My Hero Academia: 8 Strongest Forms of Katsuki Bakugo, Ranked

My Hero Academia is a compelling superhero series that isn't just about Izuku Midoriya's zero-to-hero journey with the One For All Quirk. The series also highlights Bakugo Katsuki's well-written evolution, from an arrogant and aggressive U.A. Heroics student to a more compassionate and mature Pro-Hero who cares deeply about his friends.

As Bakugo's personality evolves in My Hero Academia, so does his power. His body experiences minor and major transformations, defined by meaningful and crucial power-ups that make him one of the strongest members of Class 1-A and a worthy rival to Izuku Midoriya. That said, among Bakugo's forms, these are the most powerful.

8 Sports Festival Bakugo

Bakugo's Hero-Ending Form

From the beginning of the sports festival, Bakugo had only one intention: defeat everyone else. True enough, Sports Festival Bakugo has more than enough firepower to defeat Shoto Todoroki, Fumikage Tokoyami, Eijiro Kirishima, and Ochako Uraraka during the one-on-one matches of the final round, where he displayed great feats of power.

From flooding the battlefield with pins and lights using the stun grenade technique to blasting Todoroki off the battlefield, Bakugo showed no weaknesses. His overwhelming tenacity even earned All Might and Izuku's admiration, proving him worthy of the gold medal.

7 Intern Bakugo

Bakugo's Neat Sidekick Form

With over 3,000 offers from various Pro Heroes, Bakugo had the freedom to choose which hero agency to do his internship with. Among them, Bakugo chose Pro-Hero No. 4, Best Jeanist, as his mentor, who reluctantly took him in because of his hard-headedness and violent methods despite his destructive Quirk.

At this point, Bakugo, who used the temporary hero name Lord Explosion Murder, already had the talent to become a phenomenal sidekick, according to Best Jeanist. However, Bakugo's unruly, spiky hair needed extra attention, so Best Jeanist styled it into a clean side part, much to Kirishima's amusement.

6 Final Exam Bakugo

Bakugo's Form That Defied All Might's Expectations

Final Exam Bakugo had one of the best showings of power in My Hero Academia, courtesy of All Might, who pushed him to his limits. From withstanding All Might's devastating blows time and again, to unleashing a barrage of super explosions while grappling with the emotions of teaming up with Deku, Bakugo proved his incredible resilience in the practical portion of the Final Exam.

Between Izuku and Bakugo, the latter was more promising in the joint fight against All Might. He held his own against the strongest hero of all time, blasting him with consecutive explosions at point-blank range even without his grenadier braces. His quick thinking was also impressive, having been able to come up with effective strategies under pressure to buy time for Izuku.

5 AP Shot Bakugo

The Form That Bakugo Used to Overpower Midoriya

Bakugo's Quirk training led to the creation of the Armor-Piercing Shot, a powerful ultimate move strong enough to pierce solid rock. During the first Provisional Hero Licensing Exam, however, Bakugo deliberately used a weaker version against Shiketsu High's flesh-manipulating student, Seiji Shishikura, to avoid seriously injuring him.

While Bakugo unexpectedly failed the provisional licensing exam, he ultimately redeemed himself in an intense one-on-one fight with Izuku at 8% release of the One For All Quirk. He withstands Izuku's 5% Detroit Smash and turns the fight in his favor by unleashing yet another massive explosion.

4 Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight Bakugo

Bakugo's Form With His Official Hero Name

Bakugo waited until the Paranormal Liberation War to make his hero name official, ultimately choosing Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight after Tomura Shigaraki unveiled his upgraded Decay Quirk and nearly stole Izuku's One For All Quirk. With a hero name so long and intimidating, Bakugo made sure it reflected his explosive power and personality.

During the Paranormal Liberation War, Bakugo saved Izuku's life multiple times, protecting him from an All-For-One-possessed Tomura while helping Best Jeanist and his friends deal with High-End Nomus. He even protected Endeavor and Eraserhead from Tomura's Quirk-destroying bullets without hesitation, realizing that his power grows stronger when he's feeling a sense of total crisis.

3 Strafe Panzer Bakugo

Bakugo's Form With the Support Course's New Item

Strafe Panzer is the new item Bakugo received from the support course prior to the execution of Operation Troy against Tomura Shigaraki and the League of Villains in the Final War. This support gear amplifies Bakugo's quirk by transforming his stored sweat into large-scale explosions with the potential to destroy Tomura Shigaraki's endless finger regenerations and body altogether.

Using Strafe Panzer, Bakugo tore through every finger construct Shigaraki unleashed on his way, culminating in a devastating Howitzer Impact: Cluster. Though Shigaraki ultimately regenerated from Bakugo's explosive assault, the Strafe Panzer proved just how devastating Bakugo's firepower had become.

2 One For All Bakugo

Bakugo's Form With the OFA Quirk

Bakugo received the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wield One For All on Nabu Island as Midoriya temporarily passed on his inherited Quirk to help defeat Nine, one of the strongest villains they had ever faced. With One For All, Bakugo looked like a Super Saiyan, with a far more intense appearance than Deku at 100% power.

Wielding One For All at 100%, Bakugo enhanced his explosive techniques, firing multiple armor-piercing shots and unleashing a devastating Howitzer Impact against Nine, followed up with a devastating St. Louis Smash. As a result, Bakugo, alongside Midoriya, stopped Nine's overpowered weather manipulation quirk, busting his arms in the process.

1 Kacchan Bakugo

Bakugo's Revived Form in the Final War

'Kacchan Bakugo' was the name Bakugo referred to himself by in his grand showdown with a much younger All For One in the Final War. Shortly after Edgeshot revived Bakugo, he saved All Might's life through Explosive Speed in conjunction with Izuku's Gearshift, while feeling constant pain throughout his body.

In this state, Bakugo was running on borrowed time and pure adrenaline, yet was still able to discover a new way to use his Quirk. Not only did Bakugo match All For One's insane speed, but he also countered his Omni Factor Unleash, blowing the villain's face with a ginormous explosion courtesy of a full-powered Howitzer Impact.