Alright, let's tackle the big question everyone's buzzing about: how does My Hero Academia end? Seriously, after nearly a decade of Deku's journey, All Might's sacrifice, and Shigaraki's terrifying rise, fans are desperate for answers. I've been following this series religiously since the early days, staying up way too late reading leaks and analyzing panels, and I gotta say, figuring out the true ending feels tougher than facing All For One. The manga's nearing its climax, and Kohei Horikoshi is dropping hints like crazy, but pulling it all together? That's the real challenge. Let's dive deep, separate the solid facts from the wild fan theories, and try to piece together how this epic saga might conclude.
Where We Stand: The Manga's Current Situation
Okay, first things first. As of late 2023/early 2024, the My Hero Academia manga (that's the original Japanese comic, for folks just jumping in) is deep into its final act. Horikoshi himself has stated multiple times that we're in the endgame. Like, really in it. Remember that feeling after the Paranormal Liberation War arc when everything went sideways? Yeah, we're past that chaos now, heading towards the ultimate showdown. The story is currently focused on the final, massive battle against All For One (creepily piloting Shigaraki's body) and the remaining villains. Deku's back at UA, quirks are going haywire, and heroes are dropping like flies. It's intense. If you're purely an anime watcher, buckle up – season 7 is gonna hit hard. But if you're asking "how does My Hero Academia end?", we gotta look at the manga's latest chapters for clues.
Critical Timeline: From Beginning to (Almost) End
Understanding the ending means seeing the whole picture. Here’s a quick recap of the manga's journey:
| Manga Volumes | Major Arc | Key Ending-Relevant Developments |
|---|---|---|
| Vols 1-7 | Entrance Exam, USJ, Sports Festival | Deku inherits One For All, All Might's decline begins, Shigaraki emerges. |
| Vols 8-21 | Stain, Internships, Hideout Raid | All Might retires, All For One captured (temporarily!), League of Villains gains power. |
| Vols 22-30 | Provisional License, Overhaul, School Festival | Eri rescued, Quirk-Destroying Bullets introduced, Gentle Criminal. |
| Vols 31-33 | Endeavor Internship, Joint Training | Deku unlocks Blackwhip, Shigaraki's enhancements begin. |
| Vols 34-33 (approx) | Paranormal Liberation War | Massive casualties (Midnight, Crust etc.), Shigaraki awakens, Hero Society collapses. |
| Vols 34-? | Dark Hero / Star and Stripe / Final War | Deku's solo vigilante phase, Star and Stripe battle (quirk deletion!), Current Final Battle. |
We're deep in that Final War arc now. Knowing this progression helps frame where the ending is heading – it's the culmination of all these escalating conflicts.
Solving the Core Mysteries: What MUST Be Resolved
A satisfying ending isn't just about who wins the final fight. Horikoshi has woven complex threads throughout the story that desperately need tying up. Figuring out how does My Hero Academia end means addressing these head-on. Some keep me up at night wondering how he'll pull it off smoothly.
The One For All Legacy: This is Deku's whole journey, right? The core question isn't just if he defeats All For One, but what happens to the quirk itself. It's a sentient power stockpile nearing its breaking point, filled with past users' wills. Does Deku become the last user? Does OFA merge with him permanently? Or... does the quirk vanish after fulfilling its purpose? Horikoshi loves classic heroic sacrifice tropes, so that last one feels painfully possible. I personally hope it doesn't go that route – feels a bit overdone.
All For One & Shigaraki's Fate: This is the big bad equation. All For One (the original villain mastermind) is currently possessing Tomura Shigaraki’s enhanced body. Shigaraki's own consciousness is buried but fighting back occasionally. How does My Hero Academia end for these two? Total annihilation? Shigaraki redeemed at the last second? Or does All For One find a way to escape yet again? Given the sheer scale of destruction they've caused, a simple prison cell feels insufficient now. Complete defeat seems inevitable, but the how matters hugely.
The Quirk Singularity Doomsday: Remember that theory Dr. Garaki dropped ages ago? It suggested quirks get stronger with each generation, eventually becoming uncontrollable and destroying society. We see hints of this now – kids manifesting quirks earlier, Deku's body struggling with OFA, Shigaraki's decay running wild. Will the ending confirm this doom? Or will they find a way to stabilize quirks? Ignoring this feels like a massive plot hole, but resolving it quickly could feel rushed. It's a tightrope walk.
The Future of Hero Society: The old system is gone. Crumbled after the war. Hawks tried reforming it, but it's fundamentally broken. The ending must show us the blueprint for what comes next. Will it be a world without professional heroes? A radically reformed system? Something run by the next generation (Class 1-A)? This is perhaps the most crucial world-building element tied to the ending.
Deku's Personal Cost: Our broccoli boy has been through the wringer – broken bones, emotional trauma, isolation. How does My Hero Academia end for Izuku Midoriya personally? Does he achieve his dream of becoming the greatest hero? At what cost? Will he have a "normal" life? Friends? Can he even keep his original quirkless dream intact? Him just retiring peacefully feels... unlikely after all this.
A Personal Gripe: The Pacing Tightrope
Honestly? The biggest worry I have, and I've seen this echoed in fan circles, is the pacing. Post the Paranormal Liberation War, things accelerated fast. The Dark Hero arc felt rushed, Star and Stripe's appearance and defeat happened in a flash. Horikoshi seems eager to conclude, potentially skipping over character moments we crave. I really hope the ending doesn't sacrifice depth for speed. Characters like Shoji, Koda, or even Hagakure deserve more than just being background fighters in the final war. Giving everyone meaningful closure is key to a truly great ending.
Predicting the Final Battle: How It All Could Go Down
Okay, speculation time! Based on current manga chapters (avoiding major spoilers here!), patterns in shonen storytelling, and Horikoshi's own statements, here's how the final confrontation might shape the ending.
- The Deku Factor: Deku mastering the full potential of One For All is inevitable. We've seen glimpses – Fa Jin, Gearshift – but the true fusion of all quirks and OFA's core power is coming. Expect a visually insane, city-flattening clash. But raw power alone won't win it. Deku's empathy, his core trait since episode/chapter 1, will be central. Remember him reaching out to Todoroki and Nagant? That pattern suggests he'll try reaching Tenko Shimura (Shigaraki's original self) buried deep within the monster.
- Team Effort is Non-Negotiable: The Dark Hero arc hammered home that Deku can't do it alone. Class 1-A bringing him back was pivotal. The final takedown of All For One/Shigaraki will involve Bakugo (likely with a power boost or strategic genius play), Shoto (mastering both fire and ice, maybe healing?), Ochaco (countering decay/gravity manipulation?), and others playing crucial support roles. Kirishima tanking hits, Kaminari disrupting tech, Jiro sensing weak points – everyone has a part. Horikoshi loves his ensemble cast.
- All For One's Endgame: His goal isn't just world domination now; it's spite. He wants to destroy One For All's legacy and everything All Might built. His possession of Shigaraki is key. The ending likely involves separating them somehow – perhaps Deku and the vestiges pulling Shigaraki's consciousness free, leaving AFO vulnerable. His final defeat needs to feel permanent this time. No more jailbreaks.
- Shigaraki's Redemption... or Not? This is the emotional core. Flashbacks constantly remind us Shigaraki is a victim of AFO's grooming. Deku will see that victim – Tenko. Will Tenko regain control long enough to help Deku, or even sacrifice himself to stop AFO? Or will the corruption be too deep, forcing Deku to make the heartbreaking choice to destroy Shigaraki completely? I lean towards a tragic redemption/sacrifice. It fits the series' themes of cycles of abuse and legacy.
- Wild Card: Eri's Rewind: Her overpowered quirk is basically a narrative reset button. Horikoshi has been very careful to limit its use. Could it be used in the climax? Maybe to partially rewind Shigaraki/All For One, or heal catastrophic damage? Maybe even... rewind Deku if OFA destroys him? It's risky – overuse feels cheap. But it's definitely on the table.
Popular Fan Theories: Sorting Plausible from Pure Copium
The internet is full of wild guesses about how does My Hero Academia end. Having spent too much time on forums, here's my breakdown of the most discussed theories, sprinkled with some personal skepticism.
Theory 1: Deku Loses One For All Completely
The Gist: OFA is destroyed in the final battle, or Deku willingly gives it up/destroys it to finally end the cycle of conflict with All For One. He becomes quirkless again but finds a new path, maybe as a counselor, teacher, or a different kind of symbol.
Evidence: The quirk's instability, Deku's original dream of being a hero like All Might without a quirk, the theme of passing torches ending.
Plausibility (6/10): High thematic resonance, aligns with foreshadowing about OFA's burden. Horikoshi loves bittersweet endings.
My Take: Oof, this one hurts. It makes narrative sense, reinforcing that true heroism is internal. But after seeing Deku push so hard to master it... him ending up back at square one feels harsh? Maybe he keeps a weakened version? Unsure.
Theory 2: Shigaraki is Redeemed/Saved
The Gist: Deku reaches Tenko Shimura within Shigaraki. Tenko helps defeat All For One from the inside and either sacrifices himself or survives, potentially facing justice but starting a path towards atonement.
Evidence: Deku's consistent empathy, Shigaraki's childhood flashbacks, Nana Shimura's legacy, moments where Tenko's consciousness surfaces briefly.
Plausibility (8/10): Very high. The narrative constantly highlights Shigaraki as a victim. A pure "kill the villain" ending seems tonally off for MHA.
My Take: This feels almost inevitable. Survival seems less likely – the crimes are too vast. A heroic sacrifice to stop AFO, perhaps saving Deku or a child, feels fittingly tragic. AFO's ultimate failure being the "creation" he groomed turning against him is poetic.
Theory 3: Quirks Disappear or Are Massively Nerfed
The Gist: To prevent the Quirk Singularity Doomsday, something happens (Eri? A global event? A sacrifice?) that either removes quirks entirely or drastically reduces their power worldwide, resetting society to something closer to quirkless.
Evidence: Dr. Garaki's warnings, the increasing instability of powerful quirks (OFA, Decay, New Order), themes about society's reliance on quirks causing inequality.
Plausibility (5/10): Thematically strong, offers a clean solution to the singularity. But logistically... wiping out the core conceit of the entire universe feels extreme and potentially unsatisfying for fans.
My Take: I call this the "nuclear option." Possible? Yes. Likely? Meh. Maybe a specific event prevents the singularity without wiping quirks out completely – like achieving balance instead of eradication. Wiping quirks invalidates most character journeys.
Theory 4: Bakugo Dies Heroically
The Gist: Bakugo makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Deku or defeat All For One/Shigaraki, completing his character arc from bully to true hero and redeeming himself fully in Deku's eyes.
Evidence: Bakugo's near-death experience, his intense focus on winning/protecting, his complex relationship with Deku needing closure, shonen tropes of rival sacrifices.
Plausibility (4/10): Has shock value and emotional weight. Horikoshi loves putting Bakugo through the wringer. But... killing off arguably the second most popular character right at the end? Risky fan backlash.
My Take: Please no. His "death" already happened once. Doing it again feels cheap. His character growth is compelling enough without needing a sacrificial finale. I think he survives, maybe even becomes top hero alongside Deku, their rivalry evolving healthily. Killing him feels like trauma porn.
Beyond the Battle: Life After All For One
Imagine the dust settles. All For One is gone for good. Shigaraki is dealt with. What then? How does My Hero Academia end its story by showing us the new world?
Rebuilding Society: This isn't just about fixing buildings. It's about fixing the systemic flaws that led to villainy – discrimination against mutation quirks, societal pressure on heroes, the dark underbelly ignored. Expect significant reforms, probably led by a council involving Deku, Hawks, Best Jeanist, and maybe even reformed figures. UA will likely play a central role in training the next generation under this new paradigm.
Class 1-A's Futures: An epilogue showing our favorites as pros is almost guaranteed. Here's a glimpse of what we might see:
| Character | Predicted Career Path | Potential Role in New Society |
|---|---|---|
| Deku | #1 Hero (Symbol of Hope/Peace) | Mentor, possibly involved in quirk counseling or hero system reform. |
| Bakugo | Top 3 Hero (Specializing in high-intensity rescue/combat) | UA Teacher (Explosive Personality Training!), pushes for hero efficiency standards. |
| Shoto | Top 5 Hero (Balancing Endeavor Agency legacy) | Works on quirk marriage laws, helps fire/ice disaster relief. |
| Ochaco | Top 10 Rescue Hero | Focuses on disaster zones, advocates for hero mental health support. |
| Iida | Hero (Speed Specialist) | Potential Hero Commission liaison, upholds new ethical codes. |
| Tsu | Hero (Aquatic/Disaster Rescue) | Environmental protection advocate, coastal defense specialist. |
| Tokoyami | Hero (Stealth/Special Ops) | Nighttime patrol specialist, potentially intelligence gathering. |
Deku's Legacy: Ultimately, how does My Hero Academia end for its main character? He'll achieve his dream, but not exactly like All Might. He won't stand alone atop a pillar. He'll be the core of a network of heroes supporting each other and society. His greatest achievement might be fostering this new era of cooperation and understanding, proving kindness and empathy are the ultimate heroic traits. We'll likely see him smile, genuinely happy and at peace, surrounded by friends, maybe even hinting at a future with Ochaco. Maybe visiting All Might's memorial. A full-circle moment.
Frequently Asked Questions About the My Hero Academia Ending
Let's tackle those burning questions people search for when trying to figure out how does My Hero Academia end:
Is the My Hero Academia manga finished?
No, not quite yet. As of late 2023/early 2024, the manga is ongoing but firmly in its final act. Creator Kohei Horikoshi has consistently stated it's ending "soon," with the narrative barreling towards the ultimate conclusion of the Final War arc. Weekly chapters in Shonen Jump are still releasing. Expect anywhere from 6 months to maybe a year or so left, depending on pacing.
Does Deku die in the end?
Highly unlikely. While Deku faces immense danger and the possibility of sacrifice is real (part of his character), killing off the protagonist in a mainstream shonen like MHA at the very end is extraordinarily rare. The themes point towards him overcoming and building a new future. He might face severe consequences (like losing OFA or permanent injury), but death seems off the table.
Does Shigaraki die?
Probable, but complex. Tomura Shigaraki, as the primary vessel of All For One and perpetrator of mass atrocities, is unlikely to walk away free. A heroic sacrifice neutralizing All For One is his most plausible "redemption." Surviving would require immense narrative justification and societal reckoning that feels tough to fit into the ending. Death, potentially as Tenko Shimura finding peace, seems likelier.
Does Bakugo die?
Possible, but doubtful. Bakugo already had a major near-death moment, serving its purpose for his character development and Deku's awakening. Killing him permanently in the final arc would be shocking and carry weight, but risks feeling gratuitous. Horikoshi seems to favor him for a future leadership/mentorship role. I'd bet on survival, scarred but thriving.
Do Deku and Ochaco end up together?
Signs point to yes, eventually. While romance isn't the main focus, the mutual attraction and respect are well-established subtext. Horikoshi includes subtle moments building their bond. A post-victory epilogue showing them closer, perhaps starting a relationship, is a very safe and satisfying bet for the finale.
What happens to All Might?
He likely won't survive the series. All Might has been living on borrowed time since his fight with All For One. His role now is purely as a mentor and symbol. A final sacrifice protecting Deku or others, or a peaceful death after seeing his successor secure the future, would be a fitting, albeit heartbreaking, conclusion to his arc. Seeing him witness Deku's ultimate triumph before passing feels likely.
Will there be a sequel or spin-off after the main series ends?
Unknown, but plausible. There are no official announcements yet. However, given MHA's massive popularity, the rich world, and younger characters like Class 1-B, Eri, and Kota, spin-offs focusing on different characters or eras (e.g., Vigilantes is already a prequel) are certainly possible. A direct sequel focusing on Deku's generation as pros is also a potential option down the line. The ending of the main manga will likely set the stage for future stories.
Final Thoughts: The Weight of Expectation
So, circling back to the million-dollar question: how does My Hero Academia end? Based on everything – the current trajectory, Horikoshi's storytelling patterns, shonen conventions, and unresolved themes – here's my consolidated prediction:
Deku, powered by the full might of One For All and the united efforts of Class 1-A and the remaining heroes, confronts All For One within Shigaraki. The battle pushes Deku to his absolute limit, physically destroying him. In a critical moment, Deku reaches Tenko Shimura's consciousness. Tenko, fighting back against AFO's control, makes a decisive move – perhaps sabotaging AFO from within or sacrificing himself to create an opening. Deku lands the final blow, permanently ending All For One. Shigaraki/Tenko likely perishes in the process, finding some measure of peace or release.
One For All, its purpose fulfilled and its energy spent destabilizing during the fight, either vanishes entirely or merges irreversibly with Deku in a weakened state, leaving him significantly powered down but still inherently heroic. All Might, witnessing Deku's victory and the dawn of a new era, passes away peacefully, his legacy secured.
Society begins the long, arduous rebuild. A new hero system emerges, focused on cooperation, accountability, and addressing root societal issues like quirk discrimination. Deku becomes the #1 Hero, the "Symbol of Hope," embodying this new collaborative spirit, not All Might's solitary pillar. He maintains deep bonds with his classmates, particularly Bakugo (his fierce rival turned respected equal) and Ochaco (with a blossoming romance hinted). An epilogue shows Class 1-A thriving as pro heroes, teachers, and reformers, building the better world they fought for.
Will it be perfect? Probably not. Ending a story this sprawling is incredibly hard. Some side characters might get shortchanged. The Quirk Singularity might get a slightly hand-wavy solution. But if Horikoshi sticks the landing on Deku and Shigaraki's core conflict, delivers emotional payoff for the main trio (Deku, Bakugo, Todoroki), and gives us a hopeful glimpse of the future, it will be a satisfying conclusion to one of this generation's defining shonen journeys.
The wait to see exactly how does My Hero Academia end is almost over. Get ready.