My Hero Academia Final War: The 5 Characters Who Actually Saved the World

The dust has settled, and the Final War Arc of My Hero Academia has redefined the shonen landscape. For years, the series asked one question: "What happens when the Symbol of Peace falls?"

The answer wasn't another All Might. It was something messier, harder, and infinitely more human. The victory against All For One and Shigaraki wasn't secured by a single punch, but by a collective refusal to give up on empathy.

Final Arc Score: 9.8/10

The Bridge: We live in an era where we often look for "Strong Men" to fix society's problems. MHA rejects this, proving that true peace comes from Collective Action—when the burden of saving the world is shared by everyone.

Pros: Incredible character closures, Iron Might's last stand, The redemption of "Talk No Jutsu".

Cons: Pacing can be frantic, Some side characters got sidelined.

1. Izuku "Deku" Midoriya: The Hero Who Saved the Villain

The Feat: Stopping Shigaraki without killing the human inside him.

In a Western superhero movie, the hero kills the villain, creates a quip, and flies away. Deku refused. He understood that punching Shigaraki was easy; understanding Tenko Shimura (the crying child inside) was the real battle. By sacrificing One For All—the very power that defined him—he proved that a hero's greatest power isn't strength, but the willingness to lose everything to save one lost soul.

2. Katsuki Bakugo: The Heart of the War

The Feat: Rising from death to finish the job.

Bakugo's journey from bully to savior is arguably the best character arc in modern anime history. His battle wasn't just physical; it was an apology written in blood and sweat. His "Iron Man" moment—fighting with exploded limbs and pure adrenaline—wasn't just for victory. It was to prove he was finally worthy of standing beside his childhood friend. He didn't just win a fight; he won our respect forever.

3. Ochaco Uraraka: The Power of Radical Empathy

The Feat: Stopping the Sad Man's Parade.

While the boys fought gods, Uraraka fought a ideology. Toga Himiko represented everyone society had rejected for being "weird" or "too much." Uraraka didn't just defeat Toga; she offered her the one thing she never had: acceptance. By stopping the infinite army of Twice clones through understanding rather than violence, she saved thousands of lives. It is the series' most potent example of "emotional combat."

4. All Might (Iron Might): The Quirkless Legend

The Feat: Holding off Prime All For One without a Quirk.

Toshinov Yagi returned to the field not as a god, but as a quirkless man in a suit of armor (a clear nods to Iron Man). This was the series coming full circle. It proved that you don't need a Quirk to be a hero—you just need the spirit to stand ground when everyone else is running away. It was a terrifying, beautiful last stand that bought the students the crucial minutes they needed.

5. Gentle Criminal: The Wildcard

The Feat: Catching the falling UA sky coffin.

Who saw this coming? A failed YouTuber villain becoming the linchpin of the war effort. Gentle Criminal represents the series' belief in Restorative Justice. Because Deku showed him kindness years ago, Gentle was there to catch the literal sky when it fell. It’s a powerful message: societies that rehabilitate their outcasts are stronger than those that simply lock them away.

War Impact Scorecard

The New Symbol of Peace

The Final War teaches us that the "Symbol of Peace" shouldn't be a person. It should be a promise we make to each other.

My Hero Academia ends not with a single pillar holding up the sky, but with a thousand hands reaching out to catch it. In a world full of cynicism, that is a message worth fighting for.

Who was your personal MVP of the Final War? Did we miss anyone (shoutout to Shoji!)? Let us know your thoughts!