Highlights
- Valiant combatants in
Demon Slayer
tackle powerful demons with supernatural abilities using unique fighting styles to thrive against the odds. - Characters like Shinobu Kocho and Inosuke Hashibira showcase creativity in combat, developing unique breathing styles and weapon choices.
- Tanjiro, with Sun Breathing and Water Breathing, stands out as a versatile warrior using different techniques to face formidable foes.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows brave swordsmen as they confront powerful malevolent demons in a seemingly endless battle for dominance between good and evil. Since their adversaries are supernatural, with abilities beyond the comprehension of an ordinary human being, these valiant combatants rely on a different fighting style that allows them to thrive even with the odds stacked heavily against them. Meanwhile, demons also evolve continuously to keep an edge over their human adversaries.
The combat skills of the characters vary depending on upbringing, natural talent, and training. Some fighters are ruthless, while others take a more defensive approach. Here we’ll give some attention to the most creative fighters in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba.
5 Shinobu Kocho
The Creator Of Insect Breathing
Insect Hashira Shinobu is the younger sister of former Flower Hashira Kanae. The Kocho sisters grew up in a wealthy family with loving parents. Unlike most members of the Demon Slayer Corps, they had a privileged life. But after a tragedy took everything away from them, they decided to become demon slayers. They went on to train under the watchful eyes of Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima. Although Kanae mastered Flower Breathing, Shinobu realized that she was not strong enough to decapitate a demon.
Assessing the circumstances and her strengths in mind, Shinobu then developed Insect Breathing. The swordsmanship style was inspired by insects’ movements and stings. Instead of beheading a demon, Shinobu introduced the use of lethal wisteria-based poison, which was injected into the target through the cuts made with the help of the Stinger Nichirin Katana. Her methods are unlike any used by demon slayers until now and are a testament to her combat intellect, which allows her to challenge traditional wisdom and leave an everlasting mark.
4 Inosuke Hashibira
Overcoming A Challenging Childhood, Inosuke Went On To Become A Demon Slayer
Inosuke Hashibira grew up in the mountains alongside wild boars and naturally had a pretty rough childhood. Evolving in accordance with the circumstances, he taught himself Total Concentration Breathing. Without any formal instruction, Inosuke then went on to create Beast Breathing, which speaks volumes about his combat knowledge and natural talent and experience.
The swordsmanship style is inspired by his experiences with wild animals and incorporates their vicious and unpredictable nature in offensive moves. Apart from creatively developing his own breathing style, Inosuke also got himself Dual Serrated Nichirin Katanas instead of using the standard blades to leverage his fighting style. Getting over challenges in his early life and turning his experiences into a unique combat approach showcases that Hashibira deserves more credit for his innovative methods than he gets.
3 Kokushibo
The Demon Who Uses A Breathing Style
The Upper-Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki used to be a demon slayer in the Sengoku Era. At the time, he was known by the name Michikatsu Tsugikuni. After taking inspiration from his younger brother Yoriichi’s fighting style, he created Moon Breathing and established himself as one of the best demon slayers of his generation. But despite his achievements, Michikatsu always had to live in the shadow of Yoriichi, whose prodigious talent surpassed everyone else’s.
Michikatsu’s envy and jealousy drove him to seek more power, and he eventually ended up embracing the forces of evil and turning into a demon. Despite his demonification, Kokushibo did not give up his desire to become a master swordsman. He refined Moon Breathing in the following centuries and created more than a dozen techniques. Kokushibo wields the Flesh Katana, which is incredibly durable and hard.
In addition to his swordsmanship style, the Upper-Rank One also uses Blood Demon Art named Crescent Moon Blades. It utilizes his blood to create traditional crescent moon-shaped sharp blades that can be manipulated according to Kokushibo’s will.
2 Mitsuri Kanroji
Created Love Breathing
Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji was naturally gifted with superhuman strength and flexibility from a young age. She was lucky enough to be trained by Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku. Although she learned Flame Breathing, Mitsuri eventually ended up creating Love Breathing to take advantage of her natural flexibility and strength.
Mitsuri then sought Tecchin Tecchikawahara’s help to design her Nichirin Whip-Katana. The special blade is extremely flexible and thin, allowing Kanroji to attack her adversaries from counter-intuitive angles to overwhelm them. Unlike the standard sword used by her peers, Nichirin Whip-Katana is quite long, which helps Kanroji unleash a barrage of mid-to-long-range attacks. Her intelligent and creative fighting style is unlike any other and makes her stand out among the Hashiras.
1 Tanjiro
An Innovative Demon Slayer Who Can Use Different Breathing Styles
Tanjiro Kamado is a hardworking young adult who is pushed to become a demon slayer by a cruel twist of fate. As he embraces the biggest challenge that life throws his way, Tanjiro evolves consistently to turn himself into a better warrior. Since he was initially trained by the former Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki, he uses Water Breathing in his early missions.
However, Kamado eventually realizes that his family ritual dance known as Hinokami Kagura, which is passed down through the generations, is Sun Breathing. During the Sengoku era, Yoriichi had become close friends with Kamado’s ancestor, Sumiyoshi. He had originally memorized the twelve forms of the Sun Breathing after observing Yoriichi. Thanks to Sumiyoshi’s efforts to honour his friend’s memory, that breathing style ended up becoming Tanjiro’s biggest strength.
When Tanjiro managed to awaken the Sun Breathing, he fought some of the most powerful demons in existence. His efficient use of two different breathing styles makes him a versatile warrior unlike any other in the Demon Slayer Corps. Interestingly, Tanjiro’s innovative approach to combat does not end there. In the Swordsmith Village Arc, when he is chasing Hantengu, Tanjiro recalls his conversation with Zenitsu and manages to efficiently utilize Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash. This unique talent for harnessing different fighting techniques makes Tanjiro one of the most creative fighters of his generation.
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