As far as anime series go,My Hero Academiais one of the most upbeat and inspirational of the bunch. Deku’s motivational, can-do attitude and the series' moments of Pro Heroes triumphing over evil villains are certainly encouraging to viewers. However,My Hero Academia’smostly optimistic outlook does not negatethe series' occasional extremely grim scenes of death and irreversible destruction.
My Hero Academiafeatures some of the most agonizingly heartbreaking deathsin anime, and many of them are impossible to forget. Some of the series' best heroes and villains lost their lives in battles, which reveals how high-stakes the fights really are. Although these beloved characters died, their incredible impact onMy Hero Academiacould never be erased.
10Star and Stripe
Shigaraki Stole Star and Stripe’s Quirk and Ended Her Life Too Soon
Star and Stripe, also known as Cathleen Bate, is a Pro Hero who was introduced late inMy Hero Academia,and unfortunatelydied before she could show her full potentialto viewers. Her Quirk, New Order, was highly sought after by Tomura Shigaraki, and unfortunately,he ultimately succeeded in stealing her power and ending her life.
When Shigaraki used his Decay Quirk on Cathleen, she didn’t stand a chance. Tomura stole her Quirk for himself and Star and Stripe disappointingly faded out of the story. Cathleen’s death dismayed fans who had hoped she would play a more prominent role inMy Hero Academia’sFinal War Arc, since her design and personality are so interesting and her Quirk is full of boundless possibilities.
9Magne
Magne Was Torn in Half in a Split-Second by Overhaul, as the League Watched in Horror
Despite being a villain, Magne’s death was one of the most emotionally devastating inMy Hero Academia,especially because of her friends' heartbroken reactions. Magne, whose name is Kenji Hikiishi, was a vital member of the League of Villains, led by Tomura Shigaraki. During a confrontation with Overhaul,Magne was killed in front of the rest of the League.
Everyone in the League of Villains was grief-stricken by Magne’s demise, butTwice and Toga had the most trouble coping. Toga openly mourned her “Big Sis Magne,” while Twice lived in constant regret that he could not save his fellow teammate, even though her death occurred in a split-second and there was nothing he could have done to prevent it. Magne’s death only further infuriated the League of Villains, making the tension between their group and Overhaul’s Shie Hassaikai even worse.
8Stain
Despite His Villainous Past, Stain Gave up His Life Fighting All for One
Stain nearly died a lot earlier inMy Hero Academia,when he was captured and locked in Tartarus prison for his crimes. He murdered many Pro Heroes, but he was different from typical villains, becauseStain wanted to change hero societyfor the better and make heroes more ethical and moral, even ifhe ironically went about his goal in a violent manner.
Anime Villains Are Wrong, But My Hero Academia Tried Blurring That Line With One Character
Stain blurred the line between hero and villain by critiquing superficial heroes driven by fame and wealth rather than a selfless desire to protect.
His imprisonment in Tartarus was not his last moment in the story, though, as Stain was eventually released and joined the battle between the Pro Heroes and All For One.This arc allowed Stain a chance to redeem himself,as he fought on the side of good rather than evil, since All For One’s greedy desire for power went against everything Stain stood for. Stain was killed by All For One, but his last moments prove that despite his villainous acts at times, he can be a true hero when the situation requires it.
7Shigaraki’s Family
Shigaraki Accidentally Killed His Family With His Decay Quirk
In a flashback, Shigaraki revealed the truly twisted fate his family was forced to endure because of Shigaraki’s volatile Quirk. When his Decay Quirk activated, Tomura could not regain control over his ability andaccidentally disintegrated his family, leaving him with an agonizingly painful memory.
Shigaraki’s family’s death is distressing on so many levels. It explains why Shigaraki has such a deep-rooted hatred of heroes, because they never came to rescue him and All For One found him first after the accident. His family’s death also points to the upsetting fact that sometimes individuals with uncontrollable or less desirable Quirks inMy Hero Academiaare mistreated and ignored by society, which sometimes led to disastrous consequences, like what happened to Shigaraki’s family.
6Midnight
Midnight Was Killed by a Group of Villains During the Paranormal Liberation War
The Pro Hero Midnight was killed by villainsduring the Paranormal Liberation War arc. Although she fought hard,she was overpowered by a group of villainsand, even more horrifically, her own students came across her body after the fact.
Midnight was a cherished mentor and teacher who shaped so many U.A. High students into strong, valiant heroes worthy of protecting humanity. Without Midnight’s diligent efforts, so many more people would have died during the Paranormal Liberation War, but it is a shame thatMy Hero Academialost one of its best Pro Heroes in the process.
5Twice
Twice Was Killed by Hawks Before He Could Further Harm Any Heroes
Twice’s death was one ofMy Hero Academia’smost traumatic deaths, made even worse by the fact thathe was killed by someone he believed he could trust.Twice and Hawks, the Pro Hero, had been working together, because Hawks sympathized with Twice and wanted to offer him a chance to leave villainy behind.
My Hero Academia Debunked One of its Most Disturbing Theories in a Truly Dark Way
Twice had a disturbing theory about himself which wasn’t able to be proven until his dramatic death, adding a new layer of tragedy to his demise.
Twice refused to turn his back on his friends in the League of Villains, and when Hawks realized Twice’s true intentions to continue destroying heroes, he ended his life before he could strike. Twice may have committed many evil acts in his life, but he genuinelybelieved he was protecting his friends during the Paranormal Liberation War, which made his death hit so much harder.
4Sir Nighteye
Overhaul Impaled Sir Nighteye With a Spike Created Using His Quirk
Although Sir Nighteye had one of themost useful Quirks inMy Hero Academia,Foresight, which allowed him to see the future,he could not see his own or prevent his imminent death.He was instrumental in the fight against Overhaul, but in order to defeat Kai Chisaki, Sir Nighteye had to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Overhaul used his Quirk to impale Nighteye with a spike and Nighteye was unable to recover from the injuries this caused. His students and friends were distraught by his death, butno one was more crushed than Mirio,who admired Nighteye more than anyone. Nighteye’s final moments were made even more emotional by Mirio’s tearful reaction and the final comfort Nighteye offered his student, assuring Mirio he would become an amazing hero even without him.
3Shigaraki
Shigaraki Was Killed by Deku Because He Refused To Give Up on Getting Revenge Against Heroes
TomuraShigaraki is one of anime’s most complex villains,because although he is evil, some aspects of his character arc are easy to sympathize with. Shigaraki fought against heroes so adamantly because he hated them after they neglected to save him when his family died as a result of his own Decay Quirk.
My Hero Academia Easter Egg Reveals Where Tomura’s Name Actually Comes From (and Its Super Dark)
My Hero Academia villain, Tomura Shigaraki, already has a tragic backstory, and the origins of his name are equally as heartbreaking.
Even Deku saw the pain Shigaraki was carrying due to his past trauma and All For One’s manipulation, and despite his hope that he could save the villain,Deku was ultimately the one who had to end Tomura’s life.His final words, “If Spinner survived this, tell him, that even to the bitter end, Tomura Shigaraki kept fighting to destroy,” reveal Shigaraki’s refusal to ever give up on getting revenge against heroes, even though it cost him his life.
2Dabi
Dabi Was Fatally Wounded During His Battle With His Family, Passing Away Shortly Afterward
Dabi’s death was certainly tear-jerking, becausehe never received redemption or comfort from the trauma he sufferedthroughout his childhood. Because of his father, Endeavor’s, abuse and his jealousy and hatred towards Shoto, Dabi was determined to fight them both to the death, and in the process, his body was destroyed beyond repair.
Before Dabi officially died, he did share a heartfelt moment with Shoto, as they had one final conversation bonding over their favorite food, soba. Dabi did not have much time with his family before he passed away, and since he was on life support, he could not speak to them much. Although he did become a villain, the circumstances of Dabi’s death are lonely and unsatisfying.EvenEndeavor received a redemption arc,but the same cannot be said for Dabi.
1Toga Himiko
Toga Sacrificed Her Life To Save Ochaco in a Heartbreaking Display of Friendship
My Hero Academia’smost depressing, undeserved death is definitely Toga Himiko’s. Toga’s entire life was rife with pain and suffering, because she was treated like an outcast by her own friends and family due to her Quirk. Transform, her ability, could only be used when she drank blood, so Toga suffered with constant insatiable cravings for blood. When she did indulge in these urges,she was viewed with disgust by her loved ones.
10 Most Tragic My Hero Academia Backstories
Many of the My Hero Academia character’s backstories are beyond devastating, and these are ten of the series' most tragic origin stories.
Toga’s difficult experiences led her right into the waiting arms of the League of Villains. She thought she had finally found an accepting group that would love her, but she ended up losing her life in the League’s fights against heroes. Her death was a courageous sacrifice, asToga died to save Ochaco Uraraka, one of her first true friends.She had so much life ahead of her, but it was tragically cut short, because so many people around Toga failed her until it was too late.
