The Ordinary Life of Izuku Midoriya in My Hero Academy changed dramatically after his heroic actions were recognized by his idol, All Might, who chose him as his successor. Once he inherited the One for All quirk from his hero, Deku's long journey to master the meta ability began. As Midoriya grew more accustomed to his new powers, he began to involuntarily manifest the quirks of previous One for All users.
In episode 151, titled “A Chain of Events, Across the Ages,” Deku finally inherited Kudo's Gearshift quirk, which helped him turn the tables on Tomura Shigaraki. Here's a closer look at how this ability works.
What is Gearshift?
A powerful oddity that bends the laws of physics
Along with other powerful meta abilities such as All for One, One for All, Spearlike Bones, and Fa Jin, Gearshift is one of the oldest Quirks known to humanity. It originally belonged to One for All's second user, Kudo, who led a resistance against All for One's tyranny and rule of terror. Gearshift allows the user to bend the law of inertia to accelerate objects through space at high speeds.
Once upon a time, Gearshift only worked on small objects and was used by Kudo in conjunction with large gauntlets that he always carried with him. The gauntlets were used to fire sharp blades through the slit-like holes. Gearshift was then used to influence the direction and speed of the projectiles. Kudo masterfully used them together to become an extremely unpredictable fighter. But at the time, the quirk was not strong enough to give him an edge over All for One, and he died fighting the villain until his last breath.
Our Meta Abilities have never been what you should be wary of. Instead, you should fear why someone chooses to use their gifts. True power lies in an individual's intent. That's why people call them Quirks.
After Gearshift merged with One for All, it evolved into an even more powerful meta-ability that granted its user superhuman powers. When Deku finally manifested the quirk, his transformed state allowed him to accelerate objects, including his own body, to reality-bending supersonic speeds simply by touching them. The ferocious nature of the attacks Deku can unleash with Gearshift is often too overwhelming and can incapacitate even his most fearsome foes.
Combining Gearshift with One for All greatly increases the range of attacks Midoriya can unleash. With its effects permeating the cellular level, the vast array of attacks gives Izuku the free hand to take on multiple targets at once. Midoriya adapts beautifully to his newfound powers and simultaneously invents several ultimate moves in his high-stakes battle against Tomura Shigaraki.
Gearshift: Overdrive, or simply Overdrive, is an ultimate move performed using Gearshift in combination with Fa Jin. Both quirks complement each other perfectly and allow Midoriya to dash towards his enemies with blinding speed. In the blink of an eye, Izuku reaches his enemies and unleashes a flurry of powerful attacks that drastically shift the battle in his favor. Interestingly, Gearshift: Overdrive releases 120% One For All and is one of those rare ultimate moves that can be stacked with existing ultimates.
Transmission is another powerful finishing move that utilizes Gearshift. In this attack, Izuku leaps towards his opponent and delivers a flurry of punches in rapid succession. Between punches, Gearshift's speed increases, rendering the recipient defenseless and overwhelmed. Midoriya first uses Transmission during the Final War while fighting Tomura Shigaraki.
Much like in Transmission, Deku lunges at his opponent while using the move Detroit Smash: Quintuple and unleashes five consecutive Detroit Smashes. The overwhelming barrage of attacks this unleashes leaves Midoriya's opponents little to no chance of defending themselves, catching them off guard. While Gearshift is undoubtedly a dangerous quirk with considerable offensive potential, it also has limitations that make its use a tricky strategic choice.
Weak points of the gearbox
Kudo's Quirk has evolved into a double-edged sword
Gearshift, as one of the oldest meta abilities in existence, has undergone a significant transition that has dramatically shaped its application and utility. As previously mentioned, it evolved after merging with One for All, but its immense power also comes with some troubling weaknesses that place limitations on the user. When Kudo used it, Gearshift was only effective on small objects, making it an ineffective tool in combat against powerful opponents like All for One.
Gearshift's evolution paved the way for stronger offensive moves that had a significantly greater impact. While the new powers granted by the meta ability are impressive, the quirk still has critical weaknesses even in its evolved state. Gearshift's powers are difficult for the user to control. Additionally, they take an extremely massive toll on the user's body, rendering the meta ability unusable for long periods of time.
Kudo knows its dangers well and therefore advises Midoriya not to use the quirk for more than five minutes. Gearshift pushes the user's respiratory system to the extreme and can also cause a lack of oxygen in the body. If the user persists and uses the meta ability for too long, it can incapacitate them. But the disadvantages of using the quirk do not end there.
In addition to the incapacitation, the backlash from using Gearshift is increased dramatically as the strain on the body could even lead to paralysis. The intense pain caused by the meta-ability is a direct result of pushing the physical limits of the human body. When the pain overwhelms the user, they are left in a vulnerable state, which could be fatal. Furthermore, Gearshift's cool-down period is five minutes, effectively leaving the user at the mercy of their opponent.
Finding the right balance between overuse and underuse is easier said than done, and in Midoriya's case, the circumstances make it even more unfavorable. Gearshift's superhuman power grants Izuku a serious advantage in battle, but its drawbacks are equally as worrying. The risk of becoming incapacitated or worse, paralyzed during a high-stakes battle could prove to be a life-or-death situation. Therefore, it is crucial that the user not get carried away by the superhuman powers granted by Gearshift's quirk and take a measured approach when using it.
