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Demon Slayer: Every Hashira Ranked By Strength

Ranking all the Hashira by strength

When it comes to the fiercest fighters in Demon Slayer, no group stands taller than the Hashira. These elite swordsmen and women represent the highest-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps, each one mastering a unique Breathing Style and trained to take on even the most terrifying Demons. They're specialists — trained killers forged through heartbreak, hard work, and battle experience. But while every Hashira is undeniably strong, their strength and skill aren’t all equal.


Some have raw power that lets them dominate any Demon in sight, on the other hand, others rely on strategy, technique, or speed. In this ranking, we’re breaking down each Hashira based on their combat performance, mastery of Breathing Techniques, and what they’ve achieved in the story so far.

9/9 Shinobu Kocho – The Insect Hashira

Shinobu Kocho Insect Hashira Demon Slayer

Shinobu is the kindest-looking Hashira, but don’t let her smile fool you. She’s dangerous in her own way. Unlike the others, she lacks the physical strength to cut off a Demon's head. That sounds like a major weakness, and it is. But she makes up for it with intelligence and speed.


Her unique fighting style focuses on poison. She uses a specially designed sword and Wisteria-based venom to kill Demons from the inside. Still, in terms of pure strength and skill in battle, she ranks the lowest among the Hashira. Her style is more tactical than overpowering. She’s not the kind of fighter who can go head-to-head with a strong Upper Moon for long. Her final fight showed how clever she really was, but it also proved her physical limits.


8/9 Tengen Uzui – The Sound Hashira

Uzui sitting at the top of Entertainment District

Tengen is flashy, loud, and full of energy. As the Sound Hashira, he developed his own Breathing Style based on rhythm and explosions. He’s a former ninja, so he’s super fast, strong, and skilled in close combat. He also fights with dual swords connected by a chain, which gives him a wild and unpredictable style.


But despite his speed and flashy moves, Tengen falls short compared to the stronger Hashira. He struggled a lot during the battle against Upper Moon Six, and needed major help from Tanjiro and the others. He also lost an eye and an arm in that fight, which forced him to retire. He’s a solid fighter, no doubt, but not on the same level as the top-tier Hashira.


7/9 Mitsuri Kanroji – The Love Hashira

Love Hashira Mitsuri in the Hashira meeting

Mitsuri’s strength is honestly surprising. She looks soft and cheerful, but she has unbelievable muscle density. Her Love Breathing style is flexible, fast, and super hard to predict. Her whip-like Nichirin sword gives her amazing range and control, and she can dodge attacks while striking from crazy angles.


In her fight against Upper Moon Four, she showed incredible endurance and power. However, her emotional nature sometimes gets in the way, and she’s not as battle-smart as others. Her strength is definitely there, but in terms of raw skill and calm-headed decision-making, she’s still a step below the top five.


6/9 Obanai Iguro – The Serpent Hashira

Obanai tells Tanjiro to never go near Mitsuri

Obanai is quiet and mysterious, but don’t underestimate him. His Serpent Breathing style is sharp, precise, and snake-like; meaning his attacks are twisted and hard to dodge. He’s also very fast and highly skilled in swordsmanship. His loyalty to the Corps and his strong will help him push through pain and injury.


Obanai really shines during the final battles. He works well with Mitsuri, and when he teams up with Gyomei, we see just how smart and focused he is. While he doesn’t have the flashiest moves, his calm and calculated style makes him deadly.


5/9 Muichiro Tokito – The Mist Hashira

Muichiro gets ready to fight Upper Moon 5

Muichiro may look like a spaced-out kid, but he’s a prodigy. He became a Hashira just two months after picking up a sword. His Mist Breathing style is confusing and quick, and his movements are almost impossible to read. He’s got insane reflexes and sword skills for someone so young.

What truly puts Muichiro this high is that he was able to defeat Upper Moon Five alone. That’s something very few could do. He also unlocked the Demon Slayer Mark, which gave him a huge boost in speed and power. If he had more time to grow, he might’ve been the strongest of them all.


4/9 Kyojuro Rengoku – The Flame Hashira

Rengoku fighting Akaza

Rengoku is probably the most loved Hashira, and for good reason. He’s noble, kind, and an absolute beast in battle. His Flame Breathing is strong, clean, and powerful. He took on Akaza, the Upper Moon 3 Demon, alone, and held his ground longer than anyone thought possible.


What makes Rengoku special is his heart. His willpower, discipline, and sense of duty are unmatched. Even Akaza respected him, but despite all that, he still couldn’t defeat Akaza and lost his life in that fight. The only reason he’s not ranked even higher is that some Hashira managed to win fights that Rengoku couldn’t.


3/9 Giyu Tomioka – The Water Hashira

Tanjiro meets Giyu Tomioka for the first time

Giyu is calm, quiet, and incredibly skilled. His Water Breathing technique is beautiful and deadly. He’s known for his precise swordsmanship and sharp instincts. Giyu was the first Hashira we ever met, and he’s been saving lives since the start.


In the final battle, Giyu held his own against Akaza, something only Rengoku attempted before. And this time, with Tanjiro’s help, Akaza was actually defeated. Giyu also awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, increasing his power and showing that he’s not just calm; he’s a warrior with huge inner strength.


2/9 Sanemi Shinazugawa – The Wind Hashira

Sanemi finding and killing Demons

This guy is wild, angry, and full of fight. His Wind Breathing is aggressive and sharp, matching his personality. He’s one of the toughest Hashira and never backs down. Despite his rough attitude, he’s highly skilled and incredibly powerful.


Sanemi’s strength really stands out during the final fights. He battles alongside Gyomei and keeps up with the strongest enemies. His Demon Slayer Mark boosts him even more, and he pushes through pain like it’s nothing. His insane durability, combat sense, and raw power put him just below the strongest.


1/9 Gyomei Himejima – The Stone Hashira

Gyomei Himejima in the Hashira meeting

Gyomei is the strongest Hashira; no question. He’s a gentle giant, calm and spiritual, but when he fights, he becomes a monster. He uses a giant spiked flail and axe connected by a chain, and his Stone Breathing technique is both powerful and overwhelming.


Even Kokushibo, the strongest Upper Moon, said that Gyomei was the most powerful Hashira he had fought in 300 years. Gyomei also awakened the Demon Slayer Mark, used Transparent World, and even gained the ability to turn his body red-hot; all in one battle. His strength, skill, and presence make him the absolute best.

Release Year

MAL Rating

Animation Studio

Genre

Watch On

April 2019

8.44

Ufotable

Action, Supernatural


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