My Hero Academia is renowned for its diverse and imaginative array of Quirks, the unique superpowers that define its world. While some Quirks, like One For All and Explosion, enjoy the spotlight, many others with great potential are often underutilized. This article explores ten such Quirks that, due to various reasons, did not receive the screen time they deserved, limiting their impact on the story and their users’ development.
Underutilized Quirks and Their Untapped Potential
1. Magnetism
User: Magne
Magne’s Magnetism Quirk allows her to polarize individuals, making males and females attract or repel each other like magnets. This power, while briefly showcased, could have been a game-changer for battlefield control. Imagine her yanking allies out of danger or pulling enemies into traps. Its strategic value was barely tapped before Magne’s untimely demise. This Quirk had the potential to create chaotic and engaging combat scenarios, yet it was relegated to a minor role.
2. Foldabody
User: Edgeshot
Foldabody, wielded by the Pro Hero Edgeshot, is an incredibly versatile ability that allows him to manipulate his body’s thinness, essentially folding himself like paper. While it was used to infiltrate and deliver a vital healing factor, this Quirk’s full potential for combat, stealth, and rescue missions remains largely unexplored. Edgeshot could use it to evade attacks, slip through tight spaces, or even perform surprise attacks with his elongated limbs.
3. Wave Motion
User: Nejire Hado
Nejire Hado’s Wave Motion Quirk allows her to convert her vitality into spiraling energy waves. Although she is one of UA’s “Big Three”, her ability is mainly used for long-range attacks, with its versatility never fully realized. She could use it for more intricate maneuvers, such as creating barriers, propulsion, or even concussive bursts. Nejire’s underutilization extends to her overall character arc, as she could have served as a greater role model for other female heroes.
4. Double
User: Twice
Jin Bubaigawara, also known as Twice, has the Double Quirk, which allows him to create clones of himself and others. This ability, while used to create an army of duplicates, was never pushed to its creative limits. Twice was held back by his own mental instability, preventing him from using this quirk to its full capacity. The ability to create copies with their own Quirks has massive potential, both in battle and for strategic diversions.
5. Softening
User: Juzo Honenuki
Juzo Honenuki’s Softening Quirk allows him to change the composition of anything he touches, making it soft and malleable. Similar to Mirio’s Permeation, Honenuki can move through softened objects, but his ability remains underused. He could use it to disarm opponents, create traps, or even make pathways through solid structures, significantly impacting both combat and rescue scenarios.
6. Confession
User: Shin Nemoto
Shin Nemoto’s Confession Quirk forces his target to answer questions honestly. While not a combat Quirk, its intelligence-gathering potential is immense. It could be used in interrogations, strategy meetings, and even social situations. Its usefulness in Overhaul’s plans highlights its practicality, yet it’s not featured enough to showcase its potential across various situations.
7. Earth Flow
User: Pixie-Bob
Pixie-Bob’s Earth Flow allows her to manipulate the earth, creating landslides and shaping the terrain. Although this Quirk was briefly displayed, its destructive power was immediately nullified, preventing viewers from seeing its full potential. With creative usage, Earth Flow could be a dominant force, capable of controlling battlefields, creating defensive structures, and overwhelming opponents with natural disasters.
8. Warp Gate
User: Kurogiri
Kurogiri’s Warp Gate Quirk is a powerful teleportation ability that allows for strategic repositioning and slicing. While primarily used for utility, it was often overshadowed by other villain abilities, limiting its recognition. This Quirk is highly valuable for quickly moving allies across the battlefield, but also has the potential for more offensive tactics, like isolating enemies or creating unexpected entrances.
9. Earphone Jack
User: Kyoka Jiro
Kyoka Jiro’s Earphone Jack Quirk allows her to plug her earphone jacks into surfaces, listening for vibrations and creating sound-based attacks. While used for reconnaissance, it could be utilized with more diversity in combat. By manipulating sound waves, Jiro can disable opponents, cause distractions, or create focused sonic attacks that are stronger than simple shockwaves.
10. Copy
User: Neito Monoma
Neito Monoma’s Copy Quirk, allowing him to replicate the Quirks of others upon touch, is incredibly versatile. However, his use is often restricted by his 10 minute limit and inability to use more than one Quirk at a time. With more focus, Monoma could become a serious threat, able to mimic powerful Quirks and change the tide of battle. By mastering the ability to utilize multiple Quirks, Monoma could become a wild card in any fight.
Other Notable Mentions
Several other Quirks could also be included in the list of underutilized abilities. Denki Kaminari‘s Electrification could be used more strategically in rescue operations and in combat by manipulating the environment. Momo Yaoyorozu’s Creation Quirk, while powerful, is often limited by her lack of confidence, but could realistically create very destructive weapons. Ochaco Uraraka’s Zero Gravity also has more potential, and should have made her one of the most powerful characters in any setting, yet it does not. Even Inko Midoriya’s Quirk, which allows her to move small objects towards her could have become a useful support quirk with training.
Why Underutilization Happens
Several factors contribute to the underutilization of these Quirks:
- Focus on Main Characters: The narrative often prioritizes the development of main characters and their Quirks, which are usually combat oriented.
- Power Scaling: Flashier, more destructive Quirks often take center stage, overshadowing more utility-based abilities.
- Character Limitations: Some characters lack the confidence, creativity, or training to fully realize their Quirk’s potential, thus resulting in underutilization.
- Narrative Convenience: Sometimes, a Quirk’s potential is sacrificed for the sake of plot convenience.
Conclusion
My Hero Academia is filled with an enormous and diverse cast of characters with unique abilities. While some Quirks naturally become central to the plot, many others are left underutilized, resulting in lost potential and missed opportunities for creative combat, strategic maneuvers, and character development. By giving these Quirks more attention, the series could provide greater diversity, more engaging battles, and deeper character arcs. As the series progresses, it is hoped that these underutilized Quirks will be given the chance to shine.
