My Hero Academia: Vigilantes takes place about five to six years before the main events of My Hero Academia, before Izuku Midoriya attends U.A. High School. The story is set in the same universe during the age of the number one hero All Might, who is beginning to struggle with the long-term effects of his injuries. Heroes like Midnight and Eraserhead are active but have not yet become teachers. This timeline places Vigilantes in a gritty, prequel context, exploring unlicensed heroes operating outside the law before the main series begins.
More specifically, some timeline analysis places the events of Vigilantes in Year 1 After Battle (AB), which means shortly after the major battle between All Might and All For One, but before Midoriya meets All Might and enters U.A. High School, around five years earlier.
The Vigilantes anime premiered on April 7, 2025, reflecting this earlier timeline relative to the main My Hero Academia storyline.
