10 Times Bakugo Proved He’s the Real Star of My Hero Academia

Katsuki Bakugo from My Hero Academia is known for his brash, fiery personality and unrelenting drive to prove himself. His skill, power, and intelligence make him stand out among the series’ extensive cast, and he’s proven himself more than once. His growth from a hotheaded rival to a capable leader has earned him an unforgettable place among anime’s best heroes.

While many viewers may focus on his temper or unacceptable past behavior, the fact remains that Bakugo has grown far beyond his initial portrayal. Whether facing overwhelming odds or taking accountability, his moments of bravery and vulnerability have made him one of My Hero Academia’s best-written and most rewarding characters, and the series wouldn’t be complete without him.

Winning the Sports Festival

The U.A. Sports Festival in Season 2 was more than a competition as it offered up a stage for Class 1-A to explore and demonstrate their skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Bakugo, with his Explosion quirk, effectively outmatched his peers one by one, taking down powerful classmates, including Ochako Uraraka and Shoto Todoroki.

His victories in every match proved his precision with his quirk and tactical thinking. Although he ultimately didn’t feel that he earned first place due to Todoroki refusing to use his left side, the fact remains that he excelled in every other challenge to reach the final battle.

The event left a lasting impression on both his classmates and the audience as he established himself as a force to be reckoned with and laid the groundwork for what to expect from him throughout the series. Beyond achieving first place and recognition, Bakugo had also solidified his reputation as one of the best up-and-coming heroes at U.A.

When He Was Kidnapped During the Hideout Raid Arc

Although being kidnapped by the League of Villains, the series’s worst antagonists, Bakugo proved that he was never all talk. Despite the perilous situation and being surrounded by powerful enemies, he refused to show any outward fear and stood firm against his captors until help arrived. His defiance made it clear that even in impossible situations, his resolve remained unbreakable.

Despite being a first-year, just starting his training as a pro hero, his bravery was undeniable. While others his age in such a dangerous predicament may have panicked, he maintained a calculated aggression. Bakugo proved he was strong-willed and possessed the courage needed to be a hero.

Bakugo vs. Deku Part 2

The second time Bakugo confronted Deku took place in Season 3, following his capture and All Might’s battle against All For One in the Kamino Ward. The battle stood out as one of My Hero Academia’s most emotionally charged, with heavy tension built upon years of rivalry, misunderstandings, and unspoken feelings between the two young heroes.

Unlike ordinary fights, this clash wasn’t solely about proving who was stronger, but rather a raw outpouring of frustration and guilt, culminating in Bakugo’s confession of feeling responsible for All Might’s loss of power. This moment allowed Bakugo to grow and for him and Deku to gain a deeper understanding of one another.

This battle between them completely changed their dynamic going forward and allowed viewers to see a side of Bakugo that he kept hidden. His willingness to face and openly acknowledge these vulnerabilities strengthened both his character and his bond with Deku, allowing him to grow and evolve with the series.

Babysitting Elementary Schoolers

During the remedial hero licensing exam, Bakugo, Todoroki, and their peers from other schools were tasked with supervising a rowdy group of elementary students. Despite Bakugo’s fiery temperament, he was the one to devise an idea to impress the children with their quirks in order to win their affection.

Most notably, he identified the kids’ “leader” and shared a vital lesson with him, teaching him not to look down on others, as it could blind him to his own flaws. These moments reveal how much more lies beneath Bakugo’s tough exterior and put into perspective the lessons he was coming to understand.

Leading His Team to Defeat Class 1-B

During the Joint Training Arc in Season 5, Bakugo stepped up into a leading role for his team, including Kyoka Jiro, Hanta Sero, and Rikido Sato, against Class 1-B students, Togaru Kamakiri, Setsuna Tokage, Yosetsu Awase, and Kojiro Bondo. In a short time period, he effectively assessed his team’s quirks and assigned roles to maximize their effectiveness.

In less than five minutes, Bakugo’s team earned a 4-0 victory. Thanks to his team’s synchronization and Bakugo’s calculated decision-making, they achieved an impressive win that proved his capabilities as a leader. By working together and looking out for one another, Bakugo demonstrated his growth in real time, marking a departure from his previous, more self-centered approach.

Bakugo Using One for All

During My Hero Academia’s second film, Heroes Rising, Bakugo and Deku faced off against one of the series’ most formidable opponents, Nine. In a high-stakes battle against the villain, Deku transferred One For All to Bakugo, allowing him to wield the quirk alongside Deku. Despite the immense and unfamiliar power, Bakugo quickly adapted and combined it with his own quirk.

The moment not only demonstrated his immense potential but also showed off his ability to integrate new powers under intense pressure. Using One For All also revealed how well he can work in sync and coordinate with others in moments when there is little to no time to develop calculated strategies.

In handling One For All so effectively alongside Deku, the film hinted at the incredible heights he could reach as a hero. While his possession of Deku’s quirk was only temporary, the sequences proved he was adaptable, resourceful, and determined, no matter how high the stakes may be.

Bakugo’s Apology to Deku

In Season 6, Bakugo, along with the rest of Class 1-A, confronted Deku after he left to take up vigilantism. However, instead of fighting, it became a moment of vulnerability as Bakugo opened up and addressed years of unspoken feelings and tension. He apologized to Deku for past wrongs, marking a significant turning point in his character and their bond.

Bakugo acknowledged the jealousy and frustration he had felt, and he showed genuine remorse for their past. It demonstrated his growth and reinforced his and Deku’s evolving friendship and rivalry. The moment solidified Bakugo’s growth and maturity, with his apology becoming one of the most defining moments of his character arc.

Bakugo Saving Deku From Shigaraki

During one of the series’ most intense moments in Season 7, Bakugo didn’t hesitate to throw himself in harm’s way to protect his friend and the holder of One For All. The act spoke volumes about his character and further proved his evolution since the beginning of the series, serving as another moment of redemption.

Bakugo had long considered heroism to be about strength and victory; however, in a single instance, he embraced the true meaning of heroism by willingly sacrificing himself to save others. In protecting Deku, he had also silently demonstrated his respect and care, acknowledging Deku as a worthy rival and friend.

Bakugo Saving All Might

In one of the most climactic moments of Season 8 so far, Bakugo returned to the battlefield, reviving from his own fatal wound, just in time to save All Might from a gruesome death. Without a moment to spare, he and Deku worked in perfect sync to stop All For One from killing their mentor.

Saving All Might in this moment gave Bakugo the redemption he needed, particularly surrounding his guilt about the Kamino Incident. The moment symbolized Bakugo’s growth as a hero while also proving he is truly a courageous powerhouse capable of great things and of rising to any challenge, no matter how overwhelming the odds may be.

Bakugo Defeating All for One

In the final season, Bakugo faced off against All For One in one of the ultimate and most terrifying challenges yet that could determine the fate of his world. Yet, without a single ounce of fear, he used his quirk to the fullest and pushed himself past his limits, going as far as claiming himself to be the final boss.

In one of My Hero Academia’s most stunning sequences yet, Bakugo achieved victory over the world’s longest-lived villains, cementing his place as one of the greatest heroes. Defeating All For One served as the final act of redemption for his character arc and earned him a place among anime’s best heroes.

Release Date

April 2, 2016

Network

TBS, MBS, Nippon TV

Directors

Shouji Ikeno, Tsuyoshi Tobita, Ikuro Sato, Takudai Kakuchi, Masashi Abe, Tetsuya Miyanishi, Kazuma Komatsu, Yoshifumi Sasahara, Masayuki Otsuki, Daisuke Tsukushi, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yohei Fukui, Takuro Tsukada, Masatoyo Takada, Naomi Nakayama, Sayaka Morikawa, Takanori Yano

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  Daiki Yamashita

  Izuku Midoriya (voice)

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  Kaito Ishikawa

  Manga Fukidashi (voice)