Summary
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibais an emotionally charged and exciting series that revolves around a seemingly endless conflict between humans and demons. Under theguidance and control of Muzan Kibutsuji, the demons have fought a relentless war to take over the world and establish a demonic reign. But since the Heian Era, the Demon Slayer Corps has sacrificed countless brave combatants to ensure that Muzan’s grand plans do not come to fruition.
Demon slayers have been humanity’s shield for over a thousand years, and countless fighters have served the organization over time. While almost all of them have been incredibly courageous, only a handful managed to transform themselves into elite fighters who have troubled the most powerful demons in existence.
8Tanjiro Kamado
The Demon Slayer Who Surpassed Many Hashira
Tanjirowas the victim of Muzan’s wanton depravity and violence, following which he vowed to exact revenge on the Demon King. Through his sheer willpower and dedication, he managed to join the Demon Slayer Corps. He initially mastered Water Breathing but laterawakened the legendary Sun Breathing, becoming one of the strongest combatants of his generation.
In order to soothe the spirits of those it killed, and to make sure it claims no further victims, I will swing my blade down and lop off the head of any demon without mercy! But I will not belittle those who regret their actions and suffer over the things they did as demons. Because demons were once human. Because they were like me.
By awakening the demon slayer mark, Tanjiro completely transformed the Demon Slayer Corps, paving the way for direct confrontation with high-ranking demons. Apart from Yoriichi, he is arguably the only person to have been able to use the deadly combination of Sun Breathing and the demon slayer mark. While he never officially became a Hashira, by the time the human-demon conflict ended, Tanjiro had already surpassed some of the best combatants of his generation.
7Obanai Iguro
Serpent Hashira
Known for his strict and rough personality,Obanai Igurois an intimidating Hashirawho is perhaps one of the best fighters in the Demon Slayer Corps. Despite barely being able to see from his right eye, he has fought powerful demons on equal grounds and can kill low-ranked demons without breaking a sweat. Iguro is a competent user ofthe Serpent Breathing style, a unique swordsmanship technique invented by him.
6Giyu Tomioka
Water Hashira
Unlike other Hashira who have refined their fighting techniques to the point that they feel extremely confident in themselves,Giyustands as an anomaly, as he struggles with low self-esteem and feels that he does not belong with the best swordsmen of his generation. But despite his low confidence, Tomioka is an incredibly skilled combatant who decapitates Lower Rank Five Rui with a single strike in the Mount Natagumo arc.
Giyu has also mastered Water Breathingto an impressive degree and has shown on several instances that he is head and shoulders above any other demon slayer in its application.
5Muichiro Tokito
Mist Hashira
Muichiro Tokitois a once-in-a-generationkind of demon slayer. His prodigious talent even leaves other Hashira amazed. Tokito became a Hashira just two months after picking up a sword.
He later single-handedly defeatedUpper-Rank Five, Gyokko, and went on to fight some of the most dangerous demons in existence. It should not come as a surprise that he is regarded as one of the greatest demon slayers to have ever lived.
4Sanemi Shinazugawa
Wind Hashira
Sanemi Shinazugawahad a rough childhood. After losing his abusive father, he was entrusted with the responsibility of looking after his siblings. When life took a dark turn, he was also forced to kill his mother. These tragedies deeply influenced his personality, but he used his emotional struggles as fuel for growth and transformed himself into one of the strongest demon slayers of his age.
I know how unfair the world is… because good people… die one after another.
Sanemi mastered Wind Breathingand became such a great combatant that even the most intimidating demons recognized his fighting prowess and praised him for it. Sanemi was also born with Marechi blood, a rare blood type that intoxicates demons. Shinazugawa was able to stop bleeding at will by coagulating his blood. This allowed him to fight despite severe injuries and well beyond the point his rivals thought was possible. In this sense, Sanemi was a nightmare for anyone he fought against, as he would just keep fighting, leaving little to no chance for escape.
3Michikatsu Tsugikuni
Yoriichi’s Brother
Michikatsuwas one of the strongesthuman beings during the Golden Age of demon slayers. Despite being an incredibly skilled combatant, he was envious of his brother’s superhuman abilities. He unfortunately never got over his negative feelings despite knowing that Yoriichi loved him.
Michikatsu Tsugikuni felt that his generation of demon slayers was superior to everyone else, and there wouldn’t be successors to the various breathing styles that had been developed at the time. Like many demon slayers of his age, Michikatsu had also awakened the demon slayer mark. He alsoinvented the Moon Breathing styleand refined it to perfection with relentless effort and dedication. Since it is a direct derivative of Sun Breathing, it is extremely effective in combat.
2Gyomei Himejima
Stone Hashira
Gyomei Himejimastruggled with lossthroughout his life. His mother died in childbirth, while his father passed away in an epidemic. To make matters worse, he completely lost his vision after falling ill at a young age. Despite facing so many tragedies, Gyomei remained kind to others and even looked after orphans in his temple at one point in his life. But he lost some of those precious children in a demon attack, following which he was wrongfully imprisoned.
We are proud to live and die as human beings. Don’t act like your worthless ideas are supreme and force them on others.
In some of his darkest times, Himejima was offered a helping hand andsaved by Kagaya Ubuyashiki. He then went on to become one of the greatest Hashira of his generation. Himejima’s fighting prowess even impressed Muzan and Kokushibo. The latter even felt that he was perhaps the strongest demon slayer he had faced in the last few centuries. Gyomei, despite being blind, was extremely perceptive and, because of his heightened senses, was able to fight some of the strongest demons in the world on equal ground.
1Yoriichi
The Greatest Demon Slayer Of All Time
Yoriichi Tsugikuniwas born in the Sengoku Eraand was responsible for ushering in the golden age of demon slayers. He was a naturally gifted swordsman who always had a demon slayer mark. Using his unique intellect and superior fighting prowess, he managed to revolutionizethe Demon Slayer Corpsby inventing breathing styles.
Yoriichi’s techniques ended up giving demon slayers an edge in the battle against demons. As if these achievements were not impressive enough, he almost killed Muzan Kibutsuji when the two crossed paths. No other demon slayer in history has come so close to ending the demon-human conflict all alone. If it weren’t for Yoriichi’s contributions, the Demon Slayer Corps would have never hada chance against Muzanand his subordinates.
