The Swordsmith Village story arc in Demon Slayer's third anime season expands on the series' combat systems in a number unique ways, from Genya's half-other combat movements to Gyokko's aquatic, vase-themed assaults to the introduction of two new demon slayer marks. These marks are critical to win against the Upper Moons, but obtaining them is difficult.
Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist, had previously awoken his demon slayer mark on his forehead, which some Demon Slayer characters had commented on. Now that the love and mist Hashiras, Mitsuri and Muichiro, have awoken, it will completely transform how the demon slayer corps fights Muzan's surviving minions in the next battle, albeit there are some perplexing difficulties to cope with as well.
The True Nature Of Demon Slayer Marks
Demon slayer markings are physical marks on the body of a demon slayer, indicating that the slayer has released great power that pushes them well beyond their natural boundaries. These markings will vary depending on the breathing pattern of the slayer, but they will all seem like birthmarks and will emerge on a visible region of the body, such as the face, neck, or near the collarbone. In some ways, these demon slayer marks resemble supernatural marks found on demons, such as Nezuko Kamado's full-body marks in her berserker condition, yet these demon slayer marks are unrelated to demonic powers. They are not a half-other power, but they do provide the necessary might to rival or even surpass most demons.
A demon slayer mark will appear if a given slayer experiences and endures a state of extreme distress where their very survival is threatened, and the mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, took note of that. During his fight against Gyokko, Muichiro nearly drowned in Gyokko's water-themed attacks, but Muichiro survived despite his body's suffering. Muichiro also had a heartbeat in excess of 200 beats per minute, and his body temperature became feverishly high. Muichiro's mark, which appeared on his cheeks, gave him the strength needed to defeat Gyokko's final form with shocking ease, and elsewhere, the love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji awakened her own mark to even the odds against Hantengu's powerful youth form.
Overall, demon slayer marks are a typical shonen-style power-up in Demon Slayer, and they are straightforward compared to the intricacies of the well-established breathing styles such as water breathing or Hinokami Kagura. This is how demon slayers go Super Saiyan, and given how tough the Upper Moons are and the demon slayer corps' constant state of desperation, this is exactly what they need to face Muzan and the three remaining Upper Moons in future battles. Even if it feels a bit convenient and routine, demon slayer marks are the key to victory – but actually harnessing this power, rather than just stumbling upon it, will be the real challenge, one that the Hashira are already getting ready for.
The Hashira Must Train All Over Again To Harness Their Demon Slayer Marks
Demon slayer markings are physical marks on the body of a demon slayer, indicating that the slayer has released great power that pushes them well beyond their natural boundaries. These markings will vary depending on the breathing pattern of the slayer, but they will all seem like birthmarks and will emerge on a visible region of the body, such as the face, neck, or near the collarbone. In some ways, these demon slayer marks resemble supernatural marks found on demons, such as Nezuko Kamado's full-body marks in her berserker condition, yet these demon slayer marks are unrelated to demonic powers. They are not a half-other power, but they do provide the necessary might to rival or even surpass most demons.Those seven must re-enter training mode and behave as students rather than masters, placing them in the same circumstances as Tanjiro and other journeyman demon slayers. Hashira or not, they're all human, and all individuals have room to develop and improve.
Demon slayer marks represent the last way in which the elite Hashira can boost their skills and up their game before facing the final four villains in future Demon Slayer seasons and movies. Their swordplay is already sufficient, so now the Hashira must focus on marks, and even for them, this won't be easy. Mitsuri and Muichiro, and even Tanjiro Kamado for that matter, only awakened their marks through extreme circumstances of desperate survival at all costs, and it's not easy to replicate those conditions outside of battle. The Hashira might awaken their marks while facing Akaza, Doma, and Kokushibo in battle, but there's no guarantee that will work in time to ensure victory. Instead, the Hashira must master and be able to summon their marks on demand.
This may become a major plot point in Season 4 and beyond, and it opens up new and exciting possibilities for Demon Slayer's narrative. Even if the "train to unlock new powers" trope is familiar, it should still be fun to watch the mighty Hashira humble themselves and become students in training once again. This may reveal a lot about them not just as fighters, but as people too, and how they respond to the hardships and challenges of mark training should add much-needed depth to these characters. Mitsuri and Muichiro have a head start, though, and that may make them the demon slayer corps' most prominent and helpful members during this critical time.
