What’s up, fellow weebs and warriors! Whether you’re breathing Water, Flame, or just gasping after every plot twist—welcome to the ultimate showdown of strength in the world of Kimetsu no Yaiba. I know, you also are waiting for the Infinity Castle Movie in 2025, so I thought it’s the best time to publish the final rankings and have a healthy fight around it, so let me know in comments if I missed something 🙂
This isn’t just a fan list. It’s a battle-hardened, moment-based, weapon-detailed, “I’ve-read-the-manga-twice” kind of breakdown. Let’s rank the Top 15 strongest characters in Demon Slayer—with actual moments, sword styles, strengths, and even their cracks.
So tighten that Hanafuda earring, summon your breathing form, and let’s get right into it!
15. Gyutaro – The Sickled Sadist of the Entertainment District
Weapon: Dual blood-drenched sickles (infused with deadly poison)
Style: Blood Demon Art – Blood Manipulation
Strength: Poisonous strikes, extreme regeneration, unpredictable attacks
Weakness: Life-link with Daki, who sometimes held him back in battle
Gyutaro might rank 15, but don’t sleep on him—this demon pushed a Hashira to the brink. His twisted agility, poison-coated sickles, and erratic Blood Demon Art made him a deadly mid-range fighter. In fact, if he weren’t shackled to Daki’s shared body limitations, many fans agree he could’ve easily been an Upper Moon 4 contender instead of 6.
In the Entertainment District Arc, it took Tengen, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and a bit of divine plot armor to take him down. Had he fought alone at full potential, the story might’ve taken a darker turn.
14. Mitsuri Kanroji – The Love Hashira With the Heart of a Warrior
- Weapon: Ultra-flexible whip-like Nichirin sword
- Style: Love Breathing – a derivative of Flame Breathing
- Strength: Inhuman muscle density (8x normal), unmatched flexibility, explosive agility
- Weakness: Emotionally driven, leaves openings when overwhelmed
Mitsuri is a beautiful contradiction—soft-hearted yet fierce in battle. Her Love Breathing, with its flowing and unpredictable movements, paired with her whip-sword, makes her impossible to predict. During the Swordsmith Village Arc, she stood alone against Zohakuten, one of Hantengu’s most terrifying clones. After awakening her Demon Slayer Mark, her physical power skyrocketed. Despite her cheerful nature, she’s a demon’s worst nightmare up close.
13. Nakime – The Biwa Demon Who Controlled a Castle Like a Battlefield
- Weapon: Biwa (instrument) enabling spatial manipulation
- Style: Blood Demon Art – Infinity Castle
- Strengths: Total control over terrain, instant teleportation, disorientation
- Weaknesses: Lack of offensive capabilities, dependent on her being untouched
Nakime doesn’t fight with claws or swords—she manipulates the battleground itself. As the new Upper Moon 4 after Hantengu’s death, Nakime’s power lies in how she shuffles rooms, isolates slayers, and prolongs Muzan’s advantage. She turned Infinity Castle into a labyrinth of chaos, breaking apart Hashira coordination. Only Yushiro’s advanced demon hacking could counter her. In a straight-up brawl? She’s weak. But in terms of battlefield influence, she’s one of the most dangerous support demons ever created.
12. Muichiro Tokito – Mist Hashira, The Child Prodigy of Carnage
Weapon: Standard Nichirin katana
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Style: Mist Breathing – Focused on obscuring and overwhelming opponents
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Strengths: Exceptional sword speed, Demon Slayer Mark, transparent world
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Weaknesses: Cold detachment, emotionally slow recovery in early battles
Muichiro became a Hashira at 14. That alone says everything. But it was his solo fight against Gyokko that sealed his name in legend. After awakening his Mark, Muichiro’s speed was a blur, slicing through Gyokko—a demon who killed multiple swordsmiths—like he was tissue paper. In the final battle against Kokushibo, he sacrificed himself to land a fatal blow, proving his legacy wasn’t just about talent—it was about heart and duty.
11. Obanai Iguro – The Serpent Hashira With Eyes of Precision
- Weapon: Serpent-shaped Nichirin sword, used with snake-like fluidity
- Style: Serpent Breathing – Narrow-angle attacks mimicking a snake’s path
- Strengths: Coordination with Kaburamaru (his snake), red blade, Mark
- Weaknesses: Vision impairment, limited in chaotic environments
A master of precision, Obanai isn’t flashy—but he is lethal. His unique breathing form allows him to strike from unexpected angles, especially in tight spaces. In the final battle with Muzan, Obanai awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, unlocked the transparent world, and turned his sword red—all while fighting blind. With Kaburamaru guiding his movements, he made critical strikes that gave others the edge. Obanai proves that raw power isn’t everything—tactical mastery can match demonic might.
10. Giyu Tomioka – The Stoic Sentinel of Water
- Weapon: Deep blue Nichirin blade
- Style: Water Breathing – Balanced and versatile with 11th Form: Dead Calm
- Strengths: Calm under pressure, elite defense, Demon Slayer Mark
- Weaknesses: Emotional hesitation, guilt complex
From the moment he saved Tanjiro and Nezuko, Giyu has been the quiet powerhouse. His Water Breathing is serene but sharp, flowing perfectly into his original form, Dead Calm—which nullifies rapid attacks with meditative defense. In the battle against Akaza, Giyu activated his Mark, kept pace with the Upper Moon’s ferocious blows, and proved his blade is as sharp as his resolve. Don’t let the silence fool you—this man can carry an arc.
9. Hantengu - The Fragmented Fear Incarnate
- Weapon: Multiple clone demons with distinct weapons and elemental powers
- Style: Blood Demon Art – Emotional Manifestation
- Strengths: Clone-based elemental assaults, enhanced regen, sensory overload
- Weaknesses: True body is frail and defenseless
Hantengu’s strength lies in confusion. His clones—like Sekido (anger, lightning), Karaku (joy, wind), and Zohakuten (hatred, wood dragons)—can battle multiple opponents at once. Zohakuten alone was strong enough to overwhelm Mitsuri at her peak. His final “coward form” was small and fast, hiding and regenerating until the very last second. He’s not just a demon. He’s a survivalist built on layers of deception, speed, and elemental chaos.
8. Sanemi Shinazugawa – The Wind Hashira With Hurricane Rage
Weapon: Jagged, pale green Nichirin blade
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Style: Wind Breathing – Aggressive and relentless techniques
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Strengths: Demon-slowing blood, insane pain tolerance, high-speed assault
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Weaknesses: Hot-headed, reckless under emotional stress
Sanemi doesn’t ask questions. He acts. During the Kokushibo battle, he showcased unrelenting power, even after sustaining near-fatal wounds. His Wind Breathing is brutal—jagged, fast, and wild like a tornado. Combined with his rare Marechi blood (which weakens demons), he is practically a walking anti-demon nuke. His willpower rivals his swordsmanship, making him one of the last Hashira standing at the end.
7. Akaza – Upper Moon 3, The Martial Artist With a Code
Weapon: Fists – Destructive Death martial art
Style: Shockwave punches and predictive counters
Strengths: Hand-to-hand supremacy, regeneration, compass sense
Weaknesses: Mental block toward killing the weak, emotional scars
Akaza wasn’t just a brawler—he was a one-man army. His battle against Rengoku is one of the most beautifully animated, emotionally devastating fights in anime history. And let’s be real:
Rengoku gave everything, but Akaza was never truly in danger. The gap in skill, regeneration, and battle instinct was undeniable. But, we can’t forget Renogoku for setting our hearts Ablaze🔥🔥
His final fight against Giyu and Tanjiro pushed him to the edge—but in the end, it was his humanity that defeated him, not brute force. Akaza remains the most refined combatant among Muzan’s army.
6. Gyomei Himejima – The Silent Titan of the Stone Pillar
Weapon: Spiked flail and axe connected by chain
Style: Stone Breathing – Heavy, ground-shattering moves
Strengths: Physical strength, spiritual awareness, red blade, transparent world
Weaknesses: Slightly slower than other Hashira; needs strategy over speed
Blind but spiritually awakened, Gyomei was revered even by Upper Moons. During the Kokushibo battle, he became the cornerstone of the squad—activating all advanced slayer techniques including his Mark, transparent world, and a red-hot blade. His flail and axe combo allowed him to fight with unpredictable range and force. Kokushibo even admitted Gyomei’s strength surpassed any Hashira he’d faced in centuries.
5. Doma – Upper Moon 2, The Charismatic Ice Butcher
Weapon: Blood Demon Art manifesting ice constructs and fans
Style: Cryokinesis-based area control and spike attacks
Strengths: Cold, tactical mind; AoE attacks; clone generation
Weaknesses: Underestimates opponents; emotionally vacant
Doma is the perfect fusion of beauty and brutality. His ice-based abilities allowed him to freeze poison, summon deadly fans, and create blizzards mid-fight. He easily absorbed Shinobu—poison and all—and still battled on. It took the combined efforts of Shinobu’s suicide plan, Kanao’s agility, and Inosuke’s instincts to bring him down. He was never truly cornered—just poisoned beyond saving.
4. Kokushibo – Upper Moon 1, The Moon-Breathing Nightmare
Weapon: Flesh katana with multiple blades, forged from his own cells
Style: Moon Breathing – An offshoot of Sun Breathing with explosive AoE
Strengths: Immortality, transparent world, multi-directional attacks
Weaknesses: Consumed by inferiority and envy
Kokushibo was the last boss before Muzan. A swordsman turned demon, his Moon Breathing expanded Sun Breathing’s deadly precision into wide-range death zones. He had multiple brains and hearts for defense and insane regeneration. It took a combined suicide squad of Muichiro, Gyomei, Sanemi, and Obanai to end him—and they still nearly failed. The scariest part? He wasn’t even using his full swordsmanship skill until the very end.
3. Muzan Kibutsuji – The Demon Progenitor Who Refused to Die
Weapon: Flesh whips, shapeshifting body, toxin absorption
Style: Adaptive offense with pure speed and regeneration
Strengths: Immense strength, longevity, rapid evolution
Weaknesses: Sunlight, time-based aging medicine
Muzan is evil incarnate. His final form—a blend of infant horror and monstrous power—fought off multiple marked Hashira, despite being poisoned and cornered. His tentacle attacks, speed blitzes, and regeneration kept him fighting till dawn. The slayers didn’t beat him with power. They beat him with teamwork, sacrifice, and stalling for the sun.
2. Demon King Tanjiro – The Perfect Monster Muzan Never Could Be
Weapon: Demonized body with Muzan’s cells and Sun Breathing memory
Style: Instinctual Berserker Combat
Strengths: Sunlight immunity, rapid regeneration, pure destructive instinct
Weaknesses: No emotional control, berserk state
When Tanjiro turned, the world stopped. Immune to the sun. Resistant to poison. With raw strength and agility surpassing every Upper Moon. His attacks were erratic but powerful enough to put all slayers on the defensive. If Nezuko hadn’t restored his humanity, Demon King Tanjiro could’ve been the next Muzan—and then some.
PS: DKT could’ve taken the first spot in this list (only if it got more screen time)
1. Yorichi Tsugikuni – The Sun-Breathing God Among Men
Weapon: Crimson Nichirin katana forged by the first generation
Style: Sun Breathing – Original and most powerful form
Strengths: One-hit killing intent, transparent world, unmatched speed
Weaknesses: None. Literally perfection, died of age
This fellow’s got everything to rule this list from the beginning to end of this Anime: He’s born with a Demon Slayer Mark, the first Demon Slayer, Invented the Sun Breathing and what not! Yorichi was born to end demons. He scarred Muzan so badly that the demon lord still trembled centuries later. His Sun Breathing flowed with perfect rhythm and divine calm. Even at over 80 years old, he nearly killed his demon brother Kokushibo in a single strike. He’s not just the strongest in Demon Slayer—he’s one of the strongest characters in anime, period
⚔️ Final Words From One Otaku to Another...
There you have it—15 warriors who shaped the fate of Demon Slayer’s world. Whether it was Gyutaro’s poison, Akaza’s brutal hands, or Yorichi’s divine blade—each of them etched their names into the blood-soaked history of Kimetsu no Yaiba.
🔥 Agree with the list? Think someone was done dirty? Let’s fight it out in the comments—civilly, of course. 😤
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