In its 10 years of publication, My Hero Academia has become one of the most iconic and popular shonen manga in the world. Now that this series has officially published its last chapter and concluded the story, let’s take a trip down memory lane to see some of the best long story arcs in this series.
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So what does a long story arc mean? For this list, we define it as story arcs that consist of 20 chapters or more. By that definition, out of 23 story arcs in the My Hero Academia manga, eight can be considered long story arcs. With that in mind, here are the longest story arcs in My Hero Academia, ranked by their length.
8 Dark Hero Arc
Deku Becomes A Vigilante
- No. Of Chapters: 22
- Chapters: 307–328
Like most shounen series out there, the story of My Hero Academia has a bright and cheerful atmosphere. At least that is the case for the majority of the series. The Dark Hero arc, however, is by far the darkest and bleakest story arc in this series.
This arc occurs after the disastrous end of the Paranormal Liberation War, the great escape from the Tartarus prison, and the devastating revelation about Endeavor’s past that quickly turns public opinion against heroes. The world turns into a dystopian place where nobody feels safe, which brings out the worst in everybody. This is also the time when Deku becomes a masked vigilante and purposefully acts as the bait for the villains who lurk in the shadows. It's a great arc with lots of page-turning moments.
7 U.A. Sports Festival Arc
A Great Introduction To The Students Of Class 1-A
- No. Of Chapters: 23
- Chapters: 22–44
When a series has an entire class as supporting characters, it can be quite challenging for the audience to recognize any of them, much less root for them. That’s why a story arc that can gather every supporting cast member and shine a light on them, like the U.A. Sports Festival, is a great way to introduce side characters.
This story arc is the perfect chance for the audience to see the main characters and every major supporting character in this series. Not only will they know more about their personalities at the conclusion of the arc, but they'll also get to see their quirks in action.
6 Meta Liberation Army Arc
The First National-Level Threat
- No. Of Chapters: 23
- Chapters: 218–240
Unlike a local organization like Shie Hassaikai, the Meta Liberation Army has followers all over the country. With high-ranking members in a big political party, giant tech, and a media company, and even hiding in plain sight as regular citizens and heroes, the Meta Liberation Army is a textbook definition of a national-level threat. Unfortunately, they make a big blunder by picking a fight with the League of Villains, and it results in one of the best open battles in My Hero Academia.
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Creating an open battlefield involving numerous characters is not an easy thing to do, and yet this series manages to not only do just that but also deliver a gripping story at the same time. There are so many moving parts in this arc, yet it is still fairly easy for the audience to follow the story and understand everything happening on the pages. That’s why this arc is among some of the best in the series.
5 Joint Training Arc
An Intense Battle Between Class 1-A And 1-B
- No. Of Chapters: 24
- Chapters: 194–217
As the name suggests, the Joint Training arc is all about a friendly clash between the students of the two main hero courses in U.A. High School: Class 1-A and Class 1-B. In a lot of ways, it is like the expanded version of the U.A. Sports Festival. The main difference is, rather than one-on-one fights, joint training is all about teamwork.
Thanks to this arc, viewers get to know more about the various quirks of the students in Class 1-B. Even better than that, they get to see the interesting dynamics between different characters and how the students from both classes come up with different strategies to take down their opponents. This is such a fun story arc and definitely an improvement over the U.A. Sports Festival arc.
4 Provisional Hero License Exam Arc
A Peek Into The Responsibilities Of Pro Heroes
- No. Of Chapters: 24
- Chapters: 98–121
When we hear the word “Hero”, the first thing that comes to mind is somebody with a superpower who goes around saving people and beating villains. Thanks to the Provisional Hero License Exam arc, we realize that there are a lot of nuances in the profession hero profession. From what to do during natural disasters, the proper way to rescue injured victims, and even what the heroes should do when they have to rescue a lot of victims while fighting against a group of villains at the same time.
Just like how the Joint Training arc is the expanded version of the U.A. Sports Festival arc, the Provisional Hero License Exam arc is also the expanded version of the Joint Training arc. Viewers see hero candidates from different hero schools in action, each with their own unique quirks and fighting style. With the coveted Hero License at stake, this arc is much more intense than both the Joint Training and U.A. Sports Festival arcs.
3 Shie Hassaikai Arc
Heroes Vs Yakuza
- No. Of Chapters: 41
- Chapters: 122–162
My Hero Academia has its fair share of villains who are part of organized crime, each posing their own dangers and pursuing their own objectives. The one who truly poses a threat to both heroes and regular people alike is none other than Shie Hassaikai, a Yakuza group led by a deranged young man named Kai Chisaki, also known by his villain name, Overhaul.
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Overhaul manages to create a serum that can permanently erase somebody’s quirk, and he fully intends to mass produce it in order to create a world where only a select few people can have quirks, with Shie Hassaikai ruling at the top. There are a lot of thrilling battles in this arc, some of which are quite heartbreaking. It's just an all around solid story arc.
2 Paranormal Liberation War Arc
The First Major Battle Between Heroes and Villains
- No. Of Chapters: 54
- Chapters: 253–306
The Paranormal Liberation War arc is undoubtedly My Hero Academia at its finest. So many interesting things are happening in the 54 chapters of this arc. Hawks infiltrating the enemy’s organization, the raids on the villains’ headquarters, uncovering the secrets of the Nomu, the return of the evil overlord, the death of numerous iconic characters, and the shocking revelation of Endeavor’s past, just to name a few.
This arc contains so many pivotal moments that forever alter the trajectory of the characters involved. Within this single arc, we get to see intense action sequences, heartbreaking drama, a spy thriller, tragic flashbacks, and a series of mind-blowing twists. Even the overall atmosphere of the series becomes darker, especially with the addition of public distrust and scrutiny that makes the story even more grounded and believable. That’s why we truly believe that the Paranormal Liberation War arc is one of the best story arcs in My Hero Academia.
1 Final War Arc
The War to End All Wars
- No. Of Chapters: 82
- Chapters: 343–424
My Hero Academia is excellent at directing a scene involving a crowd of characters, and The Final War arc is a testament to this series’ masterful crowdwork. In order to increase their chance of defeating All For One and his armies of villains, the heroes use the classic divide-and-conquer strategy. They forcefully drag the villains into different locations and defeat them one on one. From Deku vs Shigaraki to All For One vs Armored All Might, there are so many iconic battles happening throughout this arc.
The only blemish to this wonderful arc is the fact that it is a tad too long. There are moments when the story feels dragged out and loses its momentum. For reference, the recent hit manga Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku only has 127 chapters in total, while the legendary manga Death Note only has 110 chapters. So yes, 82 chapters for the final story arc is indeed a tad too long. Other than that, the Final War arc is undoubtedly one of the most intense story arcs in the series. It's a proper final arc for such an iconic manga series.
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