Cluster is an Ultimate Move performed by Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight using the Explosion Quirk.
Description#
Dynamight condenses his explosions, so instead of letting off a singular explosion, he lets off a barrage of much stronger explosions, which can be applied to his existing Ultimate Moves as a form of upgrade. He describes the attack as one he can do when he feels a sensation of total crisis.[1] He later figures out the best approach to execute the technique is by storing up a bunch of sweat so he can create the barrage of explosions rather than just one big one.[2] Cluster was the result of Explosion experiencing an Awakening.[3]
By using Cluster continuously without rest, Dynamight puts tremendous stress on the sweat glands on his palms, causing the stored-up sweat to be transferred to other openings of the body. This essentially grants him the ability to execute Cluster all over his body, giving him a tremendous boost in speed and power while also allowing him to mauver without needing to use his hands.[4] The location of the beads of sweat in his body can be pinpointed by the spots of intense pain he feels, allowing him to pinpoint when and where they will detonate.[5]
Cluster is first used inadvertently, in the form of a mobility move, by Dynamight to defend Deku from Tomura Shigaraki during the Paranormal Liberation War,[6] and later to help Best Jeanist and the Heroes against the Near High-End Nomu by blasting them away.[1] Cluster gains its name during its use in an effort to bring Deku back to U.A. High School.[7]
Weaknesses#
In order to access the ability to create explosions from anywhere on his body, Dynamight must put his body under tremendous stress.[4] Additionally, while Explosion grants Dynamight resistance to his own explosions on his palms and arms, the same is not true for the rest of his body, leading to intense pain and internal damage when Cluster's side effect is used.[5] Due to this intense risk, Cluster's side effects are not suited to everyday use.
In addition, the side effect of full-body Explosions only occur when Explosion's Cluster technique is critically overused, requiring Dynamight to engage in combat for an extended period of time before they can be used, potentially leaving him vulnerable should they be critically needed.[4]
Cluster's enhanced firepower also enhances the blowback that the user receives, beyond the Quirk's normal ability to negate. When used against All For One repeated use of Cluster eventually shattered the metal brace that Dynamight used and inflicted significant damage to his arm,[8] which in addition to his previous injuries required him to undergo significant physical therapy in order to render his arm usable once more, albeit with permanent damage.[9][10]
Related Techniques#
Explosive Speed: Cluster: Dynamight employs Cluster to propel himself forward in a similar fashion to his Explosive Speed, but at a much faster rate, allowing him to catch up with extremely fast targets.[7]
Howitzer Impact: Cluster: Dynamight employs Cluster and the Strafe Panzer support item to empower his Howitzer Impact by creating larger explosions to propel himself with, as well as launching explosions in all directions.[4]
Trivia#
- Cluster gets its name from cluster munitions, an ensemble of explosive weapons launched from the air or ground that are designed to kill personnel and destroy vehicles.