Every pro hero in My Hero Academia has a distinctive costume that is one of the easiest ways to identify them. The students at U.A. High School develop their combat skills and quirks as aspiring heroes, and as they grow in both physical and mental maturity, their costumes adjust to fit them better. Before a hero finally has a final appearance that perfectly suits them in every way, it's not unusual for them to go through several drafts.
Izuku "Deku" Midoriya, the protagonist of the series, is a prime example of this. His costume has undergone some significant changes throughout the course of the story, and each design signifies a significant step in his hero journey, despite the fact that he has not yet graduated and become a professional. Let's examine each of them individually.
Deku's Alpha costume was amusing and nostalgic
Deku's first costume is by far the most comical, but is nostalgic of Western comic book heroes from the 20th century. It consists of a full-body green jumpsuit, simple elbow and knee pads, a red belt and his distinguishable red shoes. The most notable elements are the mask with long ears, meant to resemble All Might's hair, and the respirator, which vaguely resembles All Might's smile.
Although it only lasted for a couple of episodes, this design, which debuted in Season 1, was crucial in establishing Deku's beginning. Although it doesn't support or enhance his quirk or abilities in the best way, it pays tribute to All Might, his mentor, and Deku's resolve to become a hero. The jumpsuit was a gift from his mother to him as a token of her unwavering support, so it's also a tribute to her.
The debut of Deku's beta costume was in MHA Season 2
We catch our first glimpse of Deku's second hero costume upon meeting Gran Torino in Season 2's Hero Killer arc. This design is better suited for combat and features sturdier support equipment, while also extending his knee pads up to his thighs and changing his respirator to diamond-shaped metal material. His mask with the long ears is still part of his costume, but Deku doesn't wear it.
Shortly after attaining Costume Beta, Deku attains more control over One For All and its drawbacks. He creates Full Cowl, which becomes a core aspect of his fighting style, improving his strength, mobility and overall abilities. Although these changes were made by the support department without Deku's knowledge, it holds remnants of his mother's suit and is his first step in making One For All his own.
Deku's Costume gamma highlighted strong kicks
Before the Provisional License Exam, Deku and his classmates are tasked with creating ultimate moves, which forces Deku to think of more creative ways to utilize One For All. He soon realizes that his fighting style focuses on his arms -- subconsciously done to mimic All Might. As a result, his arms have taken significant damage. To lessen this burden, Deku develops Shoot Style, which focuses on his legs for offensive attacks.
Costume Gamma equips his shoes with iron soles to accommodate Shoot Style in order to amp up the force of his kicks and arm braces and reduce the stress on his arms. Later, Air Force Gloves are added to give Deku's finger flicks a stronger, more concentrated blast—so strong that people start calling them "air guns"—that they can fire. With the third version, Deku properly breaks away from All Might and makes significant progress toward forging his own unique hero identity.
Deku was given a stealth suit in MHA: World Heroes' Mission.
The third film in the MHA franchise, World Heroes' Mission, gives Deku, Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki new costumes in the form of stealth suits. Based on Costume Gamma, this new look has a sleeker design and is almost completely black aside from its epic green accents. The biggest modification turns Deku's mask into a hood clearly meant for stealth missions.
My Hero Academia Special Spin-Off trailers and a special chapter that serves as a prequel: The group accompanied Endeavor on an international mission as part of its mission to thwart an evil organization bent on causing global anarchy. Deku had never concentrated on stealth before, and it provided an opportunity to expand his skill set.
Without the humor, Vigilante Deku reverts to his alpha costume
The most recent change to Deku's costume is much darker and represents his shift from hero student to vigilante. Again, Deku's costume changes to adapt with him and his usage of One For All. However, it seems that this darker version of his hero outfit has been directly influenced by his deteriorating state of mind since the war against the Paranormal Liberation Front.
This new outfit is a rougher, more beaten-up version that uncannily resembles Costume Alpha. Deku is wearing his mask and respirator, but the outfit is no longer as absurd as it once was. Additionally, it has mid-gauntlets that support his body, allowing him to use more One For All than his 45 percent cap. Deku finally wears the scarred yellow cape of Gran Torino. Deku, who is now more powerful than ever, wants to protect and apprehend every villain who has escaped while hiding his identity. This frightening new appearance stands for the burden Deku bears as One For All's successor and the long-lasting impact it has had on him.
