The clash between Izuku Midoriya (Deku) and Tomura Shigaraki is one of the most important power matchups in My Hero Academia. As successors of two opposite legacies — One For All and All For One — their abilities evolve rapidly throughout the series. This article breaks down their quirks, transformations, strengths, weaknesses, and overall combat potential to determine who truly holds the upper hand. Top 10 Fights in MHA
Deku’s Power Overview
1. One For All – Multiple Quirks
Deku’s greatest strength is the evolving power of One For All, a quirk passed down through nine users. It grants:
- Massive physical strength
- Enhanced speed and reaction time
- Superhuman durability
But that’s only the beginning.
As the story progresses, Deku unlocks the quirks of past OFA users, including:
- Blackwhip – Powerful energy tendrils for movement and control
- Danger Sense – A warning system for incoming threats
- Float – Grants aerial mobility
- Smokescreen – Creates visibility disruption
- Fa Jin – Stores kinetic energy and releases explosive bursts
- Gearshift (Final OFA quirk) – Manipulates speed at a molecular level
Each quirk dramatically boosts his versatility in combat, making Deku a multi-layered fighter.
2. Strength Scaling
At full potential, Deku can reach:
- 100% OFA without destroying his body
- Country-level destructive power (late arcs)
- Hypersonic mobility with Gearshift
- Complex multi-quirk strategies that overwhelm enemies
Deku’s strength is not only in raw power but in adaptive combat intelligence.
Shigaraki’s Power Overview
1. Decay – Deadliest Quirk in the Series
Shigaraki’s original quirk, Decay, evolves from hand-touch activation to spreading through anything he touches, including:
- Buildings
- Battlefields
- Multiple human targets
- Entire city blocks
After his “awakening,” Decay becomes nearly impossible to block or dodge once it activates.
2. All For One Transfer
Shigaraki receives a modified version of All For One, giving him access to:
- Super regeneration
- Enhanced strength
- Air blasts
- Heavy reinforcement quirks
- Multiple combat-focused abilities
This fusion of Shigaraki + AFO essentially creates a living weapon of mass destruction.
3. Mutant Transformation Form
During the Paranormal Liberation War and beyond, Shigaraki undergoes massive physical changes:
- Hardened skin
- Enhanced muscle structure
- Near-limitless stamina
- Resistance against many attacks
- High-speed regeneration even after fatal damage
Shigaraki’s durability becomes monstrous, making him one of the hardest characters in MHA to put down.
Shigaraki vs Deku – Detailed Comparison
1. Strength & Power Output
- Shigaraki: Can destroy landscapes with a single Decay activation. Enhanced muscle and AFO quirks make him extremely powerful.
- Deku: With Fa Jin, 100% OFA, and Gearshift, Deku’s strikes are devastating and extremely fast.
Winner: Tie
Shigaraki has destructive area power, while Deku has unmatched focused impact power.
2. Speed
- Deku: Gearshift makes him the fastest character in the series, reaching unpredictable speeds.
- Shigaraki: Fast, but relies more on raw leaps and AFO-enhanced movement.
Winner: Deku
Deku’s speed advantage becomes crucial for surviving Decay.
3. Durability
- Shigaraki: Nearly unkillable with regeneration and reinforced body.
- Deku: Tough, but not on Shigaraki’s regeneration level.
Winner: Shigaraki
His healing factor gives him a huge edge.
4. Versatility
- Deku: Has seven quirks with different functions: mobility, defense, offense, crowd control, and sensory enhancement.
- Shigaraki: Mostly offensive destructive abilities, but less diverse.
Winner: Deku
His multi-quirk combinations give him more tactical tools.
5. Lethality
- Shigaraki: One touch = instant death via Decay.
- Deku: Destructive but not inherently lethal.
Winner: Shigaraki
Decay is the deadliest single ability in MHA.
6. Battlefield Control
- Shigaraki: Can reshape entire environments through Decay.
- Deku: Mainly controls small-scale zones through Blackwhip or Smokescreen.
Winner: Shigaraki
His destructive radius is unmatched.
Conclusion
The power struggle between Deku and Shigaraki represents the core conflict of My Hero Academia: hope versus destruction, growth versus hatred, and two legacies destined to collide. Both characters evolve into unstoppable forces, each shaped by the quirks and ideals they inherited.
Deku’s strength comes from his mastery of multiple OFA quirks, his increasing combat intelligence, and his unmatched speed with Gearshift. Shigaraki, on the other hand, embodies pure devastation, powered by Decay, regenerative abilities, and the overwhelming force of All For One.