“Demon Slayer” is probably one of the greatest animes ever made. As a matter of fact, the anime and manga database and community MyAnimeList.net has ranked this anime, or “Kimetsu no Yaiba,” as one of the most popular animes around.
The anime’s story follows a teenager, Tanjiro Kamada, who attempts to become a Demon Slayer after his family was killed by demons, leaving only his younger sister, Nezuko, alive, but turned into a demon herself.
It’s a gripping anime to watch. However, besides the main character, the Hashiras are also characters worth following in the story. They got some pretty nice stories, by the way.
The Hashiras are the most powerful swordmasters, part of the Demon Slayer Corps. Being so, they are the organization’s top-ranking and most elite soldiers, each serving a pivotal role in their war versus Muzan Kibutsuji and his 12 Kizukis.
In this article, we will explore more about these Hashiras and rank them according to their strengths. Now not all Hashiras are created equal. Some are just stronger than the others. Let’s begin.
Rank 1: Gyomei Himejima, The Stone Hashira, The Strongest Of The Bunch
If you are a little bit surprised to find Gyomei Himejima as the strongest of the bunch, you will be met with several disagreements since many agree that he, the Stone Hashira, is the strongest.
A central supporting character in the series, he is a Demon Slayer in the Demon Slayer Corps. Also, he serves as the mentor of Genya Shinazugawa, the youngest brother of the Wind Hashira.
Among his fellows, Gyomei is a hulking figure and one of the tallest characters in the anime, towering over the other Hashiras.
Rank 2: Sanemi Shinazugawa, The Wind Hashira
Also emerging as one of the strongest Hashiras is Sanemi Shinazugawa. Viewers of “Demon Slayer” may not know a lot about him, but his wild appearance and demeanor are indicative of his power.
Known for the cutting nature of his Wind Breathing, Sanemi is the current Wind Hashira. He is also a tall man with a lean build, spiky long white hair, and large pale purple eyes. You can vividly notice that his face and body are covered with scars accrued over his several years of combatting demons.
Rank 3: Giyu Tomioka, The Water Hashira
Next on the list is Giyu Tomioka. Now Giyu, unlike the other Hashiras on this list, has the most valuable screen time in the anime. His powers are only adding to his popularity.
The current Water Hashira, Giyu, is young, fairly tall, and possesses a lean stature and pale complexion. This physical appearance gives him that serious and emotionless expression viewers see in him.
He is also known for his unruly black hair of uneven lengths, sticking up in tufts around his head. He wears his hairstyle tied back in a low and messy ponytail at his neck’s base. Also, notice how his bangs fall over his sharp and moderately large eyes in an uneven style.
Rank 4: Muichiro Tokito, The Mist Hashira
Currently on rank number four, in terms of the strength of the Hashiras, is Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira. Now his characteristics are interesting. He is often air-headed, like a mist, seemingly constantly wandering off in thought, unable to focus on anything. Impassive and obtuse sometimes, he usually only thinks for himself, relying on logic alone, never letting his emotions take over him, making his character a bit apathetic.
His strongest ability is his Mist Breathing style.
Rank 5: Obanai Iguro, The Serpent Hashira
The current Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, is known for his immense speed and reflexes – like a snake.
As a Hashira, he possesses superhuman levels of reflexes and speed. In fact, when Tanjiro was about to get hit by what would have been a deadly strike from Muzan, Obanai was able to jump in right in time to save Tanjiro.
Rank 6: Mitsuri Kanroji, The Love Hashira
Now Mitsuri Kanroji, being the Love Hashira, would not look like she would be one of the strongest, but here she is, grabbing the sixth place.
Her strongest ability would be her Love Breathing, which incorporates superhuman flexibility together with her distinctive whip-like Nichirin Sword that’s more powerful than a standard katana.
Rank 7: Kyojuro Rengoku, The Flame Hashira
Next on the list is Kyojuro Rengoku, the current Flame Hashira. Being that Hashira, he is said to be his generation’s most skillful Flame Breathing user. He became evidently proficient with this ability, as he was able to singlehandedly defeat Hairo, former Lower Rank Two, and later Akaza, Upper Rank Three.
Rank 8: Shinobu Kocho, The Insect Hashira
We are halfway through the ranking. Let’s find out the remaining Hashiras. One of them is Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira. She specializes in sword thrusting and piercing techniques that can inject poisons into demons, as an insect does.
Though she belongs to the lower half of this list, her sword thrusts are so fast and powerful they can pierce through boulders and outspeed even Water Breathing’s Drop Ripple Thrust form, which is considered the quickest thrusting technique in that Breathing Style.
Rank 9: Tengen Uzui, The Sound Hashira
Being the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui is known for his heightened sense of hearing. This ability lets him hear noises deep underground easily. In the story, there was a moment when he was able to use this power to immediately find out there were channels of underground tunnels and caves directly underneath him when he was searching for Tanjiro and Daki.
Now there are actually just nine Hashiras in “Demon Slayer.” But as we continue the list, you’ll learn more about the strongest former Hashiras.
Rank 10: Kanae Kocho, The Former Flower Hashira
Kanae Kocho, the former Flower Hashira, is the biological older sister of Shinobu Kocho and Kanao Tsuyuri’s adoptive older sister of Kanao Tsuyuri. Several years before the present story by Upper Rank Two, Doma, Kanae was slain.
Rank 11: Shinjuro Rengoku, The Former Flame Hashira
Shinjuro Rengoku is the father of Kyojuro and Senjuro, and the husband of Ruka. He was the former Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Rank 12: Sakonji Urokodaki, The Former Water Hashira
This former Water Hashira and former member of the Demon Slayer Corps is also the teacher of Tanjiro, Giyu, Makomo, and Sabito.
Rank 13: Sakonji Urokodaki, The Former Water Hashira
Coming in on the last rank is Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira. Though he may not be as strong as the others on this list, he is known to have been a very talented and powerful swordsman. Thunder Breathing is his combat style, which he was well-versed and familiar with during his time as the Water Hashira.
Those are the Hashiras in “Demon Slayer” ranked according to their strengths. Do you agree with how we ranked them?
