A Demon Slayer is only as capable as their Nichirin Blade. Without the weapons forged by master swordsmiths, capable of beheading a demon, the Demon Slayer Corps would stand no chance against the might of Muzan Kibutsuji. For this reason, the Demon Slayer Corp has forged a powerful relationship with the swordsmiths who craft their color-changing weapons.
Of course, there is more to a Nichirin Blade than function. Each blade is made up of a special metal that shifts colors depending on its wielder. This shift draws readers' and viewers' attention to the design of these weapons after they consider their function.
9 Giyu Tomioka's Dull Personality Is Only Slightly Boosted By His Sharp Nichirin Blade
The Water Hashira garnered a lot of love from fans in the first season of Demon Slayer, but the silent and stoic disposition that Giyu demonstrates does very little for him in terms of style. Shinobu puts it best when she mocks Giyu for having no friends despite the fact that he has never said anything that would put off his allies in the Demon Slayer Corp.
The calm and silent disposition that Giyu wears is complemented by his choice of Nichirin Blade. Though his katana seems to function extraordinarily well in combat, its design is rather boring. Besides the blue color that tints the blade, Giyu's Nichirin Sword and hilt are lackluster compared to his fellow Hashira's.
8 Muichiro Tokito Relies On His Nichirin Blade To Save The Swordsmiths Who Work With The Demon Slayer Corps.
Muichiro is another Hashira that carries a standard Nichirin Katana into combat. In the case of the Mist Hashira, Muichiro's blade turned stark white to match his Mist Breathing techniques.
Mist Breathing may seem like a soft offshoot of Water and Wind Breathing, but Muichiro deserves credit for the way he gets his katana to function during the Swordsmith Village arc. If it weren't for Muichiro's white blade and breathing techniques, the swordsmiths who create the Demon Slayer Corps' Nichirin Blades would have all been wiped out.
7 Sanemi Shinazugawa's Nichirin Katana Is Designed To Fit His Pointed Personality.
Sanemi is an extremely stylized character, but the design of his blade is rather dull when compared to his peers' in the Demon Slayer Corps. Of course, the Wind Hashira does his best to sharpen the design of his katana by adding a pointed cross guard, but a katana is still just a katana.
Sanemi does win some design points for the way his Nichirin Blade shines with a green tint thanks to his Wind Breathing technique, but the fact that he was able to hunt demons prior to receiving his Nichirin Blade should have fans questioning the purpose and functionality of the Wind Hashira's weapon.
6 Kyojuro Rengoku's Red-Tinted Nichirin Sword Proves That A Traditional Katana Can Be Both Cool And Functional
The Fire Hashira made quite the splash when Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train was released. The combination of his fiery personality and explosive combat ability made Rengoku a fan favorite within the first 30 minutes of the Mugen Train arc.
One more thing that pushed Rengoku into the hearts of Demon Slayer fans is the red-orange katana that he wields in combat. Though it may look like another standard katana, the flames that adorn the blade and cross guard make for a unique design that helps Rengoku stand out from his peers. The story that follows his flame cross guard is also worth noting when discussing the design of Rengoku and Tanjiro's Nichirin Blades.
5 Shinobu's Nichirin Blade Opens The Door To A Unique Form Of Combat That Only The Insect Hashira Can Lay Claim To
The extra points that Shinobu Kocho's Nichirin Blade earns for design are lost when fans consider the functionality of her stinger-like katana. In the hands of Shinobu, a Nichirin Blade designed to sting demons with poison functions just fine when paired with her Insect Breathing technique. Without a sheath capable of loading the blade with poison though, Shinobu's blade is functionally useless against powerful demons.
4 The Serpent Hashira Wields A Nichirin Blade That Writhes Through Space Like A Snake
The Serpent Hashira who sits atop a tree during Tanjiro's introduction to the Hashira in Season 1 of the Demon Slayer anime wields a Nichirin Blade that matches his Serpent Breathing style perfectly. Instead of following the natural curves of a katana, Obanai's blade follows a writhing pattern that makes it almost impossible to track when paired with his Serpent Breathing techniques.
Though it works well with Obanai's breathing technique, there is an argument to be made about the structural integrity of a blade with this many curves. Outside of the Serpent Hashira's hands, this blade would be functionally weaker than the average katana, but Obanai need not worry about this thanks to his mastery of the Serpent Breathing techniques.
3 The Flexible Nichirin Whip Wielded By Mitsuri Kanroji Fits Her Flexible And Powerful Abilities
As one of the strongest members of the Demon Slayer Corps, there are times when manga fans are forced to question whether Kanroji even needs a Nichirin Blade in the first place. During the battle against Muzan Kibutsuji, Kanroji rips off one of the Demon King's tentacles with her bare hands. Still, fans should consider themselves lucky that Kanroji whips out her long and flexible Nichirin Blade because it is one of the coolest and most versatile Nichirin weapons in the Demon Slayer mythos.
2 Tengen Uzui's Dual Nichirin Cleavers Make Inosuke's Katanas Look Like A Child's Toys
The Sound Hashira is about to drop into the center of the anime world as soon as the Mugen Train arc ends. The Entertainment District arc that is set to finish off Season 2 of the anime follows Tengen and his three wives into an adventure that fans won't be likely to forget.
One of the main things that makes Tengen so appealing is the two massive Nichirin cleavers that he wields in battle. These blades are also tied together by a chain which plays into the Sound Hashira's aesthetic but offers little in terms of functionality.
1 Gyomei Himejima Uses A Flail, Chain, And Axe To Look Cool And Make Up For His Lack Of Sight
The Stone Hashira has the most unique Nichirin Blade in the Demon Slayer Corps. In fact, Gyomei doesn't even wield a sword at all. The swordsmith that crafted his demon-slaying weapon took Himejima's blindness into account and created a weapon that would allow the Stone Hashira to feel out his surroundings.
The sword that was crafted for Gyomei Himejima is the combination of an axe and a spiked flail that are connected by a chain. This weapon allowed the most powerful member of the Demon Slayer Corps to go toe to toe with Muzan Kibutsuji's strongest upper-rank demon and look stylish while doing so.