My Hero Academia: What is a Quirk Factor?

One of the most intriguing aspects of the world in which mangaka Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia is set is the functionality of Quirks. Various plot lines and story arcs throughout the series explore this in-depth, with Mirio Togata’s journey being one of the most notable. One significant aspect of Quirk functionality has to do with the aspect of Quirk Factor.

In-series, the term refers to the collective traits that compose a Quirk, including both the power itself and the biological mechanisms allowing it to function. In other words, a Quirk Factor is the specific genetic mutation that creates the corresponding ability, and whatever it needs to properly function.

In turn, Quirk Factors and how they’re activated or deactivated are vastly different depending on the specific type of Quirk in question. For example, in a Mutation-type Quirk, the Quirk factor is always active and cannot be turned on or off in My Hero Academia. This is due to the Quirk itself being a part of the body, which has biologically evolved and thus cannot be controlled.

Mutant-type Quirks are also unique in that losing the corresponding body part or it being damaged beyond use is equivalent to losing the Quirk Factor itself. Hawks’ Fierce Wings Quirk best demonstrates this in the aftermath of Dabi’s savage burning of the wings themselves. Other types of Quirks are instead destroyed or controlled through other various means.

Unique means of affecting Quirk Factors in My Hero Academia

For Emitter- and Transformation-type Quirks in My Hero Academia, their Quirk Factors can be controlled and allow the user to activate or deactivate them. However, there are means of destroying or controlling them similar to how the body parts of Mutant-type Quirks can be damaged.

The most iconic example of this is Shota Aizawa’s Quirk Erasure, an Emitter-type Quirk which allows the user to cancel out any non-Mutation-type Quirk. This is done by Aizawa looking at the person, which begins a fixed time limit in which their Quirk is deactivated. This method also controls activation of the Quirk by rendering it unusable, but doesn’t damage the Quirk Factor.

Other Quirks can directly damage the Quirk Factor of a target, with Eri’s Rewind being one of the most prevalent examples. More specifically, this occurs when Eri’s own Quirk Factor was refined into the Quirk-Destroying Drug. As evidenced by Mirio Togata’s journey, anyone shot with this drug has their Quirk Factor destroyed, and thus loses the ability to use their Quirk.

Other Quirks in My Hero Academia can also damage Quirk Factors to a less-permanent degree. However, the Quirk in question cannot be activated until the user naturally recovers from whatever damage was sustained. That being said, Hawks’ case exemplifies how Quirk Factors can be damaged beyond recovery, making them permanently inoperative without assistance.

In summation

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In My Hero Academia, a Quirk Factor is essentially the collective traits that make up a Quirk. This encompasses both the power itself and whatever biological mechanisms are at play that allow said power to function properly. This applies to the three major types of Quirks, those being Mutation-, Emitter-, and Transformation-type.

However, each specific type of Quirk has subtle nuances in the function of Quirk Factors. These nuances are further emphasized when comparing the various unique Quirks that fall into each category. Quirk Factors can be damaged or controlled in various ways to various degrees depending on the exact method and type of Quirk in question.

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