All brawn and no brain can only get a person so far, regardless of how overpowered their Quirk may be (with Kaminari as the perfect example). Heroes also need a keen mind for strategy to ensure the most effective results of their superpowers with quick-thinking adaptability that will allow them to successfully navigate throughMy Hero Academia’sbattlefields.
Related:My Hero Academia: Things To Look Forward To In Season 6
Sir Nighteye certainly deserves an honorable mention here, as he was once considered one of the sharpest, most knowledgeable Pro-Heroes around, but sadly even Mirai Sasaki’s brilliance couldn’t cheat death. To keep things fair, the following content will be dedicated to those who have managed to survive until Season 6 ofMy Hero Academia(so far).
10The Strategic Narcissist
Neito Monoma may be themost aggravating person in Class B(if not the whole series) but his unappealing characteristics do not negate his intellectual capacity. The Phantom Thief has proven to be exceptionally manipulative and calculating, however, he can also be loyal and dependable on the battlefield.
This narcissist can significantly alter his personality to suit each situation, going from relaxed and charismatic to vexing and offensive in an instant. Neito can also quickly assess someone’s Quirk and strategize how he could best utilize it, while simultaneously goading his opponent into second-guessing which superpowers he may (or may not) possess.
9The Analytical Amphibian
Tsuyu Asui (who prefers the name “Tsu”) is highly underestimated regardingher alternative fighting styleand sound judgment calls, as she often takes her time to adequately assess the situation before making any impulsive decisions.
Related:My Hero Academia: Most Underrated Quirks So Far
Froppy’s keen attention to detail regularly allows her to maintain some element of control during battle, as she always seems to be two steps ahead of everyone else. Tsu shows great maturity for her age as she had many responsibilities growing up as the oldest sibling and therefore would rather follow the path of logical thinking than rely on emotional responses.
8The Innovative Inventor
Mei HatsumeisMy Hero Academia’svery own Tinkerbell, with an engineering mind that could arguably put even Nikola Tesla to shame! This cooky creator produces custom-made items for her classmates, often going over and above the initial design concepts to produce awe-inspiring results.
Still a student herself, Mei is not yet above making (combustible) mistakes and (explosive) miscalculations, but she always seems to know exactly where the problem lies and how best to fix her “super cute babies”. Many fan-favorite heroes-in-training would not be as accomplished as they are without this support hero’s remarkable brainpower (and even All Might wishes she could’ve helped him in his youth!)
7The Dedicated Deep Thinker
It’s probably safe to say thatIzuku Midoriya knows more about Heroesthan anyone else, along with a thorough understanding of a multitude of Quirks. Unlike many others, Deku does not watch battles for the entertainment value but sees it as an opportunity to gather more information and strategize possible solutions as to how best to personally counter or collaborate with each Quirk.
Izuku is well known for muttering to himself whilst formulating ideas; proving how regularly the young man gets engrossed in his extensive thought processes. He is often the first to come up with a plan of action and has subsequently become the unofficial leader of Class A (just don’t tell Bakugo!)
6Top-Notch Tea Time
Saiko Intelli only stuck around for a short time, but still managed to leave quite an impression with her magnificent mind. Her IQ-boosting Quirk claims all the credit, as it briefly increases Saiko’s intelligence while she sips on sometea, while the quality of the brewis proportional to her heightened brilliance.
Related:My Hero Academia: All Deku Suit Upgrades, Explained
This Seiai Academy scholar goes up against Momo and Tsu’s team during the Provisional Hero License Exam and dominates them without breaking a sweat, as her ingenious strategy seemed impossible to defeat. However, Saiko’s IQ Quirk is incapable of catering to her opponents' Emotional Intelligence, which, coupled with her arrogance, is her ultimate downfall in the end.
5The Brainy Big Sis
Itsuka Kendo shows a perceptive brilliance that rivals even Momo Yaoyorozu’s, who often find themselves categorized together (in terms of brainsandbeauty!) Her quick-witted responses duringthe Forest Training Camp Arcliterally saved lives, thanks to Itsuka’s speedy assessment of Mustard’s Quirk and effective counterstrategy to both rescue students and locate the enemy.
Itsuka manipulates her opponents in the Joint Training Battle better than any Chess Grandmaster could, being fully aware of all the Quirks at play (on both sides) and how best to gain the upper hand. Even Class A’s plans were out-maneuvered with ease, successfully earning her team an amazing 4-0 victory.
4The Beautiful Bookworm
Momo Yaoyorozu may not have a clean record of wins under her belt, but the losses she has suffered are often due to a lack of confidence and is not reflective of her superior mentality. Creati is thetop student in Class Aand her wisdom translates quite smoothly onto the battlefield, whereby her level-headed logic frequently dominates the situation.
Creati has the ability to create almost anything imaginable, which would likely overwhelm many heroes with choices and produce unfortunate results. Momo, however, can calculate the mass of each object, the amount of time it will take to make, and how taxing it will be on her body, withinminutes.
3Brilliant Battle Tactics
Even though Shota Aizawa’s Quirk is extremely advantageous, it does not contain a physical-attack component, and soEraser Head has subsequentlycome up with some ingenious countermeasures, arguably making him the most potent teacher around.
Related:My Hero Academia: Smartest Villains, Ranked
Aizawa becomes even more formidable when shrouding his eye with specialized goggles, ensuring that his opponents are never certain of where his gaze lands (and which Quirk no longer works). Eraser Head is constantly assessing and strategizing, when he is not fast asleep that is, however, considering how alert he needs to be during combat, Eraser Head deserves a free pass for this small flaw.
2The Easy-Going Expert
Even though Keigo TakamiQuirk can dominate during combat, many believe his No 2 Pro-Hero status was earned largely due to his incredibly advanced intellect. This cunning, observant quick-thinker is rarely caught unawares, and he can control each of his feathers individually whilst maintaining a conversation; now that is extreme multi-tasking!
Hawks spends a great deal of mental energy on minimizing his workload, knowing that success is obtainable from working smart, not hard. His desire for a lazy lifestyle does not impede his responsibilities, however, as this highly-dependable Hero can somehow manipulate most situations to his will.
1The Perspicacious Principal
Whether he is a “dog or a mouse or a bear,“one thing is certain: Principal Nezu isthe smartest Hero around!HisHigh Spec Quirk elevates his intellectual aptitude enough to surpass any human (superpowered or otherwise) making him much more dangerous than first impressions dictate.
His advanced skills are put on full display during the Final Exams Arc, where, as a faux villain, Nezu makes it impossible for Kaminari & Ashido to pass their test as their principal forces them into a corner with his foolproof strategy. According to the “My Hero Academia: Ultra Archive” book, Nezu’s intelligence level is literally off the charts, earning him the top spot in the battle of wits.
Season 6 ofMy Hero Academiais currently streaming onCrunchyroll, with new episodes released on Saturdays.
