Summary
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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibafeatures several strong demons, each with different backstories and unique powers. Like the best demon slayers become Hashira, the demons who have the potential get the privilege of joining the Twelve Kizuki. The mysterious organization is commanded by Muzan Kibutsuji directly and is divided into two groups: the six Lower Ranks and the six Upper Ranks.
As one might have guessed, these ranks are usually occupied by only one demon at a time, with the exception of Gyutaro and Daki, who together shared the position of Upper-Rank Six. Following the battle in the Entertainment District, many fans have been puzzled by Daki’s true strength and questioned if she even belonged with other Upper Ranks. Let’s look at her powers and other factors to understand whether such speculations are justified and deserve consideration.
Understanding Daki’s True Strength Without Gyutaro
Could Daki Have Been an Upper-Rank Demon Without Gyutaro?
Daki with Gyutaro jointly held the Upper-Rank Six position among the Twelve Kizuki for several decades before dying in the Entertainment District. The brother-sister duo killed about 22 Hashira together and consolidated control in the region by hiding among the ordinary people. Their downfall eventually came when they crossed paths withSound Hashira Tengen Uzui, Tanjiro, Inosuke, Nezuko, and Zenitsu.
The sufferings of my past were lessons on what to do to others as revenge! If I don’t cause misery equal to my own unhappiness, I’ll never balance the scales! That’s how it was when you’re a demon! And we kill anyone who tries to tell us otherwise.
Daki, like most powerful demons, is gifted with almost infinite stamina and endurance. Her extrasensory perception is also exceptional, but what makes her truly special is that she can’t be killed like most demons just by decapitation with a Nichirin sword. This is due to her connection with Gyutaro, which makes it extremely difficult to defeat her.Her blood demon art is also quite unique, as she uses her flesh to create flower-patterned obi sashes and then uses them for defensive and offensive purposes.
Daki’s skills are undoubtedly interesting, but it is noteworthy that she was no match for the Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, who decapitated her quite easily. If it wasn’t for Gyutaro, she would not have been able to fight back against Tengen for long. This is the main reason why most fans are skeptical of her place in theUpper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki.
No other Upper-Rank demon was decapitated nearly as easily as Uzui beheaded Daki. Interestingly,even Muzan also believedthat she was Gyutaro’s weakness and that he could have won the battle in the Entertainment District had he fought alone from the start. It sounds as if the Demon King recognized Gyutaro’s talent and wanted him to take the Upper-Rank Six position alone, but it was perhaps an impossible proposition for him as his bond with his sister was too strong.
While the manga does not directly claim this, it is heavily implied by Muzan in the Upper-Rank demon meeting in the Swordsmith Village arc. Even if Kibutsuji’s perspective is ignored, Daki’s helplessness in front of the Sound Hashira is strong evidence that she alone would not have been powerful enough to be ranked among the Upper Moons. None of the top-ranked demons can be simply decapitated by a demon slayer, especially by one without a demon slayer mark.
Is Daki On Par With Lower Moons?
Daki Might Not Become an Upper Moon Alone, But She Still Deserves to be in Twelve Kizuki
Fans who witnessed Daki getting casually decapitated bySound Hashira Tengen Uzuimight have been reminded of the Mount Natagumo arc. During the battle that evening, Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka rescued Tanjiro by beheading Rui, the Lower Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki. Like Uzui, Tomioka was nonchalant and efficient, almost making everything seem effortless. The Mount Natagumo incident is a strong reminder that Lower Moons are significantly underpowered compared to the Hashira.
Demons never grow old. And they don’t need money to eat. They don’t get sick. They don’t die. They have nothing to lose. We beautiful, powerful demons, can do anything we want!
Interestingly, just some time after becoming a demon slayer, Tanjiro defeated Kyogai, the former Lower Rank Six who was removed from the Twelve Kizuki after losing his ability to evolve and get stronger. Similarly, mostlow-ranked members of Muzan’s demon organizationwere significantly weaker than their upper-ranked counterparts. Even though Daki was not strong enough to join the Upper Ranks, one can make the case that she could still make it in the Twelve Kizuki.
While it’s true that Daki was easily beheaded by Tengen, it would be unfair to overlook the fact that she single-handedly took on Zenitsu and Inosuke, who were far better fighters compared to Tanjiroduring the Mount Natagumo arc. Even then, Rui was surprised by Kamado on a few occasions, while Daki almost killed the two demon slayers. It would be fair to conclude for the above reasons that Daki was at least more powerful than Rui. If he can be the Lower Rank Five, Daki definitely deserves a place among the Lower Moons.
