Spoiler warning: this ranking draws on the complete Demon Slayer manga, including the Infinity Castle and the final battle against Muzan. The anime has reached Infinity Castle Part 1 so far.
The Hashira are the nine strongest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, and every fan has an opinion on the pecking order. Is Rengoku underrated because he left too early? Is Giyu really as good as he thinks he isn't?
Here's the answer up front: Gyomei Himejima is the strongest Hashira, and the story says so outright. Below him, Sanemi, Obanai, Muichiro and Giyu form a tight upper tier, with Tengen, Kyojuro, Mitsuri and Shinobu making up the rest.
We've ranked each Hashira at their peak, based on who they fought, what they survived and what they achieved against the Upper Moons.
How we ranked them
- Results against the Twelve Kizuki: a win against an Upper Moon is the clearest measure of a Hashira's strength.
- Physical ability: speed, strength, endurance and swordsmanship.
- Peak form: the Demon Slayer Mark, which boosts a slayer's power, counts where they awakened it.
9. Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira
Shinobu is the only Hashira who can't cut off a demon's head. She's too slight to do it.
Instead, she built a style around speed and wisteria poison delivered through a needle-like blade. Her Insect Breathing thrusts are among the fastest attacks in the series. Against Doma, the Upper Moon Two who killed her sister, she lost the fight but won the war: she'd turned her own body into a lethal dose of poison, which weakened Doma enough for Kanao and Inosuke to finish him.
She ranks last for raw strength, but no Hashira had a smarter plan.
8. Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira
Mitsuri's muscles are said to have eight times the density of a normal person's, which is how someone so cheerful can hit so hard.
Her whip-thin Nichirin blade bends and lashes like a ribbon, and her Love Breathing style is built around wide, flexible attacks. In the Swordsmith Village arc, she held off Hantengu's most dangerous form, Zohakuten, protecting Tanjiro and the others while they hunted the demon's real body.
Mitsuri is a powerhouse, but she rarely gets the decisive kill, which keeps her in the bottom tier.
7. Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira
Rengoku fought only one major battle on screen. It was enough to make him a fan favourite for life.
After protecting every passenger on the Mugen Train, he faced Akaza, Upper Moon Three, and held him off until dawn. His Flame Breathing ninth form, Rengoku, is one of the most iconic moves in the series. He fell in that fight, but Akaza fled before he could finish the job.
Rengoku would almost certainly rank higher if he'd reached the final battle with a Mark. On what we saw, seventh is fair, and his spirit is the reason he's on so many fans' walls.
6. Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira
Tengen is a former shinobi who brings flashy energy to everything, including his twin cleavers.
His Musical Score technique analyses an opponent's rhythm to find gaps in their attacks. In the Entertainment District arc, he fought Daki and Gyutaro, the joint Upper Moon Six, while poisoned, and kept fighting long enough for Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke to land the killing blows. He lost an eye and a hand and retired soon after.
That's a Hashira-level win against an Upper Moon, but with a lot of help, which puts him sixth.
5. Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira
Muichiro became a Hashira just two months after first picking up a sword. He's a prodigy even by Hashira standards.
In the Swordsmith Village, he awakened his Demon Slayer Mark and defeated Gyokko, Upper Moon Five, alone. In the Infinity Castle, he played a key part in the fight against Kokushibo, the strongest of the Upper Moons, and his sacrifice helped bring the demon down.
He's the youngest Hashira and arguably the most naturally talented. Given a few more years, he might have topped this list.
4. Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira
Giyu doesn't think he deserves to be a Hashira. He's wrong.
He created his own technique, the Eleventh Form: Dead Calm, which deflects every attack within his reach. In the Infinity Castle, he and Tanjiro fought Akaza, Upper Moon Three, the demon who killed Rengoku, and Giyu awakened his Mark during that fight. He then survived to the final battle with Muzan.
Giyu is the most well-rounded Hashira: defensive, precise and calm under pressure.
3. Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira
Obanai's Serpent Breathing slithers around defences, making his attacks almost impossible to predict.
His real case for third place comes from the final battle. Fighting Muzan Kibutsuji himself, Obanai kept going after losing his sight, relying on his snake companion Kaburamaru to guide him. He awakened his Mark and turned his blade red, one of the few ways to slow Muzan's regeneration. Surviving that long against the demon king is a feat only a handful of characters can claim.
2. Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira
Sanemi has a secret weapon: his blood. As a Marechi, his rare blood makes demons dizzy and drunk, which gives him a huge advantage in close fights.
Add the aggressive, slashing style of Wind Breathing and he's a nightmare for any demon. In the Infinity Castle, he fought Kokushibo, Upper Moon One, alongside Gyomei, Muichiro and his brother Genya, and he was still standing at the end of the war against Muzan.
1. Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira
The story says it directly: Gyomei is the strongest Hashira.
He's blind, and he wields a spiked flail and an axe joined by a chain instead of a sword. Even Kokushibo, the most powerful Upper Moon, recognised his strength in battle. Gyomei awakened his Mark, achieved the "see-through world" that lets him read his opponents' bodies, and turned his weapons red against Muzan.
He's the strongest, the gentlest and, for many fans, the emotional anchor of the Hashira.
The Hashira at a glance
| Rank | Hashira | Breathing style | Biggest feat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gyomei Himejima | Stone | Led the fight against Kokushibo |
| 2 | Sanemi Shinazugawa | Wind | Fought Kokushibo and survived Muzan |
| 3 | Obanai Iguro | Serpent | Fought Muzan after losing his sight |
| 4 | Giyu Tomioka | Water | Fought Akaza with Tanjiro |
| 5 | Muichiro Tokito | Mist | Defeated Gyokko alone |
| 6 | Tengen Uzui | Sound | Fought Upper Moon Six |
| 7 | Kyojuro Rengoku | Flame | Held Akaza until dawn |
| 8 | Mitsuri Kanroji | Love | Held off Zohakuten |
| 9 | Shinobu Kocho | Insect | Poisoned Doma |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer?
Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, is the strongest Hashira. The story identifies him as the strongest of the nine, and his performance against Kokushibo and Muzan backs it up.
How many Hashira are there in Demon Slayer?
There are nine Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps during the main story: Gyomei, Sanemi, Obanai, Giyu, Muichiro, Tengen, Kyojuro, Mitsuri and Shinobu.
Is Rengoku stronger than Giyu?
On feats, Giyu ranks higher. Both fought Akaza, but Giyu awakened his Demon Slayer Mark and survived to the final battle, while Rengoku's story ended on the Mugen Train.
What is the Demon Slayer Mark?
The Demon Slayer Mark is a pattern that appears on a slayer's body when they push their heart rate and body temperature to extreme levels. It greatly increases their power.
When is Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 2 coming out?
As of October 2026, no release date has been announced for Infinity Castle Part 2. Part 1 was released in 2025.
Carry your Pillar
Whichever Hashira you'd follow into the Infinity Castle, the Demon Slayer collection has you covered, from the Demon Slayer Nichirin Sword Keychain to the Demon Slayer Tanjiro Hoodie. For more everyday carry, browse our Accessories.
Now it's your turn: who did we rank too low?
Featured image: Demon Slayer: Hashira Training key visual © Koyoharu Gotouge / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable, via the Demon Slayer official anime site.