My Hero Academia is one of the most hyped anime around, and its last season is currently airing as part of the Fall 2025 season. Building on the incredible momentum created by its two predecessors, MHA is ending on a high note with what could prove to be its best season. While things could obviously change, we can at least declare that, overall, this superhero anime has been fantastic.

One For All Quirks Within
My Hero Academia: Every Quirk Within One For All, Explained

This is one of the most interesting Quirks in My Hero Academia.

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While every season of My Hero Academia is good 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 November 17, 2025 by Mark Sammut: My Hero Academia season 8 is slowly but surely reaching its end, meaning the main anime will also be concluding. When the time comes for Deku and company to walk into the sunset, they will do so after a brilliant run of episodes that has lasted for years by this point. We have added the final season to this article, although we might have to update the rankings depending on how things play out over the next few weeks.

9 My Hero Academia Season 5

MyAnimeList: 7.35

Air Dates

March 27, 2021 – September 25, 2021

Number of Episodes

25

Story Arcs

  • Pro Hero Arc
  • Joint Training Arc
  • Endeavor Agency Arc
  • Paranormal Liberation War Arc (Touched Upon)
  • Meta Liberation Army Arc

Studio

Bones

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.

8 My Hero Academia Season 4

MyAnimeList: 7.86

Air Dates

October 12, 2019 – April 4, 2020

Number of Episodes

25

Story Arcs

  • Shie Hassaikai Arc
  • Remedial Course Arc
  • U.A. School Festival Arc
  • Pro Hero Arc (Starts Only)

Studio

Bones

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.

My-Hero-Academia-19-Saddest-Deaths-In-The-Series,-Ranked
My Hero Academia: 19 Saddest Deaths In The Series, Ranked

Out of all the characters who have died in My Hero Academia, these deaths are arguably the saddest in the series.

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.

7 My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 1

MyAnimeList: 7.60

Air Dates

April 7, 2025 – June 30, 2025

Number of Episodes

13

Story Arcs

  • Vigilantes Beginnings Arc
  • Stendhal Arc
  • Senpai Arc
  • Vs. Queen Bee Arc
  • Osaka Incident Arc (Starts)

Studio

Bones Film

Deku's story might be ending, but My Hero Academia will live on, at least for the time being. MHA: Vigilantes is a spin-off prequel that focuses on three characters who form, well, a vigilante group so they can help out when or if heroes cannot. Unlike the mainline series, which primarily revolves around heroes with endless potential for brilliance, Vigilantes' leads are fairly weak and have to use their smarts and limited resources to get the better of villains. While they might not have ridiculously powerful Quirks, Kouichi and Kazuho are incredibly likable as two unlikely heroes who are just trying to do some good. Knuckleduster completes the set, and he is both hilarious and tragic. A former hero who lost his Quirk, he kind of acts like Kouchi and Kazuho's mentor, even when they don't want his guidance.

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Koichi Haimawari and original series characters
Do You Need to Watch My Hero Academia Before Vigilantes?

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a prequel to the original series, but will it contain spoilers for the main anime?

The Vigilantes manga has already ended and is not extremely long, so the adaptation might only need about two or maybe three seasons to get through everything. Season 1 acts as a good introduction for the core players, while also throwing out the occasional MHA alumni. As it is a prequel, it is fun to see heroes like All Might and Eraser Head in arguably their prime. The story is also quite mature, although it does not hesitate to get silly every once in a while.

6 My Hero Academia Season 1

MyAnimeList: 7.83

Air Dates

April 3, 2016 – June 26, 2016

Number of Episodes

13

Story Arcs

  • Entrance Exam Arc
  • Quirk Apprehension Test Arc
  • Battle Trial Arc
  • U.S.J. Arc

Studio

Bones

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.

5 My Hero Academia Season 3

MyAnimeList: 7.98

Air Dates

April 7, 2018 – September 29, 2018

Number of Episodes

25

Story Arcs

  • Forest Training Camp Arc
  • Hideout Raid Arc
  • Provisional Hero License Exam Arc
  • Shie Hassaikai Arc (Starts Only)

Studio

Bones

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.

4 My Hero Academia Season 7

MyAnimeList: 8.09

Air Dates

May 4, 2024 – October 12, 2024

Number of Episodes

21

Story Arcs

  • Star and Stripe Arc
  • U.A. Traitor Arc
  • Final War Arc

Studio

Bones

Similar to how season 4 struggled to live up to its immediate predecessor, season 7 faced an uphill battle to come across as a worthy follow-up to the previous entry. 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 very 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.

While the first half is somewhat underwhelming, MHA season 7 picks up considerable momentum as it progresses, resulting in a fantastic final few episodes that sit among the anime's greatest-ever efforts. It might take a while to reach its apex, because this is comfortably among the best My Hero Academia anime seasons.

3 My Hero Academia Season 2

MyAnimeList: 8.05

Air Dates

April 1, 2017 – September 30, 2017

Number of Episodes

25

Story Arcs

  • U.A. Sports Festival Arc
  • Vs. Hero Killer Arc
  • Final Exams Arc

Studio

Bones

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.

My Hero Academia - Class B
My Hero Academia: All Quirks In Class 1-B, Ranked

The students in Class 1-A are getting so much of the spotlight in both the anime and manga of My Hero Academia, but what about the Class B students?

There are several iconic moments from the show that take 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 My Hero Academia Final Season

MyAnimeList: 8.79

Air Dates

October 4, 2025 –

Number of Episodes

Ongoing

Story Arcs

  • Final War Arc

Studio

Bones

When it comes to long-running shows like My Hero Academia, the final season can be very difficult to rank, provided it's not a dumpster fire. Although it still has a ways to go before it ends, season 8 has been absolutely fantastic so far, offering over-the-top action that can rival pretty much any other battle shonen of the last few years.

The saga is paying off Deku's journey beautifully, giving the protagonist the last push to fully seize the role as the new face of superheroism. At this point, Midoriya fully embodies everything One for All stands for, and he might just be the best user to date. Other characters like Shoto, All Might, and Bakugo have also received their time in the sun, and the same can be said for villains like Shigaraki, Dabi, and All For One. In terms of pure popcorn blockbuster goodness, My Hero Academia's final season is nearly flawless.

More than any of its predecessors, this season really cannot be seen in a vacuum, and it is just a continuation of the high standards set by seasons 6 and 7. MHA has been producing gold for a long time by this point, and season 8 is not necessarily a notable improvement from what came before it. As long as the last few episodes do not trigger a negative shift in quality, this will go down as one of MHA's best seasons, if not just the best.

best my hero academia female character rumi, toga, ochaco fix
Best Female Characters In My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia is packed with iconic female characters, and that includes both heroes and villains. Here are the best MHA girls.

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1 My Hero Academia Season 6

MyAnimeList: 8.22

Air Dates

October 1, 2022 – March 25, 2023

Number of Episodes

25

Story Arcs

  • Paranormal Liberation War Arc
  • Dark Hero Arc

Studio

Bones

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 it, setting up season 7 in the process.

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Release Date
2016 - 2025-00-00
Network
TBS, MBS, Nippon TV
Directors
Shouji Ikeno, Tsuyoshi Tobita, Ikuro Sato, Takudai Kakuchi, Masashi Abe, Tetsuya Miyanishi, Kazuma Komatsu, Yoshifumi Sasahara, Masayuki Otsuki, Daisuke Tsukushi, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yohei Fukui, Takuro Tsukada, Masatoyo Takada, Naomi Nakayama, Sayaka Morikawa, Takanori Yano
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  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Daiki Yamashita
    Izuku Midoriya (voice)
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kaito Ishikawa
    Manga Fukidashi (voice)

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Japanese Title
Boku no Hero Academia
Number of Episodes
159
Studio
Bones
Based On
Manga
Creator
Kōhei Horikoshi
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu, Crunchyroll