Kohei Horikoshi’s sensational superhero manga, My Hero Academia, was brought to our screens with an anime adaptation by the renowned Studio Bones. Over time, the MHA anime rapidly saw the popularity of Horikoshi’s work grow and became one of the best superhero anime of all time. With the anime series currently adapting the Final War arc, we have analyzed every season of My Hero Academia so far and ranked them from worst to best.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes major highlights of each season of My Hero Academia anime, so make sure to watch the anime beforehand.
7. My Hero Academia Season 5
- MAL: 7.37
- Arcs: Joint Training Arc, Meta Liberation Army Arc, Endeavor Agency Arc, and Paranormal Liberation War Arc
- Release Year: 2021
Following phenomenal seasons (seasons 3 and 4) back-to-back, everyone had high hopes for the fifth season of MHA. However, the first half of the season, featuring the Joint Training Arc and Endeavor Agency Arc, was a hit or miss for many fans. Hence, some people lost interest in the anime series when it premiered back then.
Fortunately, this season’s second half turned it around. It had many positives compared to the first half, such as the riveting Meta Liberation Army Arc, showcasing the origin of Tomura Shigaraki and slowly sowing the seeds for the most-awaited Paranormal Liberation War Arc. Thus, all in all, it was pretty much a build-up arc with exciting battles that showed the backstory of the MHA villains.
6. My Hero Academia Season 1
- MAL: 7.86
- Arcs: Entrance Exam Arc, Quirk Apprehension Test Arc, Battle Trial Arc, and U.S.J. Arc
- Release Year: 2016
The debut season of My Hero Academia is an entertaining start that introduces us to the world of superheroes and some of its most important characters. The arc makes you feel like you’re a part of U.A. High School and the young superhero students. It does a fantastic job of showcasing the power system, i.e., the quirks that kept fans glued to the premise and the world built centered around superheroes and villains.
Things start to get heated at the end of season 1, which featured the U.S.J. Arc, the entry of All Might to defeat the new set of antagonists we meet, the League of Villains. Overall, My Hero Academia season 1 is an enjoyable watch that welcomes us to the adventurous journey of superheroes.
5. My Hero Academia Season 2
- MAL: 8.08
- Arcs: U.A. Sports Festival Arc, Vs. Hero Killer Arc, Final Exams Arc
- Release Year: 2017
After getting a good start, My Hero Academia season 2 is the season where the MHA series proved its worthiness. In the shonen category, there is always a tournament arc, and MHA got one as the U.A. Sports Festival Arc. The first half of the second season was jam-packed with exhilarating battles, interesting character arcs, and backstories of our young heroes.
Following the tournament, we got an incredible arc titled Vs. Hero Killer Arc, where we saw Izuku and his friends against the Hero Killer Stain. Lastly, Season 2 concluded with the Final Exams Arc, and its highlight was Deku x Bakugo against All Might at the end. Thus, in a nutshell, MHA season 2 was a banger and paved the way for this anime’s popularity to explode.
4. My Hero Academia Season 4
- MAL: 7.87
- Arcs: Shie Hassaikai Arc, Remedial Course Arc, U.A. School Festival Arc, and Pro Hero Arc
- Release Year: 2019-2020
Soon after fantastic seasons 2 and 3, MHA reached another level with season 4. This season also featured multiple arcs, such as the Shie Hassaikai Arc, Remedial Course Arc, U.A. School Festival Arc, and Pro Hero Arc. Overhaul was one of the best villains in My Hero Academia, and Lemillion and Deku’s battle against him is easily one of the best episodes in MHA history.
Following this arc, there was the calming U.A. School Festival Arc in which we got to see the sweeter side of the heroes and were able to enjoy and relax without any worries. However, what made this season even better is how it ended on a greater note. Endeavor’s final fight against the talking Nomu at the end is inarguably one of the greatest fights in the series, and this is the best finale of all the seasons we have here.
3. My Hero Academia Season 3
- MAL: 8.01
- Arcs: Forest Training Camp Arc, Hideout Raid Arc, and Provisional Hero License Exam Arc
- Release Year: 2018
My Hero Academia season 3 is where Horikoshi’s work solidified and established itself as one of the best modern-gen shonen anime. It perfectly showcased its potential, amazing story, and character developments, along with plenty of action sequences that will keep you hooked to your seat.
Season 3 featured the best battle of all time in MHA for me, which is the All Might (One for All) vs. All For One fight in the Hideout Raid Arc. This is one of the fan-favorite arcs, along with the Forest Training Camp arc, which covered Deku’s growth against the fearsome Muscular.
This season’s latter half also had interesting battles in the Provisional Hero License Exam Arc against new characters. However, Deku and Bakugo’s battle will always remain the best part of this half. Thus, on the whole, MHA season 3 is one of the best-ever seasons in the My Hero Academia anime series.
2. My Hero Academia Season 6
- MAL: 8.28
- Arcs: Paranormal Liberation War Arc and Dark Hero Arc
- Release Year: 2022-2023
My Hero Academia reached its pinnacle with season 6, which featured the Paranormal Liberation War Arc and the Dark Hero Arc (see My Hero Academia arcs list). All the groundwork for this war was successfully laid in the previous seasons. As a result, it was extremely satisfying and emotional to see how the events unfolded in the war between the heroes and villains in MHA.
The first portion of the season entertained the fans with nonstop action and unexpected twists. The stakes had never been higher in MHA, which made it riveting to watch. Deku and Bakugo’s rising, Dabi’s dance, and Shigaraki’s wrath kept us on the edge of our seats.
The second half of Season 6 covered the Dark Hero Arc, where the series’ tone shifted completely. The battle against Lady Nagant and Deku vs. Class A is still one of the fan favorite moments of the sixth season. This season perfectly concluded the Rise of the Villains Saga and kicked off the Final War in the most epic manner possible.
1. My Hero Academia Season 7
- MAL: 8.07
- Arcs: Star and Stripe Arc, U.A. Traitor Arc, and Final War Arc
- Release Year: 2024
After a glorious kick-off of the final war in season 6, season 7 returned with a bang with the Star and Stripe arc. After witnessing Cathleen Bate’s near-omnipotent quirk, “New Order,” the one last war between the heroes and villains began with a twist in the U.A. Traitor arc. The heroes’ ultimate plan to split the villains and subdue them one by one with specific teams resulted in some of the most enthralling moments of the series.
We got to see Deku vs Shigaraki, Armored Might vs AFO, Ochaco vs Himiko, Endeavour and Co. vs AFO, and numerous other exhilarating battles that kept us on the edge of our seats until the season’s finale. The penultimate season was exceptional in every aspect and ended on a cliffhanger, teasing the final season, S8. Thus, Season 7 of MHA swiftly became the best season in the series so far.
Note: The final season of My Hero Academia, season 8, is premiering on October 4 worldwide. We will watch the adaptation of the final arcs and update our rankings accordingly when the final season of MHA concludes later this year.
So, that’s our standing for the best seasons of the My Hero Academia anime released so far. Fans enjoyed the latest season 7 to the fullest, and so it has easily climbed all the way up to the top. That said, what is your favorite season in My Hero Academia? Let us know in the comments below.
