Demon Slayer is a phenomenon in the world of anime and it has broken many records, be that by manga sales or otherwise. The manga had its run between 2016 and 2020, where it ended with 23 volumes and thanks to its anime release that was bolstered by beautiful animation, it has made an impact on the anime community.
Now in its third season, the anime has gained a lot of hype. With such a popular story, it is no surprise for the fans to see Demon Slayer be filled with many compelling villains and antagonists. These villains make Tanjiro’s quest even more interesting. However, some stand out more than others.
6 Daki
Daki is an important villain during the Entertainment District arc and acts as the Upper Rank 6 of the 12 Kizuki, with her older brother Gyutaro. She grew up as a human in poverty under the name of Ume. Her brother practically raised her due to their mother’s illness before eventually being turned into a demon by Doma.
Despite being very old, she has a very childish personality and throws many tantrums in part due to how much her older brother raised and spoiled her. Despite all that, Daki is a powerful fighter, having eaten 7 Hashiras in the past. She was also able to hold back Zenitsu, Inosuke, as well Makio, and Suna on her own for some time. Her brother and she can also coordinate their attacks incredibly well, making them a dangerous pair. Sadly, she meets her demise when she is decapitated by Zenitsu and Inosuke.
5 Gyutaro
The main antagonist of the Entertainment District arc, Gyutaro holds the position of Upper Rank Six alongside his younger sister, Daki. Both of them were personally turned into demons by Doma himself. Growing up with his sister in extreme poverty in the Rashomon Riverbank of Yoshiwara, Gyutaro envies anyone who leads a better life than him. Whenever he feels such jealousy, he harms himself by scratching at his own flesh.
Despite his cruelty to everyone, he does love his sister very much, both in her human life and her demon life, even if he insults her sometimes. His strength is also not to be underestimated, as he has killed and eaten 15 Hashiras. In the end, however, he's decapitated by Tanjiro after a fierce fight.
4 Kokushibo
Kokushibo holds the spot of Upper Rank One in the 12 Kizuki, making him the most powerful among them, and the most powerful demon, just behind their leader, Muzan. Before becoming a demon, his name was Michikatsu Tsugikuni and he was a Demon Slayer.
He was also the older twin brother of the most powerful Demon Slayer ever, Yoriichi Tsugikuni. While he felt a lot of jealousy towards his brother due to his power and accomplishments, he still cherished him. Humble and reserved, he does not speak much and admits wrongs. His undying loyalty to Muzan is what pushes forward most of his actions.
3 Muzan Kibutsuji
The main antagonist of Demon Slayer, Muzan Kibutsuji, is the leader of the Twelve Kizuki as well as the most powerful Demon to have ever lived. Muzan is referred to as the Demon King as he was the very first Demon to ever be created when, during the Heian era, an experimental treatment was used on him to treat his terminal illness.
Cruel and ruthless, he rarely shows any emotions and is usually just stern. He brutally kills anyone he wants out of his path and he is not any kinder to his subordinates, as seen when he punished Akaze. He is so powerful that none of the Upper Ranks’ power comes even remotely close to his.
2 Doma
The Upper Rank Two of the Twelve Kizuki, Doma is a powerful antagonist who made his debut during a flashback in chapter 96. He is also the leader of a cult referred to as the Eternal Paradise Faith who worship him. Doma consumes some of his cult followers and was the one who killed and ate Inosuke’s mother, Kotoha Hashibira, when she accused Doma of such.
As one of the most powerful Demons in the series, Doma has a strong preference for eating young women, which make up a large majority of his cult. His weapon of choice being golden war fans, he can easily overwhelm most characters.
1 Akaze
Akaze is a part of the Twelve Kizuki, specifically holding the Upper Rank Three, making him one of the most powerful Demons under Muzan. His desire for gaining more strength is a major push for him to become better, but one major setback for him is that he does not consume all humans, unlike other demons, as he refuses to eat women due to his past as a human.
An interesting aspect of Akaze is that he fights without any weapons, favoring the use of his fists. Sadly, he ended up dying after he lost the will to live when he regained the entirety of his human memories and was decapitated by Tanjiro.