Kudo Emerges as My Hero Academia’s Final War MVP, Outshining Deku with a Brilliant Plan to Defeat Shigaraki

The My Hero Academia manga series has concluded, yet discussions within the fan community continue about who truly deserves the title of the MVP in the final war arc. While some fans argue that heroes like Bakugo deserve this recognition, a significant portion leans towards Midoriya and All Might, with a stronger emphasis on the former.

Interestingly, the genuine MVP might actually be one of the vestiges of One for All. Specifically, the second vestige, Kubo, played a crucial role by suggesting the strategy that ultimately led to Shigaraki’s defeat. Kubo advised allowing One for All to infiltrate the antagonist, a plan that produced remarkable results. If this strategy had not been proposed, the outcome could have been vastly different.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the My Hero Academia manga series and reflects the author’s opinions.

My Hero Academia: Kubo as the Unsung Hero of the Final War Arc

Deku with the One for All vestiges (Image via Bones)

In a climactic showdown against All for One, who was rejuvenating at an alarming rate, Katsuki Bakugo played a pivotal role in defeating the demon lord, which inadvertently freed Shigaraki. Despite this setback, Shigaraki remained intent on annihilating hero society, prompting Midoriya to continue their battle.

As the fight escalated, Shigaraki, now fully conscious, gained the upper hand and stole Danger Sense (the fourth vestige) from Deku. This forced Izuku to adopt a more cautious approach, as Shigaraki was now more dangerous than ever. Unfortunately, Nana Shimura also surrendered, declaring Shigaraki an unbeatable opponent, raising doubts about Deku’s ability to turn the tide.

Determined to find a way to reach Shigaraki, Deku was not alone in his struggle. Kubo, the second vestige, voiced his concerns about Izuku’s naive thinking and expressed that he had never wished for Izuku to inherit One for All. The situation shifted when Star and Stripe’s vestige pointed out Shigaraki’s core, which was wrapped up and vulnerable.

Kubo betting everything on Midoriya (Image via Shueisha)

In that crucial moment, Kubo advised Midoriya to part ways with One for All. Though this might seem controversial, the underlying message was to utilize One for All’s power to combat Shigaraki from within his own being, as his core had a single crack capable of being shattered from the inside.

This gamble proved to be effective, as it enabled Izuku to delve into Shigaraki’s past and eventually led to the conclusion of the final war with the defeat of both All for One and Shigaraki. Had Deku persisted in trading blows with Shigaraki, he may have quickly depleted his energy, jeopardizing the entire fight.

Kubo's crucial role in the final war (Image via Bones) — Kubo’s crucial role in the final war (Image via Bones)

Moreover, had Izuku run out of energy, Shigaraki could have unleashed Decay, potentially devastating the city and leading to the collapse of the Hero Society.

While it’s uncertain whether All for One’s vestige would have awakened in this scenario, the final war in My Hero Academia might have had an entirely different outcome without Kubo’s innovative strategy against Shigaraki.

Kubo’s plan not only enabled Deku to utilize his Meta quirk more effectively to confront the antagonist but also struck at Shigaraki’s vulnerable point, triggering the awakening of a fractured All for One longing for his brother. This pivotal moment ultimately contributed to the victory of the Hero Society in the final war.

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