“My Hero Academia’s explosive comeback” refers to Katsuki Bakugo returning to the central battle against All For One in episode 163, “爆破!!” (“Explosion!!”), which aired October 25, 2025. The fight is a strong candidate for one of the year’s standout anime battles, but “2025’s best animated fight” is a critical judgment—not a verified award result for this episode.
What happens in Bakugo vs. All For One?
In the official episode synopsis, All For One sees the image of Kudo, the second successor of One For All, in Bakugo. He unleashes his full power despite the cost to his rejuvenation, while Bakugo meets the attack. All For One’s immediate aim is to kill Bakugo and take over Shigaraki’s body. The clash therefore ties its physical danger to the history of One For All and the threat to Shigaraki.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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My Hero Academia Box Set 1: Includes volumes 1-20 with premium | $122.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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My Hero Academia, Vol. 3 | $6.71 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 | $6.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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My Hero Academia, Vol. 2 | $7.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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My Hero Academia, Vol. 5 | $6.21 | Buy on Amazon |
The episode is number 163, titled “爆破!!”, and aired October 25, 2025. Its screenplay is by Yosuke Kuroda; Masayuki Otsuka handled both storyboard and direction. The official episode page provides the episode details and synopsis.
Why the fight can be called a 2025 standout
Calling any anime battle the year’s best depends on what is being compared and what “best” means. A useful assessment looks at several distinct elements rather than treating spectacle alone as proof:
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- MHA Fandom: Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.
- Includes: The first 20 volumes of the bestselling My Hero Academia manga.
- Format: Softcover, 3840 pages.
- Animation and compositing: how movement, effects, and image layering make the action feel forceful.
- Choreography and spatial clarity: whether viewers can follow where the fighters are and how attacks connect.
- Direction and pacing: how shot choices and timing build intensity.
- Emotional payoff: whether the action carries the characters’ history and stakes, not just impact.
- Sound and music: how audio supports the rhythm and weight of the confrontation.
Episode 163 has a clear dramatic foundation: All For One’s association of Bakugo with Kudo provokes his escalation, while Bakugo confronts an opponent pursuing Shigaraki’s body. That makes the fight consequential within the story. The official synopsis establishes those stakes, but it does not by itself establish a comparative animation ranking.
Was episode 163 officially named 2025’s best fight?
No award result in the cited 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards material identifies this FINAL SEASON episode as the winner of an individual best-fight award. The nominees page concerns earlier-eligible works, including My Hero Academia Season 7 and My Hero Academia: You’re Next; those nominations are not evidence that episode 163 won an award. See the 2025 nominees list and Sony’s transcript of the awards ceremony.
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It is fair to describe the battle as a personal pick or a standout, provided the comparison pool and criteria are clear. It is not accurate to present “2025’s best animated fight” as an established award title for this episode.
Where episode 163 fits in the FINAL SEASON
The FINAL SEASON began October 4, 2025, airing at 5:30 p.m. on the Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV nationwide 29-network affiliate chain, with regional exceptions. Episode 163 followed on October 25. The broadcaster’s FINAL SEASON notice gives the launch information; local broadcast details may vary.
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How to watch or collect the episode
For physical media, the official Japanese FINAL SEASON Blu-ray/DVD Vol. 1 listing includes episodes 160–165, which means it contains episode 163. The listed Japanese release date was February 18, 2026. Check the official release announcement and Vol. 1 listing for the relevant edition and details. The Japanese listing does not establish compatibility, language options, or availability for every country, so confirm those details for your region before buying.
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