Demon Slayer power ranking: 12 Strongest and Weakest demons

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has rapidly become a phenomenon in the world of shōnen.

The anime, adapted from the best-selling manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, tells the thrilling story of a young demon slayer seeking to save his sister from a cursed fate. The narrative mainly revolves around Tanjiro, but many characters, including various demons, weave in and out of the story at different points.

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Demon Slayer stands out for many reasons, notably thanks to its blockbuster film, Mugen Train, which helped build a dedicated fan base. However, it is the series' demons that spark much discussion. These incredible creatures test Tanjiro and the Hashira, showing just how incredibly powerful some of them are. This leads many fans to wonder which demons in Demon Slayer are the most powerful.

Updated July 16, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: With the Hashira Training arc underway, Demon Slayer has never been more popular. This incredible anime has already accumulated universal praise and a billion-dollar franchise. Given the importance of demonic characters in the story, we have updated this list with additional relevant information.

This article contains major spoilers for the Demon Slayer manga.

The Origin of Demons

Muzan Created All Existing Demons

The beginning of Demon Slayer dates back to the Heian era, a millennium ago, long before the birth of any major character except Muzan. The man who would later become the Demon King was originally human, a sickly child constantly on the brink of death. At one point, an experimental doctor administered a medical potion containing the Blue Spider Lily as the main ingredient. Muzan was transformed, obtaining exceptional powers. However, the problem of the harmful rays of the sun remained.

Muzan continued to search for the Blue Spider Lily while attempting various experiments to protect himself from the deleterious effects of the sun, but none of his plans worked. He then decided to create demons using his own blood, hoping he would eventually find one capable of surviving in sunlight. All demons in Demon Slayer exist because Muzan wants to get rid of his last remaining weakness. Now that Nezuko has become that special demon, Muzan already has his eyes on her.

 

The Most Powerful Demons in Demon Slayer

Tamayo

Debut: Episode 8 "The Smell of Enchanting Blood"
Main Ability: Pharmaceutical Genius
Japanese VA: Maaya Sakamoto

Despite her lack of combat experience, Tamayo is one of the most intelligent demons in Demon Slayer. Her Blood Demon Art integrates a range of techniques, including Flesh Seeds, Visual Dream, Magical Aroma of Daylight, and Blood Bewitchment. Tamayo's knowledge of demon transformation is comparable to Muzan's, but she uses her research to help humans rather than harm them.

Tamayo is best known for her medical achievements, creating a drug capable of countering Muzan's seemingly invulnerable physiology. This alone makes her worthy of being one of the most powerful demons in history. That said, she is likely the weakest of the top-tier demons because she lacks combat expertise and her pacifist attitude would ensure her defeat in any serious battle.

Daki

Debut: Episode 36 "What Am I?"
Main Ability: Hair Manipulation
Japanese VA: Miyuki Sawashiro

Daki is Gyutaro's younger sister and co-holder of Upper Rank 6 alongside her brother. Her attacks are coordinated with her brother's, and her true defeat can only occur when both are decapitated at the same time. Daki is incredibly powerful on her own thanks to her lethal amorphous sashes. These sentient sashes have great versatility, and she is also endowed with other formidable Upper Rank demon powers, such as regeneration.

Daki can also control the movements of her hair, exploiting her braids for both offensive and defensive purposes. Most interestingly, she is one of the very few characters capable of levitation, a power likely linked to her sashes. Daki lacks her brother's confidence, but she is a vicious force to be reckoned with. She is easily capable of taking on Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Nezuko, and Tengen Uzui.

Gyutaro

Debut: Episode 40 "Transformation"
Main Ability: Blood Manipulation
Japanese VA: Ryota Osaka

The Entertainment District arc introduces Tanjiro and his companions to demons more dangerous than ever, and Gyutaro, who holds the Upper Rank Six position with Daki, is the arc's primary villain. Gyutaro has eliminated more than 15 Hashira in the past, and his Blood Demon Art initially overwhelms the team attack of Tanjiro, Tengen, Inosuke, and Zenitsu.

Gyutaro is known for his blood manipulation, meaning he can use his own blood during combat. He primarily manifests solid blood sickles, but has also been seen protecting himself with a blood barrier. Gyutaro is also endowed with advanced regeneration abilities, and the key to his death involves neutralizing his sister. Both siblings are among the strongest demons Tanjiro has ever faced, but Gyutaro is the brains behind this joint operation.

Gyokko

Debut: Episode 45 "Someone's Dream"
Main Ability: Porcelain Vase Spells
Japanese VA: Kohsuke Toriumi

Gyokko is certainly one of the most disturbing demons in Demon Slayer among the Twelve Kizuki, partly due to his bizarre appearance and presentation. His strange visual design resembles a set of doll parts assembled arbitrarily, explaining why he has mouths, eyes, and limbs in unorthodox positions on his body.

Gyokko has mastery over water and marine creatures, but these skills also allow him to teleport through vases, regenerate limbs, and transform cells. Gyokko is extremely dangerous, particularly when he casts his porcelain vase spells. He nearly killed the young Mist Hashira by trying to drown him, but Muichiro Tokito manages to awaken his Demon Slayer Mark in the process. After that point, Gyokko stood no chance against the Mist Hashira, who quickly defeated the Upper Rank 5 demon.

Hantengu

Debut: Episode 45 "Someone's Dream"
Main Ability: Emotion Manifestation
Japanese VA: Toshio Furukawa

Hantengu is another deceptively strong Upper Demon. However, he likes to hide behind his emotions and play the victim, making him the most cowardly character in Demon Slayer — even more so than Zenitsu Agatsuma. However, this is essential to Hantengu's Blood Demon Art, which allows him to split into multiple versions of himself, each reflecting his different emotions.

Hantengu's most incendiary and intense personality, known as Zohakuten, eventually absorbs the others, giving him a major boost in strength. Upper Rank 4 complains a lot, but his ingenious and overpowered tactics allow him to hold his own against four demon slayers at once. It takes the combined efforts of Genya, Nezuko, Tanjiro, and Mitsuri to defeat Hantengu, and it takes a long time. Finally, it is Tanjiro who severs Upper Rank 4's head.

Nakime

Debut: Episode 26 "New Mission"
Main Ability: Infinity Castle Manipulation
Japanese VA: Marina Inoue

Nakime, a member of the Twelve Kizuki, remains largely a mystery in the early stages of Demon Slayer because her abilities intentionally keep her hidden. In fact, Muzan only makes her the next Upper Rank 4 after Hantengu's death, so some of her peers were likely unaware of her powers. All things considered, Nakime is one of the strongest demons in Demon Slayer because she puts everything into a good defense.

Nakime's Blood Demon Art skills are not overpowered in the traditional sense, but the true challenge is reaching her. Her primary technique involves reconstructing the layout of her Dimensional Infinity Castle by playing her musical instrument. Nakime can repeat this to escape her opponent or leave them lost and confused. She can also generate portals, a useful tactic when she finally faces the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji.

Kaigaku

Debut: Episode 17 "You Must Master a Single Thing"
Main Ability: Electrokinesis
Japanese VA: Yoshimasa Hosoya

Kaigaku is a terrifying demon with one of the most heartbreaking backstories in the series, and he absolutely deserves more attention. He is a member of the Upper Moons, but Kaigaku starts as a trusted member of the Demon Slayer Corps and an ally to Zenitsu. Interestingly, Kaigaku is first shown in Episode 17 of Season 1, when Zenitsu reminisces about his past during a battle.

Zenitsu and Kaigaku both trained to become the Thunder Hashira, but Zenitsu outpaced him. Kaigaku turned to Muzan Kibutsuji to become stronger quickly. Instead, Kaigaku became a lethal demon with a deep-seated grudge. To make matters worse, Kaigaku also knows how to execute many Thunder Breathing techniques, but his Blood Demon Art, electrokinesis, makes him exceptionally dangerous. As a result, he becomes Upper Rank 6 after the deaths of Gyutaro and Daki.

Nezuko Kamado

Debut: Episode 1 "Cruelty"
Main Ability: Combustible Blood
Japanese VA: Akari Kito

Nezuko Kamado is a true anomaly because she is likely one of the very few demons in the series that Tanjiro does not have to fear attacking. Nezuko is Tanjiro's younger sister, which he never forgets, even after Muzan Kibutsuji turned her into a demon. This injustice is a major driver for Tanjiro in his demon-slaying duties. Because Nezuko is a demon, Tanjiro strives to suppress her abilities as much as possible.

That said, the few times Nezuko has contributed to combat reveal just how much demonic strength she possesses. She can manipulate her blood like Gyutaro, although her Combustible Blood technique produces flames that only harm demons and nothing else. More importantly, Nezuko proves to be the first demon immune to sunlight, making her one of the most powerful characters in Demon Slayer.

Akaza

Debut: Episode 32 "Akaza"
Main Ability: Destructive Death
Japanese VA: Akira Ishida

Despite his frivolous attitude, Akaza is an extremely dangerous fighter. Although he spends much time in the shadows, this demon must not be underestimated. Akaza excels in several impressive areas, from his unarmed combat skills to his ability to handle elemental attacks. The 12 Kizuki also follow a strict hierarchy, with Akaza near the top as Upper Rank 3. As a result, he holds much authority over other demons in Demon Slayer.

In the final arc, Tanjiro and Giyu attack Akaza at the same time, and he is still able to overwhelm them both. As a talented martial artist, Upper Rank 3 builds his Blood Demon Art from his knowledge and expertise of the Soryu Style. Known as Destructive Death, this technique proves powerful enough to defeat even the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.

Doma

Debut: Episode 45 "Someone's Dream"
Main Ability: Cryokinesis
Japanese VA: Mamoru Miyano

Doma acts like a laid-back fool when not in combat, and the other Upper Moons find him annoying — especially his bitter rival Akaza. That said, Upper Rank 2 is still a vicious monster at heart and nothing shakes him, not even getting his head sliced off. Doma is highly skilled in combat. He has been able to eliminate many Hashira and has built a solid reputation.

Unlike Akaza, Doma relies on the Japanese martial art of Tessenjutsu. That said, there are very few abilities in Demon Slayer capable of countering his Blood Demon Art, cryokinesis. The ability to manifest freezing temperatures and various forms of ice makes him a truly formidable opponent. Additionally, one of Doma's greatest talents lies in neutralizing the lethal demonic poison extracted from wisteria flowers. This gives him a distinct and significant advantage over other demons in Demon Slayer.

 

Kokushibo

Debut: Episode 45 "Someone's Dream"
Main Ability: Crescent Moon Blades
Japanese VA: Ryotaro Okiayu

Only one demon in Demon Slayer can be considered more dangerous than Kokushibo, the strongest member of the 12 Demon Moons. He has spent literally hundreds of years warring against demon slayers, learning their tricks and perfecting his strategy. Kokushibo is an expert in combat, but if all that weren't enough, he is also a rare exception capable of wielding Hashira breathing techniques.

As a former practitioner of Moon Breathing, Kokushibo blends this fighting style with his Crescent Moon Blades technique. His powers, knowledge, experience, skills, and formidable strength are capable of overwhelming practically any Hashira. This combination of diverse skills helps Kokushibo surpass the vast majority of his opponents in Demon Slayer, including the Stone Pillar, Gyomei Himejima.

Muzan Kibutsuji

Debut: Episode 7 "Muzan Kibutsuji"
Main Ability: Biokinesis
Japanese VA: Toshihiko Seki

Many members of the 12 Demon Moons employed by Muzan Kibutsuji to eliminate the various Hashira are exceptional threats. Despite the undeniable talents of his minions, Muzan Kibutsuji himself is on a whole other level as he is a "pure" demon. Muzan's purity means he is practically invincible, and even decapitation is ultimately useless against him.

Surviving a duel with Muzan is difficult, but demon slayers are always trying to determine the best strategy to eliminate the Demon King. He remains a mysterious trump card whose full powers remain to be seen, although Muzan has constantly proven to be the most powerful character in Demon Slayer. While Muzan certainly has weaknesses that can be exploited, it is very difficult for anyone to seize that opportunity during battle.

The Weakest Demons in Demon Slayer

Susamaru

Debut: Episode 8 "The Smell of Enchanting Blood"
Main Ability: Hiasobi Temari
Japanese VA: Mikako Komatsu

Susamaru may seem innocent at first glance, but her joyful attitude toward combat and violence makes her particularly unsettling. She seems to take immense pleasure in the damage she causes, which gives her a dangerously inflated ego. That said, Susamaru possesses the brute strength necessary to destroy walls and dismember her opponents, including Yushiro and Nezuko.

Susamaru's childlike nature is due to the fact that Muzan transformed her into a demon at a young age. She may be new to the demon game, but she fights with a fierce style and can grow extra arms to aid her in combat if she really wants to mess with her opponent's head. Susamaru's Blood Demon Art is known as Hiasobi Temari — "Temari" refers to the multicolored handballs she uses to attack her enemies. Curiously, these balls seem to have a will of their own.

Yahaba

Debut: Episode 8 "The Smell of Enchanting Blood"
Main Ability: Koketsu Arrow
Japanese VA: Jun Fukuyama

One of the first demons to attack Tanjiro in Demon Slayer, Yahaba is immensely devoted to his master, desiring nothing more than to become a member of the Twelve Kizuki. He is significantly more mature than his partner, Susamaru, as seen when he reprimands her for her immature behavior. This demon in Demon Slayer wields his Koketsu Arrow with astonishing precision, forcing Tanjiro to defend himself during their duel.

While Yahaba's Blood Demon Art is impressive on its own, his powers are considerably increased when used with Susamaru's Hiasobi Temari. Furthermore, he often moves his eyes to his palms, giving him a wider angle of view for long-range attacks. Nevertheless, Yahaba was eventually killed by Tanjiro's Second Form: Improved, Lateral Water Wheel, suggesting he wasn't that powerful after all.

Slasher

Debut: Episode 27 "Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku"
Main Ability: Speed Increase
Japanese VA: Kentaro Ito

Slasher may be one of the many insignificant demons in Demon Slayer, but he is more than capable of intimidating an entire village. His name derives from his violently savage killing method. Slasher slices, carves, and lacerates his victims before invariably losing all interest and moving on to his next target. He also exploits humans by using them as human shields, such as when he tries to escape the Flame Hashira.

However, Slasher doesn't seem to understand the power gap between low-level demons and competent Demon Slayers, which is why he foolishly underestimates Kyojuro Rengoku's agility. Slasher is clearly proud of his Blood Demon Art, called Speed Increase, which is self-explanatory. Yet, Slasher's supersonic agility proves slower than the Flame Hashira's final attack, resulting in the demon's death.

Swamp Demon

Debut: Episode 6 "Bergamot - The Swordsman Accompanied by a Demon"
Main Ability: Swamp Domain
Japanese VA: Ryohei Kimura

Despite being a relatively minor antagonist in Season 1, the Swamp Demon almost overwhelms the inexperienced Tanjiro in combat. This creature manifests in three distinct forms with unique personality traits. The Swamp Demon only consumes teenage girls because he believes "the taste of their flesh deteriorates" as they age. This makes him particularly despicable, as even Akaza refuses to harm children.

The Swamp Demon captures his helpless victims using his Swamp Domain, a pocket dimension considerably larger than it appears on the surface. He can move freely through this domain and attack from any point on the surface, making him somewhat difficult to locate while underground. However, Tanjiro eventually kills the Swamp Demon using the Sixth Form: Whirlpool technique.

Yushiro

Debut: Episode 8 "The Smell of Enchanting Blood"
Main Ability: Blindfold
Japanese VA: Daiki Yamashita

Yushiro's short-tempered personality is legendary. He becomes grumpy whenever his precious Tamayo stops paying attention to him, partly explaining his rude behavior toward Nezuko and Tanjiro. That said, it is evident that Yushiro's childish attitude masks incredible combat prowess, a factor that often plays in his favor.

Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, aptly named Blindfold, is a remarkable camouflage ability. It can make multiple targets invisible while allowing them to perceive each other. Furthermore, Muzan considers this "young" Demon Slayer demon a serious threat after Yushiro demonstrates mind control. This secondary technique requires the activation of Blindfold but allows Yushiro to take control of his opponents, both physically and mentally.

Rui's Spider Family

Debut: Episode 15 "Mount Natagumo"
Main Ability: Various
Japanese VA: Various

Rui's spider family consists of a group of demons with fabricated kinship ties. The Father Spider Demon molts into stronger versions of himself using Metamorphosis. The Mother's Puppet ability allows her to physically manipulate her targets. The Son's Poison Conversion turns victims into arachnid beasts. The Daughter's Blood Demon Art is based on acid control. Together, they form a dangerous group to face alone.

This is why the Demon Slayer Corps separates each member before attacking. The Spider Family's existence goes against demonic logic, as demons are unlikely to form family bonds. In fact, the only reason they accept Rui's bizarre system is because they are terrified of being killed by Demon Slayers. By the end of the Mount Natagumo Arc, all members of the Spider Family have been defeated and killed.

Rokuro

Debut: Episode 26 "New Mission"
Main Ability: Unknown
Japanese VA: Taiten Kusunoki

Rokuro is part of the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki, so he shows great respect toward Muzan Kibutsuji. After Muzan casually exterminates most of the Lower Rank demons, Rokuro feels more vulnerable than ever. Despite his status as Lower Rank 2, Rokuro's exact strength remains ambiguous. Rokuro isn't the most dangerous of the Twelve Kizuki, but it is probably unwise to insult his cracked complexion.

On the other hand, Rokuro's fear of Muzan forces him to remain silent while the other Lower Ranks are slaughtered. He is desperate to become stronger and begs Muzan for more of his demon blood so he can improve. A furious Muzan treats this sincere request as a contemptuous command and decides to kill Rokuro on the spot.

Wakuraba

Debut: Episode 26 "New Mission"
Main Ability: Unknown
Japanese VA: Soichiro Hoshi

Yet another of Muzan's minions who never gets the opportunity to show off his deadly talents, Wakuraba occupies the Lower Rank 3 position. Fans wish he had fought the heroes in the early stages, preferably before Enmu's arrival; currently, even his Blood Demon Art remains unknown.

In fact, available details on Wakuraba are minimal, as he is quickly eliminated by the Demon King himself. Wakuraba at least attempts to flee his fate while Muzan is busy consuming Mukago's remains. Nevertheless, the Demon King decapitates him before he even realizes his own death. Wakuraba may be fast, but it certainly isn't enough to rank him among the strongest demons in Demon Slayer.

Mukago

Debut: Episode 26 "New Mission"
Main Ability: Unknown
Japanese VA: Kana Ueda

Mukago holds the Lower Rank 4 position within Muzan Kibutsuji's Twelve Kizuki. When Muzan reads Mukago's mind, he discovers how terrified she is of fighting. The Demon King is furious to find that Mukago plans to flee if she encounters the Demon Slayer Corps, yet she still tries to explain her terror. She also attempts to prove her loyalty to the Demon King, but he categorically refuses to take her seriously.

Mukago, much like Lower Ranks 2 and 3, is also killed and devoured by Muzan. Mukago likely has hidden talents behind her cowardice, but she had little opportunity to demonstrate her Blood Demon Art. However, it is fair to consider her stronger than the typical demon and the other Lower Rank members she technically outranks, such as Rui.

Kyogai

Debut: Episode 11 "The Drum House"
Main Ability: Drum Spells
Japanese VA: Junichi Suwabe

As a former member of Muzan's Twelve Kizuki, Kyogai once held the Lower Rank 6 position before falling from grace. Consequently, he spends every moment dreaming of reclaiming his place in the group. However, Muzan considers Kyogai a lost cause and not powerful enough to be part of the Kizuki. Kyogai is covered in drums, and his Blood Demon Art integrates these instruments in a powerful way.

Each of this demon's drums affects the architecture of his house, turning the abode into a complicated death trap. It is a unique skill set that brings a welcome change to demon hunting, forcing Tanjiro to push himself. However, it quickly becomes clear that Tanjiro will win the battle and kill Kyogai, marking the young protagonist's first victory over a member of the Twelve Kizuki.

Rui

Debut: Episode 15 "Mount Natagumo"
Main Ability: Thread Manipulation
Japanese VA: Koki Uchiyama

Rui may technically be ranked among the weakest of the Twelve Kizuki, but he nonetheless leaves a considerable impression on Tanjiro and Nezuko during their journey to Mount Natagumo. Rui draws his design inspiration from the arachnid family and possesses a remarkable level of control over sharp threads that simulate spider webs.

These abilities, along with the demon blood Muzan gave him, are substantial. Lower Rank 5 seems to be an unbeatable opponent, even after Nezuko uses her Combustible Blood and Tanjiro unleashes the Hinokami Kagura. It takes the timely arrival of the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, and his Eleventh Form: Dead Calm to end Rui's frenzy. However, the demon's tragic past and complicated views on family keep him within the ranks of Demon Slayer's notable demons.

Enmu

Debut: Episode 26 "New Mission"
Main Ability: Dream Manipulation
Japanese VA: Daisuke Hirakawa

Enmu leads the Lower Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki, but he is more significant in the sense that he survives Muzan Kibutsuji's massive purge and obtains a considerable boost in power. Enmu is energized by the trust Muzan places in him, and he uses this momentum to terrorize Tanjiro and company during the events of the Mugen Train movie.

Enmu attacks his opponents with a clever Blood Demon Art that allows him to enter people's dreams and attack them subconsciously. He can fuse with objects as massive as an entire train, effectively trapping all passengers with his Sleep Induction technique. Enmu is also capable of targeting multiple individuals at once, but his defeat at Tanjiro's hands shows that he still sits fairly low in the Demon Slayer demon hierarchy.

 

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