My Hero Academia's final hero rankings couldn't be more controversial, but not because of Deku

My Hero Academia recently had a small one-shot that added extra information to the ending of the time-skip, thus revealing that Izuku "Deku" Midoriya's return jumped him to fourth place in the Hero Rankings. Although this makes sense given his status as the legendary One For All Hero, the status of Mt. Lady and Katsuki Bakugo in the top five has sparked some controversy.

There are a lot of My Hero Academia fans who think that these two characters shouldn't rank that high based on their achievements and personalities throughout the story, but that is missing the point. They are not chosen solely for power, achievements, or personality, but rather a combination of all three elements, hence why someone like Mirio Togata has been at the top spot for a while after the time-skip.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the manga/anime and reflects the opinions of the writer.

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Explaining the mechanics of the Hero Rankings after the time-skip in My Hero Academia

The new Hero Rankings after the time-skip feature Mirio Togata in first place, Shoto Todoroki in second place, Mt. Lady in third place, Izuku "Deku" Midoriya in fourth place, and Katsuki Bakugo in fifth place. Most people were quite happy with Deku's return and jumping to the ranks, but the positions of Bakugo and Mt. Lady have generated a lot of debate in the community.

The truth of the matter is that author Kohei Horikoshi has established these rankings as a result of the heroes' efficiency, power, and how they are perceived by the general public. In that regard, it is easy to see why Mt. Lady, who also has a lot more time as a Pro Hero, would rank so high and why Bakugo, despite his achievements, doesn't rank higher because of his difficult personality.

Moreover, it is also very likely that the Hero Rankings in the time-skip were Horikoshi doing a bit of fan service by having some of the main characters as the top heroes. Mt. Lady makes sense given her experience and popularity, while also being a nod to the fact she started around the time of the first chapter of the manga, thus giving it a bit of a "full circle" feel.

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The legacy of the ending

Deku as seen in chapter 431 of the manga (Image via Shueisha).

The My Hero Academia ending was initially received quite poorly, although chapter 431 elevated the premise and concluded most plot points in a way that was a lot more compelling for the audience. That was perfectly exemplified by the confirmation of Deku and Ochaco Uraraka starting a romantic relationship and more details surrounding the life of the cast after the time-skip.

Furthermore, Horikoshi focused on giving Izuku a lot more context as a teacher, with many fans concerned that he was in a negative state of mind before getting the special hero suit. However, that was also handled in a positive light, thus making the story feel a lot more compelling and the ending a lot stronger, which is something that has been welcomed by the vast majority of the community.

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Final thoughts

The Hero Rankings in My Hero Academia mostly reflect the trajectory of the heroes throughout the years and are a combination of different elements, hence why the characters at the top are seen as such. Moreover, it is important to consider these variables since they can provide a logical conclusion for the likes of Mt. Lady and Bakugo.

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Related articles:

• All Might's survival is Horikoshi's best choice in the My Hero Academia ending for going against this dreaded shonen trope
• Horikoshi's reasoning for Toga's death in My Hero Academia does justify it
• Todoroki vs Bakugo wouldn't have changed with Shoto's flames, and My Hero Academia fans need to realize why
• Deku's final Pro Hero Ranking in My Hero Academia still doesn't justify him losing One For All