Demon Slayer’s Upper Moons, Ranked By Design

I’ve noticed that the villains can really make or break a shonen action anime like Demon Slayer. It’s true that a hero’s journey, especially one with a protagonist like Tanjiro Kamado, only feels worthwhile when they’re up against compelling, well-designed enemies. Early on, minor antagonists like the Swamp Demon and the drum-tapping Kyogai made Demon Slayer‘s fights fun to watch, but the series needed to raise the stakes eventually. They got off to a promising start with interesting designs for Rui and Enmu, and then the Upper Moons really took over.

After most of the Lower Rank Demons were defeated in Demon Slayer, expectations were incredibly high for the Upper Rank Demons, and they absolutely lived up to the excitement. Each one is incredibly strong and frightening, and what’s really great is that they all have some of the most striking and well-designed characters you’ll find in recent shonen anime and manga. Though their designs aren’t necessarily revolutionary, the Upper Rank Demons all manage to be impressively cool and terrifying, fully committed to destroying the Demon Slayer Corps.

Kaigaku is a Weak Upper Moon With a History With Zenitsu

Every one of the Upper Moons has a good design, but if we had to pick one with the least impact, it would be Kaigaku, who recently became Upper Moon 6 during the Infinity Castle arc. What’s most interesting about Kaigaku isn’t his appearance, but his backstory – he’s essentially the dark version of Zenitsu Agatsuma, a former classmate. The fight between Kaigaku and Zenitsu even mirrored some aspects of the battle between Akaza and Kyojuro.

Regarding his appearance and abilities, Kaigaku is an average demon among the stronger ones. He has a frightening face and wields a sword similar to the Nichirin blades used by the Demon Slayer Corps. This was a simple but effective way for Kaigaku to bridge the gap between the warring sides, making him feel like a combination of both. However, Kokushibo achieves this blending of identities much more successfully than Kaigaku does. He’s passable, but not exceptional.

Akaza’s Design Is Basic But Gets the Job Done

Honestly, while I love Akaza as Upper Moon 3, I have to admit his design feels a little too simple compared to some of the other demons. Even weaker ones like Enmu and Yahaba just have that extra something in their powers or looks that makes them stand out more. But, I get it – Akaza, whether as a demon or his human self, Hakuji, is all about being practical and down-to-earth, so maybe being overly flashy wouldn’t fit his personality. It really suits him that he’s not about extravagance! He’s just a really grounded character.

Akaza is designed as a straightforward, powerful martial artist demon. His signature technique, Compass Needle, directs his attacks, and he overwhelms opponents with Destructive Death. Akaza’s design offers a welcome change from the more elaborate abilities of other demons, providing a strong contrast within the group of Kizuki. Notably, fans will likely recognize Akaza by the distinctive dark blue markings all over his skin.

Gyutaro’s Appearance Makes the Perfect Foil to His Beautiful Sister

The position of Upper Moon 6 is held by two demons: Gyutaro, who is the more powerful of the two – though his appearance is a little less elaborate. During fights, Gyutaro is a direct, close-combat fighter. He can create two scythes from his own blood to battle opponents like Tengen Uzui, and he also uses poison to enhance his attacks. Importantly, Gyutaro’s potent poisons pushed Tengen’s ability to resist poison to its absolute limit.

Visually, Gyutaro’s design is unusual, and that’s intentional-it reflects a life spent growing up with illness and poverty. While Gyutaro is now incredibly powerful as a demon, he can’t hide his frail appearance; he remains a gaunt, frightening figure with a grotesque face. This serves as a stark contrast to his sister Daki’s graceful but dangerous beauty, positioning Gyutaro as the more monstrous of the two.

Nakime’s Powers and Instrument Set Her Apart From Muzan’s Other Minions

The recently introduced Upper Moon 4 is a pale and reserved female demon named Nakime, and her appearance reflects her powerful abilities. Towards the end of Demon Slayer‘s first season, viewers saw a glimpse of Nakime’s unique design as she played her biwa, summoning the Lower Moons for a meeting. She later used this ability to teleport the demon slayers into Muzan’s fortress during a surprise attack.

Nakime stood out from the other demons due to her focus on teleportation and her biwa instrument, boasting a clean and striking design. This stylish approach also extended to her numerous eyeballs. Every aspect of Nakime’s design highlights her role as a support demon, simplifying things for those defending Muzan. It’s a modest yet vital role, and perfectly suited to a generally defensive demon like Nakime.

Doma Is a Flashy Villain Hiding a Dead Interior

Upper Moon 2, Doma, serves as a welcome contrast to other Upper Moons like Akaza and Kokushibo, acting as a kind of ‘joker’ character. His writing style and overall design effectively create a sense of discomfort for both Demon Slayer viewers and the characters within the story. Doma is a confusing combination of someone who pretends to be kind and forgiving, and a ruthless killer capable of easily defeating powerful Hashira such as Kanae Kocho.

Doma’s visual style and fighting techniques are quite impressive. He’s one of the few Demons to utilize elemental powers – specifically, ice. While anime viewers are familiar with characters who control ice, Doma’s ice is presented as both more graceful and stunning than most, and also manages to feel incredibly menacing. Furthermore, Demon Slayer fans might be fascinated by the contrast between Doma’s flamboyant exterior and his cold, emotionless nature.

Gyokko Feels Truly Alien as a Deadly Hunter of Humans

While most demons in the Demon Slayer anime resemble humans with features like fangs, claws, and horns, Upper Moon 5, Gyokko, is a striking exception. He’s unusual because he appears completely otherworldly – a nightmarish thing that frightens demon slayers in his own distinct manner. It would have been interesting to see more demons adopt Gyokko’s approach to design, becoming even more monstrous and distancing themselves further from their human past.

Gyokko’s character design is a classic take on horror, featuring a disturbing yet expressive look – he has mouths where his eyes should be, and eyes where his mouth should be, making him both captivating and unsettling. This unique visual theme extends to his attacks and transformations, which are all water-based, including octopus tentacles and fish that shoot needles. Fans particularly enjoyed his ultimate form as a mer-man, though it wasn’t enough to overcome Muichiro Tokito’s Mist Breathing and the strength of his abilities.

Daki Comes Across as a Deadly Predator in a Deceiving Package

Among the Upper Moon 6 demons, Daki has the more impressive design – she’s a far more compelling villain than her brother Gyutaro or Kaigaku, who took their place. Daki’s design focuses on blending in, even more so than Muzan’s, as she presents herself as a beautiful and respected oiran. This smart approach allows her to completely transform between her demon and human forms, appearing as a much more elegant human than she was during her youth.

Anime fans describe Daki as a himedere – a somewhat conceited female character who craves attention and importance to escape a difficult past. She’s arguably one of the most relatable characters in Demon Slayer, and this makes her monstrous true demon form and powers even more shocking. When it comes to fighting, Daki has a visually striking design, utilizing numerous long, incredibly sharp obi belts. These allow her to attack or restrain opponents from all directions.

Kokushibo Stands as a Chilling Blend of Demon and Swordsman

More than Kaigaku or even Genya Shinazugawa, Kokushibo, the Upper Moon 1, perfectly embodies the combination of a skilled swordsman and a powerful demon. He’s almost a twisted reflection of the Demon Slayer Corps – being the twin brother of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, yet also a six-eyed demon with a unique fighting style called Moon Breathing. Even the name “Moon Breathing” cleverly twists the idea of breathing styles by infusing them with demonic energy.

Kokushibo is created as an incredibly strong character, but he’s also remarkably disciplined and maintains a calm demeanor. While anime viewers might enjoy the wild fighting style of characters like Akaza, it’s even more captivating and creates greater tension to see powerful individuals like Kokushibo conceal most of their abilities, only fighting when absolutely necessary.

Hantengu Is a One-Man Squad of Vicious Spellcasters

Upper Moon 4, Hantengu, didn’t make a great first impression. He appeared as a horned demon in robes who seemed fearful and timid during the Upper Moon gathering. This actually caused Demon Slayer fans to underestimate him, which allowed Hantengu to surprise everyone with his incredible design and immense strength as the Swordsmith Village arc began. While Hantengu initially seemed driven by fear, fans now realize he represents a complex range of emotions – he’s not just one being, but a collection of them.

Hantengu’s appearance and fighting style are really impressive – he’s both strong and intelligent as he battles the demon slayers. His actual body is tiny and well-hidden during combat, protecting it while his multiple head-forms handle the fighting with their different powers, culminating in the incredibly powerful Zohakuten form. Hantengu is essentially a group of magical attackers who challenge the demon slayers with much more than just physical strength, which makes it unfortunate that he was defeated after only one long battle in Season 3.

2025-10-02 00:41