My Hero Academia presents a world where almost anyone can train hard enough with their Quirk to become a great hero, even if they start from nothing. Still, it pays to be born with an incredible Quirk, and Katsuki Bakugo would know what that feels like. With his Explosion ability, he could even take on pro heroes and have a chance of winning.
Bakugo could find a good sparring partner, such as the elderly but tough Gran Torino, and prove what he is capable of. Gran Torino once trained All Might and Izuku personally, so there's no doubt he could keep pace with Bakugo. But could he put this explosive youngster in his place? Maybe not.
Katsuki Bakugo's Skills & Power: Explosions And A Bright Mind
Katsuki Bakugo was born with multiple gifts, giving him enormous potential as a hero. To begin with, he fuels his Quirk with nitroglycerin sweat, a trait he inherited from his mother Mitsuki. He can set off explosions in his palms, like his father Masaru. Remarkably, he gets stronger the more he uses his powers in battle, not weaker. As he exerts himself, Bakugo will keep sweating more and more, fueling his explosions to new heights. Before long, he can pull off super-moves like the Howitzer Impact for maximum carnage. He can also use a stun grenade-style effect with his Quirk, creating an intense flash of light to blind his opponents and hide his movements.
Bakugo can also maneuver with his Quirk, and he has a sharp mind that keeps pace with his power. When Bakugo sets off smaller, more controlled explosions with his palms, he can propel himself forward like a rocket. Bakugo has a clever mind and insightful eyes that nearly match those of his rival Izuku. He's smart and tough, a fearsome combination.
Gran Torino's Skill & Power: Fancy Moves And Years Of Experience
Gran Torino has a Quirk called Jet, which releases blasts of pressurized air from his feet to propel him around the battlefield at high speed. He primarily uses this ability to bounce around the battlefield like a pinball and evade enemy attacks, then he can use his sheer momentum to deliver kicks. Gran Torino's kicks don't hit especially hard, but they're fast and can come from any angle, making defense difficult for most opponents. In a way, Gran Torino shares a battle strategy with Tenya Iida of class 1-A, but Gran Torino can change directions more easily and doesn't run in a straight line for long. One of Gran Torino's main roles in the story was to first train All Might, then Izuku, and he inspired both students to unlock the true potential of One For All.
Gran Torino has seen and done it all in his years as a hero, and he understands the basics of nearly any battle strategy or Quirk. There's a right way and a wrong way to do just about anything, and Gran Torino can see right into the heart of a strategy or Quirk and figure out the optimal route to take. For example, he helped Izuku devise the Full Cowling effect, spreading the power of One For All across Izuku's entire body to enhance his mobility and avoid extreme strain on any given body part.
Katsuki Bakugo Vs. Gran Torino - Who Wins?
In this fight, it's a matter of explosive firepower vs. superior maneuverability, and at first, Gran Torino will have the edge. Bakugo starts any fight with minimal firepower since he's not sweating much yet. Gran Torino will quickly assess Bakugo's personality and thus predict his moves. That, combined with superior agility and speed, will allow Gran Torino to zip around the battlefield to evade Bakugo's explosions, then deliver a few hard kicks to knock Bakugo around. Bakugo will take a bruising, but he's a tough kid, and he'll soon realize what he must do. Air is the key.
Gran Torino is light and fast, using jets of air to move around. So what if the air was pushing back? Bakugo will disrupt Gran Torino's maneuverability by setting off explosions all over the place, and the sudden detonations will forcefully throw hot air all over the place, which will throw off Gran Torino's moves. Now Gran Torino can't so easily land a kick, and he will be vulnerable as he is thrown off by the rushes of heated air. By now, Bakugo is starting to sweat more, and he can try to land a hit on Gran Torino himself.
It won't be easy, but if Bakugo can disrupt his opponent's maneuvering enough, then he'll eventually land a blow, or even grab hold of Gran Torino's arm or leg. If he can manage that, or set off a stun grenade move, then Bakugo can focus all his explosive power on an AP shot (one of his most advanced moves) and strike Gran Torino with a concentrated, piercing attack. Gran Torino has gone down at last.