The Vanguard Action Squad: A Threat Assessment
The Vanguard Action Squad, as a collective, was not overhyped. The heroes' initial underestimation of them was a critical mistake that led to their success in the Forest Training Camp Arc. The squad was designed for a specific purpose and was far more dangerous than the heroes' prior encounters with the League of Villains.
Quality Over Quantity
The document notes that the Vanguard Action Squad was deliberately assembled as a "Quality over Quantity" force. Unlike the low-level thugs from the USJ incident, each member was a skilled, infamous career criminal with significant combat experience. Dabi himself lampshades this, stating they were of a "higher caliber" than the League's first iteration. This group was specifically chosen to handle themselves even when outnumbered.
Individual Threats
The Vanguard's success was due to the unique and deadly quirks of its members:
Muscular: He was an overwhelming force of pure strength and sadism, capable of overpowering even a hero-in-training like Midoriya at his full power.
Mustard: The document mentions that Mustard was a B-rank villain, more wanted than a serial killer like Toga at the time. His Quirk, while not having stopping power, was a large-scale area-of-effect attack that forced heroes to focus on survival rather than offense, giving him control of the battlefield.
Moonfish: His Quirk was particularly insidious and unpredictable, making him a difficult foe for anyone who couldn't keep their distance or overpower him instantly.
Toga: Her "devious daggers" and shapeshifting abilities made her a master of sneak attacks and confusion, allowing her to take down a Pro Hero like Rock Lock from behind.
The "Idiot Ball"
The heroes' underestimation and miscalculations can be seen as holding the "idiot ball" to a degree, especially at the beginning of the arc.
Misinformation: The heroes, particularly the UA staff, were still treating the League as a group of disorganized hooligans. They failed to grasp the leap in quality and planning that had occurred under Dabi and Shigaraki's direction.
Lack of Preparation: The heroes were not prepared for an all-out assault by a team of highly-skilled villains. The students were there for a training camp, not a full-scale battle. This is a crucial point; the Vanguard's success was a result of a well-executed plan against an unprepared and dispersed group.
Overconfidence: There was a clear overconfidence in the security of the training camp. The teachers were not expecting a coordinated attack and the students were caught completely off-guard.
Would They Still Have Lost?
It's likely that even if the heroes hadn't underestimated them, the Vanguard Action Squad would have still been an incredibly difficult threat to defeat. Their quirks, combined with a clear objective (kidnapping Bakugo), gave them the upper hand. The heroes might have been able to prevent some of the chaos, but the mission itself was a well-devised ambush. The Vanguard's purpose was to cause a "wake-up call" for hero society, and they succeeded spectacularly, earning a reputation as "The Dreaded."
In short, the Vanguard Action Squad's reputation was earned. Their success was not just a result of the heroes' failure but also a testament to their own skill, deadly quirks, and effective planning.
