All My Hero Academia Arc Ranked From Worst to Best

The popular manga series My Hero Academia, created by Kohei Horikoshi and published in Weekly Shonen Jump, ended its run last August. The anime adaptation will conclude the story on December 13th, 2025. For more than ten years, My Hero Academia has been a highly acclaimed Shonen series, known for its creative power system, exciting battles, and well-developed characters. The story takes place in a world where most people have superpowers, called quirks. While these powers are common, they’ve also led to an increase in crime, prompting the rise of heroes dedicated to fighting villains and maintaining order.

My Hero Academia centers on Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers (a ‘quirk’) who always wanted to be a professional hero. His dream comes true when he meets All Might, the world’s most famous hero, who bestows upon him an incredible power. Izuku then attends U.A. High School, a school renowned for training heroes, where he faces numerous obstacles on his journey to become the best. The series is divided into 23 story arcs, grouped into three larger sections, and while each arc has its own appeal, some are considered stronger and more impactful than others.

23) Quirk Apprehension Test Arc

Okay, so things start pretty tough for me at U.A. High! I immediately find myself way behind everyone else – these guys have been training with their Quirks for years, and I’m just starting out. But it gets really intense when our teacher announces that whoever scores the lowest on the Quirk Assessment Test is getting expelled! This whole arc only lasts for three chapters, but it’s where my real journey begins, and honestly, it’s a total wake-up call.

22) Final Exams Arc

With the end of the term nearing, Class 1-A is getting ready for their final exams, which will test their knowledge with both written tests and practical challenges. Failing the exams means missing out on the Summer Training Camp, so everyone needs to try their best. The written portion is fairly straightforward, but the practical exam is tough: students will work in pairs and have to defeat one of their teachers to pass.

21) U.A. School Festival Arc

The atmosphere at U.A. High is heavy after the difficult fight with Shie Hassaikai. With Sir Nighteye’s passing and Work Studies put on hold, everyone needs a boost, especially Eri, who is still struggling to find happiness after years of mistreatment. Class 1-A decides to put on a show, hoping to bring some joy to everyone – a true act of heroism.

20) Entrance Exam Arc

The first four chapters of My Hero Academia quickly establish the story’s foundation by introducing key characters like All Might and Bakugo. We learn about All Might’s hidden secret and how Deku receives the hero’s incredible power after meeting him. Determined to follow in All Might’s footsteps, Deku sets his sights on becoming a hero and must first overcome the challenge of getting accepted into the prestigious U.A. High School.

19) Battle Trial Arc

The students of Class 1-A are facing a new challenge: they’re split into pairs and tasked with battling each other as heroes and villains. For Katsuki, this exercise is particularly humbling. He’s always been confident in his abilities, but he begins to realize he might not be as exceptional as he believed. Seeing Izuku demonstrate new powers and Shoto Todoroki easily surpass him, Katsuki becomes frustrated and nearly fails the test, taking his anger out on Izuku.

18) Pro Hero Arc

With All Might gone, the world of heroes is falling apart and people are increasingly worried. The story shifts focus from Class 1-A to show the first Hero Billboard Chart after All Might’s retirement. Endeavor, understanding he can’t fill All Might’s shoes, doesn’t make grand promises as the new top hero. He simply asks everyone to judge him based on his actions as he strives to live up to the title.

17) Meta Liberation Army Arc

This story arc leads into the series’ epic conclusion, focusing on a united front between the Meta Liberation Army and the League of Villains as they aim to dismantle the current superhero system. The nation is already struggling with numerous crises, and the Meta Liberation Army takes advantage of the instability, promoting the idea that people should be free to use their quirks without limits, and growing their ranks to create further upheaval.

16) Joint Training Arc

The students of Classes 1-A and 1-B are facing off in a competition, now joined by Hitoshi Shinso. Though he dreamed of becoming a hero, he ended up in the General Studies course. Recognizing his potential during the Sports Festival, Aizawa began training him, hoping he’d reach his full ability. Hitoshi is determined to prove himself as he participates with both classes. During the competition, Izuku unexpectedly discovers a hidden power within himself.

15) Remedial Course Arc

Shoto and Katsuki are the only students in their class who haven’t earned their Provisional Hero Licenses, so they need to succeed in a special review course to catch up. The challenge? They’re not battling heroes or villains – they have to deal with a group of wildly unpredictable kindergarteners. To get their licenses, they need to make these kids happy, which proves to be much harder than it sounds.

14) U.A. Traitor Arc

The series had suggested someone at U.A. High was a traitor, but no one suspected Yuga Aoyama, a student in Class 1-A. He was forced to work for All For One from the start, providing information about the school, including the location of the training camp – a decision that led to many problems. However, when everything is on the line in the final battle, Yuga finds the courage to do what’s right.

13) Star and Stripe Arc

The situation in Japan is growing increasingly dire with Tomura Shigaraki’s recovery nearing completion, threatening everyone’s safety. When All Might calls for help from international heroes, only Star and Stripe, America’s top hero, responds. However, even with her incredible strength, Tomura possesses enough power to overcome her. Star and Stripe’s loss highlights how desperate things have become in Japan, leaving the country to face its challenges alone.

12) Forest Training Camp Arc

Despite failing their final practical exams, the five students from Class 1-A are still able to attend the Training Camp, where they’re expected to quickly develop their abilities. They’re determined to improve and become the heroes they aspire to be, and begin training alongside Class 1-B. However, their plans are disrupted when the League of Villains, now stronger after the capture of Stain, intervenes.

11) Provisional Hero License Exam Arc

With Japan reeling from the loss of its greatest hero, it’s more important than ever to train the next generation. The aspiring heroes are working hard to earn their Provisional Hero Licenses, and the students of Class 1-A are determined to succeed, even though it’s unusual for first-years to qualify. However, Deku faces a tough challenge: he needs to find a new way to fight, as he can no longer rely on his arms.

10) Endeavor Agency Arc

With a large-scale battle against villains looming, everyone is preparing for the coming storm. The hero agencies need all the help they can get, so they’re asking professional heroes to rigorously train students who have recently earned their provisional licenses. Shoto notices his friends, Katsuki and Izuku, are struggling to choose where to gain work experience, so he invites them to join him training with the nation’s top hero – an opportunity they happily accept.

9) U.A. Sports Festival Arc

Following the League of Villains’ attack on Class 1-A, many students doubted whether the Sports Festival would even happen. Despite the danger, U.A. High School decided to proceed with the event. All Might then explained to Izuku why the Sports Festival was so important, urging him to make a strong impression. Izuku initially focused on winning, but after learning about Shoto’s difficult past, he changed his priority to helping Shoto instead.

8) U.S.J Arc

This story arc introduces the League of Villains, marking the beginning of serious trouble for U.A. High, particularly for Class 1-A. What starts as a normal training exercise quickly becomes a dangerous situation when villains break into a secure facility and completely cut off outside contact. It’s the first time Class 1-A faces truly powerful enemies in a real battle.

7) Dark Hero Arc

After the devastating Paranormal Liberation War, Japan’s hero system is in crisis, with dangerous villains like All For One now on the loose. Izuku has left school to work with All Might and the most skilled pro heroes, hunting down the remaining members of the League of Villains. He’s also pushing himself to master his quirk, preparing for a final showdown against ultimate evil.

6) Vs. Hero Killer Arc

Following the Sports Festival, all hero course students begin a week-long internship, gaining practical experience alongside professional heroes. However, Tenya Iida has a different goal: to avenge his older brother by defeating the villain known as Hero Killer Stain. Despite his determination, Iida is overpowered when he confronts Stain, but Izuku and Shoto arrive just in time to save him. Though the young heroes barely manage to win the fight, Stain’s actions have a significant effect on society. He challenges the ethics of current heroes and unintentionally inspires many, including future villains.

5) Epilogue Arc

The final arc offers a touching and melancholic goodbye to viewers who have been with the series for years. It shows what happens after the intense war, as the heroes work to rebuild their world. While the students of Class 1-A are starting their second year, the scars of the conflict remain. As a new age of peace dawns, we see the emergence of new heroes forged in the battle against All For One and Tomura Shigaraki.

4) Shie Hassaikai Arc

This story arc centers on a rescue mission where the heroes team up to save Eri, a young girl kidnapped by the new leader of the Shie Hassakai yakuza group. We see Mirio Togata, U.A.’s most promising hero student, determined to make amends for a past failure by protecting her. The arc is filled with challenging fights as the young heroes strive to overcome their weaknesses and complete the mission.

3) Hideout Raid Arc

Professional heroes launch a rescue mission for Katsuki and to capture the League of Villains. At the same time, some students from Class 1-A disobey orders and try to save Katsuki themselves. While the heroes initially seemed to have the upper hand, the villains, particularly All For One, consistently anticipated their moves. This storyline culminates in All Might’s retirement, ushering in a period of uncertainty and turmoil as society faces life without its primary symbol of hope for the first time in decades.

2) Final War Arc

I watched as the story reached its peak – a massive, heartbreaking battle between the heroes and villains, one that would determine the fate of everything. The villains seemed to have the upper hand, but our heroes weren’t going down without a fight, and they had some surprises planned. Still, the cost of this conflict was staggering; the losses on both sides were far greater than anyone could have imagined.

1) Paranormal Liberation War Arc

Things took a disastrous turn, leaving the hero world broken and defeated. A massive war erupted, pitting tens of thousands of heroes against villains, led by Tomura Shigaraki. While Hawks gave the heroes a heads-up, they weren’t ready for the extent of the destruction. Despite being prepared, the heroes suffered heavy losses and faced public backlash, leaving them on the verge of collapse even though the biggest challenges still lie ahead.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/list/10-absolute-best-anime-of-the-last-10-years-ranked/embed/#

2025-11-30 05:12