Demon Slayer: Every Hashira’s Nichirin Sword, Ranked

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Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has quickly become a global success. The original manga, released in 2016, was immediately popular, followed by a highly acclaimed anime series from Ufotable in 2019. The manga’s final arc, the Infinity Castle Arc, captured worldwide attention and became a cultural phenomenon during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the anime adaptation of this climax, the Infinity Castle movie, has achieved a significant box office success, surpassing the earnings of films from both Marvel and DC in 2025.

Beyond its popularity in books and as an anime, *Demon Slayer* has become truly iconic, joining only a select few anime like *Dragon Ball* and *Naruto* in achieving that status. The series’ rich story – featuring the Demon Slayers and their demonic enemies, led by Muzan Kibutsuji – is captivating, and its stunning combat system, with techniques like Demon Slayer breathing and demon blood art, is visually impressive. Of course, the unforgettable characters, including the hero Tanjiro Kamado, his demon sister Nezuko, and the powerful Hashira, have become the face of the series.

The swords of the Hashira in *Demon Slayer* are incredibly popular, with fans often focusing on each unique blade. With the recent *Infinity Castle* movie showcasing the Hashira’s full strength, it’s a great time to consider which swords are the most impressive. Here’s our ranking of all the Hashira swords, based on how awesome we think they are!

10) Kanae Kocho / Kanao Tsuyuri (Flower Haishra)

Sword: Nichirin Katana

Kanae Kocho stands out as a particularly interesting character in *Demon Slayer*. Unlike some of the other Hashira whose powers are based on controlling elements like fire or water, Kanae’s abilities are more unusual and rely on a special sword. Her Nichirin Katana is uniquely designed to resemble a flower petal, and its blade is a distinctive pink color.

After Kanae died in battle against Doma, her younger adopted sister, Kanao Tsuyuri, continued fighting using Kanae’s Flower Breathing technique. Kanao eventually used her own sword, but it was crafted as a tribute to her sister. Both Kanae and Kanao, as the Flower Hashira, used smaller swords to suit their builds. The designs are beautiful and fitting for female warriors who draw power from nature.

9) Giyu Tomioka (Water Hashira)

Sword: Nichirin Katana

Giyu likely ranks low on most lists because his sword isn’t particularly special or memorable. However, those who’ve read the manga know that during the Infinity Castle arc, he gets a new sword – one previously used by a past Water Hashira. Anime-only viewers haven’t seen this yet.

The sword is incredibly cool, with a striking blue and black blade and a bronze guard shaped like a whirlpool. Seeing it in the final fight reminds us of the long line of sacrifices that ultimately lead to Giyu.

8) Muichiro Tokito (Mist Hashira)

Sword: Nichirin Katana

Muichiro uses a standard katana design, but his fight scenes stand out. The unique, dreamlike quality of his ‘Mist Breathing’ technique is visually more impressive than those of characters like Kocho or Rengoku. This is especially notable because Muichiro is one of the few characters in *Demon Slayer* who has broken a sword and been forced to use a replacement.

Muichiro looks equally impressive fighting with any sword, which shows that his strength as a character – not just his weapon – is what truly makes him stand out.

7) Kyojuro Rengoku (Fire Hashira)

Sword: Nichirin Katana

Rengoku, similar to Kanae, used a traditional Katana sword, but his was uniquely decorated to reflect his position as the Fire Hashira. What really set his sword apart was how it seemed to ignite with flames when he fought, complementing his Fire Breathing style.

Fans of *Demon Slayer* will never forget the stunning fight between Rengoku and Akaza in the *Mugen Train* movie. The incredible animation during Rengoku’s final battle set a new standard for anime films released in US theaters.

6) Sanemi Shinazugawa (Wind Hashira)

Sword: Nichirin Katana

A truly memorable sword isn’t just about how it looks; it helps define the warrior who wields it. The *Demon Slayer* series excels at this, particularly with the unique weapons of its Hashira, and Shinazugawa’s sword is a perfect example. The Wind Hashira is a fiercely intense fighter, and his katana’s green, white, and black design perfectly captures that stormy energy. The blade’s jagged, serrated pattern visually echoes Shinazugawa’s own battle-worn scars and aggressive fighting style.

Honestly, this sword just *feels* right, especially when you picture it with the Wind Hashira’s whole look – the style, the hair, everything! It’s seriously one of the coolest accessories out there, and I totally get why it’s such a popular choice for cosplayers. It just completes the vibe!

5) Obanai Iguro (Serpent Hashira)

Sword: Twisted Nichirin Katana

Iguro’s unique Nichirin Katana is one of the most visually striking weapon designs in anime. When we first saw it, it immediately sparked curiosity about the Serpent Hashira, and the rest of the series wonderfully explained its origins and significance.

Iguro’s unique Serpent Breathing style, showcased while training Tanjiro and during his intense battles – especially against major opponents – is a key element of what makes *Demon Slayer* so memorable.

4) Shinobu Kocho (Insect Hashira)

Sword: Stinger Nichirin Katana

It’s easy to be impressed by Shinobu’s sword because of her amazing fight against Doma in the *Infinity Castle* movie. That battle was very personal for her, and she fought with everything she had to defeat him. While the sword looks simple – with its thin blade and bee stinger shape – the movie showed how incredibly effective it is. The handle can rotate and inject different, powerful poisons, making it a surprisingly versatile weapon.

Shinobu’s fighting style and weapon perfectly represent a strong, independent female warrior. She doesn’t simply copy traditional male fighting methods, but instead defines her own unique approach.

3) Tengen Uzui (Sound Hashira)

Sword: Dual Nichirin Cleavers

Tengen is a standout character in *Demon Slayer*, known for his outgoing personality which sharply contrasts his incredible skills as a ninja. Beyond his quickness and reflexes, Tengen’s exceptional hearing and ability to manipulate sound make him a one-of-a-kind fighter who needs a special weapon to match.

Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, stands out thanks to his unique weapons: a pair of large, chained blades. These cleavers are reminiscent of nunchucks and make him one of the few characters in *Demon Slayer* who fights with two swords (like Inosuke). The Entertainment District Arc provided a spectacular display of Tengen’s skill and weaponry, even though it was his final battle. This impressive showing has cemented Tengen’s place as a hugely popular and memorable character in *Demon Slayer*.

2) Mitsuri Kanroji (Love Hashira)

Sword: Nichirin Whip-Katana

Demon Slayer stands out for its unique weapon designs for its female characters—whether they’re demon slayers, demons, or something else—instead of simply feminizing existing male weapons and fighting styles. Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, is a perfect example, wielding a whip-like katana that feels like it could only exist in anime due to its unusual physics. Despite this, her captivating personality and striking appearance make her weapon incredibly impressive in action.

Similar to Mitsuri Kanroji, the sword is incredibly strong yet remarkably flexible. Its ability to maneuver around opponents and precisely target enemies – and the impressive breathing styles it enables – create some of the most visually stunning fight scenes in anime.

1) Gyomei Himejima (Stone Hashira)

Sword: Nichirin Chained Spiked Flail and Axe

Gyomei Himejima rightfully leads the Hashira, and his combat ability is a major reason why. While viewers are just starting to see the full extent of the Stone Hashira’s power in the *Infinity Castle* arc, it’s already clear that his weapon – a chained and spiked flail and axe – is incredibly impressive. The combination of a spiked metal ball and axe connected by a chain is visually striking, and seeing it used with the fluid, dynamic techniques of Stone Breathing is truly captivating. It’s a level of martial skill that’s inspiring to watch, and nearly impossible to replicate.

Gyomei fights using either a ball-and-chain or a heavy axe as his main weapon. He can wield one in each hand, or use the chain itself as a long-range weapon, like a whip. It’s effective against single opponents or large groups, and can be used for both powerful attacks and strong defense – even to capture enemies, as seen later in the story. What makes Gyomei’s weapon truly special is how it connects to his character: because he is blind, he relies on the chain’s vibrations to ‘see’ his surroundings and understand the battlefield. It’s a fantastic example of a character and their weapon being perfectly designed to complement each other.

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2025-10-14 18:13