What if Deku runs out of quirks?

Key conclusions

• Deku's journey in My Hero Academia challenges the notion that heroism is defined by power, emphasizing selflessness and determination.
• Meeting All Might significantly changes Deku's fate, showing the importance of mentorship in shaping a person's path to heroism.
• The series explores the alternative paths Deku could have taken without one for all, emphasizing the essence of heroism beyond superpowers.

Anime often has worlds filled with characters who have special abilities that they use to save humanity or complete personal quests. Not every hero starts out with superhuman abilities. It's a universal theme in which the debate over whether heroism is defined by strength or character is one of the most profound questions. In this landscape, My Hero Academy is shown; it specifically shows the determination and struggle of people who want to be heroes in a society built around superhuman oddities.

To be unpretentious in the world My Hero Academy it is like the absence of any form of basic social advantage. An unsophisticated person does not have the ability to effectively fight the villains and is not considered a defender. Born Without Quirks, Izuku Midoriya reflects this struggle. Despite society's ridicule and great danger, his steadfast determination and self-sacrifice define his character: whether or not someone without powers can be a true hero is a question central to the series.

Fate, destiny or chance

What if Deku never met All Might?

Meeting All Might marks a turning point in Deku's life, as his bravery to save his childhood friend Bakugou allows him to inherit the One for All, a trait that is passed down to shape future heroes. Without meeting him, Deku's journey could have gone much differently. Perhaps he would have remained only a dreamer, watching from afar as others became heroes, or he would have found an alternative way to contribute.

Without All Might's mentorship, Midoriya might have had a more intellectually dependent path to heroism; he could be an innovator in creating support items or strategies that could help heroes, similar to Melissa Shield or Mei Hatsume. On the other hand, without encouragement from his idol, he may also be overcome with despair and unable to imagine a future in which he can fulfill his desires.

Would Deku give up?

One of Deku's most distinctive traits is his tenacity. Even as a talentless boy, he never stopped striving to be a hero. If he couldn't inherit One For All, his determination would probably push him to find another way to help people. As technology improves in the series, he could use assistive devices to level the playing field, similar to how some unsophisticated people contribute to the hero's society.

Sometimes I really feel like a failure… …But even then, I'm not going to give up!

But it's also possible that having such huge odds stacked against him was simply too much to handle, and so watching others fly where he never could could have discouraged him from continuing to dream of such a fate. However, given Deku's fascination with Omnipotence and his selfless nature, he may find satisfaction in being able to support the heroes from behind the scenes, redefining what it means to him to be a hero.

Worthy successors

What if All Might gave OFA to someone else

The dynamics of the story would be completely reversed if All Might chose a different successor, says Mirio Togata. Mirio is already a promising hero who could use OFA with great competence and determination. For Midoriya, seeing his idol lose his powers without even meeting him would destroy him emotionally, which could be the push he needed to find another way to contribute to hero society.

A full circle journey

Deku's return to guilelessness

By the end of the series, Deku becomes talentless again, completing his journey full circle. This scenario reflects the “what if” question of him never inheriting OFA. Even without the quirks, he continues his heroic efforts, relying on his intelligence, training and determination to make a difference. While we can argue that he was able to continue his journey because he went through all this experience and training due to having OFA, as without it he could have died a heroic death long ago, it also means that he could have been much more careful before he faced the villains.

These assumptions support the main theme of the series: being a hero doesn't mean having strength, it means dedication and perseverance. Quirks or not, through Deku's story, viewers can believe deep down that heroism is not defined by extraordinary abilities, but by heart and courage. This shows how strong the human spirit is. Whether it's no-frills or with OFA, his determination to protect and inspire shines through. My Hero Academy asks one pressing question: is heroism defined by what we have or who we are? And through Deku's story, the series responds with an inspiring reminder: true heroism comes from within.