My Hero Academia: 8 Characters Who Came To Embrace Their Quirk

When a person is born in the world of My Hero Academia, they will be throwing the dice on what sort of Quirk they get. Unless their parents have organized a Quirk marriage to pass down specific abilities, the exact Quirk a person can have is pretty much random. While most people quickly become accustomed to their ability, for others, it takes a long while until they embrace and accept their unique powers.

A big theme in My Hero Academia is that any Quirk, no matter how weak or ineffective it may seem at first, can become a useful tool or ability with enough practice and dedication. Therefore, while some may have at first wished they could have swapped these Quirks out for something else, it simply took a while for them to warm up to the ability they have.

8

Hitoshi Shinso

Having A Villainous Quirk Lowered Shinso’s Self-Esteem

• First Appearance: Episode 15

Technically, having a Quirk is a requirement to become a hero, though not everyone can have inspirational abilities that spread hope and joy when they’re used. A prime example of this is Shinso, who was ridiculed and mocked when he was young due to his Brainwash Quirk, which is a lot more fitting for a villain than a hero.

As Shinso explains to Midoriya in their fight early on in the series, he’s had to work harder than most to prove himself as a hero. By the time he re-appears in the leadup to the final war, it’s clear Shinso is no longer embarrassed or ashamed of his Quirk. The ability becomes a vital tool for the heroes, especially in dealing with the giant brute known as Gigantomachia.

7

Shota Aizawa

Wasn’t Always So Comfortable Using His Erasure Quirk

• First Appearance: Episode 5

It can be hard to believe now, considering he’s happy to throw it out whenever necessary, but Aizawa wasn’t always fond of his Erasure Quirk. As a student, Aizawa was rather aimless, struggling to find any useful way that he could utilize his Quirk without being a burden for his comrades.

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Thanks to a little encouragement from Oboro, Aizawa learned to accept his Quirk rather than shun it, allowing him to climb the ranks until eventually becoming a fully-fledged pro. It just goes to show that even the strongest of heroes can have Quirks that they aren’t too happy with at first.

6

Tomura Shigaraki

The Weapon Used To Kill Shigaraki’s Family Becomes His Go-To Tool

• First Appearance: Episode 8

Shigaraki had a troubled childhood, to put it mildly. After a fateful encounter with All For One, the villainous mastermind decided to pass down the Decay Quirk to the young Shigaraki without the boy even knowing. After he returns home, Shigaraki ends up killing his entire family with the Quirk. At first, he’s horrified, but once All For One takes him under his wing, Shigaraki starts to embrace the power he’s been given.

Shigaraki used Decay to obliterate anyone who dared to stand in his way. He was even strong enough to tap into its devastating Awakening technique, which could decimate entire buildings with a single touch. Once Shigaraki became familiar with his Quirk, there was barely anyone that could stand up to him.

5

Yuga Aoyama

Received His Quirk From An Evil Mastermind, & Struggled To Get Used To It

• First Appearance: Episode 5

Though most of the Class 1-A students grow more proficient with their Quirks at a steady pace, Aoyama always felt like he was lagging behind. Naval Laser is admittedly a rather awkward ability to use, because the user needs to bend their body in a way to ensure the beam remains accurate enough to deal damage.

However, the main reason Aoyama didn’t seem all that comfortable with his Quirk is because of where he got it from. Aoyama was secretly given Naval Laser by All For One after his parents asked the villain to do so, so that Aoyama wouldn’t be seen as an outcast in school. Though he was eventually revealed as a traitor, in the final war, Aoyama would come to accept his Quirk as a way to make up for his sins, even going as far as to awaken its true potential.

4

Shota Todoroki

Initially Refused To Use His Power As A Way To Rebel Against His Father

• First Appearance: Episode 5

Despite having an immensely powerful Quirk which allows him to manipulate both fire and ice, Todoroki isn’t all too keen at first to unleash his full potential during the Sports Festival. The reason for this is because of his upbringing. Living under an abusive father, Todoroki promised to never use the fire side of his Quirk, which he inherited from Endeavor. Instead, he relied on the ice provided by his mother.

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However, this changes once Midoriya convinces Todoroki to make the Quirk his own power, rather than seeing it as a lingering remnant from his father. Throughout the story, Todoroki not only comes to accept his father, but also his Quirk, which has taken down more than a few villains with its overwhelming power.

3

Twice

Lets His Quirk Run Wild After It Tortured Him For Many Years

• First Appearance: Episode 43

With a Quirk that can create a clone of anything he touches, Twice found himself losing his mind after he created so many versions of himself. He began to question whether he was even the real Twice, or just another impostor. With nobody willing to help him with his troubled mental state, Twice would decide to become a villain, while still being aware of the damage caused to him by his own ability.

During the war with the Meta Liberation Army though, after seeing several of his close allies being taken down in their fights, Twice decides to go all-in with his Quirk to unleash the Sad Man’s Parade. In his final few moments, Twice came to accept his Quirk by completely losing his mind and letting the ability run off the rails.

2

Mezo Shoji

Victim Of Discrimination Due To His Mutant-Like Appearance

• First Appearance: Episode 4

At a young age, Shoji was bullied and mocked by everyone around him due to his mutant-like appearance. In the world of My Hero Academia, those who possess Quirks that alter their appearance, like Shoji and Spinner, are commonly discriminated against and treated as inferior compared to regular humans.

Despite the abuse he faced, though, once Shoji entered U-A and met new friends who cheered him on, he would start to see his Quirk as something to be proud of, rather than a curse. As shown in Shoji’s explosive duel with Spinner in the final war, he still harbors hatred for how he and those like him are treated. But he’s now at peace with his ability, and doesn’t view it as a stain on who he is as a person.

1

Eri

Learns How To Control Rewind To Use It For Good

• First Appearance: Episode 66

Despite being so young, Eri possesses one of the strongest Quirks in the entire series: the Rewind Quirk. Sadly, Eri accidentally used Rewind on her father not long before she appeared in the series, which ended up killing him. After then being treated horribly by Overhaul, Eri came to view her Quirk as something to be ashamed of. That is, until she met Midoriya.

After using Rewind to keep Midoriya’s body stable while he unleashes 100% of his power, Eri slowly began to see the ability in a much more positive light. In fact, she came to develop such a better understanding of it that she even saved Midoriya in the last few moments of the war by restoring his limbs, proving that she now feels far more comfortable using the technique in small doses.