Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia is swiftly heading towards an ostensibly explosive conclusion, with dozens of characters participating in the manga's final battle royale. As of August 2022, there have been 362 chapters published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, of which 350 have been collected into 35 tankobon volumes. That said, the anime covers only up to Volume 26 of the manga.

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Unsurprisingly, the highest-rated My Hero Academia volumes on Goodreads contain the most shocking plot twists and character arcs in the story. However, it must be noted that Goodreads reviewers are largely non-Japanese, so their favorite choices might well be different from Japanese readers.

This article contains spoilers for the My Hero Academia manga.

10 Deku's Accomplishments In Volume 9 Are Particularly Admirable — 4.57

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 9.

Volume 9 covers most of the Forest Camp Training arc. Class 1-A is sent on a summer workcation to The Beast's Forest, where they undergo a grueling training regimen with Pixie Bob, Tiger, Mandalay, and Ragdoll. The League of Villains' Vanguard Action Squad attacks the camp, but the students and teachers work together to defeat most of them.

Deku's accomplishments in "My Hero" are particularly admirable — he vanquishes the overpowered Muscular with his 1,000,000% One For All, consequently restoring little Kota's faith in heroism. Unfortunately, Bakugo is kidnapped by the League, leaving Deku distraught and inconsolable.

9 Volume 10 Brings All For One To The Forefront — 4.58

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 10.

Volume 10 deals with the fallout of the Forest Camp Training Arc. U.A. publicly apologizes for its mistakes while Eraser Head reassures everyone that Bakugo would never turn to the dark side. Kirishima, Deku, Shoto, Tenya, and Momo decide to rescue Bakugo from the League, an extremely dangerous mission for most Pro Heroes, let alone mere teenagers.

The students accidentally discover the villains' Nomu-construction plant in the process. Bakugo rejects Tomura's invitation exactly as Eraser Head had predicted, infuriating the villains. Edgeshot, All Might, Gran Torino, and Kamui Woods successfully neutralize the League, only for All For One to re-kidnap Bakugo via his Warping Quirk.

8 Volume 31 Is Centered Around One For All's Inherent Properties — 4.59

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 31.

Although the League of Villains escapes the skirmish at Jaku City, Tomura's newfound powers terrify both the Pro Heroes and the general public. On a slightly positive note, the Todoroki family is finally reunited by Dabi's revelation, even if it delegitimizes Endeavor's standing as a Pro Hero.

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Subtitled "Izuku Midoriya and Toshinori Yagi," Volume 31 is centered around One For All and its inherent properties. Deku spends his coma ensconced in his inner world, where he converses with his predecessors. He bravely chooses to save Tomura from All For One's predatory clutches, delighting Nana Shimura to tears. Unfortunately, Tomura breaches Tartarus prison and liberates All For One, throwing the country into crisis mode.

7 Volume 17 Is All About Mirio Togata & His Unbreakable Willpower — 4.61

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 17.

Volume 17 is all about Mirio Togata and his unyielding willpower — the million in his name refers to the number of people he wants to save over the course of his career. During the Shie Hassaikai raid, Mirio is the first hero to reach the Yazuka's subterranean lair. He gradually overwhelms Overhaul, explaining why Shin Nemoto evens the scales by aiming a Quirk-destroying bullet at Eri.

Mirio gladly takes the bullet and saves the child, but he is rendered quirkless as a result. To make things worse, Sir Nighteye receives a fatal wound from Overhaul, leaving an enraged Deku to pick up the slack. Eri's Rewind Quirk luckily helps Deku maintain One For All at 100%, allowing him to obliterate Overhaul in seconds.

6 Volume 11 Introduces Readers To The Post-All Might Era — 4.61

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 11.

Bakugo's abduction leads All Might to his most dangerous adversary in My Hero Academia's Volume 11. Deku, Kirishima, and Tenya devise a foolproof plan to rescue their captured friend, giving All Might the opportunity to go all out. Readers discover that All For One isn't someone to be trifled with, considering how easily he deflects All Might's attacks while trying to break his spirit at the same time.

The #1 Pro Hero spiritually connects with his beloved mentor, Nana Shimura, who bolsters his flagging resolve. All Might concentrates all his remaining power into a single punch, defeating All For One in a pyrrhic victory. The unconscious villain is promptly imprisoned in Tartarus, where he blithely contemplates Tomura's limitless potential as All For One's next vessel.

5 Volume 27 Ends On A Heartbreaking Note, With Hawks Killing Twice — 4.62

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 27.

Hoping to extract sensitive and strategic information, the Pro Heroes Association sends Hawks to spy on the Paranormal Liberation Front in "One's Justice." Hawks plays his double agent role to near-perfection, effectively entering the villains' confidence. Twice happily shares his innermost thoughts and feelings with Hawks, only to be betrayed when the hero reveals his true allegiance.

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Volume 27 ends on a heartbreaking note — Hawks kills Twice, arguably one of the most sympathetic villains in My Hero Academia. An exhausted Hawks later escapes Dabi's fiery blasts with Tsukuyomi's assistance. Meanwhile, an elite Pro Hero group launches an attack on Jaku General Hospital, forcing Kyudai Garaki to stall them with a squadron of his High-End Nomus.

4 Volume 28 Depicts Tomura Shigaraki's Terrifying Metamorphosis — 4.64

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 28.

Mirko battles Kyudai Garaki's High-End Nomu, killing one of them by ripping its head clean off its shoulders. She ultimately shatters Tomura Shigaraki's stasis capsule using her Luna Arc technique, but the villain emerges completely unscathed. "The Thrill of Destruction" refers to Tomura's overzealous attack on Jaku in Volume 28, reducing entire city blocks to rubble with his Decay Quirk.

Hundreds of civilians and Pro Heroes are killed instantly, so the survivors mount a joint defense against the now-overpowered Tomura. Endeavor, Eraser Head, and Ryukyu are beaten back by the villain, but Bakugo and Deku's timely arrival saves the Pro Heroes from being Decay-ed.

3 Shoto Todoroki Undergoes A Significant Transformation In Volume 5 — 4.64

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 5.

Shoto outright renounces the fire half of his quirk as it would mean surrendering to his father's selfish vision. Deku encourages his friend to unleash his full potential, while simultaneously bombarding him with a stream of brute force attacks. Shoto ultimately realizes that he's not an extension of Endeavor and that his quirk belongs to him and him alone.

Shoto's Flashfreeze Heatwave knocks Deku out of the ring, effectively disqualifying him from the U.A. Sports Festival. This explosive match is packed with action, emotion, and spectacular fireworks from both combatants. Volume 5 takes Shoto on a rather difficult journey, but he manages to overcome every single hurdle thrown at him.

2 Dabi Reveals His True Identity In Volume 30 — 4.67

An image from My Hero Academia — Volume 30.

Tomura/AFO successfully makes contact with Deku, the only prerequisite needed to steal the latter's One For All. The villain's ostensibly foolproof plan fails because Yoichi Shigaraki and Nana Shimura manage to nip his attempt in the bud. In the real world, Dabi finally spills his most shocking secret — that he is actually Toya Todoroki, Endeavor's firstborn son and original heir.

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This revelation stuns nearly every character in the manga, although many fans had been expecting this announcement for quite some time. Best Jeanist thankfully captures Dabi before he can incinerate Shoto. Dabi's true identity isn't the only surprise in Volume 30: Mirio returns to the battlefield with his Permeation Quirk fully restored.

1 Volume 29 Signifies A Massive Paradigm Shift In Bakugo's Character Arc — 4.69

My Hero Academia — Volume 29

Despite having strength in numbers, the Pro Heroes pale in comparison to an awakened Tomura, who casually counters their strongest attacks. The combined forces of Endeavor, Gran Torino, and Eraser Head are unable to defeat this villain, leaving Deku to save everyone by using his Float and Blackwhip Quirks.

The highest-ranked My Hero Academia volume on Goodreads, "Katsuki Bakugo: Origin," signifies a massive paradigm shift in his character arc. Not only does Bakugo shed his iconic hostility for the first time, but he willingly decides to sacrifice himself to protect Deku from Tomura/AFO's lethal attack. Bakugo's metamorphosis in Volume 29 is nothing short of extraordinary.

NEXT: My Hero Academia: 10 Most Unique Hero Costume Designs, Ranked