The 12 Most Powerful and Weakest Demons of Demon Slayer!

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

The anime, adapted from Koyoharu Gotouge's best-selling manga, tells the thrilling story of a young demon slayer seeking to save his sister from a cursed fate. The narrative primarily revolves around Tanjiro, but many characters, including various demons, come and go throughout the story at different points.

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Demon Slayer stands out for many reasons, particularly due to its successful feature film, Mugen Train, which helped build a devoted fan base. However, it is the demons in the series that spark a great deal of discussion. These incredible creatures test Tanjiro and the Hashira, showcasing just how powerful some of them truly are. This has led many fans to wonder which demons in Demon Slayer are the most powerful.

Updated on 16th July 2024 by Ajay Aravind: With the Hashira Training Arc underway, Demon Slayer has never been more popular. This incredible anime has already garnered universal praise and a franchise worth billions. Given the importance of demon characters in the story, we’ve updated this list with additional relevant information.

This article contains major spoilers for the Demon Slayer manga.

The Origin of the 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 Blue Spider Lily as the main ingredient. Muzan was transformed, gaining exceptional powers. However, he still faced the problem of harmful sunlight.

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

Tamayo is primarily known for her medical achievements, having created a medicine capable of countering Muzan’s seemingly invincible physiology. This alone makes her worthy of being one of the most powerful demons in history. That said, she is probably the weakest of the powerful demons due to her lack of combat expertise, and her peaceful 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 the younger sister of Gyutaro and holds the Upper Rank 6 position alongside her brother. Her attacks are coordinated with those of her brother, and her true defeat can only come when both are decapitated simultaneously. Daki is incredibly powerful on her own due to her sentient, amorphous threads, which have great versatility. She also possesses other formidable demon powers, such as regeneration.

Daki can also control the movements of her hair, using her strands for both offensive and defensive purposes. More intriguingly, she is one of the very few characters capable of levitation, a power likely tied to her threads. While Daki lacks the confidence of her brother, she is a vicious force to be reckoned with. She is easily capable of confronting 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 to Tanjiro and his companions demons more dangerous than ever, and Gyutaro, who holds the Upper Rank Six alongside Daki, is the main antagonist of the arc. Gyutaro has defeated more than 15 Hashira in the past, and his Blood Demon Art initially overwhelms the team attack from Tanjiro, Tengen, Inosuke, and Zenitsu.

Gyutaro is known for his blood manipulation, meaning he can use his own blood during combat. He primarily manifests a solid scythe of blood, but he has also been seen creating a blood barrier for protection. Gyutaro is also gifted with advanced regeneration abilities, and the key to his defeat involves neutralizing his sister. The two siblings are among the strongest demons Tanjiro has ever faced, but Gyutaro is the mastermind behind their joint operation.

Gyokko

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

Gyokko is certainly one of the most unsettling demons in Demon Slayer among the Twelve Kizuki, partly because of his bizarre appearance and strange presentation. His odd visual design resembles a collection of doll parts assembled haphazardly, which explains why he has mouths, eyes, and limbs placed in unconventional positions on his body.

Gyokko has control over water and marine creatures, but these skills also allow him to teleport through vases, regenerate limbs, and manipulate cells. Gyokko is extremely dangerous, especially when he casts his porcelain vessel spells. He nearly killed the young Mist Hashira by attempting to drown him, but Muichiro Tokito manages to awaken his Demon Slayer mark in the process. After this point, Gyokko stands no chance against the Mist Hashira, who quickly defeats the Upper Rank 5 demon.

Hantengu

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

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

The most fiery and intense personality of Hantengu, known as Zohakuten, eventually absorbs the others, giving him a significant boost in strength. The Upper Rank 4 complains constantly, but his ingenious and overpowering tactics allow him to hold his ground 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. Ultimately, it is Tanjiro who decapitates the Upper Rank 4.

Nakime

Debut: Episode 26 "New Mission"
Main Ability: Manipulation of the Infinite Castle
Japanese VA: Marina Inoue

Nakime, a member of the Twelve Kizuki, remains largely a mystery at the beginning of Demon Slayer because her abilities keep her intentionally hidden. In fact, Muzan only makes her the next Upper Rank 4 after the death of Hantengu, 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 places all her focus on defense.

Nakime’s Blood Demon Art abilities are not overwhelming, but the real challenge lies in reaching her. Her main technique involves reconstructing the layout of her Infinite Castle Dimension by playing her musical instrument. Nakime can repeat this to either escape from her opponent or leave them lost and confused. She can also generate portals, a useful tactic when she eventually faces off against the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji.

Kaigaku

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

Kaigaku is a terrifying demon with one of the most heart-wrenching backstories in the series, and he absolutely deserves more attention. He is a member of the Upper Moons of Demons, but Kaigaku begins as a trusted member of the Demon Slayer Corps and an ally of Zenitsu. Interestingly, Kaigaku is first introduced in Episode 17 of Season 1, when Zenitsu recalls his past during a battle.

Zenitsu and Kaigaku both trained to become the Thunder Hashira, but Zenitsu managed to surpass him. Kaigaku turned to Muzan Kibutsuji to become stronger quickly. Instead, Kaigaku became a deadly demon with a relentless 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 death of Gyutaro and Daki.

Nezuko Kamado

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

Nezuko Kamado is a true anomaly, as she is probably one of the very few demons in the series that Tanjiro doesn’t have to fear attacking. Nezuko is Tanjiro’s younger sister, something he never forgets, even after Muzan Kibutsuji transforms her into a demon. This injustice serves as a major driving force for Tanjiro in his duties as a demon slayer. Because Nezuko is a demon, Tanjiro strives to suppress her abilities as much as possible.

That said, the rare times Nezuko has contributed to combat reveal just how powerful her demonic strength is. She can manipulate her blood like Gyutaro, though her Blood Combustion 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 playful attitude, Akaza is an extremely dangerous fighter. Though he spends much time in the shadows, this demon should not be underestimated. Akaza excels in several impressive areas, whether it be his hand-to-hand combat skills or his ability to handle elemental attacks. The Twelve Kizuki also follow a strict hierarchy, with Akaza positioned near the top as Upper Rank 3. As a result, he holds significant authority over the other demons in Demon Slayer.

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

Doma

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

Doma acts like a carefree fool when he’s not in combat, and the other Upper Moons find him annoying — especially his bitter rival Akaza. That said, Upper Rank 2 is always a vicious monster at heart, and nothing shakes him, not even having his head cut off. Doma is highly skilled in combat. He has been capable of eliminating numerous Hashira and has earned a solid reputation.

As an ancient practitioner of Moon Breathing, Kokushibo combines this combat style with his Crescent Moon Blades technique. His powers, knowledge, experience, skills, and formidable strength are capable of overwhelming nearly all Hashira. This combination of diverse skills helps Kokushibo surpass the vast majority of his opponents in Demon Slayer, including the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.

Muzan Kibutsuji

Debut: Episode 7 "Muzan Kibutsuji"
Main Ability: Bio-kinesis
Japanese VA: Toshihiko Seki

Many members of the Twelve Demon Moons employed by Muzan Kibutsuji to eliminate the various Hashira are exceptional threats. Despite the undeniable talents of his subordinates, Muzan Kibutsuji himself is on an entirely different level because he is a "pure" demon. The purity of Muzan means he is practically invincible, and even decapitation is ultimately futile against him.

Surviving a duel with Muzan is difficult, but demon slayers always try to determine the best strategy to eliminate the Demon King. There remains a mysterious wild card whose full powers have yet to be seen, although Muzan has constantly proven himself 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 of 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 towards combat and violence makes her particularly disturbing. She seems to take immense pleasure in the damage she causes, which inflates her ego dangerously. That said, Susamaru possesses the sheer brute strength necessary to destroy walls and maim her opponents, including Yushiro and Nezuko.

Susamaru's childish 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 truly wants to toy with her opponent. Susamaru’s Blood Demon Art is known as Hiasobi Temari — "Temari" refers to the multicoloured balls 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 notably 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.

Although Yahaba's Blood Demon Art is impressive on its own, his powers are significantly enhanced when used in combination with Susamaru’s Hiasobi Temari. Furthermore, he often moves his eyes to his palms, which gives him a wider vantage point for long-range attacks. Nevertheless, Yahaba was ultimately defeated by Tanjiro’s Second Form: Enhanced, Water Wheel, which suggests that he wasn’t as powerful as he initially seemed.

Slasher

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

Slasher might be one of the more inconsequential demons in Demon Slayer, but he is more than capable of intimidating an entire village. His name comes from his wildly savage mode of killing—slashing, carving, and lacerating his victims before inevitably losing interest and moving on to his next target. He also exploits humans, using them as human shields, as seen when he tries to escape from the Flame Hashira.

However, Slasher doesn’t seem to understand the power gap between low-level demons and skilled Demon Slayers, which is why he foolishly underestimates the agility of Kyojuro Rengoku. Slasher is clearly proud of his Blood Demon Art, known as Speed Enhancement, which is quite obvious. Yet, Slasher’s supersonic agility proves slower than the Flame Hashira's final attack, leading to the demon's death.

Demon of the Marsh

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

Although a relatively minor antagonist in season 1, the Demon of the Marsh almost overwhelms the inexperienced Tanjiro in combat. This creature appears in three distinct forms with unique personality traits. The Demon of the Marsh only consumes adolescent girls, believing that "the taste of their flesh deteriorates" as they age. This makes him particularly loathsome, as even Akaza refuses to harm children.

The Demon of the Marsh captures his defenseless victims using his Marsh Domain, a pocket dimension far 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 when underground. However, Tanjiro eventually kills the Demon of the Marsh by using the Sixth Form: Whirlwind Technique.

Yushiro

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

Yushiro’s irritable personality is legendary. He gets grumpy every time his precious Tamayo stops paying attention to him, which partly explains his rude behavior toward Nezuko and Tanjiro. That said, it’s clear that Yushiro’s childlike attitude masks his incredible combat prowess, a factor that often works to his advantage.

 

The Blood Demon Art of Yushiro, aptly named Headband, is a remarkable camouflage ability. He can render multiple targets invisible while allowing them to perceive each other. Furthermore, Muzan considers this "young" Demon Slayer a serious threat after Yushiro demonstrates his mental control. This secondary technique requires the activation of Headband, but it allows Yushiro to take physical and mental control of his opponents.

The Spider Family of Rui

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

The Spider Family of Rui consists of a group of demons with fabricated familial ties. The Spider Father Demon mutates into stronger versions of himself using his Metamorphosis. The Mother’s Puppet allows him to physically manipulate his targets. The Son’s Poison Conversion transforms his victims into spider-like beasts. The Daughter’s Blood Demon Art is based on acid control. Together, they form a dangerously formidable group to face alone.

That's why the Demon Slayer Corps separates each member before attacking. The very existence of the Spider Family goes against the demonic logic, as demons are unlikely to form familial bonds with one another. In fact, the only reason they accept Rui’s strange system is out of fear of being killed by the 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 belongs to the lower ranks of the 12 Demon Moons, and thus shows great respect toward Muzan Kibutsuji. After Muzan has carelessly eliminated most of the lower-ranked demons in Demon Slayer, Rokuro feels more vulnerable than ever. Despite being ranked Lower Moon 2, Rokuro’s exact strength remains ambiguous. He isn’t the most dangerous of the 12 Demon Moons, but it’s probably not wise to insult his cracked skin.

That is why the Demon Slayers Corps separates each member before attacking. The very existence of the Spider Family goes against demonic logic because demons are unlikely to form familial bonds with one another. In fact, the only reason they accept Rui’s bizarre system is because they are terrified of being killed by the Demon Slayers. By the end of the Natagumo Mountain Arc, all members of the Spider Family have been defeated and killed.

Rokuro

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

Rokuro is part of the lower ranks of the Twelve Kizuki, showing great respect towards Muzan Kibutsuji. After Muzan has carelessly exterminated most of the lower ranks of the Demon Slayers, Rokuro feels more vulnerable than ever. Despite his status as a lower rank 2, Rokuro’s exact strength remains ambiguous. Rokuro is not 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 massacred. He is desperate to grow stronger and begs Muzan to give him 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

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

Yet another of Muzan’s minions who never gets the chance to showcase his deadly abilities, Wakuraba holds the position of lower rank 3. Fans wish he had fought the heroes during the earlier stages, preferably before Enmu arrived; at the moment, even his Blood Demon Art remains unknown.

In fact, the only details available about Wakuraba are minimal, as he is quickly eliminated by the Demon King himself. Wakuraba at least attempts to flee his fate while Muzan is occupied consuming the remains of Mukago. However, the Demon King decapitates him before he even realizes his own death. Wakuraba may be quick, but it certainly isn’t enough to place him among the strongest demons of Demon Slayer.

Mukago

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

Mukago holds the position of lower rank 4 within Muzan Kibutsuji’s Twelve Kizuki. When Muzan reads Mukago’s mind, he discovers how terrified she is at the prospect of fighting. The Demon King becomes furious upon realizing that Mukago considers fleeing if she encounters the Demon Slayers Corps, though she tries to explain her fear. She also makes attempts to prove her loyalty to the Demon King, but he firmly refuses to take her seriously.

Mukago, like lower ranks 2 and 3, is also killed and devoured by Muzan. Mukago likely has hidden talents behind her cowardice, but she didn’t have many opportunities to demonstrate her Blood Demon Art. However, it’s fair to consider her stronger than the average demon and the other lower rank members she technically surpasses, like Rui.

Kyogai

Start: 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 before falling from grace. As a result, he spends every moment dreaming of reclaiming his place in the group. However, Muzan views Kyogai as a lost cause and not powerful enough to be part of the Kizuki. Kyogai is covered in drums, and his Blood Demon Art incorporates these instruments in a powerful way.

Each of this demon’s drums affects the architecture of his house, turning the abode into a complex and deadly trap. It’s a unique set of skills that brings a welcome change to demon hunting, forcing Tanjiro to push himself beyond his limits. 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

Start: Episode 15 "Natagumo Mountain"
Main Ability: Thread Manipulation
Japanese VA: Koki Uchiyama

Rui can technically be considered among the weaker members of the Twelve Kizuki, but he still leaves a considerable impression on Tanjiro and Nezuko during their journey to Natagumo Mountain. Rui draws his design inspirations from the spider family and possesses an impressive level of control over razor-sharp threads that mimic spider webs.

These abilities, along with the demon blood Muzan has given him, are formidable. Lower rank 5 seems to be an unbeatable foe, even after Nezuko uses her Blood Burst and Tanjiro unleashes the Hinokami Kagura. It takes the timely arrival of the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, and his Eleventh Form: Absolute Calm to bring Rui’s frenzy to an end. However, the demon’s tragic past and his complicated views on family hold him back within the ranks of the Demon Slayer demons.

Enmu attacks his foes with a clever Blood Demon Art that allows him to enter people’s dreams and subconsciously attack them. He can merge into objects as large 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 the hands of Tanjiro shows that he still ranks relatively low in the hierarchy of Demon Slayer demons.

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