In My Hero Academia, heroes and villains alike make good use of their superpowered Quirks in combat, which range from intense fire abilities to animal-like qualities. Other Quirks, like Shota Aizawa's, have no offensive power. Instead, Aizawa uses his Quirk to disable the enemy's own Quirk, then he uses a variety of tools and weapons to finish off his foe.
Shota Aizawa, or Eraserhead, is a resourceful pro hero and a teacher at U.A. who quickly proved that Quirks aren't everything. Many times, in the manga series and the anime, Aizawa demonstrated a resourceful combat strategy that could bloodlessly capture just about any villain, all thanks to his flexible arsenal.
Eraserhead's Armory
Shota Aizawa's Quirk is based on his eyes, and he needs to keep eye contact with an enemy to shut down their Quirk. During his time as a U.A. student, Aizawa was struggling to figure out how to use his Erasure ability well, especially when dust or other irritants forced his eyes closed. Then it hit him: he should wear goggles, borrowing some from a fellow student named Oboro Shirakumo. In the present day, Aizawa's goggles are shaped somewhat differently, and outside parties can't easily see whether Aizawa's eyes are opened or closed, and they can't easily see whether his Quirk is being used. That can keep the enemy guessing, and allow Aizawa to play mind games with them. And, of course, these goggles can protect Aizawa's eyes from irritants or physical trauma, and he never fails to have them dangling around his neck in case they are needed.
Aizawa wears a long ribbon-like scarf, but that's not for fashion's sake. That scarf-ribbon is made of a steel wire alloy, and woven carbon nanofibers allow it to take any shape. This ribbon can be loose and flexible at first, but on command, the ribbon will harden and snap into shape, easily capturing a villain by binding their entire body. The ribbon is not indestructible, but when it's partnered with Aizawa's Erasure Quirk, the enemy cannot use their own Quirk to try and break free. Aizawa's ribbon can also extend far in one direction to grab someone's wrist to capture them, or to swing around like a rope.
In addition, Aizawa is known to carry around caltrops to hurt anyone who walks or runs on them. This can block a villain's escape or create barriers for enemies who can't float or jump over the field of caltrops. For the sake of his Quirk, Aizawa also carries around an eyedropper, so he can moisturize his eyes and keep them open for longer periods at a time. Like the villain Himiko Toga, Aizawa also carries around a heavy-duty knife in combat, either to attack the enemy or to cut pieces off his ribbon if it gets stuck or otherwise compromised.
Aizawa's Weapons In Battle
A few notable fights showcase Aizawa's skill with his combined weapons and Quirk. Alone, his weapons aren't very effective against superpowered villains, but Aizawa has long since learned to use them in conjunction with his Quirk. Even gifted students like Shoto Todoroki and Momo Yaoyorozu struggled against him.
Early in the series, Aizawa was on the scene when the League of Villains attacked the U.S.J. complex, and he confronted three villains at once. They prepared to use their combined Quirks on him, but Aizawa first used his Erasure ability, then extended his ribbon to restrain all three villains at once. Then, he used his steely ribbons to forcefully strike the villains' heads against each other, knocking them all out. The ribbons can act like tentacles or extra arms. Aizawa also used his ribbon against a clone of the villainous Dabi, and once Aizawa erased Dabi's Cremation Quirk, he bound up the villain clone with his ribbon, then tried to interrogate him (though this didn't lead to much).
Aizawa's biggest moment was when he sparred with Shoto and Momo, gifted students who rely heavily on their Quirks. Aizawa kept outmaneuvering them with his own Quirk and his agility, then he tied up Shoto and suspended him in the air with his ribbon. Aizawa made sure to scatter caltrops below Shoto, so the student would pay if he got himself loose and fell back to the ground. Aizawa then tried to capture Momo, extending his ribbon after the fleeing trainee hero to grab her wrist. Momo, thinking fast, foiled Aizawa by using her Quirk to create a thick cuff between her skin and the ribbon, and her hand slipped right out. Finally, when Shoto faced the students again, they used Aizawa's weapon against him. Momo made a steely ribbon that could snap back into shape when heated, and she surrounded Aizawa with her ribbon. Shoto used fire to activate the metal and capture Aizawa with the ribbon. Aizawa, who was bound and getting worn out with his own Quirk, was forced to admit defeat.
