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In the Demon Slayer series, the Hashiras represent the pinnacle of courage and duty. Every Hashira trained to fight and kill demons, even if it was at the cost of losing their lives.
Although some, such as the former Flame Hashira Shinjuro Rengoku, grew disillusioned and retired, none of them can be described as cowards. But if one had to try, this might be a way to rank their bravery, based on how far they were willing to go to fulfill their duty.
Major Demon Slayer manga spoilers ahead.
Ranking the Hashiras of Demon Slayer based on their courage
9) Sanemi Shinazugawa
Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, was the most feared of the Hashiras. His physical skills, proficient swordsmanship and his intoxicating Marechi blood made him capable of standing up to Upper Rank one, Kokushibo, and even briefly against Muzan himself.
During the fight against Kokushibo, Sanemi was even faster than Muichiro who had awakened his Demon Slayer mark, even though he himself hadn’t yet awakened it. Even after being fatally slashed by Kokushibo, Sanemi was able to manipulate his muscles and close his wounds so as to keep fighting.
8) Tengen Uzui
Despite finally having to retire after having lost his arm in the fight against Gyutaro, Uzui had put up a great fight. During the Entertainment District arc, he fought almost entirely while poisoned, and attacked relentlessly even as the poison began to spread throughout his body.
Even after having his arm cut off, Uzui managed to survive by temporarily stopping his own heart to prevent the poison from spreading to his heart. He went on to keep fighting, and even wielded one of his swords with his teeth.
7) Mitsuri Kanroji
Courage comes in various forms, and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji’s spirit was one of them. With her superhuman strength and flexibility, she unknowingly awakened her Mark in the Swordsmith Village arc and managed to first defeat the demons created by Gyokko and last against Hantengu’s clone Zohakuten till sunrise.
During the Infinity Castle arc, Muzan gravely injured her, but she refused to give up and returned to fight.
6) Giyu Tomioka
Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka was one of the first characters to be introduced in the series, right after Tanjiro and Nezuko. He played a major role in the series, recommended Tanjiro to Urokodaki and even offered to commit seppuku if Nezuko ever killed a human being.
Tomioka’s strength comes from both his harsh training and his near maniacal need to protect people close to him, a byproduct of his survivor's guilt.
But he was also the first to take action against Tanjiro when he was turned into a demon, fighting him evenly and holding him at bay until he was turned back into a human.
While fighting Akaza, he impressed the demon by continuing to fight despite being heavily injured and during the Sunrise Countdown arc, he continued to fight Muzan even after being poisoned and having his hand cut off.
5) Kyojuro Rengoku
The Flame Hashira was the first Hashira to meet his end in the Demon Slayer series, during the Mugen Train arc. But despite his early departure, Kyojuro Rengoku continued to have a major impact not only on Tanjiro, but on other Hashira like Uzui as well.
During the Entertainment District arc of Demon Slayer, it was revealed that Uzui considered Rengoku to be the epitome of courage and regretting that he could never become like the latter.
During his fight against Akaza, Rengoku proved his immense physical skill, perception and swordsmanship. His persistence even prompted Akaza to offer to turn him into a demon, but Rengoku of course, refused.
Rengoku continued to fight without hesitation even after being fatally injured and attempted to decapitate Akaza while his hand was stuck in his own body after the demon pierced right through his solar plexus.
4) Shinobu Kocho
Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho is often labeled as the weakest Hashira, and the conception could not be more wrong. Due to her petite physique, Shinobu lacked the swing strength to decapitate a demon, true, but she more than made up for it with her agility and intellect.
In order to fight Upper Rank Two, Douma saturated her body with potent Wisteria-based poison for almost a year.
Her vast medical knowledge allowed her to efficiently and quickly calculate the amount of poison required to have an impact on the demons she was fighting against.
During the battle with Douma, she was able to maintain her enhanced speed and reflexes even after being fatally injured to the point where one of her lungs was punctured. It impeded her ability to breathe and use her Breathing Technique to its optimum potential.
3) Obanai Iguro
Similar to Sanemi, the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro was one of the most feared Hashiras, especially due to his merciless and strict personality. But his harshness was a product of his traumatic past and upbringing, and towards the end of the Demon Slayer series, he finally overcame his trauma and self-loathing.
During the final desperate battle against Muzan, Obanai protected both Giyu and Tanjiro, even after having his eyes clawed out by the Demon King. He played a huge role in Muzan’s defeat, relentlessly slashing and cutting off his limbs while poisoned, which cost him his life in the end.
2) Gyomei Himejima
The leader of the Hashiras and easily the strongest of them, Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima, had been blind since childhood but still managed to join the Demon Slayer Corps and attain Hashira status within two months of joining.
Though surprisingly sensitive, with a propensity to cry at the smallest things, Gyomei was a fierce warrior who could go toe-to-toe against Kokushibo even without activating his Mark.
He persevered against the Upper Rank One demon, and went on to play a huge role in cornering Muzan even as the Demon King slashed off one of his legs during the fight.
1) Muichiro Tokito
Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito was the youngest Hashira, and yet, possibly the bravest of them. Interestingly, Muichiro and his brother were also descendents of Kokushibo, and thus directly related to Yoriichi as well.
Being a child prodigy, Muichiro was able to take on Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, by himself in the Demon Slayer manga.
He was able to keep on fighting after having his leg sliced off by Kokushibo, and was able to turn his Nichirin Sword bright red even after his entire torso was sliced through to secure the defeat of Upper Rank One.
The Hashiras of Demon Slayer were considered the most elite swordsmen of them all, but it was not just their fighting skills that earned them their position and title. Each of the Hashiras proved why they were revered and without them all, Muzan and his Twelve Moons would have continued to hunt down humans and wreck unchecked havoc.
