Understanding the Swords of Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba may have started out as a Japanese manga written by Koyoharu Gotouge, but it has gathered a considerable audience since its introduction in 2016.

From the manga, the series jumped to anime before culminating in a feature film in February 2023, proof of the creation's popularity. Unsurprisingly, many cosplayers love dressing as their favourite characters, and especially carrying their famous (and legendary) Demon Slayer swords.

If you are a Demon Slayer fan and a keen cosplayer, you will want to take a look at the following Demon Slayer swords to complete your outfit.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Obsidian Black Sun Breathing Sword

Although he is not the main character of the series, nobody, not even the demons, dares to underestimate Yoriichi Tsugikuni. After all, Yoriichi was the first to use breathing techniques and the creator of the mystical Sun Breathing style, the origin of all the other techniques.

A demon slayer of immense strength and unrivalled swordsmanship deserves nothing less than the rarest and most powerful demon slayer sword.

With a blade as black as obsidian that turns fiery red in action, the Sun Breathing sword has immense power.

The combination of the sword's strength and Yoriichi's phenomenal gifts for facing demons makes this sword-and-wielder duo one feared even by the Demon Slayer Corps' arch-enemy, Muzan, with his seven hearts and five brains.

Tanjiro Kamado's Black Sun Breathing Sword

Like Yoriichi, Tanjiro's sword has a rare colour: black. Many believe that wielders of black breathing swords die young, or that they herald bad luck. However, Yoriichi Tsugikuni died of old age, putting to rest the speculation that Tanjiro's life will be short.

As the main character of the series, Tanjiro cannot die prematurely. Moreover, the powers of the Black Sun Breathing sword are as immense as those of Yoriichi's Obsidian Black Sword, which leads some to think the two are connected.

It is worth noting that black is the best absorber of solar energy, which makes black swords the most powerful blades against demons.

Tanjiro Kamado's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by Hobby Zone.

Giyu Tomioka's Blue Water Sword

When Koyoharu Gotouge created Demon Slayer in 2016, one of the first Demon Slayer swords to captivate readers was the blue Nichirin blade.

This blade symbolises water, allowing its wielder to draw on the unique properties of water to defeat his enemies. It also makes Giyu one of the most formidable and steadfast Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Giyu's techniques and movements are very fluid, like water. His skill is evident in the way Giyu defeated the spider father demon in a single swift, flowing movement.

It is the same technique Giyu used to defeat the Five Lower Moon Oni. His technique recalls that of the samurai who draw and cut skilfully with the katana.

Giyu Tomioka's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by Cool Katana.

Gyomei Himejima's Grey Stone Breathing Flail and Axe

Just like Tengen Uzui's twin blades, which resemble nunchaku, Gyomei's flail and axe are a formidable pairing. They are not as powerful as the Sun Breathing swords of Yoriichi and Tanjiro, but Gyomei's flail and axe are capable of defeating the nastiest demons.

And yes, even Kokushibo fears this combination. After all, the 12 Kizuki of the Upper Moon rank one could not destroy this flail and axe.

Although the Stone Hashira are stoic, objective and able to detach themselves impeccably from their emotions, Gyomei is an exception. This Hashira has never been afraid to express his feelings and even to shed a tear or two.

Although he wields two formidable demon slayer blades (which are not really "swords"), Gyomei can pray for someone who is struggling, showing his incredibly compassionate nature. This Hashira is not a "stone-cold" individual.

Gyomei Himejima's flail and axe. Photo by ACG Fandom.

Mitsuri Kanroji's Dark Pink Love Breathing Katana

Wielding the katana, one of the 8 main types of Japanese sword, Mitsuri is a demon slayer loved by all. After all, this Hashira infuses her sword with love. But never underestimate this katana, because it is extremely flexible.

Its whip-like properties allow Mitsuri to launch lightning-fast attacks. Although the sword cannot defeat Hantengu, the Upper Moon 3 of the 12 Kizuki, it can hold its own against Zohakuten (Upper Moon 4).

Although the Dark Pink Love Breathing Katana is not as rare as Yoriichi's Obsidian Black Sun Breathing Sword or Tanjiro's Black Sun Breathing Sword, it remains unique.

No other Hashira can wield the katana's immense powers, which makes Mitsuri an important member of the Demon Slayer Corps. She is also the fastest.

Mitsuri Kanroji's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by Cool Katana.

Muichiro Tokito's White Mist Breathing Sword

You are never too young to become a demon slayer, especially if you hold one of the finest demon slayer swords in your hands. That is the case for Muichiro, a prodigy of the Demon Slayer Corps and the youngest ever to become a Hashira.

This claim is far from questionable. After all, this Mist Hashira is a descendant of Kokushibo, the Upper Moon 1 of the 12 Kizuki.

Muichiro's white mist-breathing sword turns fiery red in the heat of action. It looks like an ordinary katana, but it can reproduce the unique properties of mist to obscure the surroundings and make demons "blind".

A branch of the Wind Breathing style, Mist Breathing allows Muichiro to amplify his movements, abilities and techniques. Unsurprisingly, even Muichiro's ancestor, Kokushibo, is impressed.

Muichiro Tokito's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by Funglr.

Obanai Iguro's Lavender Serpent Breathing Sword

Few demon slayers can measure up to the prowess of the demon king, Muzan Kibutsuji. Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira, is one of them. Although the Serpent Breathing technique is derived from Water Breathing, it is a more powerful style, especially in the hands of an expert swordsman such as Obanai.

Like water flowing through the path of least resistance, the lavender serpent sword can create unpredictable attacks.

While a demon thinks a strike will come from the front or the side, Obanai's strikes can come from anywhere. No opening is too small for the serpent sword, which slips into crevices and cuts through demons with surgical strikes.

Obanai Iguro's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by DPCI Wholesale.

Sanemi Shinazugawa's Emerald Green Wind Breathing Sword

Violent winds and tornadoes are fearsome natural forces in the real world. Combine that with the magical world of manga and you get the emerald green wind-breathing sword.

The destruction it brings to opposing demons is unthinkable. You almost feel sorry for the Oni who stray into Sanemi's path.

And if the wind sword is already formidable, Sanemi's turbulent nature can make for a dangerous mix. This Hashira is determined to rid the Earth of all demons. His style may be extremely violent, but the demons deserve every strike of the emerald green sword.

Shinobu Kocho's Lavender Blue Breathing Sword

Even someone as kawaii as Shinobu can be as dangerous as Poison Ivy in the DC universe. Although this Hashira's lavender blue sword is as slender as an insect's proboscis, its blade is sufficient to make effective cuts.

The sword does not work the way a kaishakunin's blade does in seppuku. Shinobu does not need to put much force behind her sword to defeat her demonic adversaries. Instead, a small cut is enough to deliver the wisteria poison and bring down even the largest opponent. And if a shallow cut is not enough, Shinobu can still defeat demons with sting-inspired thrusts.

Shinobu Kocho's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by Cool Katana.

Tengen Uzui's Amber Breathing Blades

The flamboyant Tengen Uzui may not be as adorable as the other demon slayers, but his impressive hearing and cunning shinobi talents make Tengen one of the most formidable swordsmen in the series.

Fitted with two gigantic Nichirin blades linked by a chain, these amber swords can overcome the demons wreaking havoc on Earth.

These demon slayer swords represent sound, allowing Tengen to defeat Oni below rank 6 with a single swing of the nunchaku-shaped blades. The blades are enormous, but that is no problem for Tengen's remarkable strength.

Life-size replica of Tengen Uzui's Demon Slayer swords. Photo by Hypebeast.

Inosuke Hashibira's Grey-Indigo Beast Breathing Swords

New readers of Demon Slayer might think Inosuke is not a demon slayer. After all, his boar-head outfit is as bestial as it gets. Although Inosuke's animal qualities, his obvious aggression and his lack of enthusiasm make him the quintessential Beast Hashira, nobody can doubt his talent as a swordsman.

Unlike the other demon slayers, Inosuke wields not one but two grey-indigo katanas.

Combined with the Beast Breathing style, these blades can cut through opposing demons with the unpredictability and ferocity of wild beasts. It is like Obanai's lavender serpent sword, which lets Inosuke strike from anywhere with abandon.

Inosuke Hashibira's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by Frikanime.

Zenitsu Agatsuma's Yellow Thunder Breathing Sword

Call it Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's answer to Thor: God of Thunder from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But instead of wielding the mighty Mjolnir or Stormbreaker, Zenitsu carries a katana with a yellow hamon and a tsuka wrapped in silvery white. The "yellow" pattern of the nagasa represents lightning, which allows Zenitsu to deliver devastating strikes to enemy demons. But there is a catch.

Zenitsu has to overcome his "fear". Unlike the other demon slayers, Zenitsu has low self-esteem and often borders on cowardice. However, when things get tough, Zenitsu can unleash powerful bolts of lightning and send them at his opponents. You do not want to get in the way of this thunder Hashira.

Zenitsu Agatsuma's Demon Slayer sword. Photo by P-Bandai.

In Short

Although the Demon Slayer swords are fictional, nobody can deny their exceptional abilities, especially in the hands of gifted Hashira. However, we can assume these swords are only as formidable as the skill of whoever wields them. The same is true in the real world: an excellent swordsman can reach that status only by making the most of the strengths of his sword.