Deku’s Unconventional Battle Tactics in My Hero Academia Outshine Other Shonen Heroes

My Hero Academia features Izuku “Deku”Midoriya, a protagonist often critiqued in the anime and manga fandom. However, the ingenuity of his combat techniques and strategies frequently goes unappreciated. While Deku may exhibit a reserved, introverted demeanor, his approach to battle is notably reckless, often involving high-stakes risks that provide him with an advantage against his foes.

This is particularly evident from the beginning of My Hero Academia, where Deku is still acclimating to the demands of the One For All Quirk and its impact on his physical condition. Despite enduring broken fingers and limbs, he finds ways to persist in combat—a remarkable feat for the series and the shonen genre at large, as typical shonen heroes do not usually contend with such debilitating hardships.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series.

Deku’s combat approach in My Hero Academia is significantly more intense than that of a standard shonen protagonist

A primary factor contributing to Deku’s extreme fighting style is the physical burden imposed by his One For All Quirk. His body struggles to adapt rapidly to this immense power, resulting in frequent injuries, including broken limbs with almost every strike. This challenge is crucial to his character development throughout the narrative’s early stages.

Iconic moments arise from these trials, such as his confrontation with Shoto Todoroki, where he metaphorically used his broken fingers as projectiles to attack. He pushed his limits by continuing to use his mouth to fight after inflicting damage to his fingers, exemplifying his willingness to endure pain and sacrifice in pursuit of victory, even if it meant a temporary inability to fight again.

Another significant event occurs during his battle with Muscular, where he willingly risked his arms to defeat the villain and safeguard a young boy named Kota, marking a key moment in Izuku’s journey.

This theme recurs in his initial encounter with Tomura Shigaraki, where he resorted to using Blackwhip through his mouth after sustaining injuries to his limbs—an uncommon tactic for a typical shonen hero.

Additional instances

Carnage Deku as depicted in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

More moments highlight Deku’s adaptability when cornered. For example, during his climax with Tomura Shigaraki, he suffered injuries but opted to envelop himself in Blackwhip to continue battling, resulting in what is referred to as “Carnage Deku.”

Significantly, in his climactic encounter against All For One near the manga’s conclusion, Deku faced a scenario where his arms were severed. He quickly adjusted to the predicament despite having them restored shortly afterward, illustrating how accustomed he became to physical loss and adapting to dire situations—not a characteristic typically associated with standard shonen protagonists.

Conclusion

Deku’s character development in My Hero Academia may attract criticism, but his chaotic fighting style merits greater acknowledgment. He has demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness and an untamed spirit, which contrasts sharply with the conventional characteristics expected of a classic shonen protagonist.

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