There are a lot of great things to like about My Hero Academia. It has plenty of well-developed characters, a few plot twists, and a unique narrative that's often explored. All those aspects are a recipe for some of the best story arcs that MHA has to offer as a shounen anime.
Even though My Hero Academia is mostly centered around Izuku Midoriya and his growth, its ever-developing story also focuses on what it truly means to be a hero. These ten story arcs are fantastic in their own right and are entertaining enough to keep fans glued to the anime no matter what.
U.A. School Festival Arc
U.A. hosts its annual school festival, and Class 1-A plans a dance and a live band performance. However, the villainous duo of Gentle Criminal and La Brava are determined to leave their mark and attack the festival. MHA's protagonist Midoriya hopes to make Eri smile with his class's performance, and, in the end, he achieves his goal.
Given everything that had transpired in the Overhaul arc, the students of 1-A deserved a break after all the chaos. This arc is meant to function like a breather episode, giving the characters and fans of MHA many light-hearted moments following one of the most intense storylines in the series.
U.S.J. Arc
The Class 1-A students complete their Battle Trial, and then they must go to the Unforeseen Simulation Joint facility to hone their rescue skills. There, they would run into MHA's infamous League of Villains, marking their first encounter with the villainous group.
This arc marks the first time that Class 1-A fights against the League of Villains, and the students all manage to hold their own. While All Might's fight with Nomu is one of the more memorable fights My Hero Academia has to offer, Aizawa's fight with Shigaraki is just as great.
Joint Training Arc
Class 1-A and Class 1-B both engage in a Joint Training Battle, which is a training exercise involving a series of five team matches. It is during this training course that Midoriya discovers a secret about One For All that not even the previous owners know about.
Class 1-A obviously gets a hefty amount of focus throughout My Hero Academia, so fans will consider seeing Class 1-B in action and showing off their Quirks a treat. With Deku uncovering One For All's secret, he has the ability to communicate with previous users and understand the limitations of the powerful Quirk he inherited.
Forest Training Camp Arc
What originally begins as a normal school trip, with the U.A. students going to a training camp, suddenly takes a turn for the worse. The League of Villains stages an attack on the camp with some help of its two newest recruits, Dabi and Toga. Their goal is to capture one of the 1-A students, which they later succeed in doing.
Due to the lack of Heroes, the students are forced into holding their own and fighting against the villains, who pose to be formidable threats. While his classmates get their chance to show what they're made of, Midoriya comes into his own here as he overcomes his weaknesses while understanding the full extent of his powers.
U.A. Sports Festival Arc
As with most shounen anime, My Hero Academia gets its very own tournament arc. The students of U.A. participate in an annual tournament that serves as an exhibition to show off their Quirks. Many Pro Heroes are in attendance, looking to see which students they would hire.
The most notable feature about the Sports Festival tournament is that it gives each student their own chance to shine. Many of the fights are entertaining, as the students utilize creativity and innovation with their powers. Midoriya shows a lot of selflessness during his arc, and, even after his defeat, his humility shows how much he has grown as a Hero.
Provisional Hero License Exam Arc
After the students get adjusted to life at U.A., which was transitioned into a boarding school of sorts, they start taking the Provisional Hero License Exam. They have to complete a rigorous training course to receive their Hero License, which would allow them to legally confront villains to save civilians.
Most fans will see this arc as somewhat of a "coming-of-age" point in My Hero Academia, as each student gets to show how much they progressed in mastering their Quirk. The arc also shows how the world is handling All Might's retirement, and even includes a rather fierce confrontation between Midoriya and Bakugo near its climax.
Hideout Raid Arc
After Bakugo is kidnapped by the League of Villains, the Pro Heroes team up to save the class 1-A student. The conflict later leads to a fight between All Might and All for One, while Midoriya and several of his classmates attempt to rescue the kidnapped student themselves.
There is very little doubt that the battle between All Might and All For One is one of the most defining moments in My Hero Academia. What makes the fight even more impactful is All Might's true identity being revealed to the world, as well as the connection between Shigigraki and Nana Shimura, All Might's former mentor.
Vs. Hero Killer Arc
Following the Sports Festival, the Hero students get scouted by Pro Heroes for temporary internships. The Hero Killer known as Stain comes into focus, as he targets Heroes that he considers selfish and hopes to eliminate them. Midoriya, Iida, and Todoroki work together to put an end to Stain's killing spree.
Stain is arguably the most intimidating villain Midoriya has faced, as he's a threat to just about any Hero he comes across. He is the embodiment of those discriminated against due to their maladies, as well as a critique of a society that profoundly worships Heroes. His presence alone adds a level of danger not seen before in My Hero Academia at this point.
Overhaul Arc
While the class 1-A students train under a Real Hero, a Yazuka group called Shie Hassaiki rises to power. This group is led by Overhaul, otherwise known as Kai Chisaki, whose Quirk is as destructive as it is deadly. Midoriya and Miro work with Sir Nighteye to save Eri from Chisaki's clutches.
One of the darkest arcs in My Hero Academia, if not the darkest, the Overhaul Arc adds some new stakes to the anime. With a mafia group coming into focus, almost any character could meet a fatal end. Some of the best fights and most emotional moments take place in this arc, as Midoriya hopes to follow in All Might's steps.
Pro Hero Arc
With All Might retiring, the new Pro Hero rankings are announced. Endeavor is named at the top of the list, and he has to live up to the expectations that come with being the number one hero. The rest of the top ten is revealed, as the Hero organization undergoes a structural change.
This arc sees Endeavor working to establish himself as the newest Symbol of Peace, as he tries to win society's trust. His fight against High-End Nomu—perhaps the strongest Nomu around—becomes a defining moment for him. New heroes are also introduced during the arc, and the No. 2 Pro Hero, Hawks became an instant fan favorite.