The Monster Association stood as one of the most dangerous threats humanity had ever faced, bringing chaos to the surface world through destruction, strategy, and sheer numbers. Under the leadership of Psykos and Orochi, this group of monstrous beings aimed to overthrow human civilization and establish dominance.
With an army of terrifying creatures, they challenged even the most powerful heroes, pushing the Hero Association to its limits. Their brutal tactics, which included kidnapping important individuals, infiltrating enemy ranks, and launching large-scale assaults, made them a true force to reckon with.
The Hero Association’s teamwork proved to be the deciding factor in the war (Photo: One Punch Man/Madhouse)However, despite their strength, they were eventually crushed. The question remains—was their defeat inevitable, or did they have a real chance at victory? Could different decisions or strategies have changed the outcome of their war against humanity?
Strength and Strategy: Were They Lacking?
One of the Monster Association’s biggest advantages was the number of high-ranking threats under its command. From Dragon-level monsters like Black Sperm and Fuhrer Ugly to nearly god-like figures such as Orochi, their forces included creatures capable of taking down top heroes.
However, strength alone was not enough. Many of their strongest members were unpredictable, arrogant, or disloyal. They lacked coordination, with some fighting for personal glory rather than the group’s success. On the other hand, the Hero Association was not free from its weaknesses.
Many heroes were overconfident, unprepared, or simply too weak for the battles they were thrown into. However, what made the difference was teamwork. Despite their flaws, the heroes had individuals who could organize efforts and support each other when needed.
The Monster Association struggled to unite its forces. Even within its ranks, betrayals and power struggles were common, leading to internal conflicts that weakened their strength.
Psykos and Orochi’s Leadership: Could They Have Done More?
A major factor in the Monster Association’s failure was its leadership. Orochi was seen as the strongest monster, but his actual control over the group was questionable. Much of the planning and decision-making fell to Psykos, whose intelligence and psychic abilities made her a dangerous strategist.
However, her arrogance often led her to underestimate her enemies. She placed too much trust in her strength and that of Orochi, believing that raw power alone would be enough to secure victory. The battle might have played out differently if the Monster Association had a more disciplined and unified leadership.
A more calculated approach, where they struck the Hero Association in multiple locations at once instead of focusing all their efforts on a single underground war, could have stretched the heroes too thin to respond effectively. Instead, they allowed their main base to become the battleground, leading to their downfall.
Could the Heroes Have Fallen?
Despite their eventual victory, the heroes faced overwhelming odds. Many of them were pushed to their limits, with even the strongest among them struggling against the more powerful monsters. If certain events had played out differently, it is possible that the Monster Association could have won.
For instance, if Garou had fully sided with the monsters from the beginning, his evolving strength could have turned the tide of battle.
His presence alone was enough to take down multiple heroes, and if he had been committed to fighting for the monsters rather than pursuing his philosophy, the situation would have been much worse for the Hero Association.
Similarly, if Psykos had used her abilities more strategically, such as manipulating events from behind the scenes instead of engaging in direct combat, she could have weakened the heroes before the showdown. Another scenario that could have changed the outcome would have been Saitama’s absence.
While many battles were intense, his intervention was what truly sealed the Monster Association’s defeat. Without him, characters like Orochi and Garou could have caused much more destruction.
The heroes alone might not have been able to handle the full force of the monsters without suffering heavy casualties or losing the war completely.
The Role of Human Weaknesses
The Monster Association did not just rely on brute force—they also sought to exploit the weaknesses of human society. They understood that fear, corruption, and selfishness could work to their advantage. Many civilians distrusted the Hero Association, believing them to be ineffective or self-serving.
Even the strongest monsters fell victim to their arrogance and betrayal (Photo: One Punch Man/Madhouse)If the monsters had been more successful in turning the public against the heroes, they might have caused enough internal division to make victory easier. Additionally, some heroes were unreliable.
Characters like Metal Knight, who prioritized his research over helping others, or Amai Mask, who was more focused on maintaining his image, showed that not all heroes were purely noble. If the Monster Association had been able to manipulate these figures, either by blackmail or deception, they could have created even greater disorder.
Was Defeat Always Certain?
Even with their impressive forces and cunning strategies, the Monster Association had too many flaws to sustain a long-term victory. Their lack of unity, poor leadership decisions, and failure to fully utilize their strengths made them vulnerable.
On the other side, the heroes, despite their issues, had just enough teamwork, resilience, and sheer luck to overcome the threat. Most importantly, the presence of Saitama ensured that any hope the monsters had of true dominance was eventually crushed.
While different choices might have prolonged the fight or made things harder for the heroes, the fundamental weaknesses within the Monster Association meant that their victory was never guaranteed. Their arrogance, infighting, and inability to see past raw power led to their downfall.
Even if they had managed to defeat some of the heroes, they lacked the organization needed to fully replace human civilization with a monster-ruled world. At best, they could have caused more destruction, taken control of certain regions, or delayed their defeat.
But as long as figures like Saitama and other top heroes existed, their reign would never have lasted forever. The Monster Association might have been a terrifying force, but finally, they were always doomed to fall.