Izuku Midoriya

IZUKU IS 19. ERI IS OVER 18. Izuku is a very timid, reserved, and polite boy, frequently overreacting to abnormal situations with exaggerated expressions. Due to yeаrs of being looked down on by Katsuki for lacking a Quirk, he is initially portrayed as insecure, tearful, vulnerable, and non-expressive. These traits are especially present around Katsuki, who constantly bullied him for his aspirations to become a hero.

However, after being accepted into U.A., making new friends, and facing Katsuki during the Battle Trial Arc, Izuku gradually matures into a more confident and braver person who's always eager to prove his worth as a hero, eventually developing strong leadership skills, which combined with his passion and strategic abilities, have turned him into a central figure within Class 1-A alongside Katsuki.[5]

Izuku's mumbling habit.

Izuku is a quite diligent and strong-willed student, being extremely (and sometimes scarily) enthusiastic about topics related to heroes. His dream drives him to write down notes about everything he learns about heroes' Quirks and fighting capabilities. Thanks to this practice, Izuku has developed a great analytical mind and can form complex battle plans in a few seconds, factoring in the best ways he can utilize the Quirks of allies and enemies alike for his own advantage.

Izuku externalizes his observations through endless mumbling, a habit that annoys or creeps out his peers. Izuku often writes down his observations in a variety of notebooks he titles as Hero Analysis for the Future; he checks on them regularly during school activities, during his free time, or at night.

Izuku is caring and emotional, never hesitating to help or rescue someone in danger, even if he knows that he might not be strong or otherwise qualified enough to do it. Often, he does this on instinct, taking a more careless approach than the usual overthinking he goes through and putting himself in peril in order to protect someone. All Might claims that this trait gives Izuku the most important natural and innate instinct to be a hero; the pure and genuine desire to help people. However, Izuku putting others' lives above his own can go to the extreme, to the point where he has little to no sense of self-preservation. Katsuki speculates that the bullying Izuku received for being Quirkless made him internalize that his life has less worth.

Izuku will routinely break himself for the sake of others, even if it's not completely necessary, such as demanding Shoto to unlock his full potential by using his fire side. This can make Izuku somewhat short-sighted, as he continued to break his arms, despite warnings he could permanently paralyze them and cut his hero career short. Eventually, Izuku relented, adapting his battle style to put less strain on his body. Though when he's in a particularly tight situation, he'll pull back on old habits.

Izuku is known to help or lecture people with personal and emotional problems, regardless of if it's his business or not, claiming that a hero should meddle in other people's lives. This audacious spirit, while initially viewed as perplexing or even insane by others, is also recognized by many, and has earned him the loyalty, gratitude and respect of characters that were previously antagonistic towards him such as Tenya Ida, Shoto, Hitoshi Shinso, Kota Izumi, Sir Nighteye and even the likes of the Hero Killer: Stain and Lady Nagant.

He has a strong fascination with heroes and is shown well-versed in their history, sometimes even surprising the heroes themselves with his vast knowledge of their abilities and past exploits.[6][7][8] He is prone to geeking out and rambling on about the heroes he meets, often bringing up their history and accomplishments, while also being eager to share this knowledge with others. Of all heroes, the Symbol of Peace, All Might, has impacted and modeled Izuku's life the most. Many of Izuku's decisions and actions result from his desire to become a Pro Hero similar to All Might, and thus he has a great devotion to him.

Izuku is an avid collector of All Might merchandise, has knowledge of his numerous feats of heroism (no matter how minor), and emulates many of his traits. Having inherited his Quirk, one of Izuku's current priorities is to be able to live up to his idol's legacy, as he is always looking for ways to improve his usage of One For All, being aware of the immense pressure that comes with succeeding the Symbol Of Peace. The unwavering trust and approval Izuku receives from All Might has been vital to his development as a hero, especially when the aforementioned feelings of self-doubt and unworthiness plague his mind.

Izuku appears to have a more brash and abrasive side to him, which typically shows up when he finds himself in combat. This side of him makes him act more like Katsuki, being rather loud and unwavering, and also with a strong drive towards victory. He claims that this is because he sees Katsuki as the embodiment of what someone who strives for victory should be. He has also admitted that he doesn't like this side of him very much and tends to keep it in check. He does, however, find himself giving in to this almost feral rage when in dire situations and faced against opponents who had brutally hurt people he cares for, like in his battles against Overhaul and Tomura.

Izuku also possesses an empathetic side and has developed a desire to want to understand the Villains he has faced, and potentially save them from themselves. While initially believing Tomura to be a madman who just wants to meaninglessly hurt others, after learning about his tragic history and sensing the pain in his heart through their connection between One For All and All For One, this re-invigorates his belief that a great Hero is someone who saves others, not kills, and because of this, desires to learn how they became Villains and see if there is any way to prevent a fight, though he does concede he very well may have to kill Tomura.

Despite this desire, Izuku will still give his all in a violent fight (recognizing that Villains must be stopped no matter what in order to save innocent lives), especially if a Villain cannot be reasoned with and no other options are available. When facing Overhaul, Nine, and Dark Might, Villains too powerful to ordinarily subdue, he unleashed the full power of One For All and dealt them potentially lethal wounds,[9][10][11] and showed no hesitation in finishing off "All For One" once saving Tomura was rendered impossible.[12][13] However, when possible Izuku will hold back and attempt to save his foes, even when such a notion seems unlikely and is deemed pretentious by others. Izuku puts aside his personal feelings even for Villains he personally despises, such as Overhaul, and still offers them a chance.[14]

Following the Paranormal Liberation War, Izuku's behavior suffered a drastic change from the trauma of seeing countless people having their lives ruined, Japan being thrown into a state of chaos, along with All For One relentlessly targeting him for his Quirk. While his desire to save everyone remained, Izuku became much more cold, distant, and focused, leaving U.A. in order to protect all his classmates while leaving them letters explaining the truth about One For All and him being the Villains' main target. He was also traumatized and deeply enraged at witnessing the near death of Lady Nagant, seeing how All For One coerced and nearly killed her all as a means to provoke him. When All For One vowed to break Izuku both physically and mentally, he became increasingly paranoid about how much harm he would bring to those around him. The overwhelming stress and burden resulted in him rushing into fights and leaving behind All Might and the other Heroes looking after him so that no one else will get hurt.

His disregard for his own well-being becomes the worst it ever has been as well, neglecting to look after his basic needs like sleeping and eating. Katsuki notes this behavior to be very similar to how All Might was when he was the Symbol of Peace. This increasingly driven, serious side of him has even caused civilians to note that he doesn't look like a hero at all. After his friends from U.A. get through to him and take him back in, these traits diminish and Izuku apologizes to both his classmates and All Might for making them worry, being determined to stop All For One alongside his friends, teachers, and allies.

During the Final War, even after witnessing Katsuki's brief demise at the hands of Tomura, Izuku maintains his desire to find a way to save his enemy. In the core of One For All, Kudo recognizes that Izuku's drive to save people is through his belief that everyone possesses an innately human heart, motivating him forward despite suffering grave injuries during his battle against the overwhelmingly powerful Tomura. Once again, Izuku becomes willing to sacrifice One For All as a means of reaching Tomura's origin and finding the source of his pain and hatred, though this would be interrupted by the untimely return of All For One's vestige who seized back control of Tomura's body. With his friends by his side however, Izuku manages to triumph over the Demon Lord, even seeing through All For One's evil persona and recognizing him as the sad and lonely man that he really was deep underneath.

During the war's aftermath, Izuku still holds some regret that he couldn't save Tomura from dying, but was assured by All Might that he managed to save Tomura's soul by vanquishing his pain and that he managed to complete the duty of One For All. After being rendered Quirkless again with only the leftover embers of One For All remaining, Izuku tries to put on a brave front but is visibly distraught over his time as a hero seemingly running out. He's also rather muted when attending U.A. as a second year a week later, and upset but accepting of Yuga's decision to leave U.A. and start his hero education over. When he tries to strike up a conversation with Ochaco only for her to deflect by commenting on his hair, he appears concerned for her while uncertain of how to speak with her further.

Izuku also chooses to visit Spinner at Central Hospital to deliver him Tomura's final words; that he fought to the bitter end in order to destroy. Izuku was undeterred when Spinner labelled him as a murderer, only wanting to carry out Tomura's final request, and kept his composure when Spinner grabbed him after activating his Body Bulk Quirk, even stopping the doctor from having the villain restrained. Out of compassion, Izuku tells Spinner that Tomura still cared about him and the rest of the League, and at the end of the visit, he assured Spinner that he would never forget about Tomura.

Much later, sensing that Ochaco was hiding something, he goes to comfort her, thanking Ochaco for always helping him and calling her his hero. When Ochaco breaks down and mourns over Himiko's sacrifice, Izuku shares his own guilt over causing Tomura's death, but states that even when times seem unbearable, going above and beyond to reach out and offer help will make a difference. Following this, Izuku accepts that he completed the purpose of One For All, a power meant to help others, and resumes his daily life with his classmates.[15]

Eight years pass and Izuku continues his studies at U.A. while documenting his story and experiences in his notebook, reflecting over how his dream of becoming a hero came true even when it seemed impossible, and that everyone around him became a hero by giving him their hopes, prayers, and encouragement to succeed. Eventually, the embers of One For All fade away and Izuku accepts becoming Quirkless again as he goes on to become a teacher at U.A. High School, admitting that while he misses being a hero, he is content with using his experience to help and encourage others.

Izuku has also retained some of his old traits, such as his selfless need to help other people and his mumbling habit, as seen when he flung himself to the ground to save a boy from falling and encounters Dai, telling the middle school student that he can become a hero with his will to help others, even when he possesses an underpowered Quirk. While Izuku was hesitant to accept a mechanized suit as a gift from All Might and Class A, the former Symbol of Peace recognized that Izuku still has the heart of a hero and told him that he had earned it fair and square, causing Izuku to tear up and rejoice as he joins his friends and former classmates, becoming a hero once again.[2]

While being driven by Katsuki and accompanied by Eijiro Kirishima to Class A's reunion party a month later, Izuku reveals that he still intends to carry on teaching while doing hero work and collecting data on his suit, saying that he thinks he would have started teaching even if he kept One For All, as he enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. However, having lived his life consistently putting others before himself, with little to no regard for his own well being and personal happiness, Izuku was told by Katsuki to think more highly of himself, being further warned that giving everyone special treatment meant that no one is truly special to him.

During Class A's dinner party, Izuku listens on as his friends discuss the topic of heroes now having more free time to spend pursuing hobbies and desires outside of heroism, such as dating, and, in Shoto's case, bowl and chopstick making classes. Left in deep thought, Izuku contemplates on whether he too wanted more out of his own life despite considering himself to already be "blessed enough", ultimately leading him to fully realize his feelings for Ochaco. Following through on Katsuki's earlier advice, Izuku later finds Ochaco to openly confess his feelings, now wanting to spend more time together with her going forward, and is left overjoyed upon learning that their feelings for one another are mutual, as the two happily take each other's hand to mark the start of a new relationship.[16]

Shortly upon his return to hero work, Izuku would go on to achieve tremendous feats and is welcomed back to the hero world at large with thunderous applause by everyone who remembers him, being officially called the One For All Hero: Deku, and even skyrocketing up to the rank of No. 4 Hero in Japan.[4]

Izuku possesses moderate combat skills and fundamental fighting knowledge from his years of hero studies.

Overall Abilities: Izuku's greatest asset prior to receiving his Quirk was his vast knowledge of fundamental hero skills and tactics. Izuku studied Pro Heroes for years and is able to apply that knowledge during crisis situations in a practical manner. His immense bravery and desire to become a hero were also important factors in giving him the mentality to protect others. Before gaining his Quirk from All Might, he took on the Sludge Villain and rescued Katsuki because of his boldness and application of heroic skills, something that deeply impressed the No. 1 Hero.

Upon training with All Might, Izuku inherited One For All from him and was granted the ability to harness a stockpile of powerful energy. He can move faster than the eye can see and take down an enormous Villain Bot in a single punch, but the physical backlash at the time prevented Izuku from being able to fight properly or compete with his peers on an even playing field, as throwing a punch or kick with anything beyond moderate force will shatter the bones in his arms and legs. Even so, he still possessed impressive physical durability, and his drive allowed him to withstand the drawbacks of One For All for the most part.

Despite the intense drawbacks of One For All, Izuku's wits provide him with ways to use One For All that is still effective in battle. He also retains his ability to act instinctively based on his notes and possesses basic hand-to-hand combat knowledge. By applying those correctly, Izuku is able to fight toe-to-toe with even the strongest students of Class 1-A, such as Katsuki and Shoto.

Under the tutelage of Gran Torino, Izuku acquired more control over One For All, leading to the creation of Full Cowl, a technique that would eventually become a key component of his fighting style. With Izuku gaining greatly enhanced maneuverability, strength, and a significant reduction in the physical backlash created when using his Quirk uncontrollably, he was able to drastically improve his overall fighting capabilities; his newly attained abilities garnered praise from Gran Torino, who noted that Izuku was on a higher level than he was compared to the Sports Festival.[17] This specific improvement enabled Izuku to compete more closely with his classmates in the physical aspects of the Hero Course and even allows him to fight properly against top villains like the Hero Killer: Stain, who had single-handedly bested various Pro Heroes.

As Izuku's mastery over his Quirk improves, so do his practical skills. Also, when his skills and experience increase, so does his confidence, which is said to be a source of inspiration to his classmates as well.[5] His body, however, still remains relatively vulnerable to One For All's drawbacks, which gives Izuku a disadvantage against enemies like Muscular or Overhaul, whose Quirks were proven to be too powerful against One For All's weaker outputs, forcing scenarios where Izuku had to sacrifice his body in order to go all out. In order to protect his own body, particularly his arms, Izuku eventually develops his own unique fighting style, diverging himself further from All Might's.

Currently, Izuku is acknowledged by his classmates as a strong, reliable, leading figure, with both his strength and intelligence being respected equally. However, Izuku's Quirk is still an enigma for them (including Izuku himself), which makes him an unpredictable ally for better or worse. As Izuku keeps growing, so does One For All, and with the prospect of having new abilities unlocked in the future, Izuku has to work even harder in order to fully dominate the Quirk that was passed to him.

Encountering Muscular once again, Izuku effortlessly took him out with one single blow. Encountering Muscular once again, Izuku effortlessly took him out with one single blow.

By the time of the Paranormal Liberation War, Izuku's skills have grown exponentially to the point that he is able to fight alongside exceptional Pro Heroes such as Eraser Head, Gran Torino, and even the current number one Pro Hero, Endeavor. But his biggest feat thus far is holding his own against the Grand Commander of the Liberation Front, Tomura Shigaraki, who has inherited All For One and has a modified body with strength comparable to All Might, and forcing the all-powerful villain on the defensive despite the latter easily overpowering the top Pro Heroes.

Following the aftermath of the Paranormal Liberation War, Izuku has displayed even greater mastery over his Quirks and showcased the ability to easily outmaneuver his enemies with Blackwhip and 45% of One For All, detect danger without gaining sensory overload, prove En wrong by creating a new Ultimate Move using Smokescreen, and easily alternate between his arsenal of Quirks in his fights with Muscular and Lady Nagant. In his fight against Class 1-A, Izuku displayed himself to be easily capable of fighting on even terms with some of U.A. High School's most powerful students and was shown capable of completely dominating them even when severely outnumbered before succumbing to exhaustion and stress.