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Tanjiro and his friends are known to be some of the best characters in the Demon Slayer series, yet some of the characters that make such a big impact are on the sidelines. What makes Demon Slayer one of the most popular Shonen animes of its time is the roles the side characters play throughout the series.
From their guiding advice from the past and present to their great sacrifices to see the end of their mutual enemy Muzan Kibutsuji they show that without their efforts, Demon Slayer's main characters would face failure. Thankfully, because of these incredible side characters, Tanjiro and his friends don't have to face their demons alone.
This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer Manga series!
10 Yushiro Joins Forces With The Demon Slayers
Yushiro is one of the few demons that work against the Demon Lord Muzan Kibutsuji and joins forces with the Demon Slayers. During the Infinity Castle Arc, Yushiro assists the higher rank Demon Slayers, Mitsuri Kanroji, The Love Hashira, and Obanai Iguro, The Serpent Hashira, in deceiving the upper-rank demon Nakime.
While Nakime is focused on her fight with the two Hashiras, Yushiro uses his blood demon art blindfold to gain control over her vision and removes her from Muzan's control. Making Nakime not only useless in battle but also useless to Muzan as well.
9 Kagaya Ubuyashiki Proves To Be A Great Leader
Kagaya Ubuyashiki is the 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps and is highly respected among the Demon Slayers. Kagaya's appearance and his inability to move on his own give him a vulnerable look, but he is anything but that.
On Kagaya's deathbed, he makes the ultimate sacrifice and proves his ability to run the Demon Slayer Corps when he strategically plans to trick Muzan into his home and take both of them out by an explosion. When the plan Kagaya set does not end in the way he would have liked, it still sets up a way for the Demon Slayers and the Hashiras to finally put an end to Muzan.
8 Mitsuri Kanroji Is More Than Just A Pretty Face
The upper-rank Demon Slayer Mitsuri Kanroji, also known as The Love Hashira, is popular for her bubbly personality and pleasant appearance. Yet, in the Swords Smith Arc, Mitsuri proves to be much more than that during her battle against one of Muzan's minions, the upper rank four demon Hantengu's clone.
Using her master sword-wielding skills, she is even able to cut through the sound wave and lighting attacks produced by the upper-rank demon. It's during this fight that Mitsuri becomes one of the first of the Hashiras currently in the Demon Slayer Corps to awaken her Demon Slayer Mark.
7 Muichiro Tokito Finds His Strength From His Past
Muichiro Tokito is the quiet upper-rank Demon Slayer known as The Mist Hashira, who is recognized as an airhead and an arrogant character. Yet, once Muichiro is forced to remember his past during his fight with the upper rank five demon Gyokka, he is perceived as a completely different individual.
Muichiro's kind-hearted personality, which had been hidden away for so many years due to losing his twin brother to a demon and being the cause of his amnesia, was finally able to emerge. This tragic memory was able to give him the will to protect those at the Swords Smith Village and the power to fight back against Gyokka.
6 Kyojuro Rengoku Will Do Anything To Protect The Innocent
The upper-rank Demon Slayer Kyojuro Rengoku, also known as The Flame Hashira, made one of the biggest sacrifices and proved to be selfless and one of the most kind-hearted out of all the Hashiras.
During the Mugen Train Arc, Rengoku faced the upper rank three demon Akaza, even after having to fight the many lower rank demons thrown at him on the train to protect everyone on board. When Rengoku had the ability to ask Tanjiro and Inosuke to aid him with the battle, he chose to protect them and keep them away from the dangerous opponent.
5 Kanao Tsuyuri Is Determined To Avenge The Ones She Loves
Kanao Tsuyuri is a member of the Demon Slayer Corps working under The Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho. Despite Kanao appearing as fragile and apprehensive, her abilities are known to surpass most Demon Slayers at her rank.
Kanao was even prepared to take on the upper rank two demon Doma alone during the Infinity Castle Arc after he ended her mentor Shinobu. During this fight, Kanao was even willing to sacrifice her eyesight to make sure that Shinobu's plan to end Doma would be seen to the end.
4 Giyu Tomioka Saw The True Potential In Tanjiro And Nezuko
Without Giyu Tomioka, introduced as The Water Hashira, Tanjiro would not have had any of the successes or skills he has. Giyu is the one who first met Tanjiro and his recently turned demon sister Nezuko. He also spared their lives and sent Tanjiro on his way to his own master Sakonkji Urokodaki to train him in Water Breathing and to become a Demon Slayer.
While most of the Hashiras refused to accept that any human willing to work alongside a demon was not fit to possess the title Demon Slayer, Giyu saw potential in Tanjiro to become the next Water Hashira.
3 Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Sun Breathing Saves The Day
The legendary Demon Slayer Yoriichi Tsugikuni was the strongest Demon Slayer to have ever lived and was the creator of Sun Breathing. Yoriichi makes a big impact on the main protagonist Tanjiro despite not being alive during the same time but by making appearances through his ancestral memories.
While Tanjiro himself has never met Yoriichi his ancestors have an important past together, even passing down the remarkable Sun Breathing technique. Unknown to Tanjiro this breathing style was passed down from generations in the form of the Hinokami Kagura Dance and became something that Tanjiro used to help him finally take down Muzan Kibutsuji.
2 Shinobu Kocho Is Always Planning Her Next Move
Where Shinobu Kocho lacks in her physical strength, she makes up for in her agile moves and medical expertise. While most Demon Slayers and Hashira go to the extent of cutting off the heads of demons they fight, Shinobu uses her katana to inject them with Wisteria poison, made from a flower known to be lethal to demons.
Her experience with the Wisteria poison proves to be useful during her fight with the upper rank two demon Doma. As Shinobu is absorbed into Doma's body, she later reveals to him from beyond that she had been injecting herself with the poison for some time in preparation for this moment.
1 Tamayo Is Willing To Sacrifice Her Own Life To Take Muzan Down
Along with Yushiro, Tamayo is a demon that despises Muzan Kibutsuji and joins forces with the Demon Slayer Corps. Along with wanting to see the end of Muzan, Tamayo also sets her sights on helping Tanjiro find a way to turn his sister back into a human using her expert medical skills.
Behind the curtain, Tamayo and Shinobu use their skills to create a poison that will either take Muzan down or slow him to make the fight easier for the Demon Slayers. Unfortunately, the only way to secure the poison into Muzan's body is to be absorbed, and Tamayo willingly takes on the job.