This list contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibu manga, available in English from Viz Media.

Demon Slayer took the world by storm after its anime debut in 2019. The manga is now finished and continually dominates the best-selling charts, selling millions of copies worldwide. Demon Slayer is a historical shonen series that takes place during Japan's Taisho period, but with a demonic twist.

After Tanjiro Kamado's family is killed by the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, his sister Nezuko becomes a demon. Tanjiro teams up with the Demon Slayer Corps after meeting Giyu Tomioka, the introverted, melancholic Water Hashira. The Corps is the last line of defense against the bloodthirsty demons who rule the night. Only the strongest Demon Slayers can stand up against Muzan and his Upper Moons and have a chance to come out of the fight alive.

Updated on February 27, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: The strongest characters in Demon Slayer are the Hashira, but there are various other demon slayers who've displayed both strength and courage. As such, we've updated this article with some more relevant information.

15 Genya Shinazugawa Can Apparently Gain A Demon's Abilities

Demon Slayer Corps Member

Genya is considered a weaker Demon Slayer, since the Upper Moon 1 acknowledged him to be the smallest threat during his battle against Genya and multiple Hashira. However, Genya can absorb a demon's power by eating part of them, gaining new abilities, and shaping them into his own unique Blood Demon Art as a half-other character. In fact, his Vampiric Trees are formed from Kokushibo's katana.

Genya can also regenerate himself, an impressive ability. Although his primary weapon is his Nichirin shotgun, he frequently dual-wields it with a Nichirin blade. Unlike other Slayers in Demon Slayer, he wouldn't have lasted against an Upper Moon on his own for very long. That said, there are few characters with as much grit and determination as Genya Shinazugawa. Genya is the only Demon Slayer who doesn't use a breathing style, and that's enough to land him at the bottom of the rankings.

14 Kanao Tsuyuri Played A Major Role In Doma's Defeat

Demon Slayer Corps Member

When Kanao first met Tanjiro, he could already tell that she was very close to a Hashira in terms of overall ability. She was trained by Shinobu Kocho and her sister, Kanae Kocho, and was one of the few survivors who made it out of the Final Selection. Kanao's best feature is arguably her unbreakable willpower, which allows her to battle someone like Doma without flinching.

Like Inosuke, she is a key element in defeating the Upper Moon 2, although she has to use a Breathing Style that allows her to see the world in slow motion. Kanao is very shy and used to never make decisions without consulting her lucky coin toss, but she's since come out of her shell. Despite her formidable swordsmanship and Flower Breathing, Kanao simply doesn't possess the qualities to be any higher on this list.

13 Shinobu Kocho Is Known For Cutting Down Demons With A Smile

The Insect Hashira

Shinobu Kocho may seem laid back, always with a smile on her face. However, that's just to mask the fierce Demon Slayer she really is. As the Insect Hashira, Shinobu cuts down fierce demons with a level of cruelty that seems almost ominous. Shinobu is a user of the Insect Breathing Style, a branch of the Flower Breathing Style that was itself derived from Water Breathing.

Shinobu Kocho wields a thin sword that doesn't do much actual damage, which is why she infuses her attacks with wisteria poison to make short work of any demon she faces. She may not have the strength to slice off a demon's head, but her extensive knowledge of poisons makes her incredibly deadly. As such, she helps develop the Anti-Kibutsuji drug, along with Yushiro and Tamayo, indirectly leading to Muzan's downfall.

12 Obanai Iguro Puts Up An Excellent Fight Against Muzan

The Serpent Hashira

While Shinobu is regarded as the weakest Hashira, Obanai is known as the second-weakest. Unlike Shinobu, who never activated her Demon Slayer mark, Obanai could activate his. This allowed him to fight at peak performance, even when he lost his vision. Obanai relies on his white snake, Kaburamaru, who tells him everything he needs to know about his surroundings.

However, his small stature and limited agility make him one of the less powerful members of the Hashira. Still, Obanai put up an excellent fight against Muzan in the Infinity Castle, when his newly activated Demon Mark helped him obtain a slight edge. Later, Obanai's Bright Red Nichirin Sword caused even more damage to the Demon King, showing just how powerful this demon slayer was.

11 Mitsuri Kanroji Is Strong Enough To Tear Off Muzan's Arm

The Love Hashira

Mitsuri Kanroji is the Love Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. She is shy, gentle, bubbly, and has eight times the muscle density of an average human, making her wickedly strong despite her thin limbs. Her strength is so incredible that she can withstand attacks that would tear the average human body apart. Moreover, Mitsuri is strong enough to tear off Muzan's arm.

Mitsuri uses Love Breathing and wields a rather unique sword that only she can use. Her blade is extremely thin and soft, making it difficult to use as a traditional sword, so Mitsuri uses it as a kind of whip instead. Her strength and unique sword offer her several advantages over demons in battle. In addition, Mitsuri's skills as a swordsman helped defeat Hantengu, one of the Upper Moons.

10 Inosuke Hashibira Is Flexible, Speedy, And Has Beast-Like Senses

Demon Slayer Corps Member

Inosuke Hashibira is the series' fan favorite boar in a china shop. He endured the same brutal training as Zenitsu and Tanjiro, though he needed some motivation to keep going. Inosuke can achieve whatever he sets out to do, and his competitive spirit is his ultimate driving force. Inosuke's rivalry with Tanjiro is equally hilarious and empowering.

Inosuke was raised in the mountains, so he grew up around wild animals. He's flexible, agile, and has sharp, beast-like senses, making him rather fast and surprisingly powerful. Inosuke's Animal Mimicry allows him to incorporate unique styles of combat, preventing inexperienced opponents from getting the better of him. All things considered, however, there are much stronger demon slayers than Inosuke on this list.

9 Zenitsu Agatsuma Is Unbelievably Powerful When He's Asleep

Demon Slayer Corps Member

Zenitsu Agatsuma claims he never wanted to become a Demon Slayer and was forced into it to pay off a debt. He's always asking girls to marry him so he can get out of being a Demon Slayer and live a long life, but this cowardly hero shouldn't be underestimated. Zenitsu is incredibly powerful, but mainly when he's unconscious. He falls asleep when he crumbles under the weight of his fear, and his body fights on instinct alone.

Zenitsu later proves that he could be a capable fighter even while awake, defeating Upper Moon 6 with nothing more than his legendary Thunder Breathing. Interestingly, Zenitsu learns how to develop a whole new Thunder Breathing Form, a feat that only people like Muichiro and Giyu have been capable of. This alone makes him an extremely powerful character.

8 Tengen Uzui's Breathing Style Sets Him Apart From Others

The Sound Hashira

Originally from a shinobi family, Tengen Uzui is a self-titled flashy slayer of demons. Tengen didn't agree with his father's ideology of using people as tools, so he left and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, becoming the Sound Hashira. Tengen Uzui has a similar strength and speed to his fellow Hashira to outclass the demons he faces, but his Breathing Style sets him apart from others.

He uses the Sound Breathing Style, which branches from the Thunder Breathing Style. Tengen invented it on his own, further demonstrating his ingenuity. His exceptional hearing allowed him to formulate a skill known as echolocation, which allows him to perform precise triangulations. Furthermore, Tengen uses Musical Score, a technique that "translates" all his battles into "songs." As one of the few people to have killed an Upper Moon, Tengen Uzui definitely deserve his placement on this list.

7 Kyojuro Rengoku Fought His Last Battle With Courage And Honor

The Flame Hashira

Kyojuro Rengoku is the cheerful Flame Hashira. His Flame Breathing Style drowns his opponents in a sea of flames. He even agreed to take Tanjiro under his wing and train him prior to the events of Mugen Train. Demon Slayer fans only saw Kyojuro in two major fights, both of which occurred during the Mugen Train film and associated anime arc.

Still, Kyojuro battled demons on the train while simultaneously protecting over 200 passengers. He also holds his own against Upper Moon Akaza for a long time, simultaneously shocking and impressing the overpowered demon. In fact, many fans believe that Kyojuro won that fight, despite his death and Akaza's escape, because he fought with courage and honor. Although he's the first Hashira to die in Demon Slayer, he's also one of the strongest.

6 Muichiro Tokito Has Completely Mastered His Breathing Style

The Mist Hashira

Muichiro Tokito may seem a bit air-headed, always lost in his thoughts, but he's a dedicated Demon Slayer and one of the most powerful characters in the series. As the Mist Hashira, he utilizes the Mist Breathing Style derived from the Wind Breathing Style. Muichiro has completely mastered his Breathing Style to where he can easily fight and overwhelm an Upper Moon demon and create an entirely Mist Breathing form.

Muichiro also unlocked a Demon Slayer Mark that gave him enough strength to kill Upper Moon 5, Gyokko, without expending much effort. He relies a little too much on his so-called Endless Rage, which gives him access to hitherto untapped reserves of stamina and energy. Before his death, however, he manages to implant his Bright Red Nichirin Sword within Kokushibo, leading to the latter's ultimate death.

5 Tanjiro Kamado Is The Main Protagonist For A Reason

Demon Slayer Corps Member

Protagonist Tanjiro Kamado became a Demon Slayer to hunt down the demon who murdered his family and turned his sister into a demon. A rarity among the other slayers, Tanjiro actually empathizes with his demon enemies. He always kills them, but understands that most demons had no choice when they were transformed. Tanjiro uses the Water Breathing Style to great effect, defeating numerous enemies over the course of the story.

Thankfully, he eventually remembers that he can also exploit the Dance of the Fire God, also called the Hinokami Kagura. Taught to him by his father, the technique can only be used by members of the Kamado family. Tanjiro is a key player in the series, defeating many of the Upper Moons and, eventually, Muzan himself. And yet, there are demon slayers on this list far stronger than even Tanjiro Kamado.

4 Sanemi Shinazugawa's Strength And Skills Impress Even Kokushibo

The Wind Hashira

Sanemi is very hot-headed and harbors a deep hatred for demons, but it's understandable given how many people he's lost over the years. Sanemi's body is also covered in scars accumulated over his many years of slaying demons. Sanemi's blood is also extremely rare and just as powerful. A demon sniffing his blood tends to lose focus, and this feature impacts even someone as powerful as Kokushibo.

The Wind Hashira's skill with the blade and his mastery of the Wind Breathing Style are so great that even Kokushibo, the Upper Moon 1 demon with hundreds of years of skill and experience behind him, was impressed by Sanemi's power. The Wind Hashira's ultimate fate is rather tortuous, but fans were delighted to see him survive the final battle.

3 Giyu Tomioka Has Demonstrated His Strength On Numerous Occasions

The Water Hashira

Giyu Tomioka was the first Demon Slayer Tanjiro ever met. After witnessing a newly transformed Nezuko protect Tanjiro, Giyu points them to Urokodaki and the Demon Slayer Corps. Giyu may not be the best with social interactions, but his fellow Hashira recognize him as one of the strongest in the group. More importantly, Giyu's strategic knowledge is rather advanced, explaining how he manages to fight extremely dangerous combatants.

As the Water Hashira, Giyu is a master of the Water Breathing Style. His Eleventh Form: Dead Calm is as powerful as it is beautiful to watch. Giyu's skills are so exceptional that he defeated both the Father Spider Demon and Rui, a Lower Moon demon, without breaking a sweat. Even Akaza, an Upper Moon demon, said that Giyu was the most skilled Water Hashira in 50 years.

2 Gyomei Himejima Is The Strongest Of All The Hashira

The Stone Hashira

Gyomei Himejima is the Stone Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. He doesn't rely on the typical Nichirin Blades that Demon Slayers use. On the contrary, Gyomei wields a devastatingly strong hand-ax with a spiked flail attached to the hilt by a long chain, known as a kusarigama. Combined with his Stone Breathing Style, Gyomei is undoubtedly the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer.

Kokushibo, the Upper Moon 1 demon, further supports this claim by saying that Gyomei's natural physical abilities have been trained to the absolute peak. The demon also admitted that he had not encountered a warrior of Gyomei's caliber in the last 300 years. After gaining his Demon Slayer Mark and access to the Transparent World, Gyomei became even more powerful. Together with Sanemi, Gyomei eventually took down Kokushibo himself.

1 Yoriichi Tsugikuni Is Arguably The Strongest Character In Demon Slayer

Legendary Demon Slayer Corps Member

Yoriichi is the strongest Demon Slayer ever to exist. He is so powerful that the battle doll crafted in his image needed multiple arms to replicate his hypersonic movements. Yoriichi was a demon-killing machine even as a child and was so overpowered that he nearly killed Muzan. The Demon King was so terrified that he never appeared before Yoriichi ever again.

Later in the manga, it's revealed that Tanjiro's Hinokami Kagura comes from Yoriichi's Sun Breathing. Sun Breathing was the first Breathing Style ever invented, so everything else is derived from it. If that's not impressive enough, it seems that Yoriichi could peer into the Transparent World since he was born, something nobody else has been able to achieve. Overall, Yoriichi is the strongest demon slayer on this list simply because he is stronger than every other character in Demon Slayer, including Muzan.