For a large majority of theMy Hero Academiafandom, Deku is one of the best and most admirable heroes in the series. His dedication, pure heart, and willingness to save others are equal to none. Even when he had no Quirk to help him accomplish his dreams, he continuously demonstrated that he had the makings ofthe greatest hero.
Yet, despite how amazing Deku is as both a character and a person, there is another character who was always destined to shine above all others:All Might.His backstory, physical feats, and accomplishments as a hero prove that Toshinori’s destiny was to become the best hero in history.
Toshinori Was One for All’s Perfect Wielder
His Body Type and Determination Were Ideal for the Quirk
In episode #2 of theMy Hero Academiaanime, All Might explains to Deku that for him to inherit his Quirk, he would need to build up muscle and stamina. If he had been given the power without proper training, his body would have been overwhelmed and exploded instantly. While Izuku trained restlessly and became a proper vessel for the Quirk, he had issues controlling it from day one. Before learning how to channel the energy of One for All, the protagonist would always break or injure part of his body.
Despite his training, Deku’s smaller and less bulky stature was not fit to wield such power without consequence. While it would be fair to assume that everyone would have the same issues, when he talks with Toshinori about the situation, it is revealed that he had no problems after inheriting the Quirk.All Might was a perfect match for One for All, capable of immediately using 100% of its power, surpassingall the previous users.
The Real Reason All Might Received One For All In My Hero Academia Explains Why He’s Still The Series' #1 Hero
While Deku has surpassed All Might’s idea of hero, Toshinori’s motivation and effort still make him the n.1 hero in the series.
While the series never explained the reason why, the fact that Deku had to train to prevent his body from exploding hints at the Quirk being created for people with athletic bodies. When the series began, Izuku could not have been further from being among the strongest characters in the series, being a small and lanky teenager. Toshinori, on the other hand, was always taller than his peers, with a muscular body, and stamina rivaling most pro heroes. His body was perfect for the Quirk, as he was naturally able to contain and utilize its energy right from the get-go.
All Might Was a Quirk Genius
Despite Being Quirkless, He Controlled the Power Immediately
One of the biggest problems Izuku faced during the start of his heroic career was struggling to control the power of One for All. Even disregarding the bones he would break when using the Quirk,Deku had various problems harnessing the energy of his Quirk.The main reason behind this difficulty was the fact that he grew up without any special powers, meaning he had no idea how to control them. As the series progressed, fans learned that Midoriya was not the only one affected by this, as many of thecharacters with strong Quirksalso had issues controlling them.
Once again, All Might was never subjected to these conditions, as he had complete control over the power instantaneously. The fact that Toshinori, despite being Quirkless as well, was able to fully command the ability is proof that he was a true genius. Few characters have been proven to be such capable and skilled fighters. The best example of this is Bakugo, who was also able to competently use his Quirk since having awakened it during his childhood.
All Might’s Final My Hero Academia Battle Confirms His True Power
All Might’s faceoff with All for One, even without a Quirk, proves that All Might was always deserving of his reputation as a Symbol of Peace.
The series demonstrated that it was hard for humans to have abilities to control their Quirks, as their complexities tend to work against them while training. All Might’s backstory is evidence of his true combat genius, as he was able to not only withstand the power of One for All but control the power output of the ability. Understandably, no other hero in the world was ever able to reach his level, as Toshinori far surpassed the standards of ahero even when Quirkless.
Deku’s One for All Was Far More Powerful
All Might’s Long Career Gave the Quirk a Major Boost in Power
Even though All Might’s backstory proves he was a genius, capable of adapting his body and mind to the idea of having a Quirk without any issues, it is not fair to compare his journey with his students'. According to the series, Toshinori was a hero for over 40 years, with him constantly using One for All to defeat villains. By doing so, theQuirk’s ability to stockpile power was activated constantly, drastically increasing its power outputby the time Izuku was selected as All Might’s successor.
This means that Izuku’s struggle to control the power was not only caused by his body not being a good fit for the Quirk. While it is true that a person with higher muscle density and height, like Toshinori, would likely not have struggled as much, the impressive power inside One for All would have also caused them issues. All Might’s success cannot be attributed only to him being a perfect match for the power, but also by how lucky he was to receive it when its strength was still manageable.
Deku’s Genius Was Invaluable for the Heroes
His High Intelligence and Strategic Mind Helped Defeat Many Villains
It might be true that Izuku was not a Quirk genius in the same way All Might was, nor a perfect fit for One for All, there is no denying that he was still an amazing One for All user. One of the factors that contributed to his success was his unusually high intelligence, which helped him approach fights much more effectively than his teacher. Instead of relying on raw power to win his fights,Deku would often look for ways to defeat an opponent as quickly as possible, minimizing the damage to himself and the target.
Midoriya also proved to be one of the creative characters in the franchise by his imaginative use of the other abilities contained inside One for All. Despite how difficult it might have been for him to use his Quirks at first, he ended up becoming one of the most effective heroes during the Final War arc of the series. His intellect helped him create combos and strategies that utilized his skills to their fullest potential, something that All Might probably would not have been able to do.
Izuku and All Might are undoubtedly two of the greatest and most important characters in theMy Hero Academiafranchise. Nevertheless, it is quite apparent that All Might had the physique, instincts, and luck required to becomethe greatest hero for the inhabitants of this series.
