My Hero Academia Got It Wrong: Why All For One's Real Enemy Was Bakugo From the Start

All For One and Bakugo Katsuki are two of the most important characters in the My Hero Academia manga. Despite how little they interacted, their actions were vital for the story to advance. From Bakugo inspiring Deku to keep chasing his dream of being a hero to the Symbol of Evil controlling the criminal world of Japan, the manga could never have worked without them.

Despite them often being associated with Izuku and not each other, many fans have noticed the importance All For One had on Bakugo’s arc. When analyzed closely, the series clarifies that the main villain served as Bakugo’s nemesis during the final arc. Their moments together might have been few, but they were extremely important for Dynamight to grow as a person.

Bakugo’s True Nemesis Was Always All For One

Their Final Battle Helped Katsuki Prove He Truly Changed

One of the most important battles of the bloody and deadly Final War arc was Bakugo’s last stand against the Symbol of Evil. To give Deku enough time to arrive at U.A. High, the location where the battle was held, Katsuki joined forces with various other heroes to stop Shigaraki from leaving the premises. As the battle progressed, and his allies began to fall, Bakugo became the only one capable of interfering with the villain’s plan, a task that nearly cost him his life. Shortly after, the hero would then confront All for One, becoming the one who landed the final blow on the "worst villain in history".

While many fans consider this confrontation a memorable battle, they often don’t think it is as special as Deku’s fight with Shigaraki or Todoroki defeating his brother Dabi. Yet, a fan known as @RecoNarwhal on X, noticed how significant this moment was for Bakugo’s character. This battle was far more important for the hero’s development than readers gave it credit for, as All For One became Katsuki’s personal villain. One of the biggest obstacles for Bakugo during the beginning of the manga was his ego.

His belief that he was the greatest hero of all time, capable of defeating anyone and reaching the top without any help, made him one of the most hated characters for many fans at first. Yet, through his experiences and friends, he began to learn how to become a better person. During the Final War arc, Katsuki was not fighting as an invincible hero who would save the day alone, he knew he was a part of something much grander than him. All For One, on the other hand, still underestimated everyone around him, a mistake that proved deadly.

All For One Embodied Bakugo’s Worst Traits

Defeating Him Was Katsuki’s Final Test

Bakugo destroys Deku's notebook during episode 1 of the series.

Throughout the Final War arc, the true personality of who fans once considered a coldhearted and stoic villain was finally revealed. Despite All For One’s initial calculative and manipulative nature, fighting Bakugo made him reveal his superiority complex and massive ego. The Symbol of Evil did not take any of the heroes seriously, as he saw them as weak and incapable of harming him. Several times, All for One (and Shigaraki before him) dismissed Bakugo as a "side character", a mere distraction before their confrontation with their true nemesis, One for All.

In a way, the main villain acted as a mirror for Bakugo to see his worse traits, those that he spent years carrying on his back. There is no denying that Katsuki was a bad person when he was first introduced, bullying someone who was once his best friend and physically harming him. Worst of all, he told Deku to end his life in one of the most horrifying moments in the early part of the series, just because he was projecting his own insecurities on what seemed an easy target.

Bakugo’s attitude during the beginning of the manga was not too dissimilar to All For One’s. His final battle against the villain represented more than just a fight to save Japan from the monster; it was him fighting against his demons. Bakugo constantly wondered during the encounter if he was worthy of being considered a hero like Midoriya, a philosophy opposite to the one he held in middle school. All for One became the final test for the second protagonist of the story to prove that he had changed for good.

Bakugo Already Had a History With All For One

Their Conflict Begun a Long Time Before Their Final Battle

The Training Forest Camp arc of the My Hero Academia manga has one of the most shocking and devastating endings in the franchise. Although the students of Class 1-A fought valiantly to stop the League of Villains, Bakugo was still kidnapped by the antagonists. This event culminated in a moment that was critical for the story, All Might being forced to retire after defeating All For One in one of the best fights in the series. The reason behind Bakugo’s kidnapping and the repercussions of this decision gave the hero much to think about.

Not only did Katsuki blame himself for his idol having to retire, but he also began to wonder if he was indeed like the villains. While he kept this mostly to himself, it was after this event that he tried to become a better rival and friend to Deku, likely because he noticed that the League saw him as one of them. Even though Bakugo’s main reason to fight All for One was to save the world, he did have a major grudge against the villain.

This is the reason why his battle against the Symbol of Evil should feel just as personal and significant to his growth as Deku or Todoroki’s final showdowns. Bakugo was the only character who could mirror All for One during the Final War arc. Unlike the villain who spent decades without learning from his mistakes and changing, Katsuki saw an opportunity to leave his old self behind. Having a large group of allies during the battle should not take away from the significance it had on his character, as he still became a better person for it.

My Hero Academia is a series that keeps giving fans something to talk about. The amazing story and incredible use of narrative devices help this beloved manga become more interesting the more it is studied. There surely are many more deep reflections that fans have yet to discover in its pages.