Summary
My Hero Academia’s power system is made up of hundreds of different quirks, each one brimming with limitless potential. While flashier quirks, such as Bakugo’s Explosion orTodoroki’s Half-Cold Half-Hot, take up much of the spotlight, one modest category of meta-abilities is often glazed over — animal-based quirks.
Animal-based powers are some of the strongest quirks inMy Hero Academia, with four of Japan’s top ten Pro Heroes boasting these quirks. Despite their substantial presence in Japan’s hero landscape, animal quirk users often face discrimination and prejudice over their heteromorphic appearance. The public’s opinion on animal-based quirks might vary, yet none can refute the indomitable strength these quirks possess.
Quirk Type
Mutant
Geckois arguably one of the weakest animal-based quirks inMy Hero Academia, as it only grants the user one meager ability. With this quirk, Spinner can stick to walls and camouflage himself, similar to a gecko.
The quirk itself is rather trivial, as it becomes useless in an area without buildings or other infrastructure to stick on. Gecko also gives the user the appearance of a scaly gecko, an aspect of the quirk that led to prejudice and hatred for Spinner. Nevertheless, Spinner has utilized this quirk to its maximum potential, even earning a spot in theLeague of Villains’s upper echelons.
As the name suggests,Doggrants the wielder the innate abilities of a dog, be it the animal’s strong sense of smell or heightened hearing. Asa Heteromorphic quirk, these powers are accompanied by a canine appearance, including paws, claws, and fur.
Dog is shared by two users: Hound Dog and Gigantomachia. While the Pro Hero Hound Dog naturally possesses this quirk, Gigantomachia was able to acquire the power through Dr. Garaki’s experiments. The quirk is crucial for search missions, as it can easily detect people in a large radius through smell alone.
Transformation
Despite being a Transformation quirk,Razor Sharpis more akin to a Heteromorphic power, as it gives a pair of mandibles that grant a mantis-like appearance. The quirk itself is rather simple, allowing the user to protrude sharp blades from any part of their body.
The quirk belongs toClass 1-B’s Jack Mantis, an ancillary character that makes a minor appearance in the series. The Joint Training arc showcased Jack Mantis’ powers to an extent, revealing the sturdy nature of his blades as he was able to cut through thick metal pipes with ease.
Ultimate Move
Centicoil
Centipedeis another Heteromorphic quirk that leads to a full-clad animal appearance. The quirk gives the user centipede-like extended limbs that can be used to restrain opponents. The pincers on the limb also produce venom, effectively paralyzing those immobilized.
While Juzo Moashi’s quirk might lend him a villainous image, he stands as a hero through and through. He served as Sir Nighteye’s sidekick, but after the Pro Hero’s passing, Juzo inherited the agency and continues to serve society.
Meteor Fafrotskies
Frogis an extremely versatile quirk, with Tsuyu Asui essentially gaining the anatomy and abilities of a frog.Unlike Gecko or Dog, Frog has a lot more to offer, especially since the quirk isn’t limited to a certain species or type of frog.
From her ability to cling to walls and jump extremely high to her camouflage and poisonous mucus, Tsuyu has access to every single frog-related ability out there. However, Frog’s potential is limited by its only weakness, leaving Tsuyu vulnerable to extreme temperature changes.
Black Abyss
Tokoyami’sDark Shadowis one of Class 1-A’s most underrated quirks, holding untapped potential that is yet to be harnessed. The quirk grants him a dark shadow that acts as a separate entity, taking on the appearance of a black crow.
Despite being part of Tokoyami, Dark Shadow has its own personality and identity, as it even acts on its own accord at times. The quirk also gives Tokoyami a bird head, though it’s likely that the mutation is separate from the quirk since Dark Shadow is a Transformation type ability.
Luna Fall
Similar to other Heteromorphic animal quirks,Rabbitlends Mirko all the abilities and skills of a rabbit. This ranges from cute, fluffy ears to overwhelming leg strength thatlets Mirko crush anythingin her wake.
Mirko also possesses other rabbit-related powers, such as heightened hearing and an enhanced sense of smell. She also gains the survival instincts of rabbits, as she instinctively becomes alerted to any nearby danger.
While not exactly an animal, dragons are often classified as reptiles, and Ryukyu’s scaly appearance certainly fits the bill. Ryukyu normally maintains her human form, asDragonneeds to be activated to take onits draconian form.
In her dragon state, Ryukyu grows in size tremendously and gains a scaly appearance with a pair of wings. The primary strength of the quirk lies in Ryukyu’s colossal size and strength, allowing her to take on multiple foes simultaneously.
Wielded by the former No. 10 Hero Gang Orca,Orcinusis anotherfully Heteromorphic animal quirk, giving the user the appearance and abilities of an Orca. In water, Gang Orca has superhuman strength and speed, while his abilities are somewhat limited on land.
Similar to real-life Killer Whales, Gang Orca can produce hypersonic waves that can paralyze targets at close range. As a sea mammal on land, he is susceptible to dehydration, though that can be mitigated with just a small splash of water.
Soundwave Vibration-Enhanced Flight Feather Blade
Fierce Wingsis an extremely versatile quirk, as it lends users a pair of wings that have individually detachable feathers. These feathers can be controlled telekinetically, and each one is sturdy enough to support the weight of a person. These feathers are sharp enough to pierce through villains or even be used as a sword.
With this simple quirk, Hawks was able to rise through the ranks and claim the No. 2 spot on the Hero Billboard. His creative usage of Fierce Wings showcases how a seemingly straightforward quirk can, in the right hands, turn into one of the strongest powers inMy Hero Academia.
