The following article contains spoilers for events after the Infinity Castle movie.
Demon Slayer is currently the most famous it has ever been! When discussing its success, it is often credited to its top-tier animation and soundtrack. But a large part of its success is also its cast of diverse characters. Each character has a backstory of their own, which helps them shine through the various arcs of the anime.
From the Hashiras to the demons, each character also gets a chance to show off their strength. The swordsman's strength is shown through their elegant and powerful breathing styles, while demons' strengths are usually dominant through the use of supernatural abilities. Let's have a look at who was the strongest character appearing in the various arcs of Demon Slayer.
Demon Slayer: Best Episode In Each Arc, Ranked
Demon Slayer is made up of iconic and memorable story arcs, and for each one, there is a single episode that stands above the rest.
To make the list fair, only characters appearing in combat or with multiple major appearances during the arcs are considered.
Final Selection Arc - Sakonji Urokodaki
The introductory arc briefly sets the atmosphere for the anime. We are introduced to the existence of important roles such as Hashiras, but we don't see them in action just yet. A large section of the arc is spent on Tanjiro's training and his character buildup. That being said, we constantly see Urokodaki not only as Tanjiro's mentor but also as someone who is immensely strong. He is introduced as a former Hashira, and that alone puts him at a level above the other characters in this arc, who are mere trainees.
So, it seems fitting to put Sakonji Urokodaki as the strongest known character at that time.
Kidnapper's Bog Arc to Tsuzumi Mansion Arc - Tamayo
The events between Kidnapper's Bog Arc, Asakusa Arc, and Tsuzumi Mansion Arc can be summed up under one heading, since they only featured one major fight. Tanjiro and his newly met allies, Tamayo and Yushiro, came across the Termari Demon and Arrow Demon, who claimed to be a part of the Twelve Kizuki. While their claim was false, they turned out to be formidable foes at the time.
It was mainly because of Tamayo's Blood Demon Art that they defeated the pair of demons. Though Tamayo did not directly engage in battle, her skills and knowledge make her the strongest character during this arc. The importance of her skills and knowledge continued to affect the series here onward.
Mount Natagumo Arc - Giyu
The Mount Natagumo Arc is undoubtedly one of the most important arcs of Demon Slayer. It was Tanjiro and his companions' exposure to the threat of the Twelve Kizuki. Tanjiro fought incredibly in this arc when he went head-on against Rui. He also almost defeated him with the use of the Hinokami Kagura Dance. But that still does not make him the strongest character for this arc. He ultimately failed to defeat Rui.
At a critical moment, Giyu not only showed up and saved Tanjiro but also defeated Rui with ease. He gave fans a glimpse of the Hashiras' power by casting the Eleventh Form of Water Breathing.
Rehabilitation Training Arc - Kanao
Remembered as the arc that officially introduced all the Hashiras, the Rehabilitation Training Arc featured some of the strongest characters in the anime. But despite them being featured, they were not seen in combat. Instead, the focus was on the Butterfly Mansion. Tanjiro and others participated in various exercises to enhance their breathing techniques. Kanao was also present at the mansion and constantly defeated the others in the exercises. She had also already mastered Total Concentration Breathing despite being at the same Final Examination as Tanjiro and Zenitsu.
Though Tanjiro eventually beat Kanao once, at that point, she seemed more experienced as a demon slayer, placing her as the strongest character in the arc.
Mugen Train Arc - Kyojuro Rengoku
It would be a surprise for no one to hear that Kyojuro Rengoku was the strongest character during the Mugen Train Arc. His epic battle against Akaza was an amazing display of his skills. Despite being pushed to the limits of the human body, his resilience and swordsmanship allowed him to keep up with Akaza's supernatural strength and regeneration.
Akaza was so impressed by Rengoku's strength that he declared him as one of the chosen ones. Had Akaza not escaped by momentarily sacrificing his forelimbs, he most likely would have died.
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Entertainment District Arc - Tengen
The highest-rated season of Demon Slayer has multiple epic fights. Various characters, from Tanjiro to Gyutaro, showed their incredible skills and strength. But the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, takes the crown for the strongest character. When poisoned by Gyutaro, he momentarily stopped his heart from beating, making it seem like he died.
But in Episode 10, he rejoined the fight and used his Musical Score Technique to battle Gyutaro. He did so while having only one arm. This opportunity allowed Tanjiro and others to behead the demon siblings.
Swordsmith Village Arc - Mitsuri
The Swordsmith Village Arc focused on the combat abilities of two beloved Hashiras. Muichiro fought Gyokko, and Mitsuri fought Zohakuten, who is arguably Hantengu's strongest form by a mile. Both battles were incredible as they showed both Hashira distinguishing strengths. While Muichiro's strength lay in his intellect and evasiveness, Mitsuri used her physical strength and unique swordsmanship.
But Mitsuri's battle seemed much harder as not only was she fighting the fourth-strongest member of the Twelve Kizuki. But also, hers was a prolonged battle that went on endlessly till Tanjiro eliminated Hantengu's main body.
Hashira Training Arc - Nakime
The majority of the Hashira Training Arc was rather peaceful, with demon slayers doing their best to become even stronger under the harsh mentorship of Hashiras. But the final episode glimpses the epic battles awaiting in the Infinity Castle. While Muzan is restrained by Tamayo's Blood Demon Art, Himejima shows a brief yet strong showing of power. He smashes Muzan's head and even deflects Muzan's attacks.
On the other hand, Muzan regenerates his head in an instant. He continues to battle Himejima while also being held down by Tamayo's Blood Demon Art. But both of them only show a fraction of their strength in this arc.
When discussing strengths, it not only considers one's strength in direct combat, but also the impact their skills have on the overall situation. Muzan was cornered by the Hashiras and would have most likely been dragged into an unfavourable fight. But at the opportune moment, Nakime not only saved him but also transported countless demon slayers into the Infinity Castle. This feat alone saved the demon lord and also drove the demon slayers into a dangerous and unknown battlefield, giving her the deserving title of the strongest character in this arc.
Infinity Castle Arc - Muzan
This arc was not short of epic fights. Both the Upper Moons and Hashiras showed a display of strength that was leagues above what fans had already seen. Notably, Akaza's fight against Tanjiro and Giyu only ended because Akaza decided to do so. Also, it took the combined efforts of three Hashiras and Genya to take down Kokushibo. While both of their fights were impressive, their strength doesn't come close to Muzan's.
Nearing the end of the Infinity Castle Arc, Muzan had already finished regenerating and introduced himself as the most formidable opponent in the manga. Though the majority of the action takes place in the next arc, Muzan shows a glimpse of his strength by being able to combat three Hashiras and Tanjiro at once without breaking a sweat.
Sunrise Countdown Arc - Yoriichi
Muzan continues his dominance in Demon Slayer's final arc. Despite growing weaker every second due to Tamayo and Shinbou's drug, he continues to be a formidable opponent to the combined strengths of the demon slayers. When Tanjiro manages to unleash the Thirteenth Form of Sun Breathing, it still doesn't put him convincingly anywhere near Muzan's strength.
But we get to see a character even stronger than Muzan through Tanjiro's ancestral memories. Yoriichi Tsugikuni's encounter with Muzan is shown in these chapters, where he not only faced Muzan but also cut him to pieces in an instant. He went on to destroy 1,500 out of 1,800 pieces that Muzan divided into, but Muzan eventually escaped. This single fight makes Yoriichi not only the strongest character in this arc but the entire anime.
His strength was so overwhelmingly one-sided that he continued to haunt Muzan hundreds of years later. During his battle with Muzan, Tanjiro also noticed scars on Muzan's cells that were caused by Yoriichi's attacks.
Demon Slayer: Tanjiro’s Ultimate Form, Explained
In Demon Slayer, Tanjiro is known for having many powerful Breathing Techniques and abilities. But what exactly is his "Ultimate Form?"
Demon Slayer is far from being over. The series' latest adaptation was loved by fans, and everyone is waiting for what lies next. Will the sequel live up to the series' unrivaled reputation?
For now, 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.
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 4
- Based On
- Manga
- Number of Episodes
- 63
