Many recent anime titles follow the unofficial "monster slayer" trend, depicting heroes who hunt and slay monsters for a living. Recent examples range from Fire Force and D.Gray-Man to fan favorites like Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man, and these monster-hunting protagonists can be directly compared to see who's the best in the business.
As per its title, Demon Slayer depicts sword-slinging demon slayers who hunt and dispatch the monsters of the night to defend humanity. Similarly, devil hunters in Chainsaw Man's alternate 1990s world are paid good money to eradicate devils, and Denji is the newest devil hunter on the block. Here's a look at which of these two famous shonen protagonists is the better monster slayer.
How Denji & Tanjiro Compare as Skilled Monster Slayers
When Denji/Chainsaw Man and Tanjiro are directly compared in terms of skill and expertise, it's clear that Tanjiro has the advantage. Both leads have proven their worth against monsters such as the bat devil, the leech devil, and demons like Enmu and Kyogai, but Tanjiro has formal training to back him up. He spent two whole years training hard with Urokodaki in those mountains just to use a sword, then defeated the hand demon and countless others in that physical exam to become a slayer. Tanjiro also trained at the butterfly estate with the Hashira Shinobu Kocho and Aoi to improve his breathing technique and sharpen his reflexes. By contrast, Denji has received zero training and he has barely had his powers for a week. He must fight by instinct and make it all up as he goes.
Demon Slayer's protagonist has the advantage not just with formal training, but also his determination to learn new techniques and get stronger. Tanjiro is always seeking to improve his already-formidable skills and learn new Water Breathing moves. He also pushed himself to learn and practice using Hinokami Kagura, a devastating fire-based move derived from his father Tanjuro's fire dance ritual.
Overall, Tanjiro has a growth mindset as a monster slayer, while Denji is focused more on survival in Chainsaw Man. Denji wouldn't mind powering up again if given the chance, but he's not actively striving to sharpen his skills or invent new moves. On the plus side, he is more resourceful and a quicker thinker than Tanjiro, meaning he thrives in the heat of the moment and can take everyone by surprise. In the long run though, Denji will fall further behind Tanjiro because he's not trying to learn and grow.
How Chainsaw Man's Denji & Demon Slayer's Tanjiro Compare as Team Players
Tanjiro is clearly the superior monster slayer compared to Denji, and he compares well as a team player too. Rarely do monster hunters fight alone, since they battle creatures much stronger than themselves and need team-based tactics to compensate. Denji is a loner, recklessly diving into battle on his own to show off or test his new devil-based abilities. He often gets in over his head and needs a teammate like Aki Hayakawa to back him up. Denji wouldn't last long alone, since he tends to pick fights he can't easily win. He and his teammates are rarely more than the sum of their parts, even when they arrive to help each other at the last moment.
On the flip side, Tanjiro is an excellent team player in Demon Slayer and isn't too proud or reckless to fight demons alone. Sometimes he must fight solo, but Tanjiro will fight with a team anytime he's able. He coordinated his efforts with Zenitsu and Inosuke during the battle against Daki, for example, and he and Inosuke formed a perfect duo against Enmu in the "Mugen Train" arc. Together, these slayers can do what none of them could on their own. Given how much stronger demons are than humans, it's the least Tanjiro can do, and it has saved his life many times. The compassionate Tanjiro will team up with any slayer or his sister Nezuko to take down a mighty foe, because duty comes first.
As a fellow monster hunter, Chainsaw Man's Denji compares poorly to Tanjiro. Denji has the benefit of resourceful thinking and his ability to heal after ingesting blood, but otherwise he's untrained, reckless, individualistic, and isn't trying to improve his skills or technique. If he intends to destroy the apocalyptic gun devil and truly become Makima's favorite "pet," Denji had better follow Tanjiro's example and focus on his duty first rather than his small, relatable dreams about food and girlfriends. He's new to the business so can be forgiven for some mistakes, but he'd better shape up if he intends to make the most of his new career. Makima generously gave the desperate Denji a second chance -- he shouldn't waste it.