Katsuki Bakugo(爆豪勝己,Bakugō Katsuki), also known by his childhood nicknameKacchan(かっちゃん,Katchan) and his hero nameGreat Explosion Murder God Dynamight(大爆殺神ダイナマイト,Daibakusasshin Dainamaito), is the deuteragonist ofMy Hero Academia. He was a student in Class 1-A at U.A. High School, where he trained to become a Pro Hero.

Following the events of the Final War, Katsuki graduated from U.A. High School and became a high-ranking Pro Hero with an unrelenting drive to defeat his enemies. Eight years later, he continues to be a formidable hero known for his explosive combat style.

Katsuki Bakugohas a distinctive style both in and out of his hero costume:

Katsuki Bakugo has a distinctive style both in and out of his hero costume:

Katsuki Bakugo is known for his crude, arrogant, and aggressive personality, especially during his early years atU.A. High School. He often exhibits overconfidence, a short temper, and a strong competitive streak, which led him to initially appear unheroic, even going so far as to bully a young, QuirklessIzuku Midoriya. Katsuki frequently boasted about the power of hisExplosionQuirk and showed open hostility toward Izuku, whom he nicknamed “Deku,” meaning useless or incapable. He discouraged Izuku’s dream of becoming a hero, especially given Izuku’s lack of a Quirk.

Katsuki’s confidence stemmed from the constant praise he received for his abilities, leading to a superiority complex. He desired to be the best at everything and had an insatiable hunger for victory. Katsuki’s early hero training only magnified this desire, and his extreme competitive nature made him hostile toward anyone he perceived as a rival, particularly Izuku. Despite his arrogance, Katsuki always valued hard work and refused to acknowledge victories he deemed unearned, as seen in theU.A. Sports Festivalwhen he was unhappy with his first-place finish due to feeling it was not a proper victory.

Katsuki’s character development throughout the series is notable. His initial antagonism gradually gave way to a deeper self-awareness as he experienced losses and learned the true meaning of heroism. His personal defeats—some of them at Izuku’s hands—forced Katsuki to confront his flaws. This realization led to a slow but meaningful maturation, during which he began to value teamwork, though he still retained his condescending and abrasive tendencies.

Katsuki’s intelligence and perceptiveness also shine through as he grows. Despite his volatile demeanor, he is an exceptionally capable strategist and improviser, able to adapt quickly in battle. His high academic scores reflect his dedication, even though he rarely shows interest in anything other than hero work.

Though initially solitary, Katsuki learned to respect his classmates, especially those who challenged him, such asOchaco UrarakaandEijiro Kirishima. While still prone to insulting others with nicknames like “Half-and-Half” (Shoto Todoroki) or “Dunce-Face” (Denki Kaminari), Katsuki eventually started working better with others, acknowledging the importance of collaboration. His natural leadership skills began to emerge as he became a more reliable and assertive figure withinClass 1-A.

His rivalry with Izuku also evolved. Although the two shared a tumultuous history, with Katsuki bullying Izuku for his perceived weakness, Katsuki later admitted that his bullying stemmed from insecurities. This culminated in a heartfelt apology during theFinal War Arc, where Katsuki addressed Izuku by his first name and recognized him as a worthy rival and friend.

Despite his tough exterior, Katsuki has shown vulnerability and guilt, particularly when he blames himself forAll Might’sretirement after theKamino Incident. Katsuki struggles to accept his own mistakes, often brooding in silence, but he does reflect on his shortcomings. His explosive temper and pride frequently lead to losses, yet Katsuki never stops trying to improve, even admitting to the lessons he learned from people likeBest JeanistandAll Might.

His willingness to help Izuku train and strengthenOne For Allwas a significant step in his personal growth. By assisting Izuku, Katsuki sought to atone for his previous actions and further solidify his commitment to becoming a better hero.

By the end of theFinal War, Katsuki’s character has grown significantly. He not only accepted his injuries and rehabilitation with determination but also expressed genuine care for Izuku, breaking down in tears upon learning that Izuku had lost his Quirk after the final battle.

Katsuki’s sense of heroism remains fierce throughout the series. His belief that a true hero must never stop fighting or give up, regardless of the threat, is central to his character. Despite his arrogance, Katsuki’s refusal to join theLeague of VillainsduringTomura Shigaraki’srecruitment attempt highlights his unwavering desire to win like a hero, not a villain.

Eight years after the war, Katsuki is a well-respected Pro Hero, though his brash personality persists. Despite the challenges posed by his injuries, Katsuki has remained a driven and high-ranking hero. His close bond withClass 1-A, especially Izuku, remains strong, as demonstrated by his role in creating a mechanized suit for Izuku, allowing him to return to hero duty.

Overall Abilities: Katsuki Bakugo is one of the strongest students in Class 1-A, consistently demonstrating his superiority in both academics and combat. He placed third in the Quirk Apprehension Test, first in the U.A. Entrance Exam due to his accumulation of villain points, and first in the U.A. Sports Festival. His fighting style is highly offensive, using hisExplosion Quirkfor powerful close-range attacks, mobility, and mid-air propulsion. Katsuki’s explosions also allow him to blind opponents and launch long-range attacks, making his Quirk extremely versatile in battle. His ability to adapt his Quirk for various offensive and defensive purposes has earned him praise from Pro Heroes likeShota AizawaandAll Might, and his prowess was recognized by theLeague of Villains, who sought to recruit him.

During theParanormal Liberation War, Katsuki’s abilities grew exponentially. He managed to defeat theTrigger-enhanced Serpentersand keep up withIzuku’s One For All at 30%, showcasing his rapid growth. Katsuki also underwent aQuirk Awakening, making his explosions stronger and more condensed, which led to the creation of his new technique,Cluster. He later honed this ability, allowing him to unleash a barrage of explosions rather than a single large one, further amplifying his combat effectiveness. In theFinal War, Katsuki fought alongside top Pro Heroes and U.A. students against the enhancedTomura Shigaraki, showing remarkable improvement in both Quirk control and battle prowess.

Explosion (爆破 Bakuha): Katsuki Bakugo’s Quirk allows him to secrete a nitroglycerin-like sweat from his palms, which he can ignite at will to create powerful explosions. The more he sweats, the stronger his explosions become. This Quirk is highly versatile, allowing Katsuki to use explosions not only for offense but also for mobility, propulsion, and defense. If overused, Katsuki may experience muscle strain in his forearms, limiting the intensity of his explosions.

Katsuki uses his explosions in close-range fights to deliver devastating punches and blasts. His explosive right hook is a signature attack that combines his strength with the blast force of his Quirk.

Katsuki can launch explosive blasts from a distance, using the shockwaves to hit opponents far away. The force and scale of his explosions vary based on how much sweat he has generated, with stronger attacks requiring more sweat.

Katsuki uses explosions to propel himself through the air at high speeds, giving him unparalleled agility and the ability to “fly.” This maneuverability allows him to close the gap between himself and his opponents or to dodge incoming attacks while airborne.

He can use the shockwaves from his explosions to block or deflect attacks. For instance, he once used explosions to shield himself against Shoto Todoroki’s ice attacks.

One For All(ワン・フォー・オール,Wan Fō Ōru): Transferred fromToshinori Yagi(All Might), One For All allowed Izuku to store and unleash immense power, greatly enhancing his physical abilities. Izuku could focus this power on specific body parts or distribute it evenly, gaining superhuman strength, speed, and agility. However, due to his body initially being unprepared for such power, he suffered severe physical strain. Over time, with extensive training, Izuku mastered up to 45% of One For All’s power without injury, while 30% became his standard output.

Additionally, Izuku accessed theVestige World, where the consciousnesses of previous One For All users reside. He eventually gained the ability to communicate with these vestiges, learning from their experiences and harnessing their Quirks. However, during the final battle withTomura Shigaraki, Izuku transferred all of the remaining Quirks and One For All’s power to Tomura, leaving him with only the residual embers of the Quirk.

• Explosive Speed (爆速ターボ Bakusoku Tābo): Katsuki propels himself forward using his explosions for increased speed. This technique can be used both on the ground and in the air to achieve a form of pseudo-flight. He first used this on the ground during the Quirk Apprehension Test and for flight during the Obstacle Race.

• Stun Grenade (閃光弾スタン グレネード Sutan Gurenēdo): Katsuki creates a bright flash using his explosions to temporarily blind nearby opponents. This technique works similarly to a real stun grenade. He first used it to defeat Fumikage Tokoyami during the U.A. Sports Festival.

• Point-Blank Stun Grenade (ゼロ距離閃光弾スタングレネード Zero Kyori Sutan Gurenēdo): A variation of Stun Grenade used at point-blank range to immediately incapacitate opponents. This variation was first used against Setsuna Tokage in the fourth round of the Joint Training Battle.

• Howitzer Impact (榴弾砲着弾ハウザー インパクト Hauzā Inpakuto): This move is the strongest in Katsuki’s arsenal. He propels himself in a spinning motion, creating a tornado that gathers oxygen to fuel a massive explosion upon impact. The explosion is powerful enough to be compared to a missile and was first used in the final match of the U.A. Sports Festival Finals.

• AP Shot (徹甲弾A・P・ショット Ē-Pī Shotto): Katsuki fires a concentrated blast by focusing his explosion into a single point, reducing the area of impact but increasing its power. This technique is strong enough to pierce through solid objects like concrete.

• AP Shot: Auto-Cannon (徹甲弾A・P・ショット機関銃オートカノン Ē-Pī Shotto Ōtokanon): A rapid-fire version of AP Shot that releases multiple smaller, rapid explosions. Katsuki first used this against Seiji Shishikura during the Provisional Hero License Exam.

• AP Machine-Gun (徹甲機銃A・P・マシンガン Ē-Pī Mashingan): A stronger, rapid-fire version of AP Shot: Auto-Cannon where Katsuki fires larger explosions. He first used this technique during the Paranormal Liberation War against Tomura Shigaraki.

• Explode-A-Pult (爆破式エクスカタパルト Ekusu Kataparuto): While in mid-air, Katsuki grabs his opponent, then propels himself in a spinning motion using explosions before launching his opponent with another blast. He first used this technique against Togaru Kamakiri in the fourth round of the Joint Training Battle.

• Land Mine Blast (爆風地雷 Bakufū Jirai): Katsuki places his Grenadier Bracer on the ground and releases a massive explosion, blowing back any obstacles surrounding him. He first used this technique to dissipate Mahoro Shimano’s Hologram during the Heroes Rising movie.

• Cluster (クラスター Kurasutā): After his Quirk Awakening, Katsuki developed Cluster, which allows him to condense his explosions into smaller, faster bursts. He can unleash a flurry of rapid explosions that can be used in various ways. This technique was first used to save Izuku from “Tomura Shigaraki.”

• Explosive Speed: Cluster (爆速ターボ クラスター Bakusoku Tābo Kurasutā): A variation of Explosive Speed that uses Cluster to propel himself forward at a much faster rate, enabling him to catch up with extremely fast targets.

• Howitzer Impact: Cluster (ハウザーインパクト クラスター Hauzā Inpakuto Kurasutā): An enhanced version of Howitzer Impact, where Katsuki combines Cluster with the Strafe Panzer support gear, creating larger explosions to propel himself and attack his opponent.

• Full Cowl – 100% (フルカウル 100%パーセント Furu Kauru 100 Pāsento): During the temporary transfer of One For All from Izuku, Katsuki used Full Cowl at 100%, enhancing his speed, strength, and Quirk, Explosion. He used this during the battle against Nine in the Heroes Rising movie.

• Detroit Smash (デトロイトスマッシュ Detoroito Sumasshu): Katsuki performs an uppercut, creating an increase in air pressure. He used this move in tandem with Izuku during their fight against Nine to dissipate a destructive tornado.

• Grenadier Bracers (籠手 Kote): These are a pair of large, arm-mounted storage tanks integrated into Katsuki’s hero costume that store his nitroglycerin-like sweat. Once the tanks are full, Katsuki can pull the grenade pins on the bracers to release a large, concentrated explosion. This was first demonstrated during the Battle Trial against Izuku, where the explosive power was significant enough to destroy parts of the building within its blast radius.

• Improvised Grenades: Katsuki’s hero costume includes several hand grenade-shaped containers that hang around his belt. These containers can store his sweat, which may later be used as throwable grenades, turning his nitroglycerin-like sweat into an explosive weapon. These were first used during the Provisional Hero License Exam by Denki Kaminari.

• Knee Pads: Katsuki’s hero costume features blunt metallic knee pads, designed for offense. Although they are intended to allow him to “kill with his knees,” Katsuki has yet to demonstrate a specific use for them in combat.

• Suppressive Heavy Mobile Unit: Strafe Panzer (面制圧重装機動 ストレイフパンツァー Men Seiatsu Jūsō Kidō Sutoreifu Pantsā): This support item consists of a set of retractable machine guns that extend from Katsuki’s back and mount over his shoulders. These cannons use his nitroglycerin-like sweat as ammunition, similar to his Grenadier Bracers. The Strafe Panzer is designed to increase Katsuki’s firepower, particularly in intense combat situations.