Tomura Shigaraki's Best Episodes in MHA, Ranked (2024)

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My Hero Academia has plenty of incredible episodes featuring the Pro Heroes and students doing heroic feats. However, some of the best episodes prominently feature one of the main villains. Tomura Shigaraki is a complicated and tragic character, who never fails to cause destruction, sorrow, and fear.

Episodes that prominently feature Shigaraki are among the best because of how emotional they are. His backstory, in particular, is heart-wrenching to even think about. Additionally, his Decay Quirk is so destructive and devastating that any episode where Shigaraki fights is sure to be full of high-octane action and chaos. Shigaraki is one of the best villains in anime, and any episode where he features prominently is one of the best.

10 "Encounter with the Unknown" Introduces Shigaraki

“Encounter with the USJ” is the first time audiences are introduced to Tomura Shigaraki. He and many other villains emerge from a portal to infiltrate the Unforseen Situation Joint (USJ) at U.A. High. Shigaraki looms menacingly at the back of the USJ, covered in hands, and on the prowl for All Might.

This episode gives audiences the first true taste of the kind of villain Shigaraki is going to become. He is creepy, grotesque, and singularly determined to kill All Might at all costs. This episode also shows Shigaraki’s ruthless nature, since he is not above harming children to achieve his goal.

9 "In Each of Our Hearts" Shows How Far Shigaraki Is Willing To Go

“In Each of Our Hearts” is a continuation of Shigaraki’s assault on the USJ. However, this is the first time that Izuku Midoriya (Deku) and Shigaraki begin to scuffle. Deku tries to land a hit on Shigaraki, but Shigaraki uses one of his henchmen, Kurogiri’s gates to warp around to try to decay the boy.

Thankfully, Shigaraki is stopped by Gunhead before things get any worse. However, it is scary thinking about how close Shigaraki is to either receiving or destroying One for All. This episode lets audiences know that Shigaraki isn’t above harming a child as long as it serves him in some way. This is also the episode where fans get a look into how fragile Shigaraki’s mind is, as he begins incessantly scratching at his exposed skin.

8 Inflation Gives Shigaraki A New Look

Despite losing his powers, Shigaraki faces the Class 1-A students yet again. Although he has a new look, it doesn’t detract from how diabolical he is. He fights with the same vigor as ever as Bakugo and the others attempt to fend him off.

“Inflation” is one of the best episodes for its dramatic action and Shigaraki’s new look. He shows off a new move that transforms his arms into a grotesque plethora of hands. But also while his powers are missing, audiences can still tell that he has a special connection to All For One through his outfit. The dark suit pants represent the All For One part of him, while the tattered cloak mirrors the unkempt Shigaraki. It’s a small piece of visual storytelling that helps viewers see how Shigaraki has evolved now that he is attached to All For One.

7 "All For One" Portrays A Flaw In Shigaraki's Ideology

“All For One” sees Katsuki Bakugo inside the League of Villains headquarters. It is here that Bakugo finally confronts the big bag, Shigaraki. Shigaraki is interested in Bakugo for his Quirk and his nasty attitude. He assumes that Bakugo thinks like him, and believes that all heroes should be disposed of. Thankfully, Bakugo balks at this insinuation and tells Shigaraki off.

All Might and Edgeshot burst through just before Shigaraki can get too violent. Yet, his interaction with Bakugo tells fans a lot about his character. In this episode, viewers see that Shigaraki believes that all angry Heroes must be villains. After all, it’s his anger that made him a villain, so everyone else must feel the same as him. Shigaraki cannot understand Bakugo’s love of Heroes when the Pros tell him to stifle his rage, but Bakugo doubles down and contradicts Shigaraki. In this moment, Shigaraki is most likely feeling guilt, seeing Bakugo still wishing for heroism. It makes him ashamed that he agreed to villainy so easily when he could have become a hero all along.

6 "Midoriya and Shigaraki" Displays Two Face-To-Face Meetings

“Midoriya and Shigaraki” not only depicts the discourse between Shigaraki and The Hero Killer: Stain but is also the second time that Midoriya and Shigaraki meet face to face. This time, however, their meeting isn’t on a battlefield, but in a mall.

Shigaraki encounters Midoriya to threaten him, All Might, and his classmates. All the while, Shigaraki’s hand gets closer to wrapping all five of his fingers around Midoirya’s neck. It is widely known that before his Quirk is awakened, Shigaraki has to touch something with five fingers before his Quirk can be activated. This episode is also the first glimpse audiences get of Shigaraki’s terrifying face. This episode is notable for this meeting scene and also for when Stain realizes that Shigaraki has no principles, only hatred in his heart.

5 "Disaster Walker" Is A Second Face-Off Between Shigaraki & Midoriya

“Disaster Walker” is a fantastic episode, since it shows a hand-to-hand conflict between the main hero and the main villain. To save everyone from a disastrous fate, Izuku Midoriya decides to face Shigaraki alone. The two clash ferociously, which becomes a battle of Quirks now that Shigaraki has seemingly as many Quirks as Midoriya does.

“Disaster Walker” is one of the best episodes because of how intense their battle is. The stakes and emotions are high as these two rivals finally come face-to-face. Others try to intervene, but both Midoriya and Shigaraki know that the ultimate battle will be between the two of them. Even if this fight isn’t their last, it establishes how strong they have both become, so they can each be ready for the next time.

4 "My Villain Academia" Is Where Shigaraki Gains Prominence

“My Villain Academia” shows Shigaraki facing off with Gigantomachia over and over again. Gigantomachia only listens to All For One, so Shigaraki has to continuously fight the giant until Gigantomachia is satisfied that Shigaraki is as strong as All For One. The two fight day and night with little rest. The other League of Villains members even think Shigaraki won’t survive the ordeal. However, Shigaraki manages to be victorious in the end.

“My Villain Academia” demonstrates how single-minded Shigaraki is. When he has set his mind on a goal, he will do absolutely nothing else until he reaches it - even if it nearly kills him. This episode solidifies Shigaraki not only as a main villain but as a powerhouse villain. Once Gigantomachia is defeated, it is a signal that Shigaraki has finally become the most devastating villain in the My Hero Academia universe.

3 "The Thrill of Destruction" Displays Shigaraki's Augmented Power

Shigaraki has spent the last few months submerged in a tube, gaining more power. Dr. Garaki has been treating him Iike a Nomu, imbuing him with even more Quirks. Although he isn’t “done” by Dr. Garaki’s standards, Shigaraki’s tank is smashed open. He emerges with more power, more Quirks, and a need to seek out One For All.

Almost as soon as he wakes up, Shigaraki disintegrates one of the Pro Heroes. Since his Quirk has awakened and evolved, he immediately gets to work decaying the entirety of Dr. Garaki’s lab, and all the people in it. His immense display of power is as shocking as it is horrifying. Shigaraki has reached the pinnacle of his power, and it seems like nothing will stop him.

2 "Tomura Shigaraki: Origin" Presents Shigaraki's Backstory & Awakened Quirk

“Tomura Shigaraki: Origin” completes the Tenko Shimura backstory. It shows how Tenko was finally found and taken in by a man named Shigaraki, who fans can surmise is All For One. All For One changed Tenko’s name and raised him as his protégé. It is also All For One who forces Tenko to wear the hands of his dead relatives on his face, so his hatred will always fuel his Quirk.

Also in this episode, fans see the anticipated fight between Shigaraki and Re-Destro. Although Re-Destro is exceedingly powerful due to his Stress Quirk, he is no match for Shigaraki’s awakened Decay. This episode is full of action and emotion, bringing a terrible end to how Tomura Shigaraki came to be who he is now.

1 "Tenko Shimura: Origin" Displays A Hopeful Child

“Tenko Shimura: Origin” gives viewers a backstory of how Shigaraki became the man he is today. The episode focuses on a young boy named Tenko Shimura who dreams of becoming a hero someday. However, his abusive father is completely against heroes and becomes even more violent when they are brought up. The constant abuse and confusion Tenko receives leads to his Quirk revealing itself in the most horrific way possible.

It is finally revealed that Tenko is Tomura Shigaraki. Tenko’s Decay Qurik awakens, and he accidentally kills his entire family with it. The utter horror and grief Tenko feels is the beginning of how Tomura came to be. This episode is the most heartbreaking in the whole series. It shows the despicable harm that can be wrought by abuse. It also depicts how desperation and despair can lead to people doing unspeakable things.

My Hero Academia (2016)

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That’s right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that’s not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies.

Release Date

May 5, 2018

Cast

Daiki Yamash*ta , Justin Briner , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Ayane Sakura

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

6

Production Company

Bones

Number of Episodes

145