Best My Hero Academia Seasons

My Hero Academia is one of the most hyped anime around, with its latest season enthralling fans like always. Manga fans were well aware of the significance of the arc that is going to be covered in the anime, which has proven to be an absolute joy to witness firsthand.

While every season of My Hero Academia has been pretty brilliant in its own right, there’s no denying that some parts are simply better than others for a host of reasons. While fans are bound to have their favorites, each season of My Hero Academia has episodes and arcs of varying qualities that can be ranked according to how enjoyable and memorable they are. So, here are the best MHA seasons.

Updated on October 1, 2024 by Mark Sammut: My Hero Academia season 7 is nearly done, with only two episodes left to go. While still not complete, enough content has been released to properly rank the cour. Where does the 2024 entry fit among My Hero Academia’s best seasons?

7 Season 5

MyAnimeList: 7.36

The fifth season of My Hero Academia was a ton of fun to watch in its own right; however, it lacked the high stakes that fans had grown used to throughout the last few seasons. While the pace did pick up with the League of Villains coming into their own as serious villains with immense powers, this arc came way too late and followed a bunch of inconsequential plotlines and story beats.

Of course, as is the case with any My Hero Academia season, the anime was still packed to the brim with amazing animation and great revelations. Watching Deku control a totally different power in the form of Blackwhip made for a great time, and this plot thread would pay off in season 6. Ultimately, season 5 largely feels like a setup for its successor, particularly the Meta Liberation Army arc that is nearly all groundwork for season 6’s Paranormal Liberation War arc.

6 Season 4

MyAnimeList: 7.87

Season 4 features some of My Hero Academia‘s highest points, with the mission to rescue Eri being a massive highlight in an action-packed season that is full to the brim with amazing animation and fight sequences. However, Season 4 is also where the show’s production starts showing some of its limitations, leading to some of the more notable fights in the manga suffering because of either poor artistic choices, overproduced segments, or both.

Notable instances of these include the slideshow fight after Mirio loses his powers and the complete lack of sound when Midoriya unwittingly uses 100% of his power to save Eri. The former takes away a ton of emotions that arise from Mirio’s valiant efforts to rescue Eri no matter what, while the latter is just a confusing decision where viewers don’t know what is happening until Midoriya narrates the entire chain of events.

5 Season 7 (Episodes 1–19)

MyAnimeList: 7.90

Similar to how season 4 struggled to live up to its immediate predecessor, season 7 has faced an uphill battle to come across as a worthy follow-up to the previous cour. Even though exciting in a vacuum, the Final War Arc’s impact is somewhat neutered by the existence of the Paranormal Liberation War Arc, a similar but more chaotic and intense storyline. Ideally, they should be viewed as one continuous saga rather than separate battles, but they are divided by three short arcs that slow down the pacing. More importantly, season 7 just does not feel fresh compared to the 2022 entry.

Just to be clear, My Hero Academia season 7 is still entertaining. The Star and Stripe Arc got things started on an epic note by instantly pitting All for One (in Shigaraki’s body) against America’s top hero. While only lasting about two episodes, this fight is among the anime’s best, with both characters going for the kill straight away. The only thing holding this arc back from pure greatness is Star and Stripe being a minor character in the grand scheme of things.

U.A. Traitor Arc has an interesting premise that, unfortunately, does not amount to all that much. The idea that one of the students had been feeding information to All for One could have been great, but the reveal fell flat due to depending on a character who could not carry this type of drama. The betrayal was swept under the rug quickly as well.

Ultimately, those two minor arcs were simply setting the stage for the Final War, an all-out conflict fought on multiple fronts. Unlike the rather one-sided Paranormal Liberation War Arc, this contest is way more even, with the heroes getting the jump on the villains. Shigaraki/All for One’s battle with Deku eventually becomes the focus, but dozens of characters on both sides get time to shine. The Final War is good with moments of greatness.

4 Season 1

MyAnimeList: 7.85

The first season of My Hero Academia was half the length of the other seasons of the show, but it needed just a few episodes to get fans hooked on the story. Midoriya might not exactly be a special protagonist, with his cliched personality being evident for everyone to see, but he’s a great focal point for an underdog story that will fulfill the power fantasies that many viewers seek out in most shonen anime,

All Might’s introduction is quite great as well, motivating Midoriya to push past his boundaries and hone a body that’s worthy of housing One for All. This led to Midoriya becoming an extremely powerful glass cannon who would become totally ineffective with a single use of his Quirk, with this explosive but damaging power taking center stage during the Entrance Exams when Midoriya shows his qualities as a hero.

3 Season 2

MyAnimeList: 8.07

Unsurprisingly, My Hero Academia shot to the stars after the strong impression the first season made. Fans couldn’t wait to see how Midoriya and the rest of Class 1-A would utilize their powers, and the anime certainly didn’t disappoint in this regard. Sure, Midoriya was still a self-destructive maniac, but he found a new and intelligent way to use his power that wouldn’t cripple him from a single use.

There are several iconic moments from the show that takes place in the second season, including the amazing fight between Midoriya and Todoroki, which was a pure spectacle and delivered in every way. The fact that Midoriya managed to unlock Full Cowl and control the use of One for All was also pretty welcome, with the introduction of Gran Torino also slowly uncovering All Might’s unique and interesting backstory.

2 Season 3

MyAnimeList: 8.00

The arcs that took place during season 3 were amazing, fleshing out the backstories of several characters and proving once again why the League of Villains was a group to be feared in the series. Perhaps the biggest reason why so many fans rate this season highly is that it features All Might’s final superhero battle before his retirement.

His fight against All For One is riddled with emotions, and his final blow essentially serves as his passing of the torch to Midoriya. The students also get to shine in the season’s various arcs, with the battle between Midoriya and Bakugo helping the latter’s character evolve in a way that no one could’ve predicted.

1 Season 6

MyAnimeList: 8.26

Following two fairly underwhelming seasons, My Hero Academia needed to not only come back with a bang but also pay off the previous arcs’ leg work. Fortunately, season 6 revitalized the anime in a big way, delivering arguably its strongest saga in the Paranormal Liberation War. With the heroes trying to cut the villains off at their knees, they launch a full assault that winds up spiraling out of control very quickly, resulting in casualties on both sides and unprecedented collateral damage.

Season 6’s first half represents My Hero Academia at its most frantic, consequential, and epic. Each episode builds upon the latter, leading towards a thrilling and unforgettable conclusion. The Dark Hero Arc is also pretty good, even if its mileage depends on a viewer’s appreciation for Deku as he takes center stage for nearly all of it. This storyline also ends on a quieter note that contrasts with the almost non-stop action that preceded, setting up season 7 in the process.