Demon Slayer: The 9 Hashira, Ranked According To Strength (2023)

The long-awaited second season ofDemon Slayerwas released over the turn of the new year, finishing up in February much to the delight of fans. The season consisted of an episodic rehashing of the Mugen Train arc, as well as a new Entertainment District arc, which gives fans an in depth look at the sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui.

The Hashira are considered the strongest demon slayers within the show, having achieved the highest rank within the Demon Slayer Corp. Each of these demon slayers have unique styles and fighting techniques, and each relies on different aspects of their style to slay demons, from their speed and cunning to their strength.

Shinobu Kocho

The insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, is the second active Hashira that fans are introduced to inDemon Slayer, behind only Giyu Tomioka, who makes an appearance in the first episode of the series. Kochofollows in the footsteps of her older sister Kanae Kocho, who was a Hashira before her death several years prior to the timeline of the anime.

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While Kocho is a formidable demon slayer, and would shine in her own OVA, her abilities rely much more on her cunning and intelligence rather than brute strength. She is the only Hashira who is not able to slice off the heads of demons, having developed a special poison extracted from wisteria to kill demons instead.

Muichiro Tokito

Aloof and in his own head most of the time, mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito is firstintroduced to fans in one ofDemon Slayer'sbest episodesat the Hashira meeting in season one, where they must decide the fate of Tangiro and Nezuko. Tokito is indifferent to the whole matter but strikes Tanjiro with rocks when he interrupts Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

Tokito is a particularly impressive demon slayer, having reached the rank of Hashira only two months after joining the Demon Slayer Corp. This is even more impressive considering his small stature, indicating his prowess as a dynamic swordsman to reach top rank so quickly.

Mitsuri Kanroji

Recognizable by her vibrant pink and green hair, the love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji is an incredibly emotional and passionate individual with great love towards her fellow demon slayers. She especially shows a fondness for Obanai Iguro, who she has quite a strong bond with.

Kanroji first joined the Demon Slayer Corp not to improve on her own fighting abilities, but to find a suitable husband who is stronger than her. Her rise to the rank of Hashira and the brute strength that she possesses to get there has proven this to be a difficult task, despite her best efforts.

Obanai Iguro

The snake Hashira, Obanai Iguro, is one of the most mysterious characters withinDemon Slayer. Recognizable by his white snake wrapped around his neck and the bandage he wears around his mouth, he was one of the foremost objectors to Nezuko's inclusion as a demon slayer.

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Born partially blind, Iguro has molded his livelihood and fighting abilities around this, rising all the way to the rank of Hashira. While he is of shorter stature, his mental fortitude and strictness make him a formidable opponent. This is most obvious when he berates Tengen Uzui for barely defeating the weakest upper-rank demon and for choosing to retire, showcasing his hatred of perceived mental weakness.

Tengen Uzui

A central character of season two ofDemon Slayer, the sound Hashira Tengen Uzui is integral to the defeat of upper-rank demon Gyutaro/Daki by Tanjiro and company. Despite his intense and fast-paced fighting style, Uzui insists that he is not talented, often with a funny quote, while talking to Gyutaro and Daki during their fight in the Entertainment District.

While Uzui doesn't believe he is talented, his abilities in battle tell a different story. His fearlessness of death due to his years as a shinobi and his incredible speed in battle make him an incredible warrior. He also showcases hisstrength in his swift wielding of his gigantic nun chuck cleavers, which he is able to move at the speed of sound despite their size.

Sanemi Shinazugawa

Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa puts his brashness and hatred of demons on display in season one ofDemon Slayer, attacking one of the strongest demons, Nezuko in her box and then attempting to get her to attack him. While this fails and Nezuko is allowed to continue to accompany Tanjiro, Shinazugawa still does not accept the co-existence of demons and humans.

One of the fastest of all of the Hashira, Shinazugawa is an intensely strong swordsman that uses his speed to his advantage in battle. Despite his physical prowess however, he can let his hotheadedness get the best of him, as can be seen when Tanjiro is able to strike him with a headbutt during the Hashira meeting in season one.

Giyu Tomioka

The first Hashira that fans encounter in the anime, Giyu Tomioka is incredibly poised in battle and shows calmness and restraint that is unmatched among the Hashira when he allows Nezuko to live in the first episode ofDemon Slayer. This mental strength is further shown when he endorses Nezuko's place in the Demon Slayer Corp, agreeing to slit his stomach if she harms any human.

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A student of the water technique under former water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki, Tomioka brings a calm strength to battle that allows him to dispatch enemies with terrifying ease. His incredible strength is shown particularly in his killing of the lower six demon Rui, who he easily defeats using his technique creation "dead calm."

Kyojuro Rengoku

The main Hashira in theMugen Train arc of theDemon Slayerseries, Kyojuro Rengoku shows incredible poise and strength in battle up until his death at the hands of upper rank demon Akaza. He is able to hold his own in the battle, with Akaza barely escaping before dawn by having to rip his arm off that was embedded in Rengoku.

Rengoku combines the strength of his flame breathing with his confident demeanor to make a formidable demon slayer. He is able to save every single passenger on the Mugen Train after its derailing due to quick thinking and fighting prowess, and is complemented by Akaza on his fighting, which he states hasn't reached its full potential.

Gyomei Himejima

The stone Hashira and mentor to Genya Shinazugawa, Gyomei Gimejima is an imposing physical figure with a gentle and sensitive emotional nature. He is frequently seen shedding tears for his fellow demon slayers, carrying prayer beads with him at almost all times and frequently praying for other fighters.

The largest of the Hashira by a wide margin. Himejima is the most respected of the Hashira due to his immense strength and is frequently treated as their de facto leader, being entrusted by Kagaya Ubuyashiki to give out orders. He also became a Hashira only two months after joining the Demon Slayer Corp, showcasing the prowess of his strength in battle.

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