When heroes and villains come together on the battlefield, anime fans tend to root for the forces of good. But the world isn't always black and white, and villains aren't always evil. They may have simply drawn the short straw or been forced into a corner.

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In the world of My Hero Academia, there are many villains who are in that situation, rejected by society or manipulated by others. Izuku Midoriya isn't the only one to face violence and prejudice. Conversely, there are also villains who are true monsters and who deserve far worse punishments than they've received.

This article contains manga spoilers.

10 Deserved Better: Tenko Shimura Is All For One's Biggest Victim

Tomura Shigaraki being experimented on in My Hero Academia

The primary leader of the League of Villains, Tomura Shigaraki is hard to consider as anything other than a monster or a threat. But Tomura hasn't always been like that. Abused by his father for wanting to become a hero, he accidentally used his Quirk Decay on his family. Left traumatized, he was adopted by All For One and turned into the villain who hurts so many people.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 5 Ways Shigaraki Is Already Worse Than All For One (And 5 Reasons Why He Can Still Be Turned Good)

Some theories claim that All For One may have been the one to give Tenko his Decay Quirk. Considering Tenko's blurry memories, this may or may not be the case. Either way, whether All For One did give him Decay or not, the end result remains the same. Tomura Shigaraki becomes a tool in All For One's hands, and ultimately, his vessel.

9 Deserved Worse: All For One Is The Criminal Mastermind Ruining Everyone's Lives

my hero academia shigaraki all for one

The mysterious All For One is All Might's nemesis and greatest villain the heroes have to face. Coming from an era before Quirks truly settled in, All For One used societal chaos and uncertainty to build a criminal empire. One For All users--originating from his own brother--are the only ones who are truly a match for him, but he often sadistically kills them or mentally tortures them.

He kills All Might's mentor, Nana Shimura, and adopts her grandchild, Tenko, grooming him into becoming a villain. He seriously injures All Might himself in battle, and while All Might badly hurts him too, that is only a temporary setback. He is arrested and taken to Tartarus, but escapes, turning Tenko--now Tomura Shigaraki--into his new vessel.

8 Deserved Better: Kurogiri Is A Former Hero Student Turned Into A Nomu

Kurogiri warp gate villain

It's hard to think of a story that's more tragic than that of Oboro Shirakumo. The school friend of Shota Aizawa and Hizashi Yamada, he is killed during his Hero-Work Studies. The incident permanently traumatizes Eraserhead, making him extra harsh with his students as he tries to save them from a similar fate.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: 10 Times Eraserhead Was The Hero Everyone Needed

Unbeknownst to Shota and Hizashi, Oboro's corpse is scavenged and used in a nomu project. His body becomes the basis of the nomu Kurogiri, his quirk Cloud turning into Warp Gate. It is only after Kurogiri's capture that Eraserhead and Present Mic realize the horrible truth. This is one villain who certainly deserves better.

7 Deserved Worse: Kyudai Garaki Twists the Lives Of Others To Fit All For One's Schemes

Kyudai in My Hero Academia.

The mind behind the nomu project, Doctor Kyudai Garaki first appears in MHA as the physician telling Izuku about his Quirklessness. As the anime progresses, fans realize his true occupation is much more sinister. He's the most trusted subordinate of All For One, in charge of the nomu project, and involved in the plan of procuring a new body for his vicious employer.

Oboro Shirakumo is only one of the people he destroys. It's speculated that he may have stolen Izuku's Quirk, and the My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising villain Nine is also one of his projects. In the manga, he's eventually arrested, but that punishment is hardly enough.

6 Deserved Better: Magne May Have Been A Criminal But She Just Wanted To Be Accepted

Magne carrying a big magnet in My Hero Academia

Big Sister Magne rightfully earns her spot in the League of Villains. Before even joining Tomura Shigaraki's team, she commits nine armed robberies, three murders, and over twenty attempted murders. Her path is influenced by her desire to be free, to be accepted. It appears that being transgender made her face at least some degree of prejudice. Overhaul kills her precisely because she refuses to be a slave. Magne may have been a criminal, but she deserved better. Her death is later avenged by the League, but it is paltry comfort.

5 Deserved Worse: Overhaul Is Rightfully Punished But It May Have Been Too Little Too Late

overhaul

Kai Chisaki firmly believes that Quirks are a plague on society, and he's willing to do anything to fix that. He forcibly takes over the Shie Hassaikai and uses Eri's blood to make his Quirk-erasing bullets. He constantly experiments on her and makes her believe her Quirk is a curse. Captured after the raid on the Shie Hassaikai, he is attacked by the League of Villains and loses both of his hands to Mr. Compress and Tomura Shigaraki. It's a rightful punishment, but it may have been too little, too late.

4 Deserved Better: Twice Takes Refuge In The League Of Villains' Acceptance Of His Mental Health Issues

Twice's First Appearance MHA

Jin Bubaigawara's Quirk is one that has the potential to topple countries, but that hasn't helped him much. Orphaned at a young age, Twice finds himself unable to gain employment and resorts to a life of crime by using his own doubles. He spirals into the use of his ability so badly that he tries to make them do all his chores, which leads to his clones all rebelling and attacking each other. In the aftermath of the incident, Twice's mind shatters. He seems to have a form of dissociative identity disorder, and the only thing keeping him from 'splitting' is his mask.

Twice finds acceptance with the League of Villains and is loyal to Giran for bringing him there. Unfortunately for him, as he comes to accept his abilities once again, he becomes too dangerous. He refuses Pro Hero Hawks' help, and that forces Hawks to kill him.

3 Deserved Worse: The Hero Killer Stain's Ideals Have Merit But His Actions Make Him Only A Murderer

Stain Tenya My Hero Academia

Stain is a fanatic who believes he must purge society of heroes. According to him, the only real hero is All Might. Angry at hero society, he kills seventeen heroes and cripples twenty-four. His ideals indeed echo everything that is wrong with hero society. It's not unusual for heroes to be more concerned with their celebrity than with saving people, but Stain isn't much better either. What he is doing is glorified murder.

He targets every hero except All Might--and later, Izuku--and it's impossible for all of them to have been glory-seeking hounds. Ingenium, at the very least, is shown to focus on rescue missions, which is what a hero is all about. Stain couldn't care less, and he isn't punished as harshly as he should have been. Despite his hypocrisy, many criminals worship him and follow his ideals. Originally captured by Tenya Iida, Izuku Midoriya, and Shoto Todoroki, he is freed from Tartarus by All for One.

2 Deserved Better: Dabi's Traumatizing Upbringing Turned Him Into A Monster

My Hero Academia Dabi

The son of Pro Hero Endeavor, Touya Todoroki is born out of his father's obsessive desire to defeat All Might. His Quirk Cremation is more powerful than Endeavor's Hellflame, but it also burns his body. The mental strain placed on him during his childhood years shatters him, and he grows to hate not only his abusive father but also his brother Shoto. Neglected but determined, he has a Quirk accident that leaves him with serious burns. He becomes the villain Dabi seeking vengeance on Endeavor. If someone had stopped Endeavor's abuse sooner, Touya would have never taken that dark path.

1 Deserved Worse: Moonfish Is A Cannibal Who Should Have Never Been Unleashed On Society

my hero academia moonfish grabbed by dark shadow

A part of the Vanguard Action Squad, Moonfish is sent to retrieve Katsuki Bakugou for Tomura Shigaraki. But he's so obsessed with flesh that he gets distracted with other students. His demeanor suggests he is a cannibal. An escaped death row prisoner, he is taken into custody again after the Forest Training Arc, but is freed by All For One in Tomura's body.

NEXT: Which My Hero Academia Villain Are You Based On Your Zodiac Sign?