Everything you need to know before My Hero Academia’s last season

With My Hero Academia returning on October 4 for its final season, fans are bracing themselves for the climax of Izuku Midoriya’s journey. Based on its time slot, Season 8 is expected to run for 11 episodes, giving Studio Bones just enough room to wrap up the war against All For One and bring closure to the story that began nearly a decade ago.

But before diving into the grand finale, let’s catch up on everything that’s happened so far, from the dawn of quirks to the current state of the battlefield. This recap will walk you through the story arc by arc, highlighting the most important battles, revelations, and emotional beats you need to remember.

Disclaimer: This article has major spoilers from the My Hero Academia anime.

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The birth of Quirks and the origin of One For All

Long before Midoriya was born in My Hero Academia, the world changed forever when a “luminous baby” was born in China with a glowing body. This marked the dawn of Quirks, unique superpowers that eventually spread to 80% of the human population.

But with powers came chaos: crime skyrocketed, vigilantes emerged, and society scrambled to regulate heroism. At the center of this new world was All For One, a man with the terrifying ability to steal and bestow quirks. He manipulated Japan from the shadows, creating both villains and dependent followers.

To oppose him, his sickly younger brother accidentally fused two quirks, a power stockpiler and a transferable quirk, creating One For All, the only ability designed to grow stronger through generations and defeat All For One. This legacy eventually reached Toshinori Yagi (All Might), who became the world’s “Symbol of Peace,” reducing crime and inspiring a new generation of heroes.

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Season 1 - Izuku Midoriya inherits One For All

The story begins with Izuku Midoriya, a boy born quirkless in a world where 80% have powers. Bullied by his childhood rival Katsuki Bakugo, Midoriya’s dream of becoming a hero seems impossible until he meets All Might.

When Midoriya selflessly risks his life to save Bakugo from a sludge villain in My Hero Academia, All Might recognizes his courage and chooses him as the next successor of One For All. After months of grueling training (and eating All Might’s hair to inherit the quirk), Midoriya earns entry into U.A. High School, the top academy for aspiring heroes.

Highlights of Season 1:

• Class 1-A introduced (Ochaco, Todoroki, Iida, Uraraka, etc.)
• First battle training: Midoriya defeats Bakugo with brains, not brawn.
• League of Villains debut: Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and the terrifying Nomu attack U.A., setting the stage for larger conflicts.

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Season 2 - The U.A. sports festival and hero internships

Following the U.S.J. attack, the spotlight turns to the Sports Festival, a showcase for students to prove themselves to the pro-hero community.

Key developments:

• Obstacle race & cavalry battle: Midoriya makes himself a huge target by earning 10 million points.
• Midoriya vs. Todoroki: A defining fight where Midoriya helps Todoroki accept his fire powers despite his hatred of Endeavor.
• Bakugo’s victory: Despite winning, Bakugo feels robbed since Todoroki held back.

The second half of My Hero Academia Season 2 focuses on internships, where Midoriya trains under Gran Torino and refines One For All with Full Cowling. Meanwhile, Stain the Hero Killer emerges, brutally criticizing fake heroes motivated by money or fame. His ideology inspires villains, including Shigaraki’s League.

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Season 3 - All Might’s last stand

This season of My Hero Academia raises the stakes dramatically.

Key developments:

• Forest training camp attack: The League ambushes students and kidnaps Bakugo.
• Kamino ward battle: All Might confronts All For One in one of anime’s most iconic fights. Though victorious, All Might uses the last of his power, permanently retiring. His message, “You’re next,” publicly passes the torch to Midoriya.
• Dorm system introduced: Students now live on campus for safety and better training.
• Bakugo vs. Midoriya: A raw, emotional duel where Bakugo admits his guilt over All Might’s decline. All Might intervenes and confirms the truth about One For All.

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Season 4 - Overhaul and the tragedy of Eri

The focus shifts to the Yakuza organization Shie Hassaikai and its leader, Kai Chisaki (Overhaul). His quirk lets him disassemble and reassemble matter, and he plans to control society with quirk-erasing bullets made from the body of a young girl, Eri.

Key developments:

• Work studies: Midoriya joins Sir Nighteye’s agency, alongside Mirio (Lemillion).
• Raid on Overhaul’s hideout: Mirio heroically sacrifices his quirk to protect Eri. Deku unleashes One For All at 100% with Eri’s Rewind quirk keeping him stable, finally defeating Overhaul.
• Sir Nighteye’s death leaves emotional scars.
• School Festival arc: Class 1-A puts on a band performance to cheer up Eri. Midoriya also battles Gentle Criminal, proving himself outside of large-scale wars.

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Season 5 - Training Battles and My Villain Academia

This season of My Hero Academia splits between heroes and villains.

Key developments:

• Joint training arc: Class 1-A vs. Class 1-B, with Shinso’s return. Deku awakens Blackwhip, one of the many quirks hidden in One For All.
• Internship with Endeavor: Midoriya, Bakugo, and Todoroki train under the new No.1 Hero, facing both villains and Todoroki family trauma.
• My Villain Academia: Shigaraki and the League face off against the Meta Liberation Army, leading to the creation of the Paranormal Liberation Front. Shigaraki undergoes experiments to surpass All For One himself.

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Season 6 - The Paranormal Liberation War

Everything explodes in My Hero Academia Season 6, with heroes and villains clashing in all-out war.

Key developments:

• Hospital raid: Pro heroes attempt to stop Dr. Garaki’s experiments. Shigaraki awakens prematurely with monstrous power, including decay that wipes out entire cities.
• Gigantomachia rampages across Japan, unstoppable by most pro heroes.
• Bakugo’s sacrifice: He’s fatally wounded protecting Midoriya.
• Dabi’s reveal: He exposes himself as Toya Todoroki, Endeavor’s presumed-dead son, publicly destroying Endeavor’s reputation.
• All Might’s era ends officially: Public faith in heroes collapses.
• Dark Deku arc: After learning that One For All shortens lifespans, Midoriya leaves U.A. to fight alone, consumed by vengeance. His classmates, especially Bakugo, who finally apologizes sincerely, bring him back.
• Stain’s return: The Hero Killer motivates All Might again, handing over crucial intel on Shigaraki.

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Season 7 - The global stage and the final war begin

My Hero Academia Season 7 widens the battlefield.

Key developments:

• Star and Stripe arrives: America’s No.1 Hero faces Shigaraki, showcasing her quirk New Order, which lets her impose rules on reality. Though she dies, her quirk sabotages Shigaraki from within.
• The Aoyama revelation: Yuga Aoyama is revealed as the traitor, feeding info to All For One under blackmail. His redemption hinges on helping the heroes bait their enemy.
• Final battle strategy: Heroes create fortresses and split the villains into separate battle zones using warp gates.
• Shoto vs. Dabi: Shoto finally defeats his brother with his new technique, Phosphor.
• All For One vs. Heroes: Hawks, Endeavor, and others push themselves to the limit.
• Bakugo’s heart stopped: After awakening new explosive techniques, Bakugo suffers a devastating injury that seems fatal.
• Midoriya returns: Just when things look darkest, Midoriya finally reenters the battlefield.

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What to expect in the Final Season of My Hero Academia

Given its alleged 11-episode run, the My Hero Academia final season is expected to:

1. Adapt the climax of the war arc straight through to the manga’s finale.
2. Focus heavily on Deku and Shigaraki’s ideological clash, heroism vs. hatred, inherited will vs. inherited trauma.
3. Resolve lingering mysteries about One For All, its past users, and its ultimate destiny.
4. Deliver emotional farewells for major characters, including possible sacrifices.

This isn’t just the end of Midoriya’s story; it’s the culmination of everything Horikoshi built across quirks, legacy, and the burden of being a hero.

As the final season of My Hero Academia begins on October 4, fans will finally get the answers to lingering questions: Will Deku save Shigaraki or destroy him? Will Bakugo rise again? And can Hero Society rebuild after everything it’s lost? One thing’s certain: this last season will be unforgettable.