My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 18 Review: Everyone Steps Up

Finally, it feels like the heroes and the villains are on an equal footing. Let’s see how this episode of My Hero Academia turned out.

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 17 Recap

One of the key moments here was Lady Nagant’s return to the battlefield, despite her severe injuries. She recalled Izuku’s plea for her to embrace her heroic side, which reignited a spark within her. Arriving just in time, she manages to disable Shigaraki by shooting off his hands, preventing him from using his quirks.

Shigaraki himself is also undergoing significant change, slowly breaking free from his own emotional barriers. He actively resists All For One’s control, now fully aware that his mentor is manipulating him for selfish purposes. Shigaraki understands why All For One specifically chose him, recognizing the connection to All Might through Nana Shimura. However, this revelation doesn’t sway him—he remains focused on his own destructive agenda, determined to obliterate everything tied to his past.

Meanwhile, things are looking grim in the Gunga Mountains. Hawks struggle to keep up with the sheer power of All For One, while Toga presents an additional threat. Endeavour is preoccupied with his battle against his own son, leaving Hawks in a difficult position.

My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 18 Review and Recap

This episode was again full of events that became hard to wrap our heads around. The situation, on the one hand, is getting better, but suddenly, on the other, it is also getting worse. Tsuyu comments how things could be more destructive, but it is still not, though it is true to some extent, but whatever is happening is not good either. Almost many important heroes are trying to stop All For One from going to Tomura, and they are attempting their best to deal him with as much damage as possible.

That is when a very decisive player comes into the picture who wreaked havoc in the previous altercation with the villains, Gigantomachia. However, in a flashback, we also see how Machia got into this scene. Gigantomachia had been captured and kept somewhere else, with many other villains trying to free him. Thankfully, due to Mina and Eijiro, Shinso was able to brainwash Machia and use him to take their enemies out.

Thus, we see Machia actually fighting All For One rather than helping him. But the brainwashing is not very strong, and it can be very easy for All For One to undo it, which he eventually does. However, what was very surprising is that Machiya himself did not adhere to All For One’s commands cause he finally realised that this man had been using him. Machia starts to strike All For One without any outside force and even blames him for abandoning him.

But on the flip side, All For One is getting younger and younger, and his powers are getting more powerful than ever. The more you strike him and beat him down, the more his vitality returns. And, now that he is out of options, he goes in search of other quirks, specifically from amongst the heroes who are trying to stop him.

In this episode, we also see the reporters stepping up to report the entire scene to the world so that reality can reach the common people. Previously, these were the reporters who criticise heroes for not being able to protect the masses, but this time, they realised that they too, needed to do something.

Verdict

Today’s episode was again intense and full of many things that keep you at the edge of your seat. The way this show has tied different situations to showcase the final battle is brilliant and engaging. Not even for one moment do you feel bored, and you stay focused on what is going on at all times.

Must Read: My Hero Academia Season 7 Episode 17 Review: What Will Be The Next Step?