The Hashira are the strongest warriors in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. They're arguably the most significant characters in the story, as they seek to eradicate the demon menace and bring peace to the world. The Hashira are led by Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who only allows the strongest fighters to join the Corps. They are always searching for a successor to pass their techniques on to after their death or retirement.
This tradition is maintained so the Corps always gains stronger fighters as time passes. To become a Hashira, one must neutralize one of the Twelve Kizuki or defeat 50 demons while undergoing intense training that would take five years for the average person. Here is a list of the Hashira ranking in Demon Slayer.
Updated on September 21, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: Anime fans learned a lot about Demon Slayer from theSwordsmith Village arc, but manga readers already know how everything is going to end. However, having foreknowledge doesn't make the anime fight scenes any less exciting. On the contrary, watching the overpowered Hashira showcase their skills is one of the highlights of Demon Slayer. As such, we've revamped this list of all the strongest Hashira, ranked according to their fighting abilities
Spoilers ahead for Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge.
12 Mitsuri Kanroji
The Love Hashira
Mitsuri is a soft-hearted, passionate person who always compliments the people around her. She seems rather preoccupied with her love life and is always on the hunt for a husband. While she hasn't been successful, fans agree her relationship with Obanai Iguro is adorable.
As the current Love Hashira, Mitsuri doesn't hesitate when fighting a demon. Instead, she proves herself to be a deadly combatant against the strongest villains. Mitsuri has special fighting skills, and her muscles are approximately eight times denser than an average human. When Mitsuri activates her Demon Slayer Mark, her power increases exponentially.
11 Kanae Kocho
The Flower Hashira
Kanae was the former Flower Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps, as well as the sister of Shinobu Kocho. Kanae was one of the few emotionally stable demon slayers, regularly displaying a charming smile on her face.
A loving and caring person, she always made sure to protect her family. During her lifetime, Kanae deeply hoped the world would reach a point where humans and demons could peacefully co-exist, despite their shared history of bloodshed. Kanae hasn't been seen fighting often in Demon Slayer, but her status as a Hashira is a testament to her skills.
10 Jigoro Kuwajima
The Former Thunder Hashira
Jigoro Kuwajima is Zenitsu's mentor. He was the former Thunder Hashira, later nicknamed the "Roaring" Hashira. He's an elderly man, so he's significantly weaker than he was in his prime. In his heyday, however, he was a deadly force who could use every aspect of the Lightning Breathing style.
That said, Jigoro's proven himself a wonderful teacher. He's knowledgeable about demon-slaying, so it makes sense for him to become an excellent instructor, imparting his wisdom to younger warriors. Jigoro believes it's his responsibility to prepare the next generation of demon slayers to fight Muzan Kibutsuji.
9 Shinobu Kocho
The Insect Hashira
Even amid the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinobu Kocho stands out from the crowd. Despite her status as the Insect Hashira, she isn't one of the strongest Hashira in the story. As a result, she develops a fierce, piercing fighting style to compensate for her weakness.
Instead of indulging in head-on battles, Shinobu relies on injectable chemical cocktails. These substances often cause disorientation, even leading to death. She's knowledgeable about medicinal properties and the effects of certain herbal products. Shinobu uses this unique skillset to her advantage whenever the situation calls for it.
8 Muichiro
The Mist Hashira
Muichiro Tokito is the iconic Mist Hashira and a tremendous force in the Demon Slayer Corps. Relying largely on logic to complete his missions, Muichiro is stoic and believes that emotions have no place in demon slaying. And yet, he's contradicted his own sentiments on multiple occasions.
Muichiro can be perceived as rather airheaded since he wanders off on his own and frequently gets carried away by his own thoughts. That said, he is one of the most powerful Hashira in Demon Slayer. Muichiro single-handedly defeats an Upper Moon, albeit after his Demon Slayer Mark activates.
7 Obanai Iguro
The Serpent Hashira
Obanai is the Serpent Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps. He takes his job very seriously and never strays from the metaphorical rulebook. As a result, has no qualms about openly criticizing and chastising members of the Corps who don't follow the rules.
Obanai is a fundamentalist who would sacrifice himself for the Corps and encourages his comrades to do the same. He does care deeply about others — especially Mitsuri. Obanai's a skilled combatant, and his Serpent Breathing techniques make him rather deadly. Despite his short stature and lack of physical strength, Obanai has proven himself to be one of the strongest Hashira.
6 Sakonji
The Former Water Hashira
Sakonji used to be the Water Hashira, having trained Giyu Tomioka to become his successor. He becomes Tanjiro's master at the start of Demon Slayer. Sakonji is a genius swordsman with plenty of experience and knowledge to impart to the younger generations. For several aspiring demon slayers, he's a beloved sensei and mentor.
Since Sakonji and Tanjiro possess exceptional senses of smell, he helps the latter hone his skills. Additionally, Sakonji teaches both Giyu and Tanjiro the Water Breathing Style. Even though he's an old man now, Sakonji still possesses outstanding power, on par with the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer.
5 Tengen Uzui
The Sound Hashira
Tengen Uzui was the Sound Hashira before he was forced to retire because of severe injuries. He's recognized for his flashiness and desire to always stand out from the crowd but remains one of the strongest Hashira. Hailing from a lineage of shinobi, Tengen underwent brutal training as a child.
Tengen's experience as a shinobi grants him a certain level of expertise when it comes to fighting demons. His Sound Breathing techniques give him a significant edge over his opponents, in part due to a heightened sense of hearing. Even after retiring, Tengen still tries to assist the Corps wherever he can.
4 Giyu Tomioka
The Water Hashira
Giyu was trained by Sakonji, who taught him how to master Water Breathing. He's come a long way in learning these techniques and has proven himself a strong combatant on several occasions. Nearly every demon he encounters is overwhelmed by his sheer talents.
When his Demon Slayer Mark is activated, Giyu's strength increases beyond measure. Even though Giyu appears emotionally distant and reserved, it's just because he has difficulty expressing himself. He's actually a sincere, kind person. With his authentic personality and undeniable physical strength, Giyu is truly one of the strongest Hashira in history.
3 Kyojuro Rengoku
The Flame Hashira
Kyojuro Rengoku was the Flame Hashira, a position previously held by his now-incompetent father Shinjuro. Even though he died at the end of his fight with Akaza, he managed to demonstrate his indomitable willpower in the process.
Rengoku was passionate about everything he did and was always willing to lend someone a helping hand in their hour of need. Granted, he also had several eccentric qualities. However, Rengoku's strength and dedication outshone his other traits. He was a mighty Hashira because he extensively practiced his Flame Breathing technique, turning it into one of Demon Slayer's most deadly weapons.
2 Sanemi Shinazugawa
The Wind Hashira
Sanemi is the Wind Hashira and Genya's older brother. Despite his prestigious standing, he's a hot-headed individual who lives for the thrill of fighting. Because of a particularly traumatic childhood event, Sanemi is incredibly distrustful of demons. He outright refuses the notion that demons and humans could somehow coexist peacefully.
Sanemi is a fierce fighter and has a rare blood type that even the strongest demons find alluring. He often uses this as bait to lure opponents in before killing them swiftly. His Wind Breathing forms are unmatched, and paired with his Demon Slayer Mark, Sanemi effectively becomes one of the strongest Hashira.
1 The Stone Hashira
As the Stone Hashira recruited by Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Gyomei's title suggests he's a stoic, patient man with unwavering willpower. According to Demon Slayer's official statistics, Gyomei's physical abilities are unmatched by any of his peers.
Standing at a menacing 7'2.5", Gyomei is the definition of a gentle giant. Stone Breathing is an extremely difficult style to control, let alone master, but Gyomei is living proof that this martial art deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. After he obtains his Demon Slayer Mark, Gyomei becomes nothing less than the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer.