Koyoharu Gotouge’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is a smash hit, having sold millions of tankobon volumes since its inception. The anime series proved to be just as popular, making it a pop-cultural landmark. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after Muzan Kibutsuji killed his entire family.
Although his sister Nezuko survived the attack, she ended up becoming a demon. Tanjiro hopes to find a cure for his sister and avenge his family. The series has 23 manga volumes and 11 arcs, with the final one split into two sub-arcs. Each phase of the story manages to outdo the last as the story rapidly becomes darker.
Updated on April 13, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: Demon Slayer is arguably one of the most iconic shonen anime of the 2010s. A recent film titled Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has broken every known record at the Japanese box office, earning over $500 million on an international level. As such, we’ve revamped this list of all the major arcs in Demon Slayer.
12 The Final Selection Arc
Demon Slayer kicks off with the Final Selection arc. As far as introductory anime arcs go, this one quickly hops from zero to one hundred. One minute, Tanjiro is just an average charcoal seller, and the next, he’s picking up a Nichirin blade to fight demons.
After enduring a few years of training under Urokodaki’s guidance, Tanjiro heads off to the Final Selection, an entrance exam for aspiring Demon Slayers to prove their worth. They pass if they make it off the mountain alive after seven days. This arc introduced most of the main characters: Tanjiro, Nezuko, and later Zenitsu. It also introduced the concept of Hashira with Giyu Tomioka.
11 The Kidnapper’s Bog Arc
The Kidnapper’s Bog arc, or the First Mission arc, follows Tanjiro’s first steps to becoming a full-fledged demon slayer. He goes on his first mission during this arc to investigate why young women have been inexplicably disappearing.
The main event of this arc was Tanjiro and Nezuko’s battle against the Swamp Demon. It wasn’t an Upper Rank or even a Lower Rank in Muzan’s Twelve Kizuki, but the resulting fight certainly proved just how vicious these demons could be. The arc also showcased Tanjiro and Nezuko’s impressive teamwork.
10 The Asakusa Arc
Most of the series’ demons aren’t docile and kind like Nezuko, but Tamayo and Yushiro are two rare examples of demons who can coexist with humanity. However, their debut wasn’t the only exciting event in this arc. Tanjiro finally had a run-in with Muzan Kibutsuji, which shook him to his core.
After that, he meets Tamayo and Yushiro, who take him in and listen to his idea about finding a cure for demons. However, they are soon attacked by Susamaru and Yahaba, two Twelve Kizuki hopefuls who would do anything to serve Muzan.
9 The Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
The Tsuzumi Mansion arc was the most action-packed yet. Tanjiro was sent on a mission to investigate a house where Kyogai, a former Twelve Kizuki member, was wreaking havoc.
This arc formally introduced the lovable coward Zenitsu Agatsuma and the hard-headed boar-child Inosuke Hashibira. Zenitsu unveiled his true power against the Tongue Demon, and fans got their first glimpse of Inosuke’s potential during his fight against the Horned Demon. Tanjiro’s fight against Kyogai was epic, and its aftermath proved the young demon slayer’s boundless compassion.
8 The Mount Natagumo Arc
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke trekked up Mount Natagumo on their first group mission to take down the dreadful Spider Family. These demons were the most powerful foes they had met up until that point, and it was enough to make Zenitsu sit on the sidelines for most of the arc.
Rui was the first current member of the Twelve Kizuki introduced, and it took everything Tanjiro and Nezuko had to defeat him. This arc also revealed that Tanjiro is capable of Sun Breathing since he performed his Hinokami Kagura. By the end, Giyu reappeared alongside Shinobu, the Insect Hashira.
7 The Rehabilitation Training Arc
Even though Tanjiro and Nezuko played a significant role in taking down the Spider Family, the fact that he was traveling with a demon is a crime, at least according to the Corps’ laws. After teasing so much about the elusive Hashira, this arc introduced the other seven members.
Despite their attempts to disparage and discredit Nezuko, Kagaya decided there was no reason to punish anyone and allowed Nezuko to live. After that, the main gang was taken to the Butterfly Mansion, where they spent time recuperating from the previous battle. At the same time, Muzan was preparing his Lower Rank troops for the battles ahead.
6 The Mugen Train Arc
The Mugen Train arc was adapted into a movie, which fans can watch on Crunchyroll. Rengoku stole the show in this arc as the leading trio fought alongside him to defeat Enmu, a Lower Rank demon who had fused his spirit with the train. He was challenging to defeat, especially since the slayers were all in dreamland for most of his attack.
By its conclusion, this arc turned out to be one of the series’ most brutal. Akaza popped in at the end and famously took down Rengoku, proving the seemingly limitless strengths of the Upper-Rank demons.
5 The Entertainment District Arc
The Entertainment District arc took the main trio into the Red Light District, where they had to go undercover in brothels to locate the demon wreaking havoc in the city. This arc introduced Tengen Uzui, the Flashy Sound Hashira, and all three of his “wives.”
The arc had some of the best fights in the series and introduced the Upper-Rank demons Daki and Gyutaro, who demonstrated the true terror of Muzan’s Twelve Kizuki. This arc also put Nezuko through a bizarre transformation where she grew strong enough to stun Daki, although she nearly lost herself in the process.
4 The Swordsmith Village Arc
Tanjiro only goes to the swordsmith village to get his sword repaired, but after running into Muichiro and Genya, he has to take on two upper-rank demons. This arc is action-packed and will be receiving an anime adaptation in 2023.
Tanjiro, Nezuko, Genya, and Mitsuri all took on Hantengu, an Upper-Rank Demon who could generate emotion clones. Muichiro was fighting Gyokko in the meantime. This arc also revealed that Nezuko grew strong enough to survive in the sunlight — and Muzan wasn’t happy to hear about this unexpected development.
3 The Hashira Training Arc
Hashira Training is meant to improve every demon slayer’s overall health and abilities. It’s a chance for slayers in lower ranks to train with the best. Tengen teaches stamina training, Mitsuri handles flexibility, and Muichiro helps the slayers improve their overall speed.
Obanai gives tips on how to be a better overall swordsman, Sanemi manages strength training, and Gyomei helps the slayers build their muscles. Giyu and Shinobu don’t participate, but Tanjiro eventually persuades the Water Hashira into joining. It’s a pretty brutal training arc, but it’s full of entertaining banter and feels like the calm before the storm.
2 The Infinity Castle Arc
The Final Battle arc is split into two sub-arcs, and it’s the end of the entire series. The Demon Slayer Corps is finally ready to take on Muzan Kibutsuji. The Infinity Castle arc is the first sub-arc, and it’s filled with explosive battles. All hands are on deck to finally take down the demonic overlord.
The arc has tons of great fights, like Shinobu versus Doma, Tanjiro and Giyu versus Akaza, and Obanai and Mitsuri versus Nakime. Many fan favorites were taken out during this arc, but some of the most despised villains had their tragic backstories revealed.
1 The Sunrise Countdown Arc
There were intense battles during the Infinity Castle arc, but the Sunrise Countdown arc has a pretty self-explanatory premise: the Corps must take down Muzan and his regime before the sun rises.
They eventually defeat Muzan, but Tanjiro becomes a demon, and his former comrades have to defeat him. Luckily, he reawakens as a human, and Nezuko is cured as well. Despite their considerable losses, the main trio had a happy ending. Tanjiro ended up with Kanao, Inosuke ended up with Aoi, and Zenitsu is in a loving relationship with Nezuko.