My Hero Academia Episode 17: Strategy, Strategy, Strategy

The second event of the U.A. Sports Festival is the Cavalry Battle. The rules state that the qualifying students have fifteen minutes to form teams of two to four people. Each student's point value is determined by their placement in the Obstacle Race. The student who placed first, Izuku, is worth ten million points, which Midnight explains simulates the difficulty of being at the top.

Teams' total point values are displayed on headbands worn by the rider. The objective is to steal as many headbands as possible to increase a team's score. Teams can continue to compete even if they fall or have their headband stolen. The Cavalry Battle lasts fifteen minutes, and only the top four teams will advance to the finals. Midnight warns teams not to intentionally cause others to fall, which irritates Katsuki.

Meanwhile, Pro Heroes Death Arms, Mount Lady, and Kamui Woods discuss the festival. Death Arms believes the festival is more about simulating real Pro-Hero competition than assessing student preparedness. Mount Lady comments on the sadness of viewing hero work as stepping over others, which angers Kamui Woods, who accuses her of stealing his spotlight. They agree that the Cavalry Battle, unlike the Obstacle Race, emphasizes teamwork.

Back at the stadium, students begin forming teams. Many Class 1-A students try to recruit Katsuki, but he struggles to remember their names and Quirks, annoying them with his ego. All Might observes that despite Katsuki's hotheadedness, his versatile Quirk and high placement in the Obstacle Course draw significant attention. Eijiro, having been rejected by Shoto, attempts to join Katsuki's team. Katsuki again forgets Eijiro's name, but Eijiro makes a compelling case, and Katsuki agrees to team up with him.

Izuku notices that while other participants are teaming up with classmates, everyone is avoiding him due to his ten million points. Ochaco approaches him and offers to join, stating it's good for friends to team up. They try to recruit Tenya, but he declines. Tenya considers Izuku and Ochaco his best friends but also views Izuku as a rival. He decides to join Shoto's team to grow stronger, vowing to defeat Izuku.

Izuku realizes he is a target, but his thoughts are interrupted by Mei, a girl from the support course. She boldly asks to join Izuku's team because he has the most points, wanting to showcase her inventions during the event and believing Izuku will draw the most attention. After she demonstrates some gadgets, Izuku recognizes one modeled after a famous hero and is impressed enough to agree. With Mei and Ochaco, Izuku still feels his team needs one more member. As time runs out, he spots a suitable person.

Neito from Class 1-B speaks to his team, criticizing Class 1-A for being overly focused on themselves due to their encounter with villains. He believes Class 1-B is equally talented and instructs his team to defeat Class 1-A.

After fifteen minutes, twelve teams are formed. Izuku successfully recruits Fumikage as his final team member. Before the Cavalry Battle begins, Shoto explains his strategy to his team, which includes Tenya, Denki, and Momo. Tenya asks if Shoto will use both ice and fire as diversions, but Shoto states he never uses his left side in battle.

The Cavalry Battle starts, and many teams immediately target Izuku's headband. Juzo from Team Tetsutetsu uses his Quirk to soften the ground beneath Team Midoriya, trapping them. However, Team Midoriya, equipped with a jetpack and hover soles created by Mei, escapes by flying into the air. Kyoka attempts to attack them with her Earphone Jacks, but Fumikage's Dark Shadow Quirk deflects the attack. Izuku comments on Fumikage's powerful Quirk and its suitability for their team as they land.

Kyoka's team, intending to pursue Izuku, discovers their headband has been stolen by Neito, who remarks on the ease of the theft. Team Mineta then rushes Team Midoriya. Izuku initially mistakes Mezo for being alone, but Tsuyu and Minoru are hidden on his back by his tentacles. They use their Quirks to attack Team Midoriya, and one of Minoru's spheres sticks to their hover soles, grounding them. Team Tetsutetsu joins the attack, forcing Izuku to break the hover soles to escape back into the air. This provides a brief respite as Katsuki immediately pursues them, using his explosions to fly. Katsuki tries to blast them out of the air, but Fumikage's Dark Shadow blocks him. Katsuki begins to fall, but Hanta uses his tape to secure him. Midnight rules that Katsuki's maneuver is legal since he did not touch the ground.

The crowd cheers, and fans comment on Class 1-A's skills, but Present Mic announces that, apart from Team Midoriya, no one from Class 1-A is currently in the top four. Team Monoma even manages to steal Katsuki's headband.

Neito explains that he and some classmates intentionally performed poorly in the Obstacle Race to scout Class 1-A's Quirks. They remained in the top forty while Katsuki and other rivals freely used their Quirks. Neito criticizes their rivals for obsessing over the preliminary round and taunts Katsuki, mentioning his involvement in the Sludge Villain incident and calling him a victim. Enraged, Katsuki abandons his original plans and tells his team they will annihilate Class 1-B before going after Izuku's team.

Izuku notes Class 1-B's long-term strategy and believes none of them will target his team. He prepares to instruct his team to relax, but Team Todoroki confronts them. Shoto declares he will take the ten million point headband.