In a very short amount of time the new shonen anime series Demon Slayer, has turned into the latest phenomenon. The anime adapts Koyoharu Gotouge’s best-selling manga series and tells a passionate story about budding demon slayer, who more than anything wants to rescue his sister from a cursed fate.
Demon Slayer is exceptional for many reasons and a feature film and second season are already on the way, but it’s the demons in the show that generate a lot of chatter. They’re incredible creatures that truly put Tanjiro to the test.
Update May 13th, 2021 by the author: Demon Slayer’s continued success is proof that it’s not just some flavor of the moment and it’s likely to be a staple of the shonen genre for many years to come. Its first feature film, Mugen Train, has already broken world records for anime movies and is a testament to the infectious energy that Demon Slayer creates through its action. It feels like Demon Slayer’s world is about to expand in drastic ways, which also means that unprecedented levels of power are on the way. Tanjiro is about to meet his match, both in terms of the demons that he clashes with and the fellow warriors that fight by his side.
15 Weakest: Enmu Becomes Demon Slayer’s Freddy Krueger Surrogate
Enmu is one of the members of the Lower Demon One, but he’s significant in the sense that he survives Muzan Kibutsuji’s massive culling of the herd and gets a sizable power boost in the process. Enmu is energized over the confidence that Muzan puts in him and he uses this momentum to terrorize Tanjiro and company during the events of the Mugen Train movie.
Enmu attacks his opponents with a crafty Demon Blood Art that allows him to enter people’s dreams and subconsciously prey upon them. He’s also able to target many individuals at once.
14 Strongest: Gyokko Comes With A Deadly Undertow
Gyokko is certainly one of the most disturbing looking members of the Twelve Demon Moon and he has an unusual amount of limbs that almost looks like a bunch of spare doll parts were just crammed together.
Gyokko has mastery over water and the creatures of the sea, but these skills also allow him to essentially teleport through pots and also regenerate and transform cells. Gyokko is highly dangerous and he almost kills the young Mist Hashira, Muichiro, until Muichiro awakens his Demon Slayer Mark.
13 Strongest: Hantengu Becomes His Best Self Through Division & Reassembly
Hantengu is another Upper Demon Moon member that’s deceptively powerful and he’s someone that likes to hide behind emotions and play the victim. This is essential to Hantengu’s Blood Demon Art, which allows him to split up into multiple versions of himself that reflect his different emotions.
Hantengu’s most incendiary and intense of personalities eventually absorbs the others, which gives him a major boost in strength. Hantengu likes to complain a lot, but his tactics allow him to hold off four Demon Slayers at once.
12 Weakest: Susamaru’s Multiple Limbs & Hubris Aren’t Enough To Win
Susamaru may look somewhat innocent at a first glance, but it’s her gleeful nature towards combat and violence that makes her especially disturbing. Susamaru seems to experience a heavy pleasure in the damage that she does, which gives her a dangerously inflated ego.
Susamaru’s child-like nature is due to the young age that Muzan took her at. She may be newer to the demon game, but she fights with a ferocious style and can grow extra arms to help her out in battle if she really wants to mess with her opponent’s heads.
11 Strongest: Most People Can’t Even Track Down Nakime To Launch An Attack
Nakime is a member of the Upper Demon Moon that largely remains a mystery during the beginning of Demon Slayer because her abilities intentionally keep her hidden. Nakime is a demon that’s all about a good defense and her Blood Demon Art skills aren’t necessarily overpowered, but the real challenge is making contact with her.
Nakime’s primary technique involves reconstructing the layout of her Dimensional Infinity Fortress through the playing of her musical instrument. Nakime can repeatedly do this to escape her opponent or leave them stranded and confused.
10 Strongest: Kaigaku Knows The Secrets Of Both The Demon Moon & Hashira
Kaigaku is a terrifying demon that has one of the very best backstories in the series and he’s absolutely a character that deserves more attention. Kaigaku is a member of the Upper Demon Moon, but he started as a trusted member of the Demon Slayer Corps and an ally of Zenitsu.
Zenitsu and Kaigaku both trained to be the Thunder Pillar, but Zenitsu edges him out. Kaigaku turns to Muzan Kibutsuji as a quick fix to grow stronger and the result is a deadly demon with a grudge that also knows how to perform many of the Thunder Breathing Techniques.
9 Weakest: Rokuro’s Thirst For Power Becomes His Biggest Fault
Rokuro fills out the Lower Ranks of the 12 Demon Moons, which means that he exhibits a good deal of respect and fear over Muzan Kibutsuji. After Muzan flippantly exterminates the majority of the Lower Ranks, Rokuro finds himself even more vulnerable to his leader. Rokuro is desperate to be stronger and he begs Muzan for more of his demon blood so that he can improve.
Despite that power boost, Rokuro’s exact strength remains ambiguous. Rokuro isn’t the most dangerous of the 12 Demon Moons, but it’s still probably not a wise idea to insult the guy’s cracked complexion.
8 Strongest: Akaza Is A Pro At Both Combat & Blood Demon Arts
Akaza is a vicious member of the 12 Demon Moon that spends a lot of time in the shadows, but he’s absolutely not someone who should be underestimated. Akaza excels in a number of impressive ways, whether it’s his proficient skills in hand-to-hand combat or his capacity for handling elemental attacks.
The 12 Demon Moon also follow a strict hierarchal system and with Akaza near the top of it as Upper Moon 3, he holds a lot of authority above other demons. Both Tanjiro and Giyu attack Akaza at once and he’s still able to overwhelm the both of them.
7 Weakest: Mukago’s Flight Tendency Often Overpowers Her Will To Fight
Mukago holds the position of Lower Rank 4 within Muzan Kibutsuji’s 12 Demon Moons. When Muzan reads Mukago’s mind he learns just how terrified she is over the prospect of battle. Mukago intends to flee if she ever encounters the Demon Slayer Corps and while Muzan does not approve of this attitude, she does have talent behind her cowardice.
Mukago doesn’t get many opportunities to demonstrate her demon powers, but it’s still fair to consider her stronger than the typical demon as well as other members of the Lower Ranks that she outclasses, like Rui.
6 Strongest: Doma Has A History Of Taking Out Demon Slayers
If the eyes are the gateway to the soul, then Doma is a particularly empty vessel because his eyes contain unbridled insanity. Doma’s aloof appearance may result in guards being dropped, but he’s one of the strongest demons under Muzan Kibutsuji. Doma is highly adept in combat and he’s been able to eliminate previous Demon Pillars and earn quite the reputation for himself.
Doma has done a lot of damage to important people, but one of his greatest talents is that he can neutralize the deadly demon poison from wisteria flowers, which gives him a severe advantage over other demons.
5 Weakest: Kyogai’s Surreal Powers Don’t Impress Those Above Him
Kyogai utilizes one of the more interesting approaches for a demon. He’s covered with drums on his body and his Blood Demon Art incorporates these instruments in powerful ways. Each of the drums on Kyogai affects the geography of his home, turning the abode into a deathtrap.
It’s a unique skill set that provides a welcome change of pace to demon slaying, but Muzan Kibutsuji actually exiles Kyogai from the 12 Demon Moons. Muzan considers Kyogai to be a lost cause and not powerful enough to stay with the group.
4 Strongest: Kokushibo Has Spent Centuries Cultivating His Skills
There are few demons that are more dangerous that Kokushibo. He’s the strongest member of the 12 Demon Moons besides Muzan Kibutsuji and he’s spent literally hundreds of years warring against demon slayers, learning their tricks, and perfecting his strategy.
Kokushibo is an expert in battle, but if all of this weren’t enough, Kokushibo is also the rare exception that’s a demon who also has control over the breathing techniques that the demon slayers utilize. This combination of diverse skills really prepares Kokushibo for whatever he faces.
3 Weakest: Rui’s Sharp Tactics Pale In Comparison To A Slayer’s Blade
Rui may technically be ranked on the weaker scale when it comes to the 12 Demon Moons, but he’s still a demon that makes a considerable impression on both Tanjiro and Nezuko during their journey to Mount Natagumo. Rui takes his cues from the arachnid family and possesses control over razor-sharp threads that simulate spider webbing.
These abilities, plus the demon blood that Muzan has provided Rui with are substantial, but the demon’s tragic past and his complicated relationship and opinions on family hold him back.
2 Strongest: Muzan Kibutsuji Calls The Shots When It Comes To The Demons
Many of the 12 Demon Moons that Muzan Kibutsuji employs to take out the various Demon Pillars are all exceptional threats. Despite their talents, Muzan Kibutsuji himself is on a whole other level due to how he’s a pure demon. Muzan’s purity means that he’s practically invincible and even drastic efforts like decapitation are ultimately useless against him.
Survival against Muzan is difficult in itself, but demon slayers are still trying to determine what the best strategy to eliminate Muzan would be. He remains a mysterious wild card whose full powers have yet to be seen.
1 Weakest: Nezuko Kamado Is A Demon With A Heart Of Gold
Nezuko Kamado is a true anomaly because in spite of her demon status, she’s likely the one character in the series that Tanjiro doesn’t have to worry about attacking him. Nezuko is Tanjiro’s younger sister. Muzan Kibutsuji turns Nezuko into a demon, which is what launches Tanjiro on his demon slaying mission.
Nezuko is a demon, but Tanjiro and company work to suppress her abilities as much as possible. Tanjiro is desperate to prove that a demon like Nezuko can be tame and not a danger to humans so that she doesn’t have to be executed.
About The Author