This article contains spoilers for events after the Infinity Castle movie Anime usually stands out with the presence of an almighty and intimidating antagonist. Muzan does exactly the same for Demon Slayer. He is not only the ultimate source of evil but also acts as the final destination in Tanjiro and Nezuko's long and grueling journey.
With what we know right now, there are no other demons that come close to his power. But if there were to be characters who could rival or even surpass his role as Demon Slayer's ultimate villain, who would they be?
The Strongest Demons In Demon Slayer
There are several powerful demons present in the Demon Slayer anime. These characters are the most dangerous.
Rengoku's Undying Spirit Could Have Been Lethal
The end of the Mugen Train continues to be one of the most moving fights in the anime so far. Rengoku's resilience not only moved Tanjiro and his companions but also Akaza. Akaza was so impressed by Rengoku's passion and strength that he was bent on turning him into a demon.
Obviously, it was Rengoku's passion that stopped him from accepting Akaza's offer. But had done so, he would probably become one of the strongest demons. His death had a major impact on Tanjiro, so if he turned into a demon instead, it would have had an even larger impact on him. If he lasted till the very end, having a Hashira as one of the final enemies would have influenced emotion and action heavily.
Kagaya Would Have Broken the Demon Slayers
Kagaya Ubuyashiki acted as the face of the demon slayers. He radiated a kind and compassionate energy that moved every swordsman and motivated them to work harder towards the goal of bringing down Muzan. When he met Muzan, he described the Demon Slayers as a singular moving force that has been fighting demons for centuries. He adds that his death would not stop this force and instead fuel it further.
But if Muzan turned Kagaya into a demon, what would become of the Demon Slayers? Kagaya was like a parental figure to many Hashiras, as he rescued them from their previous lives. His turning into a demon would have emotionally broken most of them, and it would have taken a while before they could convince themselves to take him down.
Akaza Was Never Defeated
Akaza, being the Upper Moon Three, was one of the strongest demons in the anime. But his memories never allowed him to reach the depths of evil. Even when he vaguely remembered his past life, he refused to kill or eat women, which are said to make demons stronger. On the other hand, demons like Muzan and Doma weren't hesitant to do so, making them stronger than Akaza.
In an infinite battle against Tanjiro and Giyu, Akaza finally got hold of his memories and took his own life. Had he not regained his memories, he would have most likely defeated the two. Furthermore, if his human traits did not hold him back, he could possibly have become a more ruthless villain, constantly looking for immense strength.
Doma Is Easy to Hate
One of the essential factors for a good villain is being hateable. Doma's twisted and sly personality easily makes him one of the most disliked characters in the anime. During his fight against Shinobu, he provoked her by showing disappointment at not being able to eat Kanae in the past. Later, he also provoked Kanao by claiming that she interrupted his meal because she had shown up when he was absorbing Shinobu's body.
Even when he was still a human, he failed to understand his own parents and looked down on them. He consumed the followers of his cult and justified it as saving them from their current sufferings. If he were to survive till the very end, his sharp tongue and lack of moral understanding would have made him a strong, hated final enemy.
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Kokushibo Is the Current Next Best Villain
Being the strongest of the Twelve Kizuki puts Kokushibo as one of the top contenders for Muzan's spot. Similar to Muzan, he has a history that goes back hundreds of years. During those several centuries, he likely killed numerous humans and also turned an awful lot into demons. He also sets himself apart from other demons because of his skills with the sword.
Being a skilled demon slayer in his past life granted him skills like Total Concentration Breathing, the Demon Slayer Mark and his personalized breathing style called Moon Breathing. But most importantly, his blood relations and attitude are what would have made him an excellent final antagonist.
Being the elder twin of Yoriichi, who is considered the strongest character in the series, Kokushibo always had the overbearing burden of surpassing his sibling. But regardless of his efforts, he failed to match his brother's skill. This slowly filled him with envy and resentment and also the reason that he eventually turned into a demon.
Had he been the final villain, it would have been a much more comprehensive tale, as he would not only be a demon. But also a former human, a skilled demon slayer and an ancestor to a major character.
Nezuko, as a Villain, Would Have a Greater Emotional Impact
The bond between Nezuko and Tanjiro has been an integral part of Demon Slayer since the very start. Tanjiro's journey started as a means to protect Nezuko, who was a mere demon in the eyes of others. With time, they were able to win others' hearts, and Nezuko became a dear character to everyone. With time, her importance to the story also increased as she became immune to the sun and even contributed to defeating high-level demons.
During the final arc, when Muzan was finally defeated, he drove all his negative emotions into Tanjiro and turned him into a demon. Shortly after, Nezuko appeared, but had she reached there a few moments earlier, she could have been Muzan's target. If that were to happen, it would have created a very complicated and emotional situation for Tanjiro and the other demon slayers.
More than the battle, the emotional conflict with Tanjiro would have made Nezuko a great villain. Previously, in Season 3, when Tanjiro had to choose between saving others and saving Nezuko, he was unable to make a decision. If he suffered the same fate, what decision would he have made?
Tanjiro, The King of Demons
The manga gave us what could have been the strongest and most evil character in the series yet. Even after being defeated, Muzan desperately looked for ways to survive and turned to Tanjiro. He poured his undying feelings and power into Tanjiro, turning him into the strongest demon. Being a blood relative of Nezuko, Tanjiro's demon could already conquer the sun and was also capable of using Sun Breathing, which Yuriichi previously used to greatly damage Muzan.
Tanjiro would also have known the opposing demon slayers in and out, making him capable of predicting their upcoming moves and techniques. This would have truly made him an unstoppable force. At this point in the manga, the majority of the Hashiras had also lost their lives, and the ones remaining were severely injured to even face the newly born King of Demons.
Demon Slayer: The Only Character Who Can Rival Muzan
Muzan Kibutsuji was nearly unrivaled in Demon Slayer—until one warrior pushed him to the brink like no other before or after.
These seven characters could have given Demon Slayer a drastically different ending from the one we know. Each brings either great levels of destruction or greater emotional consequences.
Demon Slayer is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
- Release Date
- April 6, 2019
- Network
- Adult Swim
Based on Koyoharu Gotouge's shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they try to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.
- Seasons
- 4
- Creator
- Koyoharu Gotoge
- Number of Episodes
- 63
