The conflict between Hawks and Dabi became one of the most emotionally charged rivalries in My Hero Academia because it represented far more than a simple hero-versus-villain battle. Their clash exposed the corruption, manipulation, and trauma hidden beneath hero society while connecting directly to Endeavor’s complicated legacy. Although Hawks initially approached Dabi as part of an undercover mission, their relationship gradually evolved into a psychological battle built on distrust, ideology, and personal pain.
Unlike many fights in My Hero Academia, Hawks vs Dabi was never just about physical strength. Hawks symbolized the hero system trying to preserve order, even through morally questionable actions, while Dabi embodied the rage and destruction created by that same system. Their conflict ultimately became one of the central storylines during the Paranormal Liberation War arc and permanently changed public trust in heroes.
The rivalry also revealed how deeply Endeavor’s past affected both characters in very different ways. One devoted himself to protecting society, while the other dedicated his life to destroying it.
Why Hawks Began Working With Dabi
Hawks first connected with Dabi after receiving a mission from the Hero Public Safety Commission to infiltrate the League of Villains as a double agent. Because Hawks valued efficiency over fame, the Commission believed he was the perfect hero to gather intelligence on the growing Paranormal Liberation Front. However, Dabi never fully trusted Hawks.
Even during their earliest meetings, Dabi constantly tested Hawks’ loyalty and questioned his motives. Hawks attempted to maintain his cover by pretending to sympathize with villain ideology, but Dabi remained suspicious throughout their partnership. Their conversations often carried intense tension because both characters understood the other was hiding important secrets.
Dabi also viewed Hawks as useful because of his connection to the top heroes, especially Endeavor. Rather than treating Hawks like a genuine ally, Dabi saw him as another tool that could help destroy hero society from within.
This dynamic made their relationship fundamentally unstable from the beginning.
Dabi’s hatred toward Hawks was connected to much larger issues than their undercover operation.
As the story progressed, Dabi revealed himself as Toya Todoroki, Endeavor’s presumed-dead eldest son. After years of emotional neglect, obsession with surpassing All Might, and devastating family trauma, Toya became consumed by hatred toward both Endeavor and the hero society that celebrated him.
Hawks unintentionally became one of Dabi’s targets because he openly admired Endeavor and represented the success of the hero system. To Dabi, Hawks was another example of society blindly praising heroes while ignoring the suffering hidden behind their public image.
Their ideological conflict became especially intense during the Paranormal Liberation War. After Hawks killed Twice to prevent massive casualties, Dabi publicly condemned Hawks and used the moment to further damage trust in heroes. Dabi believed Hawks’ actions proved that heroes were hypocrites willing to kill when convenient. This transformed their rivalry from a secret spy operation into a public ideological war.
How Twice’s Death Changed Everything
The turning point in Hawks and Dabi’s conflict came during Hawks’ confrontation with Twice.
Hawks genuinely respected Twice and attempted to convince him to surrender peacefully. He understood that Twice was dangerous because of his cloning Quirk, but he also recognized that Twice cared deeply about his friends. Despite Hawks’ efforts, Twice refused to abandon the League of Villains, forcing Hawks into a desperate situation.
When Hawks killed Twice, Dabi immediately attacked him in retaliation. This moment became one of the darkest scenes in the series because it exposed the moral ambiguity of the hero society. Hawks killed to save lives, but Dabi used the incident to argue that heroes were no different from villains when pushed far enough.
The scene also permanently damaged Hawks physically and emotionally. Dabi’s flames severely burned Hawks’ wings, weakening one of the strongest heroes in Japan. At the same time, Hawks became emotionally burdened by the death of Twice and the collapse of his undercover mission.
One of the most important aspects of the Hawks vs Dabi conflict is their shared connection to Endeavor.
Hawks grew up admiring Endeavor because he viewed him as a symbol of relentless dedication. After being rescued as a child, Hawks became obsessed with the idea of becoming a hero who could support society from behind the scenes. Endeavor’s work ethic inspired him to keep moving forward even during difficult missions. Dabi experienced the exact opposite side of Endeavor.
As Toya Todoroki, he witnessed Endeavor’s obsession destroy his family and his own identity. Instead of inspiration, Endeavor became the source of Dabi’s pain and hatred. This difference created a fascinating contrast between Hawks and Dabi because both were shaped by the same man in completely opposite ways.
The story repeatedly highlights this contrast during their battles and conversations. Hawks still believes heroes can improve society despite its flaws, while Dabi believes the entire system deserves to burn.
Why Hawks and Dabi Represent Opposite Ideologies
The deeper meaning behind Hawks vs Dabi lies in ideology rather than power scaling. Hawks represent compromise and sacrifice. Throughout the series, he constantly makes morally difficult choices because he believes maintaining peace is more important than preserving his own image or happiness. Even his undercover mission forced him to manipulate people and hide his true feelings.
Dabi represents destruction born from hypocrisy. He believes hero society creates fake heroes who care more about reputation than morality. His hatred intensified after seeing Endeavor praised publicly despite the abuse suffered by the Todoroki family. Because of this, Dabi dedicated himself to exposing the truth and destroying the system entirely.
Their rivalry became so compelling because neither side was completely simple or one-dimensional. Hawks often crossed ethical boundaries, while Dabi’s criticisms of hero society sometimes exposed real problems.
One of the biggest questions surrounding their relationship is whether Hawks could have changed Dabi’s path.
The series suggests that Hawks genuinely tried to understand villains better than many other heroes. His conversations with Twice showed empathy and emotional intelligence that many pro heroes lacked. However, Dabi’s trauma ran far deeper than Hawks realized.
By the time Hawks learned Dabi’s true identity, Toya’s hatred had already consumed him completely. Years of emotional neglect and obsession with revenge left Dabi unwilling to trust or forgive anyone connected to Hero Society.
Even so, Hawks continued trying to stop Dabi without completely abandoning hope. This emotional complexity made their conflict far more tragic than a normal hero-versus-villain rivalry.
