard work. Audiences just love Shinso to bits.
Momo Yaoyorozu Will Always Be A Favorite Of The My Hero Academia Fandom
Deku and Bakugo from MHA Season 7 Key Visuals
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Unlike characters like Ochaco Uraraka and Izuku Midoriya, Momo Yaoyorozu comes from an affluent background. She’s accepted into U.A. on a special recommendation. This highlights her innate aptitude for heroism, as well as her incredible intellect.
Although spectacularly wealthy, Yaoyarozu is the exact opposite of a spoiled child. She’s smart, crafty, kind, witty, strong, and most importantly, humble to a fault. Despite her insecurities, Yaoyarozu goes out of her way to try to make friends and share her wealth with them. When she feels overwhelmed by her peers, Eraserhead and Todoroki show Yaoyarozu how to accommodate her towering brilliance. Yaoyarozu will always be a favorite of the My Hero Academia fandom.
Mina Ashido Is The Life Of The Party
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Mina Ashido is a charismatic hero. She’s beloved for her bubbly personality and her unending optimism. Ashido is the life of the party and never lets any of her friends sit in the background or feel left out. Ashido is one of the few heroes who is almost always caught smiling.
Not only is Ashido fun, but she’s unbelievably brave as well. She’s stood up to Gigantomachia twice. The first time she encountered him, she was only in middle school. Although she would later admit to crying after their first meeting, the fact that she held her composure at all is impressive. Ashido protects her friends above all else – ensuring that they never feel unwelcome or alone. Her personality makes her incredibly likable as a character, but she lands near the bottom of the list because there are definitely characters fans appreciate more than Ashido.
Fans Love It When Kyoka Jirou Recognizes & Acknowledges Her Own Vast Potential
Kyoka Jiro is basically forgotten until a specific My Hero Academia plotline requires her sound-based abilities. Her Earphone Jack is an incredibly powerful Quirk, with both offensive and defensive capabilities. During the Final Act Saga, Kyoka successfully triggers a Quirk rebellion inside All For One’s inner world, greatly weakening the villain.
Class 1-A helps Jiro come out of her shell for the U.A. School Festival, where Jiro performs an amazing rock song live on stage. Jiro not only performs but writes the song as well. Fans enjoy Jiro’s usual, natural reticence, but they like it a lot more when Jiro recognizes her own vast potential for both music and heroism.
Fumikage Tokoyami Has Slowly Grown More Popular Over Time
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With his stylish and mysterious Quirk Dark Shadow, it’s no surprise that Fumikage Tokoyami is a major My Hero Academia favorite. He’s a serious-minded Class 1-A student at U.A. High who usually plays background roles. Recently, he has occasionally been brought into the limelight over the course of a few arcs.
Unlike most other Quirks in the story, Tokoyami’s Dark Shadow appears to have a mind of its own. The problem with this semi-autonomous Quirk is that it becomes far more powerful and difficult to control when the ambient light reduces. Although Dark Shadow is easier to control in the daytime, it’s also considerably more cowardly and fragile. Even so, Tokoyami remains a beloved character for his gothic persona and his ever-present Dark Shadow.
Tamaki Amajiki’s Manifest Quirk More Than Compensates For His Debilitating Shyness
Along with Mirio Togata and Nejire Hado, Tamaki Amajiki is a member of the Big Three. The Big Three is a group of third-year students destined for ultimate greatness. Unfortunately, he’s also the shyest character in My Hero Academia. This trait doesn’t effectively work for someone who wants to become a Pro Hero in the near future, but Amajiki works through his troubles to perform great heroic acts.
On another note, Tamaki’s Manifest Quirk more than makes up for his debilitating introversion. In the final fight against Tomura Shigaraki, he generates a gigantic construct composed of numerous plants and animals, showcasing the limitless possibilities of his Quirk. Fans simply can’t get enough of Suneater.
Denki Kaminari Is A Lovable Comedy Relief Character With Electrifying Potential
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Deku on top of a splash page from MHA 421
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Despite his association with Minoru Mineta, Denki Kaminari has attracted quite a fan following, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only is he a friendly, social, and energetic character, but he also provides tons of classic shonen comedy relief. Aside from being generally goofy, Kaminari experiences an absolutely hilarious side effect after using his Electrification Quirk.
If Kaminari doesn’t take the right precautions, he can exceed the safe wattage limit for his Quirk. This could leave him in a vulnerable and airheaded state for up to one hour. Regardless of his best efforts, Kaminari falls victim to his Quirk upon occasion. On the other hand, Kaminari can produce enough electricity to take out some of the strongest villains in the story.
Twice Was A Beloved Villain
Twice was once a weirdly cherished member of the League of Villains. Despite his alignment, Twice was surprisingly wholesome. All he ever wanted was a place to fit in, which he seemed to find among the evildoers. He attached himself to the group and felt like he could be himself among the other outcasts. Unfortunately, Twice’s time was cut short by Hawks in Season 6.
Twice was uncommonly loyal, especially to Himiko Toga. She is even the reason that he could let himself finally discover his full potential. Sadly, Twice’s Sad Man Parade would have been too overpowered to stay in the show. Twice was a bright spark amidst the chaos of the otherwise despicable villains, and fans still miss his eccentric presence. The fact that he’s gone is reason enough to land him in the middle of the list’s rankings, and if he’d survived there’s no doubt he would have gone on to rally even more fan love.
Keigo Takami Is The Immensely Popular No. 2 Pro Hero, Hawks
Keigo Takami’s code name is Wing Hero: Hawks, a reference to his Fierce Wings Quirk. As the epithet implies, Hawks has a pair of large, red wings on his back that he uses to fly and launch feathery projectiles. This Quirk is spectacularly versatile, illustrating his combat expertise on numerous occasions. Hawks debuts in My Hero Academia’s fourth season as a supporting character.
Hawks becomes the No. 2 Pro Hero after All Might’s retirement, and quickly eclipses Endeavor in terms of general appeal and public popularity. Fans don’t love him just because he’s intelligent, but because Hawks does everything in his power to protect the world from harm with a sense of style. In contrast to his stellar record, Hawks is a laid-back hero who dreams of a society where Heroes like him aren’t needed anymore.
Tomura Shigaraki Is One Of The Few Villains To Get Widespread Fan Support
Tomura Shigaraki has always been a major presence in My Hero Academia, but he has since risen in both power and eminence. As a representative of All For One’s will, this key villain is hell-bent on destroying society. Tomura’s Decay Quirk is far more dangerous after he assimilates the All For One Quirk, turning him into a slightly weaker version of All Might.
He wears the hands of deceased family members as part of his villain outfit, which explains the atmosphere of dread surrounding him at any given time. Fans might be fond of Tomura purely because he’s such a great villain. That said, Tomura will hopefully obtain redemption at some point – most likely through Deku.
Despite His Late Introduction, Mirio Togata Quickly Garnered Thousands Of Fans
Despite his somewhat late introduction, Mirio rapidly garnered a spectacular amount of admiration from fans. Given his genuinely lovable personality, however, it’d be rather puzzling if he didn’t make it as a fan favorite. A character of Mirio’s depth is a valuable asset for any anime, even in a goldmine like My Hero Academia.
Mirio radiates hope and warmth from every fiber of his being. He chooses Lemillion to be his hero name, indicating that he wants to save at least 1,000,000 people over the course of his career. Mirio loses Permeation while saving Eri but later recovers his Quirk with Eri’s help, much to the manga fandom’s delight.
Dabi Becomes The Surrogate For Hero Killer: Stain’s Warped Philosophy
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Tomura preparing to use Decay in My Hero Academia
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Dabi’s very existence is riddled with spoilers for anime-only viewers, but manga readers know exactly what this character is all about. Thankfully, the final episodes of My Hero Academia’s 6th season are going to reveal Dabi’s backstory. He enters the series when Deku, Shoto, and Tenya defeat Hero Killer: Stain.
Dabi continues preaching Stain’s anti-hero message, claiming that society doesn’t need someone to protect it. Dabi is essentially a broken man with a virulent desire to see his family burn, even if it means burning the entire world in the process. As such, it’s strange that he has gathered so much fan support. Yet, many still love him for his intriguing background and contrary personality.
As A Controversial Character, Himiko Toga Is Either Deeply Loved Or Intensely Hated
Himiko Toga is an exceptionally crafted anime bad girl, but some viewers can’t even stand the sight of her. Her character is the subject of intense discussion, especially on My Hero Academia subreddits, where fans heap both praise and condemnation on Himiko. Whatever the opinion of the fandom, there’s no doubting her supreme popularity.
Himiko is by far the most celebrated villain in the story, and for good reason. She never fails to deliver the full gamut of her complex personality in every scene. Himiko truly doesn’t care what other people think of her, something even Endeavor struggles with on a daily basis. Himiko is the perfect example of a gap-moe villain who is both adorable and deadly, and fans are here for it. That fan love earns her a spot on the high end of the rankings.
Tsuyu Asui Is Class 1-A’s Conscience & Voice Of Reason Rolled Into One
Very few students at U.A. High can be considered as well-balanced as Tsuyu Asui. If they don’t have self-esteem issues like Deku and Yaoyarozu, then they have serious anger management problems like Bakugo. Indeed, almost every U.A. student has some sort of negative characteristic that dominates their personality in the early episodes.
That said, Tsuyu, or Tsu-chan as she insists on being called, displays an unflinchingly rational attitude toward every situation, no matter how complicated or dangerous. Fans particularly enjoy Tsuyu’s blunt demeanor and her adorable habit of croaking like a (Japanese) frog. Her hero name, Froppy, is also widely heralded as one of the best among the U.A. Students.
Ochaco Uraraka Is One Of The Most Compassionate Characters In The Series
Ochaco Uraraka might as well be the most prominent female character in My Hero Academia. She’s had a front-row seat to almost every major event in the first five seasons. In fact, fans often argue that Ochaco is Class 1-A’s shiniest star, obviously excluding Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki.
Although Ochaco loses her composure when people bring up her friendship with Deku, she showcases her poise and compassion at various points in the story. Her relatively inoffensive Quirk notwithstanding, Ochaco has all the trappings of a legendary hero. She placates a mob of irate civilians in the manga’s Final Act Saga as well, citing an impressive exhibition of her oratory skills.
Eijiro Kirishima Is My Hero Academia’s Poster Boy For Tender Masculinity
Eijiro Kirishima doesn’t hide his true nature behind a mask, nor does he need to overcompensate for his failings in My Hero Academia. Armed with his Hardening Quirk, he merely grins and powers through his problems. Kirishima stringently abides by his own self-imposed philosophy, which, on the surface, seems like a stereotypical example of shonen toxic masculinity.
However, Kirishima often expresses himself through tears, indicating that even the manliest men can cry without feeling ashamed. Kirishima is as chivalrous as he is brave. He loves unconditionally and goes the extra mile when his friends are in trouble. Fans love, respect, and cherish Eijiro Kirishima, especially after he somehow manages to break into Bakugo’s armored heart.
All Might Is Popular, But Not As Popular As Some Think He Should Be
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Deku with the title page of Chapter 421 of the MHA manga in the background
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All Might has always been a sensation within the fandom, long before debuting his superhuman strength. His quirky and unique character design easily makes him one of the most iconic figures in shonen anime. That said, All Might’s current status is awkward, as he sacrifices One For All during his battle with All For One.
Some fans disagree with All Might becoming a side character in later seasons. However, it’s clear that All Might fights just as hard from the sidelines, earning the respect of his colleagues as well as students. He may not be in the Pro Hero game anymore, but he’s learning how to continue his work in a different way. All Might continues to maintain his place among the fan-favorite My Hero Academia characters.