4 strong Quirks with weak users in My Hero Academia (& 4 strong users who make up for their Quirk’s flaws)

The My Hero Academia anime and manga verse is vast, filled with many characters who exhibit different strengths and personalities. From heroes to villains, each character is unique with their abilities, referred to as quirks in the series. However, the mangaka Kohei Horikoshi did not go overboard and made everything overpowered, and maintained the right balance.

The series features several characters with very powerful quirks, while limiting their uses due to their users' weaknesses. Several quirks have been portrayed in that way throughout the series. However, others have quirks with extreme limitations to their usage, but the users somehow overcame them and used them to their fullest extent.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinions and contains potential spoilers from the My Hero Academia anime and manga.

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Kaminari, Shinso, and 2 other My Hero Academia characters with strong quirks but weak users

1) Denki Kaminari (Electrification)

Denki Kaminari from My Hero Academia (Image via Bones)

Class 1-A student Denki Kaminari from My Hero Academia, also known as "Stun Gun Hero: Chargebolt", has the unique quirk, Electrification. The quirk is one of the strongest in the series, with the ability to discharge electricity over a wide area. It also has the potential to stun enemies, paralyze them, or even incapacitate several enemies at once.

While the quirk can be considered as one of the strongest, its user, Kaminari, has several flaws, especially early on in the series, that prevent the use of its full potential.

Denki trained far less than the other in the series, especially early on, and has very low combat IQ, often shown as frazzled and overwhelmed. Furthermore, his role as a comic relief in the series also held back the exploration of the quirk to its full potential.

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2) Mustard (Gas)

Mustard from My Hero Academia (Image via Bones)

Mustard is a C-rank villain from the My Hero Academia series, who was affiliated with the League of Villains and was a member of the organization's Vanguard Action Squad. Mustard's quirk Gas can create a constant, massive cloud of sleep-inducing gas that spreads quickly and makes its victims unconscious.

Furthermore, Mustard can also control the direction of the gas, making it a form of targeted attack whenever needed, other than its general area impact attacking status. However, while the quirk is one of the strongest, it was wasted on Mustard due to his weakness and inability to handle it.

Mustard lacked a great deal of physical abilities and did not have enough strength to take on opponents in close combat. Moreover, his inexperience mixed with his massive overconfidence also did not help his case with handling the quirk, compounded by his very poor tactical insight.

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3) Hitoshi Shinso (Brainwashing)

Hitoshi Shinso from My Hero Academia (Image via Bones)

Hitoshi Shinso from My Hero Academia, also known as "Hypnosis Hero: Nighthide", has probably one of the most broken quirks in the series, Brainwashing. The quirk allowed Shinso to completely control someone's mind and actions and make them do as he liked. Once under his control, the only way to break through was to be knocked out completely.

Despite however broken or overpowered the quirk Brainwashing was, Shinso had several problems of his own that prevented him from fully utilizing the quirk to its utmost potential. Firstly, Shinso has an insecurity at the back of his mind that his quirk might be seen as villain-like, making him hesitant to use it confidently.

Furthermore, his quirk actively demands that Shinsho tricks his opponents into talking to begin the effect. While that may be a possibility with many others, Shinso's initial hesitation pulls him back from even progressing with the actions.

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4) Yuga Aoyama (Navel Laser)

Yuga Aoyama from My Hero Academia (Image via Bones)

Another one of the Class 1-A students who were considerably weak and had a very strong quirk in the My Hero Academia series is Yuga Aoyama, also known as "Shining Hero: Can't Stop Twinkling". His quirk is a high-power laser beam he shoots from his navel, which can travel a long distance and pierce through solid objects.

However, Aoyama is probably the worst user who could have been assigned to this quirk. Firstly, Aoyama can only use the quirk partially and for a little while. If he uses it longer than he can, he ends up with bad stomachaches, showing how incompatible his body is with the quirk.

Furthermore, Aoyama shows a great lack of confidence because he did not attain the quirk naturally, often preventing him from using it with confidence and absolute intent. That, paired with the fact that he has extremely poor combat instincts, lands him in an undeserving position.

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Aizawa, Tenya, and 2 others who make up for their quirks' flaws with their strength

1) Shota Aizawa (Erasure)

Shota Aizawa as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

The UA teacher, Shota Aizawa from My Hero Academia, also known as "Erasure Hero: Eraser Head", is a prime example of someone who makes up for their quirk's weakness with their strength and ingenuity. His quirk, Erasure, allows him to momentarily nullify his opponents' quirks as long as he makes eye contact with them.

However, the biggest drawback of the quirk is the fact that it stops working once Aizawa blinks. To compensate for that, Aizawa trained himself physically to take advantage of the fact that his opponents are quirkless for that short period. Furthermore, Aizawa uses his binding cloth with speed and precision to take advantage and capture his opponents in their moment of vulnerability.

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2) Mirio Togata (Permeation)

Mirio "Lemillion" Togata as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Mirio Togata from My Hero Academia, also known as "Comedy Hero: Lemillion", has the quirk- Permeation. As the name suggests, the quirk lets him phase through walls and floors, basically any solid objects, as well as through attacks. However, this quirk has a glaring weakness of causing self-harm if not used carefully, while also taking away his sensory responses while using the quirk.

To make up for the highly unstable and dangerous effects of his quirk, Mirio has trained ruthlessly to master the control over all of his body parts to prevent any accidents like getting stuck inside a wall, halfway through. While his quirk is naturally meant for evasion and stealth, Mirio's intense strength training brings out an offensive use of the quirk.

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3) Tenya Iida (Engine)

Tenya Iida as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Tenya Iida from the My Hero Academia series, also known as the "Turbo Hero: Ingenium", has the unique quirk- Engine- where he has engine-like components installed into his calves that let him move at super speed and also enhance his kicking power. While this enhances his speed, it also causes movement issues like turning or stopping due to the speed, while also having overheating issues.

To make up for his quirks' flaws, Tenya went through rigorous physical training, perfecting his movements, while also further enhancing his endurance and power in efficiently using his ability. Furthermore, he also developed new techniques like Recipro Turbo to overcome the overheating issues, allowing him to use the quirk longer.

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4) Katsuki Bakugo (Explosion)

Katsuki Bakugo as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

One of the main characters from the My Hero Academia series, Katsuki Bakugo, known as "Explosive Hero: Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight", has the quirk Explosion, which takes his sweat and transforms it into controlled explosions. He can also use these blasts for mobility and gaining speed in combat. However, this quirk is very unstable and, with every use, takes a strain on him.

Furthermore, Bakugo needs to create sweat to even use his quirk, making it extremely difficult to use, and not something one can use readily. To tackle the issues of his quirk, Bakugo trained and can precisely shoot his explosions in a direction, while also being able to control the intensity of the blasts.

The grenade-like gauntlets Bakugo uses in his suit are designed to store his sweat so that he does not have to rely on something unstable in the face of battle. His costume also stabilizes his arms for precision, while also preventing a certain level of damage stain he takes from firing the blasts.

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Final thoughts

Quirks are an essential part of the My Hero Academia story, with them being the main core of the series' narrative. While this list discusses certain notable quirk users and their adaptability with their powers, there are many more from the series who might fall under the same categories as discussed.

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