Koyoharu Gotouge’s hit Weekly Shonen Jump manga Demon Slayer has climbed its way to one of the most iconic and beloved series of all time. The incredible anime adaptation by Ufotable further elevated the series’ popularity and gathered a massive fanbase worldwide. While the manga reached its bittersweet conclusion in 2020, the anime will be wrapping up the story in a film trilogy. The first installment of the trilogy has already been a phenomenal hit in Japan after being released on July 18th, 2025. Fans in the U.S. will finally be able to watch the film on September 12th, 2025. Since the release date is right around the corner, hype around the film is greater than ever.
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The final arc is divided into two parts: the Infinity Castle and the Sunrise Countdown, both of which are expected to be covered in the franchise. The series has its fair share of incredible characters, and most of them will get their chance to shine in the final battle. Demon Slayer isn’t simply known for its intense fights, but also for the emotional depth and the unforgettable characters. So, what are the ten Demon Slayer characters that outshine the others?
Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer manga!
10) Tamayo
Tamayo is the series’s most underrated girl, who is the key to defeating Muzan Kibutsuji, the demon progenitor. A few centuries ago, she chose to become a demon after suffering from a fatal illness. She simply wanted to watch her child grow up, and Muzan took advantage of that weakness. After transforming into a demon, Tamayo lost all her sense of self and killed her husband and child, which she regretted until her last breath.
About 500 years ago, when Muzan was defeated by Yoriichi, she miraculously broke free from his control and went into hiding. Tamayo spent centuries researching medicines, poisons, and demon blood to take revenge against the demon progenitor. Her centuries of knowledge and teamwork with Shinobu Kocho allowed her to create a drug that would significantly weaken Muzan.
Not only that, but she volunteered to inject the poison into Muzan when he was thrown off by the explosion at the Ubuyashiki mansion. Tamayo is only underrated because of her lack of screen time, but the efforts she has shown to ensure the victory of the Demon Slayer Corps are commendable. Her intelligence and centuries of hard work paid off, even though she wasn’t alive to see her worst enemy disintegrate into nothingness.
9) Zenitsu Agatsuma
Zenitsu always had the loudest presence in the group, literally. He could be seen as an annoying character who would freak out at the sight of demons, and he would simply pass out if he had to fight them. Although his reaction may be perceived as over the top, it was the most realistic thing in the series. After all, who wouldn’t freak out after seeing such creepy and powerful creatures in front of them? Even so, Zenitsu never gave up on being a Demon Slayer, and he always got the job done in just one simple strike.
Rengoku’s death affected him just as much as it did Tanjiro and Inosuke, but the most significant change we saw in him was during the Hashira Training when he received a letter informing him of his master’s death. The reason Jigoro Kuwajima, the former Rumble Hashira, committed Seppuku was devastating since the old man was so ashamed of training Kaigaku, who chose to become a demon. The only thing Zenitsu could do was take revenge by killing Kaigaku, and we see his resolve strengthened after reading the letter.
His fight against the newly appointed Upper Rank Six was surprisingly brief yet immensely impactful. We witness a culmination of his journey as a Demon Slayer, who created his own form to make up for his inability to use the other Thunder Breathing forms.
8) Shinobu Kocho
The Insect Hashira is just as beautiful as she is deadly. The most basic criterion for anyone to become a Demon Slayer is to be strong enough to cut off a demon’s head. However, for someone like Shinobu who has a small body and lacks arm strength, becoming a full-fledged Demon Slayer was a pipe dream, much less a Hashira. Even so, she didn’t give up and came up with an entirely new way to defeat demons by using poisons created from the Wisteria flower.
She only came this far in hopes of avenging her sister, Kanao Kocho, the Flower Hashira, who died while fighting Doma, the Upper Rank Two. Even after all her hard work, Shinobu knew that she couldn’t defeat Doma, so she kept consuming the poison meant for demons, which significantly weakened Doma after he consumed her. Ever since the beginning, Shinobu’s plan hinged on her death so Kanae Tsuyuri could kill off the Upper Moon Two after he lost most of his power.
It’s already frightening that she didn’t even hesitate before coming up with such a way of taking revenge, without caring about herself one bit. Shinobu was so overwhelmed by grief that she shut all her feelings away beneath the smile that her sister loved so much. She never hesitated, even in her final moments, and ensured Doma’s death.
7) Kokushibo
Not much is known about Kokushibo in the anime, but the manga has already established him as one of the best villains in the series. As the Upper Moon One, his powers are beyond anything fans had ever imagined, and the fact that he resembles Yoriichi so much isn’t a coincidence either. As a human, Kokushibo went by the name of Michikatsu Tsugikuni, Yoriichi’s older twin brother. His backstory explains the complex relationship he had with his brother and how he strayed from his path and became a demon.
Kokushibo wasn’t an evil person by any means, but his overwhelming inferiority, jealousy, and cowardice led him down the wrong path before he had no choice but to become a demon. He’s a more nuanced character than you’d expect, as his backstory doesn’t evoke grief and sympathy in readers, but rather helps us understand the reason behind his actions.
In the end, he did realize that a part of him regretted his actions all along, but it was too late for him. His fight against Sanemi Shinazugawa, Muichiro Tokito, Gyomei Himejima, and Genya Shinazugawa could be considered the best fight in the series as it’s full of intense action, tension, and emotional weight.
6) Kagaya Ubuyashiki
For a character who didn’t have a lot of screen time in the show or any fights, Kagaya’s presence was profoundly impactful. As the head of the Ubuyashiki family, he was responsible for overseeing the affairs of the Demon Slayer Corps despite his frail health. Kagaya’s voice was comforting to others, as it just put everyone’s mind at ease. The Demon Slayer just came to admire and respect the man, not out of obligation or a sense of duty, but simply because of the effect Kagaya had on them.
This is one of the major reasons why the Corps was such a unified organization despite having hundreds of members. This unity is the reason why the Demon Slayers were able to defeat the Upper Moons and Muzan Kibutsuji. However, Kagaya shocked everyone with his actions in the Hashira Training Arc finale when he met Muzan Kibutsuji.
Kagaya was already at death’s door, and his wife Amane and two daughters decided to stay with him during the horrifying moment when the mansion blew up. That move wasn’t simply to throw off the demon progenitor, but also to fuel the Demon Slayers, especially the Hashira, with enough motivation to ensure that Muzan doesn’t live another day.
5) Rengoku Kyojuro
Kyojuro only had a role in one minor arc, but that was enough to win the hearts of countless fans. Although he was introduced alongside the rest of the Hashira, he didn’t make much of an impression except for his flashy hair and Haori. However, he surprised everyone in the Infinity Train Arc with his exceptional personality and steadfast determination.
Since his mission began, Rengoku has only had one goal in mind, and that was to save the lives of everyone on the train. Having Tanjiro’s group by his side helped him a great deal, and there were no casualties at all. While the mission was a success, things went south after Akaza’s appearance, who was only interested in fighting Kyojuro. As expected, any Demon Slayer, even a Hashira, couldn’t have been able to defeat the Upper Three all by himself.
Not to mention that the concept of Demon Slayer Marks wasn’t even introduced at the time. Kyojuro chose to fight instead of becoming a demon. His final words, “Set your heart ablaze,” are still one of the most touching and iconic moments in the franchise, resonating deeply with his character as he leaves behind a motivating message to the young Demon Slayers.
4) Yoriichi Tsugikuni
Yoriichi appeared in the flashback, but his impact on the story is undeniable. In the entire series, no character was on the same level as Yoriichi, not even Muzan, who was traumatized after being defeated several centuries ago. He lived in the Sengoku Era, and he’s the reason why Demon Slayers even had a chance of defeating the powerful creatures. Yoriichi came up with the Total Concentration Breathing Technique and taught it to his fellow Corps members.
He almost defeated the demon progenitor, but never expected Muzan to scatter his fragments and run away from the fight. However, the scars Yoriichi has kept burning to this day have become weak points that Tanjiro and the others were able to exploit in the Sunrise Countdown Arc. Unfortunately, despite all his power, he led a tragic life. Yoriichi was considered an outcast in his family since his father deemed his Mark as a curse, and he eventually became a Demon Slayer and contributed significantly to their cause, only to get kicked out after his brother became a demon.
The Corps also blamed him for letting Muzan go. Not only that, but Yoriichi wasn’t at home when his pregnant wife died because of a demon, leaving him with lifelong guilt. He never married again and lived a life of solitude, and even though he grew old, his life was only filled with regrets. Sadly, he will never know the fact that his efforts would one day ensure Muzan’s defeat.
3) Akaza
Although Akaza caused Kyojuro’s death, it’s almost impossible to hate the character because he fulfills all the criteria for an exceptional villain. He spent over a hundred years climbing to the rank of Upper Three, and there’s nothing he liked more than fighting powerful opponents. Everything about him, including the color of his hair and outfit, the pattern that shows up when he uses his Blood Demon Art, the marks on his body, and his refusal to hurt women and children, stems from the “human” side of him that he had forgotten a long time ago.
Demons usually lose all sense of self after transition and eventually forget everything about their lives as humans. Akaza was no exception, and yet he subconsiously held on to his humanity without being aware of the fact, even to the point of being unable to control his anger towards Doma, who relished in eating women. His backstory is one of the most tragic in the series, and it finally explains everything we needed to know about him.
2) Tanjiro Kamado
A list of Demon Slayer’s best characters is incomplete without the series’ beloved protagonist. At the age of 13, his peaceful life was turned upside down when he came back home to see his entire family massacred. And the only surviving member, Nezuko, was turned into a demon. After a fateful encounter with Giyu, Tanjiro set out on an impossible journey to turn Nezuko back into a human. He trained relentlessly and faced countless obstacles in his path, but never gave up on his dream.
All this while, no matter what hardship he went through, Tanjiro retained his unusual kindness, which wasn’t limited to humans but also to demons. Because of his heightened sense of smell, he could understand the emotions of those around him, so he knew the tremendous grief they carried as well.
Not only that, but his growth from a helpless kid to a powerful Demon Slayer who helped defeat Muzan Kibutsuji is a testament to his perseverance, compassion, and unyielding spirit. In the anime, Tanjiro still has a lot of room to grow, and we will see just how far he has come in a few years.
1) Giyu Tomioka
Giyu being considered the best character is completely a subjective take, but no other character left a deeper impression than him with so little screentime. He shows up not long after the tragedy that befell the Kamado family, and all he could do was point his sword at Nezuko so there wouldn’t be further casualties. However, he never could’ve anticipated that the siblings would surprise him so much.
Not only did Tanjiro showcase unique potential as a fighter, but Nezuko fought her instincts as a demon and shielded Tanjiro. Realizing that the siblings are special, Giyu told Tanjiro to meet Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira. This may appear to be a simple act of kindness, but Giyu put everything on the line to help the siblings, even his life.
If his instincts were wrong and Nezuko had harmed a human, he would have to commit Seppuku to atone for his misjudgment. Maybe it was just his nature or he saw himself in Tanjiro, but whatever the reason was, he did something probably no one else would have. As the story continued, we learn about his tragic past and his resolve to protect Tanjiro even in the final battle.
Did your favorite Demon Slayer character make the cut? Let us know in the comments below!
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