Exploring Lemillion’s Unique Fighting Style in My Hero Academia

Main Insights

Lemillion’s combat technique stands out, shaped by his superpower, physical prowess, and ability to foresee moves.
The quirk known as Permeation grants Lemillion the ability to phase through barriers, although it comes with complexities that require adept handling.
His rigorous martial arts training, combined with a talent for reading opponents, elevates his combat skills.

Within the universe of My Hero Academia, the manner in which a character fights—referred to as their combat style—is heavily influenced by their quirks. Characters like All Might and All-For-One can deliver substantial damage with one attack, often overwhelming adversaries through sheer force. Conversely, individuals with distinct abilities—such as Eraser Head and Stain—must innovate unique combat styles to maximize their quirks’ potential.

Lemillion certainly fits the latter category. Like Eraser Head and Stain, he possesses a challenging quirk that could inhibit his aspirations of being a hero. In fact, his father, who shares the same quirk, seldom uses it due to its difficult nature. Nevertheless, Lemillion remains resolute in his quest to be a hero, dedicating himself to rigorous training that ultimately cultivates his own distinct combat technique. Let’s examine the elements that differentiate Lemillion’s fighting style.

Quirk: Permeation

Name	Togata was surprised
Alias	Lemillion
Quirk	Permeation
First Appearance	Episode 62

Before delving into his combat techniques, it’s essential to highlight the foundational aspects that shape Lemillion’s fighting style. Three primary factors define it: his quirk, his physical abilities, and his foresight. Let’s begin with his unique quirk, Permeation.

The Ability to Phase Through Matter

As indicated by its name, Permeation empowers Lemillion to phase through various materials. He can make his body—or portions of it—intangible, allowing for seamless passage through obstacles. While in this state, he becomes untouchable, evading attacks and circumventing defenses. This quirk proves especially advantageous for covert operations since Lemillion can infiltrate fortified locations effortlessly.

“Mirio, if you miscalculate even slightly with our quirk, you could be severed in two. It’s challenging to master, which is why your father ceased pursuing a hero’s life. But you’ll still chase that dream?”

-Mirio Togata’s father, Chapter 152

More Complicated Than It Seems

At first glance, the perks of Permeation appear remarkable. However, the reality is more intricate. This quirk demands intense concentration. Lemillion must precisely coordinate which part of his body becomes intangible, necessitating total control over his physical form.

Moreover, while in his intangible state, everything—including light and air—passes through him. Consequently, when he burrows underground, he faces challenges such as blindness and suffocation. Notably, to counteract slipping through his clothing, his hero suit is fashioned from specialized fibers developed using strands of his hair.

Physical Prowess

Mirio taking down members of Class 1-A with his Permeation Quirk in My Hero Academia

While Permeation enhances Lemillion’s maneuverability, it does not amplify his physical strength. To truly confront antagonists and solidify his hero status, Lemillion committed to traditional muscle training and martial arts.

Raw Physical Power

Since weaponry simply passes through him, Lemillion relies exclusively on his physical form. Recognizing this early on, he integrated muscle-building into his training regimen. However, he doesn’t bulk up like All Might; Lemillion emphasizes speed and agility, maintaining a lean physique. Now, he can effortlessly overpower opponents with swift kicks or punches.

Martial Arts Training

Mirio Lost His Abilities While Protecting Eri From Overhaul

Strong muscles are of little use without adequate striking technique. Therefore, alongside muscle conditioning and quirk mastery, martial arts also play a vital role in his training. While he doesn’t need to master every martial art, a foundation in boxing for punches and disciplines like karate or taekwondo for kicks is essential. Incorporating grappling and Muay Thai ties it all together. Essentially, Lemillion has cultivated a foundation in Mixed Martial Arts, equipping him to take down adversaries effectively.

Foresight

Name	Mirai Sasaki
Alias	Sir Nighteye
Quirk	Foresight
First Appearance	Episode 63

Lemillion has honed his skills under the guidance of Sir Nighteye, a former ally of All Might. Nighteye possesses the ability to glimpse a target’s future actions, enabling him to anticipate movements seconds, minutes, and even years ahead. His foresight makes him nearly untouchable in combat, allowing for precise strikes against opponents. While Lemillion lacks this quirk, his mentor has instilled the essence of this predictive ability within him.

Observational Skills

Prior to engaging in combat, Lemillion meticulously observes his surroundings to leverage the environment to his advantage. If possible, he gathers information on his opponents beforehand, as he did during the Shie Hassaikai raid. Nevertheless, even with unfamiliar foes, Lemillion’s training equips him to analyze opponents’ quirks, movements, and personalities, enabling him to predict their actions more accurately. This comprehensive awareness significantly heightens his chances of victory.

Anticipating Moves

When Lemillion activates his Permeation to submerge into the ground, he experiences a repulsive force, as two entities cannot occupy the same space simultaneously. Lemillion utilizes this principle to propel himself in desired directions, allowing him to outpace opponents.

However, speed alone doesn’t guarantee victory; if opponents can see his approach, they may counter effectively. This is where his ability to predict comes into play. By foreseeing where adversaries will be or the actions they will take, Lemillion can launch surprise attacks, catching them off guard. His quirk, strength, and martial arts skills are impressive, yet his foresight is what truly heightens his fighting capabilities.

“I closely observe my enemy! I strive to anticipate his actions! But you move better than any typical Yakuza goon! You’re formidable, Chisaki! Yet among us, I’m the stronger one!!”

—Lemillion, Chapter 151

Lemillion’s Combat Performance

Now that we have outlined the core elements—quirk, physical capabilities, martial arts skills, and foresight—let’s investigate how Lemillion effectively utilizes these in combat. His battle against Kai Chisaki, also known as Overhaul, during the Shie Hassaikai arc perfectly exemplifies his unique combat approach.

Acting Before the Adversary

This confrontation transpires in the lengthy corridor beneath Shie Hassaikai’s stronghold. Chisaki seeks to escape through a hidden passage with Eri and his subordinates. Once Overhaul and his crew realize Lemillion has closed in, they attempt to confront him directly. However, before they can act, Lemillion dives into the ground, propelling himself toward Overhaul and reemerging right behind the masked antagonist, all in mere fractions of a second. Before Overhaul can react, Lemillion delivers a decisive punch, knocking the Yakuza to the ground.

Ground Propulsion Technique

Lemillion’s signature maneuver involves diving into the ground or nearby structures and using the resulting repulsion to launch himself towards his targets. This not only serves as an unexpected offensive tactic, but it is also his swiftest movement. His ultimate technique, Phantom Menace, exemplifies this approach. During its execution, Lemillion rapidly ricochets between walls, floors, and ceilings, allowing him to incapacitate multiple foes in quick succession. Phantom Menace proves particularly effective in enclosed environments, enabling him to take down many of Overhaul’s henchmen before they can react.

Phasing Control

Through relentless training, Lemillion has gained mastery over his complex quirk, allowing him to selectively enact Permeation on different body parts and toggle it instantaneously. This multi-stage phasing technique enables him to bypass opponent defenses. A prime illustration occurs during Lemillion’s climactic showdown with Overhaul.

Overhaul’s fearsome ability originates in the palms of his hands. As he instinctively opens his palms to block a punch, he aims to thwart the strike and damage Lemillion’s hands. Yet, Lemillion simply phases through Overhaul’s palm, transforming his fist back to tangible as the rest of his arm remains intangible, resulting in a powerful punch landing squarely on Overhaul’s face.

Ultimately, when Lemillion infiltrates an enemy stronghold and faces multiple adversaries, his strategy involves diving and targeting the opponent farthest from him. He maneuvers behind this adversary to deliver a knockout blow. Subsequently, he dives again, using rapid bounces off walls and floors to eliminate remaining foes. If anyone attempts to obstruct him or retaliate, he employs multi-stage phasing, allowing him to evade attacks and strike effectively. In extended fights, he constantly analyzes opponents to foresee their actions and adapt his game plan. This encapsulates the essence of Lemillion’s extraordinary combat style.

My Hero Academia can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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