Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, is the protagonist of My Hero Academia. Despite starting off without a Quirk, he eventually became one of the most powerful Heroes in existence. This transformation was made possible by a chance meeting with his role model, All Might, who bestowed upon him the One For All (OFA) Quirk, making him the 9th person to possess it.
As the power was passed down, each of its previous wielders bestowed their unique and formidable abilities upon it. Among these, Deku was granted access to the OFA’s Second User, Kudo’s Quirk known as Gearshift. However, it wasn’t until a later point in the series that the boy was able to fully utilize it.
Currently, Deku utilized Gearshift in both chapter 368 of the manga and in episode 151 (season 7 episode 13) of the anime.
The Chapter and Episode When Deku First Used Gearshift in My Hero Academia
During the Final Arc Saga in the manga, Deku’s first use of Gearshift was in chapter 368. This occurred during the Final War Arc, when Deku arrived at the U.A Sky Coffin to confront Tomura Shigaraki/All For One (AFO). The Heroes had devised a “Divide and Conquer”tactic, intending to split up the Villain group and pair them with Heroes whose Quirks were best suited for their opponents.
Despite being intended to be present at the location where Shigaraki/AFO was transported, Deku’s plans were disrupted by Toga Himiko’s interference. Nonetheless, he managed to navigate between locations and ultimately arrived just in time to confront his ultimate rival. In the most recent episode of the anime (episode 151 or season 7 episode 13), Deku successfully utilized Gearshift.
Is Gearshift Deku’s Strongest Quirk in My Hero Academia?
Before explaining, let’s first grasp the concept of Gearshift. Initially, it was utilized by Kudo, the Second User of OFA, and his Quirk. It grants the user the ability to manipulate the acceleration of objects through space, and even defy the Laws of Inertia. In the anime, we see Deku surrounded by a radiant blue aura when activating the Quirk, but for Kudo, it only engulfs small objects.
Despite its usefulness, Gearshift does have a few limitations. Firstly, it requires the amplification of OFA in order to function properly on larger objects. Additionally, the physical toll of using Gearshift is quite demanding. Kudo predicted that it would take approximately 5 minutes before Deku would be unable to continue using it. Lastly, as it is an independent Quirk Factor belonging to its original owner and not a component of OFA, it is susceptible to being stolen by AFO.
As evidenced by its abilities to evolve and be bolstered by OFA, Gearshift can be seen as Deku’s most powerful Quirk. Its scope has expanded greatly, making it applicable to a wide range of targets and even capable of manipulating the fundamental laws of reality at a cellular level. Therefore, due to the potential risks involved, it serves as a crucial trump card in dire situations to secure victory.
How often does Deku use Gearshift in My Hero Academia?
Throughout the entirety of My Hero Academia, Deku has utilized Gearshift on four separate occasions. His initial use of Gearshift was to greatly enhance the strength of all Ultimate Moves, resulting in a breaking of the sound barrier and inflicting significant harm upon Shigaraki.
After combining Gearshift with Fa Jin, he created Overdrive, a power that was said to be 120% of OFA, and used it against Shigaraki during their battle. Using Overdrive, Izuku was able to enhance his speed and attack strength, allowing him to unleash Detroit Smash: Quintuple – five consecutive Detroit Smashes – on Shigaraki.
In a dire situation, Deku once again utilized Gearshift on Katsuki Bakugo. By combining his power with Cluster, the blonde was able to launch himself at incredible speeds and successfully rescue All Might from an imminent demise.
Deku utilized it for one final time on himself, fully aware that the resulting consequences would leave him unable to move and defenseless. Once the technique was executed, the intense backlash left Deku unable to breathe. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he made the decision to transfer Gearshift to Shigaraki in order to defeat him from within.
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