In the universe of demon slayer, the Demon Slayer includes some of the strongest people alive, but even they have heavy killers. Known as Hashira (which literally translates to “Pillars”), these swordsmen possess skills and abilities that can make even the strongest demons shrink at the thought of a one-on-one battle.
Each Hashira is a master of a different Breathing Style, making their powers a bit difficult to compare at times. However, one can’t help but wonder: which of these Hashiras is the strongest? Fans will continue to debate this issue forever, but here’s a ranking of every Hashira seen in the series, going from worst to strongest. This list is based on manga so there may be disclosure for anime viewers!
12 Kanae Kocho, Flower Hashira
Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho was actually killed a few years before the main Demon Slayer story. A master of flower breath (a form derived from the breath of water), Kanae is a kind woman, albeit with a stern side. Her breathing technique made her a powerful warrior, and it was only after fighting the brutal second-class demon Doma that she met her end. Despite this, Kanae was still able to fight Doma until sunrise before being mortally wounded, displaying both extreme skill and stamina. Unfortunately, her death means her combat abilities are on display very little, meaning she’s ranked last mainly because she’s a mystery.
11 Shinobu Kocho, Insect Pillar
Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho is Kanae’s younger sister, and is also extremely powerful in her own right. Shinobu’s insect-breathing style is derived from Kanae’s own flower-breathing style, showing the bond between the two sisters. Despite her calm and friendly exterior, Shinobu has harbored a deep hatred for demons ever since they killed her sister, which spurred her to continue to hone her skills until the end. upon reaching the level of a Hashira. Despite being a Hashira, she still doesn’t have the physical strength to cut off a demon’s head with a single slash, securing her lower rank on this list.
10 Jigoro Kuwajima, Pillar of Thunder (Former)
This venerable demon slayer is not only the former Thunder Hashira, but also an excellent teacher who has dedicated his life to training the next generation of assassins. As Thunder Hashira, his skills can be seen in the movements of Zenitsu, one of his last disciples. Despite his strong faith in his students, he was crushed when his former student Kaigaku betrayed the Legion and became a demon in the Twelve Kizuki. His grief over this change eventually led Jigoro to commit ritual suicide. Thunder Hashira’s position remains unfilled throughout Demon Slayer, so not much is known about his combat abilities.
9 Tengen Uzui, The Sound Hashira
Known as Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui is a pompous yet skilled warrior. He is known for fighting alongside his three wives as well as for his fighting skills. In the Amusement Park, Tengen is essential to defeating the Superior Six Demons Daki and Gyutaro, even after being poisoned and losing an arm. Thanks to his mastery of Sounded Breath, Tengen is able to record his battles as a soundtrack and review them to improve his skills. Tengen was forced to retreat after losing an arm, as his fighting ability was no longer sufficient to continue as a Hashira.
8 Sakonji Urokodaki, Pillar of Water (Former)
This demon slayer could easily be mistaken for a demon at first glance, thanks to his tengu mask. In fact, his real face is said to have a kind appearance. Urokodaki may be old, but that’s an amazing feat for demon slayers, as it means they’ve survived every battle they face. In his day, Urokodaki was the Pillar of Water and a master of Water Breathing, so this is the style he first taught Tanjiro at the beginning of the series. While he now spends his days teaching new demon slayers, there’s no doubt he was a powerful Hashira in his prime.
7 Obanai Iguro, Hashira’s Serpent
Harsh and strict, Iguro is a master of his own technique, Snake Breath, and also one of the most determined demon slayers.
He often wears a bandage over his face to cover up the terrible scars inflicted by a demon when he was young and deeply loathes them. Thanks to his determination and ability to twist and bend his sword like a slithering snake, Obanai Iguro was able to fight the primordial demon, Muzan, even after being blinded and severely wounded. Although not the strongest Hashira, Obanai Iguro’s will is second to none.
6 Kyojuro Rengoku, Flame of Hashira
Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku is revered as one of the strongest demon slayers. His feats include using the Fire Breathing Style to create a sea of fire against his opponents. In the Mugen Train, Rengoku teamed up with Tanjiro and friends to defeat a demon that was killing passengers on a train, even having a dramatic battle on top of the carriages. Rengoku was unfortunately killed shortly afterwards by the High Three Demon Akaza, with whom he single-handedly fought to help Tanjiro escape. While Rengoku’s bravery is unquestionable, his strength is almost amazing.
5. Muichiro Tokito, Pillar of Mist
Muichiro Tokito is a prodigy among demon slayers, achieving the rank of Hashira at the amazing age of 14. He started training as a demon slayer even younger, at 10 years old, and mastered his Mist Breath Style within just a few months. Tokito actually comes from a long line of demon slayers, binding him to the top demon, Kokushibo, with blood. In the Blacksmith’s Village section, Tokito was able to defeat the Five High Demons Gyokko on his own, a feat that no other Hashira could do. He is also the first to manifest what is known as the Demon Slayer Mark, which unlocks greater levels of power for himself and eventually the other Hashira.
4 Sanemi Shinazugawa, The Pillar of the Wind
Wind Hashira’s scarred body is testament to his years of fighting youkai. A master of the Breath of the Wind, Sanemi Shinazugawa is known to be rude, stubborn, and driven by anger. Besides his excellent sword skills, Sanemi’s blood is known to be able to intoxicate the Devil, which can benefit or work against him when the Devil loses focus because of the smell of his blood, but still longing for its intoxicating effects. Sanemi is the brother of demon slayer friend Genya, but due to their past, Wind Hashira refuses to acknowledge him. His performance in the final battle against Muzan was astounding, securing his spot near the top of the list.
3 Giyu Tomioka, Water Pillar
The heir to Urokodaki’s title of Water Hashira is Tomioka Giyu. Giyu doesn’t feel like she deserves the title of Water Hashira, and will sometimes insist that the chair is empty, but the fact of the matter is that Giyu’s skills are second to none. Being the strong and silent type, Giyu was able to easily defeat Spider-Father, and even earned the respect of Akaza, the Third Rank of the Twelve Kizuki. Akaza considered Giyu worthy enough to offer to turn him into a Devil, but Giyu of course refused.
2 Mitsuri Kanroji, Pillars of Love
Shy, kind and sensitive, this Hashira’s soft nature stands in stark contrast to her incredibly strong muscles. Literally, Mitsuri is said to have much greater muscle density than the average person, a trait she is a bit self-conscious about as she believes it will prevent her from finding love. As a Hashira, Mitsuri created her own unique style called Breath of Love, derived from the Breath of Flames, which allows her to wield her long, thin sword like a whip, causing Her attacks are unbelievably fast when they are powerful. She played a key role in defeating Hantengu, the Four Great Demons, in the Swordsman’s Village section, and fought bravely in the final battle.
1 Gyomei Himejima, Pillar of Stone
Blind demon slayer Gyomei Himejima is a master of stone breath, and he wields a deadly powerful hand ax chained to a dam instead of a sword. Despite his gentle and pious nature, Gyomei’s combat prowess is so unbelievably effective that even the top demon Kokushibo considers Gyomei the strongest demon slayer of all. Gyomei only really shined in the final battle, but his performance against the rest of the Upper Ranks and Muzan himself was crucial to their eventual downfall.
Ranking Hashiras by physical strength is difficult, and there is certainly room for debate. Ultimately, though, it’s important to remember that every Hashira is incredibly powerful by definition, as that’s what makes them Hashira. As the mainstay of the organization, their strength helps lift the Demon Slayer Corps and inspires their subordinates to rise to even greater heights. These are the strongest human characters demon slayer have to offer, and they all deserve the title of Hashira.
