My Hero Academia has introduced a world where most of the population has a unique ability. It is normal in their world to have some type of superpower. But some choose to use their powers for good, and some for evil. The creator has told the story in a brilliant way that the fans end up liking the villains.
This speaks a lot about the mangaka because it is easy to make a hero liked by everyone, but to make compelling villains is a tough job. In this article, we will be talking about 10 such villains who ended up winning over fans' hearts.
List of 10 My Hero Academia villains that won over fans' hearts
1) Dabi

Since his introduction, Dabi was already on his way to win over the hearts of fans. Most of the My Hero Academia audience was already charmed by his mysterious vibe and his character design. But he became a fan-favorite since the day it was revealed that he was Endeavor's son.
With this information, the story also revealed that he had a very tragic past. His father has abused and tormented him, and Dabi, being just a child, was not able to comprehend this. He tried to be the best. Soon, he realized that he was never going to be enough, and it broke him. His scars run far deeper than the ones on his skin, and that emotional weight is what won fans over.
2) Twice

Among the villains of My Hero Academia, Twice won the hearts of the fans because of his heartbreaking backstory. It was during the Shie Hassaikai arc, we see him unravel emotionally, especially after witnessing the death of Magne. He blamed himself for this and was upset about losing a comrade.
Twice just wanted to be accepted and loved and was not inherently evil. He’s not just a villain. He’s a tragedy. A reminder that sometimes the scariest people are the ones the world failed to care for.
3) La Brava

She was a minor antagonist in My Hero Academia and would not even be labeled as a threat. La Brava had partnered up with Gentle Criminal, and she became who she is after society rejected her. Her character had been mocked by others as she was petite and had tired eyes. This was one of the main reasons why she became distant from society.
Her unwavering devotion towards Gentle Criminal isn’t just touching—it’s a rare moment of tenderness in the world of villains. La Brava reminds us that love doesn’t always bloom in the light. Sometimes, it finds a home in the most unexpected and broken places.
4) Gentle Criminal

His character initially never wanted to take the path to villainy. Gentle Criminal was once an ordinary person who dreamed of being a hero, just like how Midoriya once had. But unlike Midoriya, Gentle Criminal had no backup support, and because of his weak Quirk, he was denied his dream.
Each failure chipped away at his hope. He flunked out of school, was rejected by society, and hit rock bottom when his attempt to save someone backfired, leading to disaster. Gentle’s story is a gut-wrenching parallel to the hopeful heroes we cheer for. It shows that not everyone with a dream gets a happy ending. Some, like Gentle, fall through the cracks of society's expectations.
5) Himiko Toga

Himiko Toga can be labeled as one of the most terrifying villains in My Hero Academia. But after analyzing the meaning behind her action, fans end up empathizing with her. Her twisted perception of love and identity stems from a Quirk that shaped her entire life.
She was shunned by society from a young age, labeled a freak simply for having desires she couldn’t control. That isolation slowly warped her idea of affection into something dangerous and painful. Toga in My Hero Academia is proof that the line between hero and villain is razor-thin. In another world, maybe she could’ve been saved. But in this one, she bleeds for love.
6) Stain

Although Stain was one of the major reasons in My Hero Academia why many characters chose to become villains, his ideology was not wrong. He believed in something. In a world overflowing with flashy Pro Heroes who care more about fame than saving lives, Stain’s warped sense of justice felt like a mirror nobody wanted to look into. Stain might be a killer, but he’s also the reason some heroes started to ask themselves the true meaning of what it means to be a hero.
7) Beros

Beros might not be one of the strongest villains, but she was a complicated antagonist in My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission. As a former intelligence officer who joined the villain resistance, she wasn’t just another background character; she was the one who saw cracks in Skeptic’s narrative. Her role during the infiltration was subtle but vital, showcasing sharp instincts and loyalty to the truth.
Fans appreciated her quiet strength and the fact that she didn’t let fear stop her from doing what she believed was right. In a war filled with loud powers and flashy quirks, Beros stood out simply by thinking for herself, and that courage earned fan respect.
8) Shigaraki

Tomura Shigaraki in My Hero Academia may be the face of destruction, but behind the Decay Quirk is a child shaped by trauma. What makes fans gravitate toward him isn’t just his overwhelming power, it’s his pain. His tragic past, from being abused by his father to accidentally erasing his entire family, paints a chilling portrait of a boy who never got help. Instead, he was molded by All For One into a vessel of hatred. That’s what makes Shigaraki unforgettable. He’s terrifying but he's also heartbreakingly human
Final thoughts
It’s fair to say that My Hero Academia has one of the best rogue galleries in all of anime. While many other series settle for evil-for-evil's sake villains, this show presents antagonists with depth, motive, and heartbreak.
From Dabi’s scorched identity to Twice’s tragic loneliness, each villain represents a unique reflection of society’s flaws. They may be villains on paper, but in the hearts of fans, they’ve become unforgettable characters who challenge our moral compass and storytelling expectations alike.
Their stories aren’t just about villainy; they’re about the cost of being forgotten, misunderstood, or pushed aside. My Hero Academia shows us that behind every villain is a story worth telling, and sometimes, that story is what makes them the most human of all.