Outside of Tanjiro and his family members, Giyu is one of the first characters introduced on Demon Slayer — and he’s certainly the first member of the Demon Slayer Corps. that viewers meet. A member of the Hashira (though this isn’t revealed at the time), Giyu demonstrates strength, agility, and a confidence in his ability to take down demons from episode one.
It's clear from the get-go that Giyu represents what a demon slayer should be, and as the series progresses, he does appear to be a character that both Tanjiro and Inosuke look up to. This is likely because of his skill in combat, though there are a few characters that even Giyu wouldn't be able to hold his own against.
Here are 5 characters from the show that Giyu can beat (& 5 that he can’t).
10 Can Beat: Tanjiro
It’s clear from their first encounter with one another that Giyu has more advanced combat skills than Tanjiro. Yes, Tanjiro and Nezuko do manage to surprise him during that initial confrontation — but had he chosen to pursue his attack against Nezuko, Giyu likely still would have defeated both of them.
The fact that Giyu easily takes down Rui, a demon that nearly kills both Tanjiro and Nezuko, also proves that he’s a more powerful demon slayer than Tanjiro — at least currently. He sees the potential in the recruit, so it’s possible Tanjiro could one day outdo him in battle. Currently, however, it doesn’t seem possible.
9 Can't Beat: Shinobu
Demon Slayer fans haven’t seen these two genuinely attempt to hurt one another — and it isn’t likely we ever will — but from their argument during the Natagumo Mountain arc, it seems like they’re at least matched in terms of power. When Giyu lets Tanjiro and Nezuko escape, he attempts to distract Shinobu from pursuing them.
Unfortunately for him, Shinobu is more than capable of outmaneuvering him. For one, she's quick enough to glide past him without a problem. She's also capable of defending against him, though whether Giyu was actually giving her his all is questionable.
8 Can Beat: Inosuke
Inosuke is another recent recruit of the Demon Slayer Corp., so it makes sense that a Hashira like Giyu would be more powerful than him. And Giyu proves this on Natagumo Mountain, when he easily dispatches the Father Spider Demon that Inosuke is having so much trouble defeating.
Giyu also scolds Inosuke and manages to restrain the younger boy until the fight is over — an impressive feat considering how stubborn Inosuke is. And the fact that Giyu only gained his respect during this scene says it all. If Inosuke can admit that Giyu is better in battle than him, who are we to deny it?
7 Can't Beat: Gyomei
Gyomei is one of the other Hashira we meet when Tanjiro is summoned to the Demon Hunters Headquarters. Gyomei is the Stone Pillar, and he achieved that status after only two months of becoming a Demon Slayer. While we haven't seen much of him in the anime just yet, he's touted as the strongest Pillar in the manga — and so, we have to assume he'd win against Giyu, no matter how strong the Water Pillar is.
Without giving too much away, Gyomei arguably defeats much stronger demons than Giyu does throughout the manga as well — something fans will hopefully get to witness during future seasons of the anime.
6 Can Beat: Zenitsu
If Giyu is able to defeat Tanjiro and Inosuke, it stands to reason he’d also make easy work of winning against Zenitsu. Although Zenitsu has proven himself capable during certain battles — usually when he's able to fall asleep halfway through — he's also clearly the weakest of the three demon slayer recruits we follow during season one of the series.
Intimidation alone would allow Giyu to beat Zenitsu in a fight, but it's also obvious that Giyu's combat skills would allow him to crush the other boy based on physical ability alone. Zenitsu has a long way to go before he reaches Giyu's level.
5 Can't Beat: Sanemi
Sanemi is another one of the Hashira we meet when Tanjiro is put on trial, and he’s probably the most unlikable of the group. As the Wind Pillar, he’s a powerful demon hunter — something fans of the anime haven’t seen yet, but those who have read the manga will have witnessed.
While Sanemi and Giyu are pretty evenly matched, it’s possible Sanemi would win a fight between them based on his ruthless nature alone. Giyu has shown mercy, but Sanemi isn’t the type to hold back for any reason. In some situations that can get him killed, but one could argue that it may also win a battle. At the very least, he and Giyu would probably come to a stalemate.
4 Can Beat: Nezuko
Like we mentioned earlier, Giyu does almost kill Nezuko during the very first episode of Demon Slayer — and he chooses not to because she proves him wrong, not because he isn’t able to. If Nezuko had harmed a human, and if he hadn't decided to show her mercy, there's a good chance Giyu would have easily gotten rid of Tanjiro's sister.
After all, Giyu has won against much stronger demons than Nezuko. Rui is just one example of this, and viewers can assume that the Water Pillar has brought down others who boasted the same amount of power.
3 Can't Beat: Muichiro
Muichiro is another one of the Hashira that doesn't get much screentime during the first season of Demon Slayer, but the fact that he joined the Demon Slayer Corp at age 10 and is a skilled, Mist-Breathing Pillar at 14 says a lot about his abilities. He's a skilled swordsman who, in the manga at least, has defeated some seriously noteworthy demons.
If Muichiro were pitted against Giyu, we'd have to guess that the result would at least be a draw. (Though, truthfully, Giyu might lose to him as well...)
2 Can Beat: Rui
Rui is one of the Twelve Demon Moons, a group of incredibly powerful demons who answer to Kibutsuji. While Rui is one of the lower moons, he's still a formidable opponent. He would have killed Tanjiro and Nezuko, even with the two of them working together, if Giyu hadn't stepped in to stop him.
Giyu actually got rid of Rui fairly easily given what a difficult time Tanjiro had fighting with him, and that's why fans can say definitively that Rui is one of the characters Giyu can — and did — defeat.
1 Can't Beat: Kibutsuji
Despite the number of powerful demons Giyu has taken down, it’s difficult to believe even he’d be able to destroy Kibutsuji. The original demon has evaded the Hashira this long for a reason. And he’s more than proven himself capable of using both his pawns and his own strength to kill those who stand in his way.
It’s unlikely any of the Demon Slayers would be capable of defeating the anime’s Big Bad on their own, and it’s doubtful most of them could manage it with help. Sadly, that also applies to Giyu.