My Hero Academia: Top 10 Powerful Characters with Underwhelming Quirks

Main Insights

Characters like Sir Nighteye and Eraser Head demonstrate that with discipline and innovation, even less formidable quirks can lead to impressive abilities.
The transformation of Salaam into a thin figure and Spinner’s gecko-like traits highlight the diversity of quirks in My Hero Academia.
Stain exemplifies how unwavering determination can compensate for a less powerful quirk, successfully hunting heroes using his Bloodcurdle ability.

In the universe of My Hero Academia, most individuals possess a quirk; however, not every quirk is powerful. Numerous characters are equipped with either mediocre or weak abilities, often resulting in them leading ordinary lives, serving as sidekicks, or engaging in minor criminal activities.

Yet, there are some who excel despite having seemingly ineffective quirks, becoming heroes or choosing a villainous path. Their shared trait is the refusal to allow their weaknesses to hinder their greatness. Below is a list of notable My Hero Academia characters with underwhelming quirks, arranged from the relatively decent to those that are exceptionally weak.

Updated October 23, 2024, by Harry Nugraha: With the conclusion of My Hero Academia in August 2024 after a decade-long run, fans are reflecting on the characters and stories that shaped it. Since its debut in 2014, this series has introduced many beloved characters known for their unique abilities and personalities. This updated list highlights additional characters who thrive despite having less powerful quirks.

10. Soramitsu

A Pitiful Quirk for Daily Life

Real Name: Soramitsu Tabe
Quirk Name: Food
First Appearance: Episode 70

Soramitsu’s quirk gives him the ability to consume anything he desires, whether it be living creatures or even concrete. He possesses incredibly resilient teeth capable of chewing through anything, coupled with an insatiable stomach that digests everything he eats immediately.

While this quirk seems advantageous, especially considering Soramitsu’s ability to challenge Suneater, its main flaw lies in its impracticality for daily life. Permanently in a state of hunger due to his quirk’s rapid digestion, Soramitsu has lived life as little more than skin and bones.

9 Skeptic

Remarkable Abilities but a Weak Quirk

Real Name: Tomoyasu Chikazoku
Quirk Name: Anthropomorph
First Appearance: Episode 108

Skeptic has the ability to turn human-sized objects into puppets, customizing them to his liking and creating multiple at once. Although useful for labor or overwhelming opponents, the strength of each puppet is only equivalent to that of a normal adult, rendering them less effective against top-tier heroes.

His true value lies in his exceptional hacking skills, overseeing the security and communication for the Meta Liberation Army and the Paranormal Liberation Front. Despite La Brava’s superior hacking talent, Skeptic’s significant impact and the threat he poses are undeniable.

8 Lemillion

An Extremely Difficult Quirk to Master

Real Name: Mirio Togata
Quirk Name: Permeation
First Appearance: Episode 62

Lemillion’s ability allows him to phase through various objects and living beings, rendering him intangible. His quirk is especially advantageous for stealth missions, complemented by his capacity to predict adversaries’ movements, making him one of the most formidable young heroes.

However, Permeation is notoriously challenging to control. Mirio must consciously regulate which part of his body becomes intangible, and while fully utilizing his quirk, he loses the ability to see and breathe. Mirio’s position as a top hero despite these challenges highlights his dedication and hard work.

7 Sir Nighteye

A Fairly Good Quirk Elevated by Discipline and Focus

Nighteye with a film reel in My Hero Academia

Real Name: Mirai Sasaki
Quirk Name: Foresight
First Appearance: Episode 63

Sir Nighteye possesses the ability to accurately foresee an opponent’s moves for up to an hour, but can only focus on one target at a time. Unfortunately, there’s a cooldown period of 24 hours before he can activate Foresight again.

The limitations of his quirk are notable; merely seeing the future doesn’t guarantee effective counteractions. Remarkably, Nighteye has honed his physical capabilities through rigorous training, allowing him to act on the foresight he receives, making him exceptionally elusive in combat.

6 Eraser Head

A Fairly Decent Quirk Enhanced by Creativity and Perseverance

Real Name: Shota Aizawa
Quirk Name: Erasure
First Appearance: Episode 5

Eraser Head’s quirk enables him to temporarily nullify an opponent’s abilities just by gazing at them, but he must maintain direct line of sight. Additionally, he can affect multiple targets simultaneously as long as they are in view, though his quirk only remains active as long as his eyes are open, often resulting in significant eye fatigue.

Similar to Nighteye’s Foresight, Erasure has inherent drawbacks. While it can incapacitate weaker foes, formidable opponents with immense força can easily overpower him. To counteract this, Eraser Head has developed a unique fighting style using binding cloth and has trained extensively to ensure he can outmaneuver his adversaries.

5 Hello

He Becomes a Slim Figure

The Egyptian hero Salaam motivates Kaminari, Sero, and Mineta in My Hero Academia

Real Name: Unknown
Quirk Name: Papyrus
First Appearance: My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission

Salaam, a prominent hero from Egypt, has the ability to flatten his body to a paper-thin state, allowing him to slip through tight spaces and glide through the air for considerable distances.

While the potential uses of this quirk in combat are somewhat ambiguous, it may allow him to constrain foes with his slender frame or evade attacks. Nonetheless, it is not particularly practical for a hero, as his body can develop mold in humid conditions, much like actual papyrus. His rise to prominence as a hero is mainly attributed to his creativity and relentless dedication rather than the prowess of his quirk.

4. Nana Shimura

She’ll Only Hover Without One-For-All

Real Name: Nana Shimura
Quirk Name: Float
First Appearance: Episode 24

Nana Shimura, the Seventh User of One-For-All, possesses the Float quirk, enabling her to levitate freely. While she can control her altitude, the extent of her maneuverability without assistance is somewhat unclear.

While this ability has its advantages, it is not a particularly formidable combat quirk. Nana’s ability to combat powerful foes stems from her experience in utilizing One-For-All to bolster her innate abilities. The synergy between Float and the powers within One-For-All has enabled her to take on formidable adversaries like the All-for-One. Without the enhancements from One-For-All, her quirk would be limited to simple levitation.

3 Spinner

Gecko’s Appearance Without Gecko’s Strength

Spinner attached to a wall, thanks to his Gecko quirk in My Hero Academia

Real Name: Shuichi Iguchi
Quirk Name: Gecko
First Appearance: Episode 31

As a founding member of the League of Villains and a lieutenant of the Paranormal Liberation Front, Spinner’s quirk has permanently transformed him into an anthropomorphic gecko. His standout ability is the capacity to adhere to surfaces like a gecko, but he lacks many other natural perks attributed to real-life geckos.

While genuine geckos exhibit traits such as superior night vision, tail regeneration, and even water-walking, Spinner only gains the ability to stick to walls. This limitation renders him less effective in open spaces where there are no surfaces to cling to. His threat level primarily arises from his physical training and mastery of swordsmanship.

2 Everywhere

The First Hero to Confront All-For-One

Manga panel of One for All's 2nd user from my hero academia

Real Name: Kudo
Quirk Name: Gearshift
First Appearance: Episode 131

Kudo, leader of the Resistance against All-For-One during his reign of terror, is the second user of One-For-All. His quirk allows him to manipulate the speed of airborne objects, particularly bullets—altering their speed and direction as needed.

As the second One-For-All user, he cannot wield any additional quirks. However, the stored energy of One-For-All significantly enhances his Gearshift ability, which can affect larger objects, including living beings, with no upper limit on the speed boost. Kudo’s role as the first hero to stand against All-For-One symbolizes hope, igniting a legacy of resistance that continues through generations, ultimately culminating in the downfall of the formidable villain.

1 Stain

A Hero Killer with an Incredibly Weak Quirk

Akaguro Chizome (Stain) talking to All Might in My Hero Academia

Real Name: Chizome Akaguro
Quirk Name: Bloodcurdle
First Appearance: Episode 24

Stain’s quirk allows him to paralyze his opponent by ingesting their blood, which at first appears advantageous; however, the paralysis lasts only a maximum of ten minutes and is influenced by the target’s blood type. Successfully drawing blood from pro heroes poses a considerable challenge, and the constraints of his quirk often become detrimental.

Nevertheless, Stain’s relentless pursuit to take down heroes demonstrates his exceptional resolve and obsessive nature. He tirelessly conditions his body, meticulously chooses his weapons, and devises unique strategies to maximize the effectiveness of his abilities. Acting not out of greed or desire for recognition, but with the aim of purging society of unworthy heroes, Stain truly embodies the notion of a strong character who flourishes despite possessing a weak quirk.

Source