Hardening is the Quirk used by Eijiro Kirishima[1] and Akira Iwako.[2]
Description#
Hardening gives the user the power to harden any part of their body. The Quirk protects them from most physical threats.
Once activated, Eijiro becomes capable of enduring what would be otherwise lethal hazards, like tons of falling metal and multiple explosions, without leaving a scratch.[3] Even bullets are unable to pierce his skin.[4]
Aside from increased defense, Hardening also grants Eijiro offensive power by turning his hardened body rough and sharp like rock, increasing his physical strength and allowing him to cut enemies by grazing them. This all leads to Hardening being a highly practical Quirk for hero work, which is frequently combat-oriented.
Hardening has often been compared to Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu's Steel Quirk due to their similar functions of increasing durability.[5] Tetsutetsu himself has stated that the hardness granted by Hardening can be improved upon when Eijiro, in his hardened state, takes more damage overtime.[6] This was displayed as part of Eijiro's training, when he, in his hardened form, was continuously attacked by Mashirao Ojiro's Tail, and with each hit, the strength and durability of Eijiro's Quirk increased.[7] The reason behind this may be that Hardening adapts to the delivered damage, and after being deactivated, the Quirk resets itself before reactivated again, in which the density of Hardening is more powerful compared to its previous use.
Akira's version of the Hardening Quirk is only ever seen under the effects of Trigger. Once he gains a power boost from the drug, this granted him the ability to grow rocks from his upper body, as well as make him bigger and stronger.
Weaknesses#
One of the drawbacks to this Quirk is that there is a limit to how much damage the hardened skin can withstand, causing Hardening to slowly dissipate, and Eijiro loses stamina from struggling to keep his Quirk active.[8] However, when he encountered Kendo Rappa, Eijiro showcased the ability to refortify his hardened form at will.[9]
Furthermore, Hardening is noted to lack long-range potential, limiting Eijiro's combat repertoire and forcing him to take battles up close. Hardening can also only protect Eijiro from physical damage but not thermal damage such as very high or low temperatures. During the Paranormal Liberation War, Eijiro was able to endure Dabi's Blueflame, which emits blue-colored flames that burn much hotter than regular fire. Tetsutetsu then elaborated that while Eijiro doesn't get burned by the flames, he may still feel the high temperatures.[10]
While Akira's version of Hardening strengthens his entire body, his eyes remain unhardened, leaving them as weak points for an enemy to strike. The Quirk's boosted effects also weaken when Akira experiences fear and pain, which allowed Stendhal to easily strike him down.[11]
Usage#
Eijiro Kirishima#
Hardening first manifested on Eijiro when he was just three years old, as he was rubbing his right eye after waking up; Eijiro ended up cutting himself, leaving a scar around his right eyebrow. Originally, this Quirk only slightly hardened Eijiro's skin, but he was able to improve its effects ever since through intense training. Before that, he could barely defend himself against rocks.[12]
In combat, Eijiro is very straightforward and reckless, letting his hardened body take the opposing hits as he counterattacks with hard punches and other close-range moves. As even bullets cannot pierce his skin when his Quirk is active, Eijiro is capable of turning himself into a human shield for allies or defenseless civilians.[13] During rescue operations, he has to be extra careful with victims as his rugged body can hurt them.[14]
In desperate situations, Eijiro can increase his own hardness to its maximum level, becoming almost invincible temporarily; he refers to this move as Unbreakable.[15] His battle with Kendo demonstrates that even if his Hardening were to break down, he can follow it up by further reinforcing his durability and duration in battle. His tactics remain the same, however, due to the simple nature of his Quirk.[9]
Akira Iwako#
Akira, on a rampage while under the influence of Trigger, used his version of Hardening to attack innocent civilians.[16]
Named Ultimate Moves#
Eijiro Kirishima#
Red Counter: While hardened, Eijiro endures a close-range attack with his skin before countering with a straight punch.[17]
Unbreakable: Eijiro reaches his maximum hardening level by turning his entire body extremely hard and rugged, leaving him with a monstrous appearance and practically invulnerable to most forms of attack while also boosting his offensive output.[15] This form can only be maintained for around 30 to 40 seconds at a time.[18] While his defenses can be broken through with powerful attacks, Eijiro can compensate for this by continuously rehardening himself.[9]
Red Gauntlet Eijiro rushes towards the enemy and delivers a single strong punch against them.[19]
Trivia#
- Like several other Quirks, Hardening has its own signature sound effect: "SKLIT".
- The Hardening Quirk shares similarities to other Quirks;
- In terms of function, Hardening is the inverse of Stiffening, which consists of toughening foreign objects instead of one's own body.
- In terms of function, Hardening is the counterpart of Fierce Gains, which consists of toughening one's muscles instead of one's own skin.
- All For One stole a Quirk similar to Akira's version of Hardening from a fighter at the Underground Masquerade.[20]