My Hero Academia: Understanding When Bakugo Receives One For All

Katsuki Bakugo from My Hero Academia has carved out a name for himself as a beloved, fiery, and fiercely motivated young hero. Initially portrayed as somewhat antagonistic, his time at U.A. High coupled with various experiences transformed him positively. While he matured and became more supportive, he managed to retain his fierce and headstrong nature.

Throughout the series, Bakugo harbored serious doubts regarding Izuku Midoriya’s Quirk, One For All (OFA). He quickly uncovered the truth, which intensified his rivalry with Deku. At one pivotal moment, Bakugo momentarily inherited the same Quirk. In My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising, Katsuki Bakugo temporarily wields OFA during the climactic battle against the villain Nine.

Note: This article contains speculative content and spoilers.

My Hero Academia: Bakugo Embraces One For All

As previously noted, Bakugo gains OFA during the fierce confrontation with Nine in My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. This second film in the franchise amazed fans by showcasing Bakugo’s potential ability to utilize OFA. His display of power while wielding OFA was nothing short of breathtaking.

In Act Four, titled “Rising,”only Bakugo and Midoriya remained to face the formidable Nine. With an overwhelming power boost, Nine swiftly overpowered the two aspiring heroes using his diverse range of Quirks. In a desperate move, Midoriya transferred OFA to Bakugo, enabling him to break free from Nine’s hold and mount a final offensive.

Enraged, Nine summoned a massive storm to unleash chaos on the island. The gale-force winds threatened to topple the entire structure of the island. However, Bakugo and Midoriya fought back with everything they had, utilizing a Full Cowl – 100% and executing a specially enhanced Detroit Smash to confront the hurricane-like winds.

Katsuki Bakugo and Izuku Midoriya (Image via Studio Bones)

The epic battle that ensued between Nine and the two young heroes was intense and lengthy, culminating in a climactic moment where Bakugo and Midoriya combined their distinct abilities—Bakugo’s Explosion Quirk merged with a St. Louis Smash at 100%—to neutralize the threat once and for all. Both heroes subsequently collapsed, and OFA returned to Midoriya, indicating that the transfer had been temporary.

This brief connection sparked inquiries about the possibility of Bakugo using OFA in the main storyline, particularly in the manga, where speculation arose until the narrative concluded in chapter 430. Bakugo did not experience a similar moment again, and Midoriya later lost his Quirk in the climactic battle against Tomura Shigaraki. Nonetheless, fans remained fascinated by Bakugo’s momentary wielding of OFA, leading to numerous theories surrounding the implications.

Some theorists suggest that the transfer was incomplete, which is why the Quirk departed from Bakugo after the encounter. Others propose that remnants of OFA could still reside within him, potentially allowing him to access that power in the future. However, the notion that Bakugo might reclaim OFA in subsequent battles diminishes the stakes, insinuating he could have triumphed over recent foes with greater ease.

Final Thoughts

Bakugo, Midoriya, and Todoroki (Image via Studio Bones)

Witnessing Bakugo harness OFA alongside Midoriya was undeniably thrilling. The stunning animation crafted by Studio Bones breathed life into every moment of their final battle, amplifying its emotional weight. Bakugo’s appearance during Full Cowl – 100% was particularly striking, serving as a poignant hint just before his eventual demise when his Quirk underwent an evolution.

Despite his temporary possession of OFA, Bakugo demonstrated remarkable adaptability in managing its weight and strain. Although fueled by adrenaline, his performance was awe-inspiring and likely strengthened the bond between him and Midoriya due to their shared experience with the Quirk.

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