The Hashira, or “Pillars,” in Demon Slayer are the nine most powerful and elite warriors in the Demon Slayer corps. All of them possess unique Breathing Styles and powers. Tanjiro, the protagonist, and other Demon Slayers look up to them greatly.
We’re nearing the end of the anime adaptation of Demon Slayer, with the first part of the Infinity Castle trilogy movie out now in theatres. With that in mind, it’s about time we rank the Hashira based on their strength. Some of them might be deceased or retired, but their feats remain memorable.
9. Shinobu Kocho
The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, is a beloved character, but admittedly, the weakest of all of them. She was the second Hashira to be introduced in Demon Slayer, so we had plenty of time to get to know her. Shinobu became a Demon Slayer to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, Kanae, who was the Flower Hashira. She was motivated by revenge for her sister’s killer.
Shinobu is the only known Insect Breathing user in the Demon Slayer Corps. What makes her more interesting and distinct from other Hashira is that she doesn’t rely on raw physical strength. She uses poisons, choosing to weaken the demons with a special extract from wisteria. Her short stature might limit her power, but she’s incredibly agile.
Overall, her unique knowledge of poisons is invaluable in the fight against demons. However, as proven by Shinobu’s battle against Douma, it wasn’t enough to defeat him as he adapted to their effects and regenerated himself. She doesn’t offer enough damage, unlike the other Hashira.
8. Mitsuri Kanroji
The Love Hashira is among the most flexible and fast of them all. Mitsuri Kanroji is a formidable fighter who displayed incredible strength at a very young age. She joined the Demon Slayer Corps after countless years of rejecting her true nature, learning to embrace her unnatural power as a gift.
Her unique Breathing Style, Love Breathing, is derived from Flame Breathing. Mitsuri couldn’t master a conventional form, even after training under Kyojuro Rengoku, but it’s perfect for her character. She held her own against Upper Rank Four, Nakime, with the help of Obanai. However, she doesn’t have any significant feats to rank her any higher.
7. Obanai Iguro
As one of the most powerful and skilled swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, Obanai Iguro is incredibly strong and powerful. As the Snake Hashira, he came up with Serpent Breathing himself and mastered it. He does so by incorporating his pet snake, Kabumaru, into his battles.
Combined with his swordsmanship, Obanai is capable of taking care of hordes of demons without breaking a sweat. He’s incredibly protective of Mitsuri, whom he’s in love with. His mental strength and stoic nature also allow him to concentrate and stay focused in a battle. However, as he’s one of the smallest Hashira, it gives him a significant disadvantage over others.
6. Tengen Uzui
Tengen Uzui’s time as an active Hashira was short-lived on Demon Slayer, but his impact is still felt. The now-retired Sound Hashira is only second to Gyomei in terms of raw physical strength, as confirmed by Koyoharu Gotouge themselves. However, this isn’t the only measure that we’re taking, which is why Tengen is only 6th on the list.
The Sound Hashira is one of the most powerful swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, with a unique two-sword style. He’s also incredibly fast, moving at the speed of sound itself, and he weaves through battles effortlessly. His Sound Breathing grants him heightened hearing. He was integral to defeating the Upper Six, though he didn’t deal the decisive blow.
Many fans might rank Tengen Uzui higher, and we’d normally agree. He did, after all, weaken Daki and Gyutaro and kept up with their speed, despite being poisoned and heavily injured. However, they were also the weakest of the Upper Ranks, so he remains comfortably in the middle.
5. Muichiro Tokito
Recognized by Rengoku as an incredibly talented Demon Slayer, Muichiro Tokito is an underrated Hashira who rose to the rank at only 11 years old with two months of training. He was able to overpower a demon before joining the corps by using only wooden stakes and farming tools.
Tokito’s biggest feat is his battle against the Upper Rank Five Gyokko, which he defeated with little difficulty. He gained his Demon Slayer mark during this. His strength was also commended by Kokushibo, the Upper Rank One, who is the strongest of the Twelve Kizuki. Overall, he’s the prodigy of the Demon Slayer Corps, but he has a long way to go before he’s in the Top 3.
4. Kyojuro Rengoku
The Flame Hashira left his mark during the Mugen Train Arc and is an unforgettable Demon Slayer character. His mastery of Flame Breathing made Kyojuro Rengoku a formidable opponent against Upper Rank Three, Akaza, who couldn’t believe his strength.
Despite not having a Demon Slayer mark, Rengoku managed to hold his own against one of the strongest demons in their history. Akaza and he were on equal grounds, forcing the demon to fight until sunrise. He swings his sword at supersonic speed, and his incredible will and passion only strengthen him. He would be in the Top 3 if it weren’t for his demise.
3. Giyuu Tomioka
Giyuu Tomioka’s biggest strength is his ability to stay calm and show restraint, which remains true to the Water Hashira name. He’s an exceptionally skilled warrior and finished what Rengoku started by defeating Akaza, with the assistance of Tanjiro. The Upper Rank Three also commended his strength and offered to turn him into a demon, which sounds brutal and mocking but is only something he says to those he deems strong.
The Water Hashira was on par with Akaza and effortlessly defeated Lower Moon Five Rui and the Father Spider Demon. Tanjiro looks up to him as a mentor figure. Giyuu has grown throughout the Demon Slayer series, which is why he deserves to be in the Top 3. We see the fruits of his experience come to life more than most Hashira.
2. Sanemi Shinazugawa
Although he’s gained a bad reputation due to his rough demeanor, don’t be fooled by his hot temper. The Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, combines raw physical strength, speed, and stamina. He’s one of the greatest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, but doesn’t limit himself to just one weapon, and is the second fastest runner.
Sanemi’s undefeated will and ruthlessness make him a threat. He uses his rare Marechi blood against demons, making them lose focus and giving him an opening. His combat intelligence is nearly unmatched in the series. His most significant feat is defeating Kokushibo with the help of Gyomei. Undoubtedly, Sanemi is the second strongest Hashira.
1. Gyomei Himejima
Every fan can agree unanimously that Gyomei Himejime is the strongest Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps. While the other ranks are up for debate, the Stone Hashira always remains at the top. He has the most physical strength out of all of them, easily moving large boulders with his bare hands. He is highly respected, often acting as the de facto leader.
Much like Tokito, Gyomei was a prodigy and became the Stone Hashira in two months after becoming a Demon Slayer. His enhanced hearing gives him a significant edge. His efforts against Kokushibo and Muzan secured the Demon Slayer Corps’ victory.
Here’s a summary of our ranking of the Hashira, from weakest to strongest:
Do you agree with our ranking of the strongest Hashira? Let us know how you’d rank them in the comments below!
Demon Slayer can currently be streamed on Crunchyroll and Netflix.