Overview
- Shigaraki’s body modifications provide him with greater strength, speed, and durability compared to All For One.
- Shigaraki’s compelling backstory and relatable origins elevate him as a more effective villain than All For One in My Hero Academia.
- While All For One possesses considerable experience, Shigaraki’s physical capabilities, along with his Awakened Decay ability, tip the scales in his favor during a confrontation.
In the realm of My Hero Academia, few villains command as much attention as All For One and Tomura Shigaraki. All For One stands as the primary adversary of the revered hero All Might, whereas Shigaraki serves as his successor and current bearer of All For One’s Quirk. Should these two formidable foes engage in battle, who would ultimately claim the title of the ultimate embodiment of evil within the series?
“I know that boy will rise to the occasion. He was born twisted.”- All For One regarding Tomura
For clarity, this comparison focuses on both characters at their peak strengths. We will examine Shigaraki enhanced with the All For One Quirk and his body modifications against All For One during his prime, prior to his battle injuries inflicted by All Might and bolstered by the Rewind drug in the Final War Arc.
Assessing The Stronger Villain
Analyzing The Contestants
In evaluating their Quirk versatility, Shigaraki holds a slight advantage. Both characters share similar Quirk frameworks; however, Shigaraki’s unique Decay ability differentiates him. His advanced body modifications enable him to emit waves of destructive fingers that activate Decay, a power that All For One lacks.
When comparing raw strength, Shigaraki prevails. While All For One is formidable, demonstrated by his clashes with All Might, much of his power comes from various stolen Quirks enhancing his physical capabilities. Conversely, Shigaraki’s enlarged strength and resilience stem not only from these Quirks but also from his own body alterations executed by Kyudai Garaki, significantly amplifying his physical prowess. Following this enhancement, Shigaraki’s might was noted to be on par with Endeavor, even surpassing All Might in some regards.
In terms of speed and durability, Shigaraki maintains his edge over All For One. Although All For One also utilizes Quirks to bolster these traits, Shigaraki’s modifications offer an additional boost that could impede All For One’s performance.
All For One’s primary advantage lies in his extensive combat experience. As a seasoned fighter with a history of engagements, he has accumulated tactical knowledge over the years. Nonetheless, it’s worth pondering whether Shigaraki, harboring All For One’s vestige within him, tacitly benefits from some of that accumulated wisdom as well.
Verdict: Shigaraki Emerges Victorious
Ultimately, the battle would likely favor Shigaraki. Despite All For One’s tactical acumen and purported intellect, Shigaraki is no fool; his observant nature parallels that of Deku, narrowing the disparity in mental aptitude. However, the considerable gap in physical attributes—strength, durability, and speed—is insurmountable for All For One. It’s astonishing that Shigaraki can defeat top-tier heroes without relying on his Quirks. With Shigaraki’s Awakened Decay ability, All For One would hesitate to steal his Quirks, while Shigaraki would not share such reservations in their encounters.
In a hundred battles, it’s plausible that All For One might seize victory narrowly on a few occasions, contingent on favorable circumstances. Nevertheless, Shigaraki’s demonstrably superior stats would allow him to consistently affirm his dominance as the more formidable villain.
Evaluating The Better Villain
Indeed, It’s Still Shigaraki
Shigaraki boasts a more compelling origin narrative compared to All For One. While All For One emerged as a psychopath from birth with little inclination toward redemption, Shigaraki’s backstory is steeped in melancholy. He endured an abusive upbringing, while in secret, All For One manipulated events around him. Gifted or perhaps cursed with Decay, his powers manifested tragically during a moment of vulnerability, leading to the devastation of his family. His journey toward becoming a villain was not a choice but a result of forces beyond his control. Initially, Shigaraki admired heroes and aspired to be one; had he not been influenced by All For One, he might have walked a different path.
Additionally, All For One serves as an antithesis to All Might, whereas Shigaraki, thematically, aligns more closely with Deku, the series’ protagonist. His motivations resonate deeper with Deku, positioning Shigaraki as the principal adversary in a narrative that digs into themes of heroism and villainy.
Catch up on My Hero Academia by streaming on platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix. Don’t miss the upcoming series, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, set to debut on April 7, 2025.