Let's be real for a second. If you’ve spent any time in the My Hero Academia fandom, you know the drill. Everyone obsesses over Deku’s latest power-up or Bakugo’s temper tantrums. Class 1-A gets all the screen time, the big movie deals, and the flashy merchandise. But honestly? The My Hero Academia characters Class 1B are arguably more interesting, more creative, and definitely more coordinated.
They’re the "underdogs" of U.A. High, but that label is kinda a lie.
During the Joint Training Arc, we finally saw what these guys could do. It wasn't just a bunch of background extras filling seats. It was a tactical masterclass. While 1-A usually relies on raw power and "Plus Ultra" vibes to scream their way through a fight, Class 1B operates like a surgical team. They have to. They don't have the luxury of being the main characters.
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The Neito Monoma Problem (And Why He's Right)
You can't talk about these students without mentioning Neito Monoma. He’s loud. He’s obnoxious. He’s basically a walking headache for Itsuka Kendo to manage. But if you look past the manic laughter and the obsession with "overtaking" Class 1-A, Monoma is the strategic heart of the group.
His quirk, Copy, is a massive headache for opponents.
Think about the mental load that guy carries. He has to understand the mechanics of every quirk he touches instantly. He’s not just mimicking movements; he’s calculating cooldowns and activation requirements on the fly. In the Joint Training battle against Deku’s team, his use of "bluffs" was genuine genius. He didn't even need to have a quirk active to make 1-A hesitate. That’s psychological warfare, and it’s something you rarely see from the "heroes" in the other class.
He’s right about one thing: the media and the school system are biased. 1-A gets attacked by villains once, and suddenly they're the stars of the show. Class 1B has been grinding in the shadows the whole time, refining quirks that are, frankly, much weirder and harder to master than "I shoot fire" or "I am very strong."
Quirks That Actually Make You Think
The My Hero Academia characters Class 1B possess some of the most specialized abilities in the series. Take Manga Fukidashi. His quirk, Comic, literally manifests onomatopoeia into physical reality. That is bizarre. It’s meta. It’s also incredibly versatile. He can create walls of "BOOM" or wet "DAMP" environments to weaken opponents.
Then you have Juzo Honenuki.
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Juzo is a recommended student. Just like Todoroki and Yaoyorozu. That’s a big deal. His quirk, Softening, allows him to turn anything he touches into a liquid-like state. It sounds simple until you see him trap a powerhouse like Iida in the ground before he can even blink. He’s a tactical genius who understands battlefield control better than almost anyone in the freshman year.
And let’s look at the others:
- Pony Tsunotori: Her Horn Cannon is basically a remote-controlled missile system. She’s one of the few students who can fight effectively at long range while keeping her distance.
- Setsuna Tokage: Another recommended student. Her Lizard Tail Splitter lets her divide her body into 50 pieces. Imagine fighting 50 tiny targets that can all hit you from different angles. It’s a nightmare.
- Shihai Kuroiro: Vantablack. He can merge with anything dark. In a world of flashy, bright hero costumes, he’s the ultimate stealth operative.
These aren't just "B-tier" versions of 1-A powers. They are highly technical tools that require high IQ to use effectively.
The Leadership of Itsuka Kendo
If Monoma is the mouth of Class 1B, Itsuka Kendo is the brain and the muscle. She is arguably the most stable leader in the entire first-year program. While Iida is great, he can be a bit rigid. Kendo is adaptable.
She realized early on that her class lacked the "protagonist energy" that keeps 1-A moving forward. So, she fostered a culture of cooperation. In the Forest Training Camp arc, she was the one who figured out Mustard’s gas quirk location and neutralized it alongside Tetsutetsu. She didn't wait for a teacher. She didn't wait for Deku. She just handled it.
Her quirk, Big Fist, is straightforward. But it’s her tactical awareness—knowing exactly when to provide a shield or when to use a gust of wind from a palm strike—that makes her a top-tier hero candidate.
Why the Joint Training Arc Changed Everything
For a long time, fans thought 1-B was just there for flavor. Then the Joint Training Arc happened in the manga and Season 5 of the anime.
It was a wake-up call.
Class 1-A struggled. Hard. In the first match, Shinso (temporarily joining 1-B) and the rest of the crew nearly dismantled Bakugo’s rivals. The only reason 1-A wins as often as they do is because of individual "miracles." Class 1-B doesn't rely on miracles. They rely on the person standing next to them.
The coordination between Komori’s mushrooms and Fukidashi’s humidity was a combo move that 1-A couldn't replicate if they tried. They turned the entire battlefield into a fungus-infested trap. It was gross. It was terrifying. It was incredibly effective.
The "Real World" Heroics of the B-Team
In the later stages of the story, especially during the Paranormal Liberation War, the My Hero Academia characters Class 1B prove they are more than just school rivals. They are soldiers.
They were on the front lines. They weren't just sitting in the back. Mudman (Juzo) was essential in slowing down Gigantomachia—a creature that even some Pro Heroes couldn't touch. Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu (yes, that’s his real name) literally pushed his body to the point of melting to fight Dabi’s flames.
There is a gritty resilience in 1-B. They know they aren't the favorites. They know the fans aren't wearing their t-shirts. That lack of ego makes them incredibly dangerous in a real fight. They don't have anything to prove to the cameras; they only have things to prove to themselves.
Common Misconceptions About Class 1-B
Many people think 1-B is weaker because they didn't fight at the USJ. That’s a logical fallacy.
The USJ incident was a traumatic event that forced 1-A to grow up fast. It gave them "combat experience," sure. But 1-B spent that same time training their quirks in a controlled, high-intensity environment without the PTSD. By the time the School Festival and the Joint Training rolled around, the gap in raw power was almost non-existent.
Another myth? That they hate Class 1-A.
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Most of them don't. Aside from Monoma’s theatrical rivalry, most 1-B students like Tetsutetsu and Kirishima are actually "bro-tier" friends. They respect each other. The rivalry is a healthy motivator, not a blood feud.
If you want to truly appreciate the depth of Horikoshi’s world-building, stop skipping the 1-B scenes. They represent the "working class" of the hero world. They are the specialists, the tacticians, and the support pillars that keep the society running while the "Big Three" take the glory.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Re-watch the Joint Training Arc: Focus specifically on Match 2 and Match 4. Pay attention to how 1-B uses the environment rather than just their fists.
- Study the Recommended Students: Compare Juzo Honenuki’s performance to Shoto Todoroki’s. You'll notice Juzo is often more efficient with less collateral damage.
- Look at Support Items: Notice how 1-B utilizes tech. Since their quirks are more specialized, their gear is often more creative (like Rin’s scales or Kurono’s stealth suit).
- Track the War Arc Contributions: Go back through the manga chapters during the first war. Spot the 1-B students in the background of the Gunga Villa and Jaku City raids. Their presence is more significant than the anime sometimes highlights.
Class 1-B isn't the backup. They are the foundation. When the flash of the main characters fades, these are the heroes who will be doing the heavy lifting in the shadows, and it’s about time we started noticing.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into U.A. High:
Analyze the quirk synergy of the Mushroom-Comic-Vantablack trio to understand how environmental manipulation works in high-level hero combat. You can also compare the internship placements of Class 1-B to see which Pro Heroes value technical skill over raw power.