My "My Hero Academia" Class 1-A Characters Ranking May Surprise You

    These rankings are gonna be PLUS ULTRA!!!

    Joshua Correa
    by Joshua Correa

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    My Hero Academia's class 1-A is a tight-knit group that has experienced so much in the five seasons that have aired. Like many shonen before it, this show is dependent on its core group of heroes and specifically the class 1-A students.

    The words plus ultra in white lettering with a yellow background
    Funimation

    I broke down my top 20 rankings based on not just their quirks, but also their story arcs so far.

    Granted some have been fleshed out more than others when it comes to their backgrounds and such, but overall I'd like to say I was as subjective as I could be. There might be some possible 🚨spoilers🚨, so read at your own risk. With all that said, let's get to the rankings.

    20. Minoru Mineta

    Minoru giving a thumbs up
    Funimation

    Minoru seems to not be just one of the most annoying characters in MHA, but I believe he ranks as one of the worst characters in anime. Although there are times when he redeems himself for a moment, most times he's being the annoying kid that people love to hate. 

    19. Toru Hagakure

    Toru who is invisible giving the peace sign
    Funimation

    Toru, for all intents and purposes, is not a bad character — we just literally and figuratively don't see enough of her due to her invisible quirk. She comes off as sweet and enthusiastic, like many others on this list, but with just not enough depth to make her stand out. 

    18. Yugo Aoyama

    Yugo Aoyama smiling  wearing his red visor from his costume
    Funimation

    Yugo is by far the most fabulous of all the students from 1-A and deservingly so, considering his naval laser that sparkles like a disco ball. His quirk, albeit dazzling, mixed in with his need for attention doesn't earn him a high spot on my list. 

    17. Koji Koda

    Koji Koda looking nervous with his costume on
    Funimation

    Koji is a shy mild-mannered student who barely spoke in the first season but broke out his shell more as the series progressed. We still haven't seen enough of him for me to be invested, but I do think his anivoice quirk is one of the most unique abilities out of the class. 

    16. Mashirao Ojiro

    A close up of Mashirao
    Funimation

    A very noble character, Mashirao wears a gi with a black belt to not only represent his martial arts prowess but also the honor he deems to uphold for himself. The way he uses his tail quirk to not only maneuver but also fight is amazing when shown. Would love to know a backstory for his love of martial arts.  

    15. Rikido Sato

    Rikido Sato looking with a smirk on his face
    Funimation

    As the designated baker of class 1-A, Rikido has a love of sweets and baked goods that most can relate to. His Sugar Rush quirk is a catch 22, since the sugar eats does give him super strength but also tires him out the more he eats and uses his quirk. 

    14. Mina Ashido

    Mina smiling excitedly
    Funiamtion

    Mina is a highly energetic, breakdancing student that seems to have the most fun when she's with her friends. Although not the best student academically, her acid quirk has been used in some great situations during the show. 

    13. Mezo Shoji

    Mezo giving the side eye with his mask up past his nose
    Funimation

    Although he has an intimidating look, Mezo has proven to be quite friendly and empathetic toward his classmates. He is one of the smartest students of his class and has shown that his quirk dupli-arms is not only good for solo action but for teamwork as well. 

    12. Hanta Sero

    Hanta posing while giving a big smile
    Funimation

    Being one of the more laid-back characters, Hanta has shown he can also have some funny moments with his fellow classmates. His Tape quirk is something that's reminiscent of Spider-Man since he can bind opponents and swing from structure to structure during missions, which is pretty damn cool.  

    11. Kyoka Jiro

    Kyoka twirling her earphone jacks around her finger looking seriously
    Funimation

    The musician in me has a soft spot for Kyoka; she has got a demeanor about her that seems like she's too cool, but she's actually very endearing and social when she is with her friends. Her interactions with Denki make for great laughs, and her gift of singing made for a great concert at UA in Season 4. 

    10. Denki Kaminari

    Denki pointing at himself with a thumbs up looking amped up
    Funimation

    Denki is definitely one of the funnier characters in the series, with his flirtatious ways and his reaction to using his quirk electrification — he's bound to bring a smile to anybody enjoying the show. 

    9. Fumikage Tokoyami

    Funimation

    Fumikage is another character who looks as intimidating as his dark shadow quirk is, but is very reliable for his fellow 1-A classmates. Although the most reserved out of the class, he thoroughly enjoys being able to progress as a hero and continuously learn from those who seem to have the confidence and experience he sometimes lacks. 

    8. Momo Yaoyorozu

    Momo looking sweetly into the camera
    Funimation

    There's always the smart kid in class that is more mature than everybody else and has a dedication to learning, for class 1-A, that would be Momo. Her quirk creation requires her to know the molecular level of an object if she wants to create it from her exposed skin. This means she has a genius intellect that not only makes her a great ally out in the field, but also a great tutor.

    7. Tsuyu Asui

    Tsuyu looking innocently into with her tongue slightly out and and a finger on her cheek
    Funimation

    Having a quirk that is derived from a frog might sound like something that would make a young girl uncomfortable or insecure, but Tsu doesn't have that problem. She fully embraces her quirk frog and has saved a few of her classmates with her long tongue and stealthy ability. Her calm, straightforward demeanor will at times bring some laughs — especially if it's at the expense of Minoru. 

    6. Ochaco Uraraka

    Ochaco waving excitedly
    Funimation

    Warm and bubbly, Ochaco gives the ultimate girl next door vibes with a touch of toughness. Her quirk zero gravity makes for some great scenes in the show, especially her fight with Katsuki, but it's her growing confidence that has me curious about where her story takes her. I'm waiting for her or Izuku to mention how they feel already — it's gotta be about time, right?

    5. Tenya Iida

    Tenya looking upset
    Funimation

    As a very disciplined student, Tenya's behavior can be very intense at times, albeit for good reasons since his classmates can sometimes get out of hand. He tends to always follow the rules, but is willing to bend them if it means he can keep an eye on his more impulsive friends. The pressure he applies to himself coming from a known Hero family, and the vengeance he seeks for his brother is something refreshing for the normally resolved Tenya. His quirk engine has been displayed well throughout the show, but none better than with his fight against Stain. 

    4. Eljiro Kirishima

    Eljiro flexing his arm ready for action
    Funimation

    Along with Denki, Eljiro seems to be one of the few people that isn't bothered by Katsuki's crass behavior, which usually makes for good laughs throughout the series. He's also very outgoing and has been very vulnerable with his insecurities about his hardening quirk not being the flashiest. His Season 4 arc has been one of my favorites, and has earned him a spot in my top five.

    3. Katsuki Bakugo

    Katsuki looking intense and ready to fight
    Funimation

    At the beginning of the series, I couldn't stand Katsuki. He was arrogant, crude, and an overall bully to Izuku. As the show went on and battles were fought, those shared experiences changed his perception of his classmates as not obstacles but reliable allies. This does not change his overall volatile personality, which makes for great laughs when people kind of ignore his outbursts. His quirk explosion makes his fighting scenes some of the best in the series; it's no wonder why he's such a fan favorite.  

    2. Izuku Midoriya

    Izuku using his quirk One For All
    Funimation

    I love the story that keeps unfolding with Izuku; he's a kid who went from quirkless to hitting the lottery by being gifted One For All from All Might. Having to keep that secret from his classmates and also learn the history of his quirk has given him one of the best story arcs in the show. His epic fights and inspiring attitude toward being the number one hero have made for an amazing series, and I can't wait to see more. 

    1. Shoto Todoroki

    Shoto with his head turned with half of his shoulder covered in ice
    Funimation

    Shoto's backstory is by far the most tragic of all the students and gives his arc the most complexities. You see a lot of characters grow throughout this show but none like Shoto; he's had to navigate his relationship with his father while also continuing to be a good student and getting more advanced with his quirk half cold half hot. It's a lot, to say the least, but his epic showdowns and overall confidence in battle give this normally reserved character energy. I was an Izuku fan starting the series, but as the seasons went on Shoto really stole the show. 

    What do you think about my rankings? Let me know in the comments, and share your rankings too!