My Hero Academia features a handful of beloved supporting characters, each of whom could be a shonen protagonist on their own, including the talented Shoto Todoroki. However, Shoto’s natural talent came at a high cost. His overbearing father, Endeavor, pushed him hard to outperform All Might, and his distraught mother branded his face with boiling water.
Overall, Shoto is clearly inspired by Prince Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender , including each character’s relationship with their parents and their facial scars and fire-based abilities. In some respects, Shoto surpasses Zuko, but in others, Zuko is a true classic without equal. In terms of skill, character design, and more, who’s the best scarred fire warrior?
10 SHOTO IS THE BEST: He also has ice powers
Zuko and Shoto use fire, but Shoto has more tricks up his sleeve than that. It is the product of a Quirks marriage, in which Endeavor balanced his Fire Quirk with Rei’s ice abilities, and the result is a dual element Quirk.
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In reality, Shoto prefers ice to fire, to reflect his relationship with each of his parents. At first, he was known to be only ice in combat, although at the US sports festival, he eventually began to use fire as well, allowing him to defeat Izuku Midoriya in a close battle.
9 ZUKO IS THE BEST: He has his own boat
Shoto wishes he had his own ship, or even his own car. Meanwhile, Prince Zuko appears for the first time with his own ship, probably a corvette or a small destroyer, based on its size. It is not the largest or most fearsome ship in the Fire Nation fleet, but it does the job.
Unlike Shoto, Zuko can sail the world and explore many islands aboard this ship, which comes fully stocked with supplies, private rooms, and a full crew. Zuko gained extensive leadership experience commanding this ship.
8 SHOTO IS THE BEST: He always wanted to be a hero
Prince Zuko spent a few years trying to be a villain, with the goal of capturing Avatar Aang with the selfish goal of restoring his honor. Meanwhile, Shoto pretended to be a great hero from the start, although his motivation was rather spiteful at first. He would not dare to attempt villainy.
Shoto has had this lofty goal to push himself all this time, and that means he’s on par with Izuku and Katsuki Bakugo, as they too aspire to become the new number 1 hero. This gives Shoto an advantage over Zuko. , who didn’t become a hero until later in his story arc.
7 ZUKO IS THE BEST: He wasn’t blindly loyal to the Fire Nation’s cause
Even when Zuko wanted to win his father’s favor and capture the Avatar, Zuko was loyal to himself, not to the Fire Nation cause. Zuko cared little for the Fire Nation’s dominance in the world, unlike his power-hungry father and sister, and he did not help capture any enemy cities or territories.
Then when Zuko had his transformation, he turned against the Fire Nation and their terrible and destructive war. He correctly told Fire Lord Ozai that conquering the Fire Nation would not improve the world. Instead, the rest of the world rightly hated the Fire Nation for it.
6 SHOTO IS THE BEST: He is learning to work as a team
At this point in the anime, Shoto’s teamwork is still a work in progress, but so far, everything is going well. Shoto used to be uncooperative, like Katsuki Bakugo, as he was powerful and self-absorbed. Now, you are striving to reach new heights with increased teamwork.
Not even Shoto can win every solo match, and his teammates deserve his respect and attention, especially Izuku and Bakugo. There was also that time Shoto and his rival Inasa Yoarashi cooperated against Gang Orca, assaulting that hero with scorching winds.
5 ZUKO IS THE BEST: He has ninja skills like the blue spirit
Prince Zuko is almost a professional hero in disguise when he dons his Blue Spirit costume to act anonymously. He is impressively skilled with stealth and swordsmanship in this costume, and he even made a fool of Admiral Zhao by rescuing Aang one fateful night.
Zuko went on a few more missions as a Blue Spirit after that, and his last mission took place in Ba Sing Se, under Lake Laogai. Zuko released Appa from his shackles, and for this, Aang was later grateful.
4 SHOTO IS THE BEST: Gives Endeavor Another Chance
Shoto is trying to mend ties with his tyrannical father Endeavor, and although progress is very slow and delicate, he is there, and that counts for a lot. Endeavor doesn’t want forgiveness; he wants to repent, and Shoto is more open to the idea than his brother Natsuo.
The situation remains tense, and there is no guarantee that father and son will fully reconcile. Still, both parties are making a sincere effort, and it’s great that Shoto gives his abusive and megalomaniacal father a chance. Endeavor won’t waste it if it can help it.
3 ZUKO IS THE BEST: He became a world leader
Prince Zuko is just that: a prince, next in line to become a Fire Lord. Due to circumstances, Ozai appointed his daughter Azula as the new Fire Lord while he sought to become the first Phoenix King in history, but Ozai and Azula’s defeats put an end to that plan. Azula was never crowned Fire Lord.
Instead, Zuko assumed that mantle, and became the first Fire Lord in generations to fight not for war and conquest, but for peace and cooperation. His reign as Fire Lord ushered in a new era, though he had some difficulties with politics, as the Dark Horse comics showed. You have to learn on the job.
2 SHOTO IS THE BEST: He’s a model student
My Hero AcademiaIt’s set in a special institute, so Shoto isn’t just a trainee hero; He is also a student who attends classes and takes written exams. He’s one of the best in his class, not only in terms of Quirks firepower, but in terms of studies as well, which shows just how complete he is.
Shoto is in the top five in class 1-A when it comes to grades, and he’s a quiet, serious student who never fuss during the school day. He is not very talkative, but he has learned to be polite and respectful to his peers, and even to make a few tentative friendships.
1 ZUKO IS THE BEST: His relationship with Iroh
Both Shoto and Zuko have a good relationship with their mothers, but Zuko has another family member that he gets along with: his uncle, Iroh. Iroh may be Ozai’s brother, but he’s completely different from that Fire Lord. It favors wisdom, patience, cooperation and peace above all else.
Iroh is a wellspring of wisdom and kindness, and Zuko appreciates his uncle more and more as the series progresses. In the end, Zuko told his father that he would find Iroh and apologize to his uncle, and Zuko obtained it immediately without having to say a word of apology. That is incredible.