In My Hero Academia, characters are constantly pushed headfirst into complicated situations that require complicated analyses and strategizing to resolve. They usually develop watertight plans and stick to them rigidly, but there have been occasions when characters simply couldn't remain on the path pre-carved for them.
This has sometimes led to problems because characters lose track of their goal and devolve into petty squabbles, but on-the-fly thinking has often been the only way to cross a seemingly insurmountable barrier. Plans aren't always written in stone, although they do make for helpful guidelines.
Minor manga spoilers are below.
10 Yoarashi & Shoto Neglect The Provisional License Exam Final Round
Yoarashi attempts to befriend Shoto (for the second time) but is given the cold shoulder. He keeps trying, getting angrier each time his advances are rebuffed. Eventually, both boys begin quarreling during the Provisional License Exam, which perplexes everyone watching the match.
Gang Orca is understandably upset at Shoto and Yoarashi placing their personal relationship ahead of their mission, explaining why both of them fail the exam.
9 Bakugo Refuses To Team Up With Deku Against All Might
Bakugo's envy over Deku's spectacular growth reaches boiling point right before the U.A. Final Exam practical. He is absolutely livid when he learns that he has been paired with his childhood friend, not to mention that they have to "defeat" All Might in order to pass.
Deku begs him to work together, but Bakugo cruelly pushes him away, claiming that he doesn't need any strategy to fight the #1 Pro-Hero. This arrogant stubbornness relaxes gradually, though.
8 Deku Saves Uraraka Despite The Risk Of Failing The Entrance Exam
All Might tells his protégé not to overdo it at the entrance test for U.A. because he hasn't had any time to practice fighting with One For All, yet.
Deku is quite nervous when the countdown begins, getting more and more frustrated by his inability to score a single point. When Uraraka is about to be squashed by a giant robot, however, Deku forgets All Might's warning and goes charging in at full power.
7 Hawks Makes Endeavor Fight Dabi's New Nomu
Dabi asks Hawks to deliver a Pro-Hero to a specified location, hoping to test the High-End Nomu: Hood's combat limits. The Wing Hero smartly chooses Endeavor, leading to a battle that destroys half a city block and the Nomu itself.
Given that Hawks is a double agent, this is the best possible decision he could have made to protect his cover as well as avoid unnecessary deaths. More importantly, Endeavor lives up to his new status as the #1 hero by defeating an overpowering opponent.
6 Tenya Chases Stain After Lying To Deku
Stain's battle with Tensei Ida, also known as Ingenium, puts the latter in the ICU. The Pro-Hero's younger brother and Class 1-A's representative Tenya is filled with thoughts of vengeance and goes hunting for the Hero Killer on his own.
What's worse is that he lies directly to Deku's face, partly because he doesn't want his friend to be in danger because of his own rash actions. That said, Deku and Shoto are dragged into Tenya's fight, so his attempt at deception clearly didn't take.
5 Kirishima Unlocks Extra Power To Help Fat Gum
During the raid on the Shie Hassaikai, Fat Gum and his intern Kirishima are attacked by two members of the Eight Bullets. Hekiji Tengai's Barrier and Kendo Rappa's Strongarm work in perfect synchrony, forcing the heroes on the backfoot.
Kirishima's Hardening is shattered with a single punch, leaving his mentor to pick up the pace. However, the student jumps back into battle unexpectedly when it appears that Fat Gum is about to lose, giving the latter enough time to unleash his final move against the villains.
4 Deku Tells Bakugo The Truth About One For All
Deku reveals half his secret when Bakugo threatens to quit U.A. He claims that he wasn't lying about not having a Quirk earlier because he has inherited one recently. This confuses Bakugo, but he doesn't press the matter.
All Might is relieved that the truth about One For All is still under wraps, but not for long because Bakugo eventually pieces the jigsaw together (confirming his suspicions after Todoroki questions Deku's relationship with All Might).
3 Class 1-A Forces Deku To Return To U.A.
Deku turns into a vigilante after All For One gets out of Tartarus—he expects the villain to come after One For All, so he leaves U.A. and Class 1-A to keep them safe. Nevertheless, Deku doesn't quite comprehend how much his friends care for him, because they flat-out reject his idea to solo the All For One problem.
Bakugo even apologizes to Deku for the first time in MHA history, not to mention calling him Izuku in the same breath. Deku thankfully accepts Class 1-A's help after a brief but vigorous fight.
2 Himiko & Twice Betray The Shie Hassaikai
Nemoto employs his Confession Quirk to confirm if Tomura Shigaraki has any intention of misleading the Shie Hassaikai. He poses the question to Himiko Toga and Twice, receiving a negative response from both parties.
Overhaul is satisfied with their answers but fails to consider the possibility that the question itself may have been too direct. While Shigaraki never openly acknowledges his desire to destroy the Shie Hassaikai, Toga and Twice implicitly obey their boss' wish because they relate to it on an emotional level.
1 The Attempt To Rescue Bakugo From The League
Deku (naturally) is the most upset when Dabi drags Bakugo through Kurogiri's purple portal—Kirishima and Shoto are almost as devastated. The three boys obtain some much-appreciated assistance from Tenya and Momo, but the intrepid gang is practically paralyzed after witnessing All For One's terrifying strength firsthand.
Every plan they had devised up to this point is rendered useless, forcing Deku to conjure up one of the most daring strategies ever seen in the story. They successfully save Bakugo and flee the area, allowing All Might the freedom to exert his full power against All For One.