Demon Slayer fans understand and accept the variety of powers displayed by the show's villains and how arbitrary they are. For example, one demon can teleport, whereas another uses chess strategies to win fights. However, the exact nature of their abilities has nothing to do with their competence in combat.
RELATED: The 10 Unluckiest Characters In Demon Slayer, Ranked
Physical strength is yet another factor that goes into calculating a demon's combat potential. What's far more relevant is their Blood Demon Art, an array of abilities centered around each villain's personal history. While Upper Rank demons are technically stronger than their Lower Rank counterparts, the latter group can be just as formidable.
Updated on August 9th 2022 by Ajay Aravind: Koyoharu Gotouge's Demon Slayer came to a conclusion in May 2020, but the anime still has a long way to go before it catches up to the manga. Since there are several demon characters yet to be introduced in the anime adaptation, we have only included demons who have appeared until the Entertainment District arc.
CBR VIDEO OF THE DAY
15 The Swamp Demon Traps His Hapless Victims Inside His Swamp Domain
Although a relatively minor antagonist in Season 1, the Swamp Demon nearly overwhelms the inexperienced Tanjiro in battle. This creature manifests in three distinct forms with unique personality traits. The Swamp Demon only consumes teenage girls because he believes that "the taste of [their] flesh will get worse" as they age.
He captures his hapless victims using his Swamp Domain, a pocket dimension that is considerably bigger than it appears on the surface. Tanjiro eventually manages to kill this demon using the Sixth Form: Whirpool technique.
14 Slasher Is More Than Capable Of Intimidating An Entire Village Of Ordinary Humans
Slasher may be an inconsequential demon, but he's more than capable of intimidating an entire village. His name is derived from his violently savage mode of killing. Slasher hacks, carves, and lacerates his victims before invariably losing interest and moving on to his next target.
However, he doesn't seem to comprehend the power difference between lowly demons and adept Demon Slayers, which is why he foolishly underestimates Kyojuro Rengoku's agility. In the end, Slasher's supersonic speed proves to be slower than the Flame Hashira's final attack.
13 Yahaba's Blood Demon Art Is Augmented When Combined With Susamaru's Hiasobi Temari
Yahaba is immensely devoted to his master, desiring nothing other than to become a member of the Twelve Kizuki. He is significantly more mature than his partner, Susamaru, as seen when he chides the latter for her immature behavior. Yahaba wields his Koketsu Arrow with stunning precision, forcing Tanjiro to go on the defensive during their duel.
RELATED: 10 Most Emotional Characters In Demon Slayer
While Yahaba's Blood Demon Art is impressive by itself, his powers are vastly augmented when used in conjunction with Susamaru's Hiasobi Temari. Nevertheless, Yahaba is killed by Tanjiro's Second Form: Improved, Lateral Water Wheel.
12 Susamaru's Temari Handballs Possess Considerable Amounts Of Kinetic Energy
Susamaru relishes the prospect of a fight, regardless of the opponent standing before her. Her bravado frequently gets on people's nerves, though, as illustrated by Yahaba's indignant reaction to her childish conduct. Susamaru utilizes her formidable strength in battle, which consequently increases the impact of her Temari handballs.
Her projectiles possess considerable amounts of kinetic energy, blasting through brick and mortar with zero effort. More terrifyingly, Susamaru is capable of growing more limbs to fling her Temari handballs.
11 Kyogai's Rapid Drumming Amplifies The Effects Of His Six Drums
Kyogai, popularly known as the Drum Demon, is the Tsuzumi Mansion arc's major villain. As the former Lower Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki, his abilities are highly advanced and extremely potent. Kyogai's Blood Demon Art revolves around percussion — each of his six drums has a unique effect on the environment.
His Rapid Drumming technique is even more dangerous as it amplifies each individual drum. Although he manages to confuse Tanjiro Kamado by warping the young hero's dimensional perception, Kyogai ultimately fails to overpower his opponent.
10 Tamayo Is Best Known For Her Accomplishments In The Fields Of Medicine & Alchemy
Despite her lack of combat experience, Tamayo is one of the most intelligent demons in the story. Her Blood Demon Art incorporates a range of techniques, including Flesh Seeds, Visual Dream, Magical Aroma of Daylight, and Blood Bewitchment.
RELATED: 10 Ways Demon Slayer Would Have Been Better As A Seinen
Tamayo's knowledge about Demon Transformation is arguably on par with Muzan's, but she uses her research to help humans rather than hurt them. She is best known for her accomplishments in the field of medicine, creating a drug capable of counteracting Muzan's seemingly invulnerable physiology.
9 Rui's Spider Family Are Extremely Formidable Combatants With Unique Powers
Rui's Spider family includes a group of demons with fabricated kinship labels. The Father Spider Demon molts into stronger versions of himself using his Metamorphosis, Mother's Puppetry allows her to physically manipulate her targets, Son's Poison Conversion transforms his victims into arachnid beasts, and Daughter's Blood Demon Art is based on Acid Control.
This very existence of the Spider Family flies against demon logic, as demons are unlikely to form familial bonds with each other. In fact, the only reason they accept Rui's bizarre system is because they're terrified of being killed by Demon Slayers.
8 Yushiro's Blindfold & Mind Control Techniques Make Him A Serious Threat
Yushiro's cantankerous personality is legendary. He turns grumpy whenever his precious Tamayo stops paying attention to him, partly explaining his rude behavior towards Nezuko and Tanjiro. Yushiro's childishness disguises his incredible combat prowess, a factor that often works to his advantage.
Yushiro's Blood Demon Art, aptly named Blindfold, is a remarkable cloaking ability. He can render multiple targets invisible while still allowing them to perceive one another. Further Muzan considers Yushiro a serious threat after the young demon displays his Mind Control technique.
7 Nezuko's Combustible Blood Contains Robust Anti-Demon Properties
Tanjiro spends the bulk of his time shielding Nezuko from harm, but he eventually realizes that his little sister doesn't need his protection. She rarely uses her exceptionally powerful Blood Demon Art as it is very draining. Instead, she turns to hand-to-hand combat in most situations.
RELATED: 10 Best Special Attacks In Demon Slayer
Nezuko's combustible blood contains robust anti-demon properties. Her flames destroy materials as durable as Rui's spider silk as well as abstract concepts like Enmu's illusions. During the Entertainment District Arc, Daki notes that Nezuko's regenerative ability has reached Upper Rank Kizuki levels.
6 Rui's Gossamer-Like Spider Threads Can Cut Through Trees, Rocks, & Human Bodies
Rui's vicious persona masks a profound need for human connection. He blames his "feeling of emptiness" on his biological parents, stating that "the more powerful [he] became, the less [he] remembered about being a human."
Muzan personally selects Rui as the Lower Rank Five, boosting the Spider Demon's standing among his kind. Rui's Blood Demon Art is thoroughly spider-like in that it revolves around fiber manipulation. Rui's gossamer threads are unusually durable and sharp enough to slice through rocks, trees, and human bodies.
5 According To Muzan, Wakuraba & Rokuro Are Slightly Stronger Than Rui
Rokuro and Wakuraba represent the Lower Ranks Two and Three in the Twelve Kizuki, respectively. As such, their power levels are much higher than their demon comrades'. Very little is known about these two characters, except that they're astonishingly agile, tenacious, and nigh-invulnerable to damage.
Muzan claims that they're slightly stronger than Rui, implying that both these demons are rather tough combatants. Along with Mukago and Kamanue, Rokuro and Wakuraba are ultimately killed by their master for failing to fulfill their corresponding duties.
4 Enmu's Dream Manipulation & Sleep Inducement Are Overwhelmingly Effective
Enmu earns his place as The Mugen Train arc's primary antagonist with his overly sadistic nature and disdain for all forms of life. He demonstrates his versatile skillset against Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Nezuko, Inosuke, and Kyoguro Rengoku, forcing the heroes to take drastic measures in order to save a trainload of innocent passengers.
RELATED: Every Hashira In Demon Slayer, Sorted Into Their Hogwarts House
Enmu's Blood Demon Arts include Dream Manipulation and Sleep Inducement, both of which are overwhelmingly effective. He employs several specialized techniques during combat, such as Kyosei Konto Suimin Manakoki and Kyosei Konto Saimin no Sasayaki.
Daki and Gyutaro, a brother-sister demon pair, concurrently hold the Upper Rank Six position among the Twelve Moons. Although they're technically two distinct individuals, the siblings share a single body, with Gyutaro camouflaging himself inside his sister's anatomy.
Daki only survives being decapitated by Tengen Uzui's Nichiren Sword due to this biological connection. Daki's Blood Demon Art spawns floral Obi sashes from her body, whereas Gyutato's powers are based on Blood Manipulation. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Nezuko, and Uzui work together to put an end to the siblings' reign of terror, albeit with enormous difficulty.
2 Akaza Incorporates His Prodigious Martial Arts Talent Into His Blood Demon Art
The strongest of Muzan's minions to appear in the anime, Akaza is the Twelve Kizuki's Upper Rank Three. He was already an overpowered warrior long before his demon transformation, singlehandedly defeating multiple kendo champions at the young age of eighteen.
Akaza relies on his trademark Soryu Style while fighting, incorporating it into his Blood Demon Art: Destructive Death. This malevolent demon uses every trick in the book, from straightforward combat to shameless trickery, in order to defeat the Flame Hashira. However, Akaza is left bleeding and severely wounded by the end of his duel with Kyojuro Rengoku.
1 Muzan Is By Far The Most Powerful Character In Demon Slayer
Muzan is by far the most powerful character in Demon Slayer, heroic or otherwise. As the forefather of demonkind, his Biokinesis ability helps him metamorphose into limitless shapes and forms. Muzan can also alter the properties and location of various body parts, effectively preventing attacks from piercing his vital organs.
The villain generates potent Shockwave Energy Blasts from his mouth-torso, a technique that disrupts his targets' nervous systems. At this point in the anime, there is no character or ability capable of hurting Muzan, let alone bringing him down.
NEXT: 10 Best Overpowered Scenes In Demon Slayer