15 'My Hero Academia' Episodes That Can Be Called Masterpieces, Ranked

Updated  Oct 7, 2026, 5:24 AM EDT

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My Hero Academia ended with a stellar final season, and it isn't much hyperbole to say that this series has some episodes that are genuinely masterful. Whether they be considered such because of the stunning animation from Studio Bones, the phenomenal writing, or exceptional voice performances—listen, My Hero Academia has a lot to write home about.

There are plenty of My Hero Academia episodes that could be considered masterpieces, but there's a handful that are true home runs and genuinely masterclasses in what they excel in. One doesn't just win the Anime of the Year award for no reason, and My Hero Academia has a good number of episodes to prove that.

15 "Climax"

Season 2, Episode 17

Image via Crunchyroll

One of the greatest villains in My Hero Academia is, without a doubt, the Hero Killer, Stain (Go Inoue and Robert McCollum). This story arc is beyond iconic, and the massive fight scene that happens at the climax of the cleverly titled Season 2 episode, "Climax," is phenomenal—one of the best in the series.

This episode-long fight consists of not one, not two, but three students—Izuku Midoriya (Daiki Yamashita and Justin Briner)—Deku, Shoto Todoroki (Yūki Kaji and David Matranga), and Tenya Iida (Kaito Ishikawa and J. Michael Tatum)—Ingenium—collectively taking on Stain together. This episode contains huge character development for all three kids, and makes this entry not just action-packed, but actually important, too.

14 "Red Riot"

Season 4, Episode 9

Image via Crunchyroll

There are plenty of great supporting characters in My Hero Academia to go around, but a huge fan favorite that has some huge moments in Season 4 is the ever-lovable tough guy, Eijiro Kirishima (Toshiki Masuda and Justin Cook)—Red Riot. He is a great example of how to bring a tough guy character to life while avoiding toxic masculinity, and this episode helps emphasize that.

This entry in the series brings Red Riot to the forefront as he teams up with Pro Hero, Fat Gum (Kazuyuki Toyomitsu and Kyle Hebert) to aid in the raid to save young Eri (Seiran Kobayashi and Emily Neves) from Overhaul (Kenjiro Tsuda and Kellen Goff). The hero's backstory depicted here is moving and helps emphasize his present-day struggles against the villains he faces. It's exceptionally well-written.

13 "Dabi's Dance"

Season 6, Episode 11

Image via TOHO Animation

Season 6 has a ton of great episodes in it—especially when getting to the latter half—and one of the ones from earlier in the season is none other than the game-changing "Dabi's Dance." This episode has a lot going on in it, and one of the greatest is the menacing Dabi's (Hiro Shimono and Ernesto Jason Liebrecht) big plan to ruin Endeavor (Tetsu Inada and Patrick Seitz)—Enji Todoroki.

Dabi finally reveals that the fan theory that had been circulating for quite some time among fans is actually true... the blue-flamed baddie is actually Endeavor's long-thought-dead son, Toya Todoroki. The revelation is jaw-dropping and written exceptionally. Not to forget, both the sub and dub voices behind Dabi—Hiro Shimono and Ernesto Jason Liebrecht, respectively—absolutely murder this entire episode.

12 "Deku vs. Class A"

Season 6, Episode 23

Image via Crunchyroll

It is no secret that when it comes to the students of Class A, Deku is the powerhouse among them all—thanks to the ever-powerful One For All. However, up until "Deku vs. Class A," it was interesting to think about if, with all their powers combined, Class A could really take on the young hero.

This entire episode is Class A's journey to attempt to get Deku back to school and help him in his crusade against the League of Villains. Together, they hatch a plan to fight him and get him back, which proves to actually be successful—despite the struggle he gives them before they finally catch him. Most importantly, though, beyond the cool action, the end of the great anime episode contains one of the biggest character moments for both Katsuki Bakugo (Nobuhiko Okamoto and Clifford Chapin) and Deku. The rival apologizes to our protagonist for how hard he made his life, and comes full circle as he attempts to finally atone for what he's done.

11 "Deku vs. Kacchan, Part 2"

Season 3, Episode 23

Image via Bones Inc.

The friendship between Deku and Bakugo is quite easily one of the core foundations of the entire series. The way they're consistently pushing each other to not just be better heroes, but better people, is a driving force for both of their character arcs. Many will tell anyone who asks that Bakugo's arc is one of, if not the best, in the whole show, and for good reason. It all truly begins in "Deku vs. Kacchan, Part 2."

When they finally decide to settle their differences once and for all—not completely true, by the way—they duke it out in the training grounds of the school, and all comes to a head when Bakugo emotionally explodes. He reveals why he's come to hate himself so much—believing that he was the reason All Might lost his power—and it's genuinely moving. Huge moment for Bakugo here.

10 "My Hero"

Season 3, Episode 4

Image via Crunchyroll

Season 3 is filled with some amazing moments, and one of them happens to be one of the biggest moments in Izuku Midoriya's character journey: his first battle against Muscular (Kōsuke Takaguchi and Jim Foronda). When the life of young Kota (Michiru Yamazaki and Cassandra Lee Morris) is in the air, Midoriya jumps into action and pushes himself farther beyond his limits than ever before.

Episodes like this can make or break a character arc. Segments in an arc like this can really do a number on an arc if not done right, and, thankfully for the show, this is one of the greatest moments in Izuku's story. The way in which the episode keeps this conflict at its center focus, but continues to juggle the other stories happening simultaneously, makes for a phenomenal episode.

9 "Infinite 100%"

Season 4, Episode 13

Image via Crunchyroll

The Shie Hassaikai Arc is commonly known as one of the best story arcs in My Hero Academia for its intense action, abundantly moving story, wonderful character work, and, as per usual, very well-done animation. When everything in this arc comes to a climax in "Infinite 100%," Deku must face off against the final boss: Overhaul.

Thankfully, though, he doesn't have to face the villain alone, as he has the young Eri by his side, who holds the quirk, Rewind, allowing him to go 100% for as long as Eri is on his back. This ends up in a great full-circle moment not just for Deku, but Eri, too, as she finally gets to face the man who has brought her so much pain. Most notably, though, is the fight scene, as it's the farthest audiences get to see Deku go by this point in the series, and the absolute beat-down he gives Overhaul is unlike anything he'd done prior.

Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be
Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt

Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn't work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.

🎖️Rambo

🍸James Bond

🏺Indiana Jones

🔧John McClane

🎭Ethan Hunt

FIND YOUR PARTNER →

01

You're dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.

ASomeone who already has three contingency plans running and is calmly working through all of them. BSomeone who reads the terrain instinctively and knows exactly how to use it against the enemy. CSomeone who keeps their nerve and their sense of humour when everything is falling apart. DSomeone who knows the history of wherever we are and what we're walking into. ESomeone with the right contact, the right cover identity, and the right exit already arranged.

NEXT QUESTION →

02

You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.

AOn foot through terrain no one else would attempt — I move where vehicles can't follow. BOn a motorcycle, a cargo plane, or anything else that gets me there before I think too hard about it. CIn something that belongs to someone else — borrowed, stolen, or improvised under fire. DFirst class, with a cover identity and a gadget that does something I won't explain until it's needed. EBy whatever means are available — I've driven, flown, and once arrived by camel. The destination matters, not the method.

NEXT QUESTION →

03

You're pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.

ADisappears into the environment, flanks them silently, and ends it before I've reloaded. BCracks a one-liner, grabs a fire extinguisher or a chair, and improvises something that somehow works. CProduces a gadget specifically designed for this exact scenario and uses it with infuriating precision. DPulls out a whip, a pistol, and an archaeological insight that somehow gets us out alive. ENeutralises the threat with maximum efficiency and minimum words — they were already three moves ahead.

NEXT QUESTION →

04

The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.

AA bar with terrible lighting, cold beer, and absolutely no questions about feelings. BThe finest restaurant in the city, a bottle of something expensive, and a conversation that is equal parts brilliant and exhausting. CA local dig site, a museum after hours, or a long story about why that particular artefact matters to human civilisation. DPizza. Bad TV. Falling asleep halfway through a movie neither of you were watching anyway. EA debrief that turns into three hours of contingency planning that somehow becomes the most fun you've had all week.

NEXT QUESTION →

05

How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.

APrecise and minimal — tell me what I need to know and nothing else. Every word has a cost. BDeadpan and dry — keeping it light keeps me sharp, even when everything is on fire. CEnthusiastic and slightly chaotic — but always with useful information buried somewhere in the noise. DCalm and controlled through an earpiece, with a plan that covers every variable I haven't thought of yet. EBarely at all — silence is a language and they speak it fluently.

NEXT QUESTION →

06

Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.

AInfiltrate their inner circle, learn everything, and dismantle them from inside out before they know we're there. BStudy the historical pattern — every villain of this type has a weakness written somewhere in the past. CGet them talking. The more they monologue, the more time I have to figure out how to beat them. DGo through them. Directly. With as much force as the terrain allows. EFind the one thing they haven't accounted for — there's always one thing — and make sure we're holding it.

NEXT QUESTION →

07

Things go badly wrong and you're captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.

ACome in alone, quietly, and get me out before anyone knows they were there. BHave already been working on the extraction since the moment I disappeared — the plan is already running. CCome in loud, come in fast, and worry about the collateral damage later — I'd do the same for them. DUse every resource, every contact, and bend every rule until I'm out — they don't leave people behind. ECharm their way in somehow, bluff through the hard part, and still manage to look good doing it.

NEXT QUESTION →

08

What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn't replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn't know you had.

ATechnology that shouldn't exist yet and the training to use it under any conditions. BSurvival instinct so refined it borders on supernatural — and the scars to prove it's been tested. CKnowledge of history, language, and culture that makes them invaluable in places where force is useless. DThe ability to walk into any room in the world and immediately become the most trusted person in it. EStubbornness that refuses to accept a situation is hopeless — and the improvisational skill to back it up.

NEXT QUESTION →

09

Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.

AA partner who never fully switches off — always watching exits, always calculating threats, even at dinner. BA partner who gets the job done brilliantly but has the emotional availability of a locked filing cabinet. CA partner who makes everything ten times more complicated than it needs to be — but who always comes through. DA partner who gets personally attached to every relic, ruin, and artefact we encounter, which slows everything down. EA partner who was not built for this and knows it — but shows up anyway, every time, without being asked.

NEXT QUESTION →

10

It's the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.

AOne line. Absolutely dry. Delivered like the world isn't ending. Then we move. BNothing said at all — just a look that means we both already know what has to happen. CA plan I don't fully understand that somehow accounts for everything, delivered in thirty seconds flat. DA piece of historical context that reframes the entire situation and tells us exactly what to do next. ESomeone who steps forward instead of back — because that's who they've always been.

REVEAL MY PARTNER →

Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…

Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.

Rambo

Your partner doesn't talk much, doesn't need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you've finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You'll never need to ask if he has your back. You'll just know.

James Bond

Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it'll take you a moment to remember what's actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You'll never be bored. You'll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.

Indiana Jones

Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar's eye and a brawler's instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn't matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you'll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.

John McClane

Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren't so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.

Ethan Hunt

Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you've finished reading the briefing, and the plan he's settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn't exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

8 "His Start"

Season 4, Episode 25

Image via Studio Bones

After All Might (Kenta Miyake and Christopher Sabat) loses One For All and can no longer be the Number One Hero, the weight is left on the shoulders of none other than Enji Todoroki, aka Endeavor, and it's safe to say that the weight is large. It's in "His Start," where he truly gets his first chance to show the world that not only is he strong enough to be the top dog, but he can be the inspiration that people need from a Number One Hero.

With the help of Hawks (Yuichi Nakamura and Zeno Robinson), Endeavor takes on the strongest Nomu—primarily because of his supreme intelligence in comparison to the others—anyone's seen by this point in the series, Hood (Tsuguo Mogami and Daman Mills), also called the High-End Nomu. He goes through hell and back to face this guy, almost losing his eye, but shows the world in blazing glory that he can and will be the Number One Hero they need. Not to mention, the entire episode is masterfully animated, bringing this fight to life in a spectacular fashion.

7 "Light Fades to Rain"

Season 7, Episode 11

Image via Studio Bones

Ask anyone, and they'll most likely tell you that Katsuki Bakugo is one of, if not the most, well-written characters in all of My Hero Academia. This episode—"Light Fades to Rain"—is arguably one of the biggest in his character arc, as it's where he meets his (temporary) end. When his team has to face Shigaraki (Soichiro Hoshi and Stephen Fu), he gives everything to buy Deku time to get there.

It's during this fight that he has what is called a "Quirk Awakening"—when someone pushes their quirk to its limit, and it has an evolution of sorts—and he gives the villain a genuine beatdown at pretty much light speed. While he eventually comes back (in Season 8), this death really makes an impact and hits audiences hard. It's a phenomenally written episode.

6 "Quirk: Explosion"

Season 8, Episode 4

Image via Studio Bones

Speaking of Bakugo, after he makes his big comeback in "The End of an Era... and the Beginning," he goes on to be the one to face off against the ever-evil All For One (Akio Ōtsuka and John Swasey). It just so happens that Bakugo has a striking resemblance to the second user of One For All, the man that All For One blames for all of his strife, primarily the death of his younger brother Yoichi Shigaraki. This awakens something in him that initiates flashbacks that depict the origins of the villain.

Aside from how well-written the episode is, with the inclusion of the flashbacks to All For One's past, the fight in the present between Bakugo and the Demon Lord is spectacular. Just like the previous episode, this fight is invigorating and, eventually, leads to the end of All For One... for good. It's incredibly memorable.