- 1
Rengoku Vs. Akaza
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
Why It's Great: Fresh from the fight against Enmu, the last thing any of the Demon Slayers want to do is take on another demon - especially one as powerful as Akaza, who is the Upper Rank Three - but they have little choice. As Tanjiro is attempting to heal his slash wounds using controlled breathing, Akaza suddenly appears. Rengoku saves Tanjiro by launching a Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun at Akaza.
Thus begins one of the most amazing fights not just in Demon Slayer, but in recent anime history. The visuals are astonishing, and the fight is between two of the most powerful figures to appear so far. Their moves are intersperced with some serious emotional and philosophical content. Akaza offers to spare Rengoku if he'll agree to become a demon, something that Rengoku absolutely refuses to do because of the value he places on humanity. When he's ultimately slain, it's an excruciating but beautiful moment.
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- 2
Tanjiro And Uzui Vs. Gyutaro
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 2, Episodes 14-18
Why It's Great: Fighting Gyutaro, the unexpected true holder of the Upper Moon position, is no easy task. Gyutaro uses sickles made from blood that inflict a fatal poison upon anyone struck by them. He nearly takes Uzui's life with these, but Uzui is able to control the circulation of his own blood just enough to keep fighting. He uses sound-based techniques to do damage. Meanwhile, Tanjiro is nearly defeated by Gyutaro, but is able to activate a new level of power and lop off his head.
Aside from being a challenging fight, it's also one that contrasts Tanjiro and Nezuko's relationship with Gyutaro and Daki's relationship. Tanjiro realizes that had his life been a little bit different, he could easily be just like them. Despite empathizing with them, he still has to stop them from harming others.
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- 3
Tanjiro And Nezuko Vs. Rui
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episodes 18-20
Why It's Great: Rui has spent his entire existence as a demon trying to build a demon family to replace the human one he lost. But because he creates his bonds through coercion and fear, they aren't true bonds like the one that Nezuko and Tanjiro have. When the two siblings face off against Rui, they're not just proving their physical strength - they're proving the real meaning of family.
That's why when they combine Tanjiro's Hinokami Dance - a move based on their father's teachings - with Nezuko's Burning Blood, their moves have both spectacle and spirit.
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- 4
Tanjiro And Nezuko Vs. Daki
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 2, Episodes 11-18
Why It's Great: Nezuko often stays off the battlefield, but when a crisis that her brother can't handle hits, she gets involved. The problem is that whenever she fights, she has to use her demonic powers - and that means losing touch with her humanity.
While trying to take down Daki, Nezuko becomes frenzied and ruthless. She isn't just using her Burning Blood technique on Daki - she's going after civillians who were injured and have started bleeding. It takes Tanjiro reminding her of who she is and the life they shared together - plus his physically restraining her - to calm her down.
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- 5
Mitsuri, Tanjiro, Genya, And Nezuko Vs. Hantengu And His Clones
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season Three, Episodes 3-7 and 9-11
Why It's Great: The fight between Upper Moon Four and these demon slayers span nearly an entire season, and for good reason. Hantengu proves to be a difficult opponent despite his cowardly form, considering that he can utilize clones of himself to fight on his behalf. While Mitsuri fights tooth to nail against the most powerful clone, Zohakuten, the other three are tasked with capturing and decapitating the true form of Hantengu once and for all.
Aside from being beautifully animated, the fight also incorporates many important plot points for these characters. Mitsuri’s Love Breathing technique is showcased for the first time, Genya is able to show off his shotgun weapon as well as his demon consuming ability, and Tanjiro is able to take Hinokami Kagura to a whole new level - to the point that his resemblance to Yoriichi stunsHantengu’s clones mid-fight. The combat in between is just as well done and shows the unique strength of the heroes and Upper Four.
Most of all, the conclusion to the battle sees a pivotal point for the Demon Slayer series as a whole. While Tanjiro seemingly sacrifices Nezuko to daylight in order to stop Hantengu, it turns out Nezuko can do something extraordinary - she’s able to defeat the sun and is the only demon to ever do so.
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- 6
Zenitsu And Inosuke Vs. Daki
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 2, Episodes 15-18
Why It's Great: Daki's obi-like neck seems nearly impossible to saw through, but through teamwork and perseverance, Inosuke and Zenitsu make it happen. After expending basically all his strength on lightning-based techniques, Zenitsu seems like he's about to be defeated - and with all the bragging she's doing, Daki certainly thinks she's going to win.
But then Inosuke shows up, having narrowly escaped losing his life by rearranging his organs to avoid a lethal wound. His jagged swords are just what's needed to finally slice through Daki's neck. Her bragging turns into begging for her brother to protect her - but her brother is busy trying to defend himself.
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- 7
Zenitsu Vs. Spider Brother
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episode 17
Why It's Great: This is the fight where we really get to see what Zenitsu is made of. He's absolutely petrified of the Spider Demons, and feels powerless to defend himself against them. But after passing out from a combination of poison and fear, he's able to use an advanced version of his Thunder Breathing technique. He moves so quickly that Spider Brother can't keep up with him, which gives Zenitsu the opportunity to waste him.
We also get to learn a little bit more about Zenitsu's backstory during this fight. With a little more context for why he's so terrified all the time and how determined he is anyway, his triumph is even more meaningful.
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- 8
Demon Slayers Vs. Enmu
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
Why It's Great: Able to fuse his body with a moving train and trap multiple people in seemingly inescapable dreams via hypnosis, it's no wonder that it takes the Demon Slayers a whole movie to defeat Enmu. Not only do they have to figure out how to stay awake despite being repeatedly thrown into dreams that seem better than reality, but they also have to figure out where Enmu's actual head is so they can finally cut it off.
Just realizing what they have to do is hard enough, let alone actually accomplishing it. But when Tanjiro finally defeats Enmu using Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky, a version of the dance that incorporates Water Breathing, the journey is worth it. Enmu tries to regenerate and consume the passengers on the train, but Zenitsu and Rengoku are able to stop this from happening using their own moves.
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- 9
Muichiro Vs. Gyokko
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 3, Episodes 4-9
Why It's Great: Upper Moon Five Gyokko comes off more creepy than threatening… because he's in a vase. But Gyokko proves to be an intimidating opponent with his strength, speed, and ability to spawn things to help him in battle, like fish monsters and water tendrils. Although Muichiro is an equally skilled fighter and can use his Mist Breathing technique to keep up, Gyokko provides another challenge with his power of regeneration.
Their fight goes back and forth over the span of entire episodes with Muichiro almost meeting his end. But once he is able to awaken his Demon Slayer Mark, he overpowers the Upper Moon and protects the Swordsmith Village residents. The match also concludes with one of the funniest moments in the entire show - when Muichiro won't give Gyokko a chance to give his backstory and final words and decides to just chop him up immediately.
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- 10
Tanjiro, Nezuko, Tamayo, And Yushiro Vs. Susamaru And Yahaba
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episodes 15-19
Why It's Great: After his encounter with Tanjiro, Muzan Kibutsuji sends assassins to try and get rid of him. While Tanjiro will have to face stronger demons in the future, Susamaru and Yahaba aren't exactly easy to beat. Susamaru fights by launching temari balls at such high speeds that they can literally take someone's head off, while Yahaba deals in invisible arrows that let him move his target around as he pleases.
Tanjiro is eventually able to defeat Yahaba using a series of consecutive moves that include Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin, Water Surface Slash, Drop Ripple Thrust, Curve, and Whirlpool. While he's exhausted from his efforts, Nezuko manages to successfully kick a few of Susamaru's temari balls out of the way before Tamayo ultimately tricks her into revealing her association with Muzan - a revelation that comes at a cost.
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- 11
Tanjiro Vs. Kyogai
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episodes 11-13
Why It's Great: Once a member of the Lower Moons, Kyogai has been obsessed with obtaining rare blood in the hopes of restoring his position. That's why he kidnaps a child, an act which leads Tanjiro and his fellow Demon Slayers to the Tsuzumi Mansion. Fighting him is no easy task - his blood demon art lets him rotate the room, teleport himself and others, and strike his opponents by hitting the drums on his body. This makes it nearly impossible for Tanjiro to get close enough to him to defeat him. He's eventually able to do so using his Water Breathing technique, but it's a struggle to get to that point.
The challenging nature of the fight is just one of the reasons it's so great - the other is that Tanjiro is able to help Kyogai feel like his life's worth was meaningful by complimenting him on his blood art technique - before he destroys him for taking human lives. The fight shows off Tanjiro's ability to display empathy while still doing what needs to be done.
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- 12
Tanjiro Vs. Sabito
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episode 3
Why It's Great: In order to prepare for the Final Selection and become an official Demon Slayer, Tanjiro must first pass Sakonji's test - cutting through a giant boulder. His practice takes the form of repeated bouts with Sabito, a former student of Sakonji's who tragically passed during his own Final Selection test. So, he's not exactly fighting Sabito himself, but Sabito's spirit.
These fights are both emotional and exciting - and ultimately, they result in Tanjiro being able to slice clean through the boulder and enter the next phase of his journey.
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- 13
Tanjiro Vs. Hand Demon
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episode 4
Why It's Great: During the Final Selection, Tanjiro encounters the Hand Demon. This demon has been feeding on Sakonji's students as a means of getting revenge on him. But while he was able to take out Sabito and other students, Tanjiro is able to defeat him using Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash. The spirits of Sakonji's former students give the strength to surpass his previous limitations and defeat a demon who would have been impossible for him to take on before. Because he defeated the Hand Demon, the spirits can finally be put to rest.
This would all be touching enough, but when the fight is over we get to see the Hand Demon's past as a human who went into a frenzy and eliminated his own brother after being transformed into a demon. Tanjiro was able to empathize with his pain, and pray for him not to be reincarnated as a demon.
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- 14
Tanjiro Vs. Inosuke
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episode 14
Why It's Great: Inosuke and Tanjiro are friends and allies now, but that wasn't always the case. They once got into a pretty intense brawl. Not realizing that Nezuko was anything other than a demon who needed to be immediately brought down, Inosuke tried to attack Tanjiro's sister, who was sleeping in her box. At first, Zenitsu was the one tasked with protecting her, but Tanjiro stepped in as soon as he could.
The fight itself was an intense physical showdown that involved kicking, punching, and even headbutting. After wailing on each other for a while, Inosuke's surprisingly pretty face is finally revealed.
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- 15
Shinobu Vs. Spider Sister
- Photo:
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- ufotable
Seen In: Season 1, Episode 20
Why It's Great: Despite being a Hashira, Shinobu hasn't had too many opportunities to show off her power. In her showdown with the Spider Sister, she proves she's not be messed with.
It takes almost no time for Shinobu to establish dominance in the fight. Spider Sister begs for leniency, claiming she has no choice but to commit cruelties or else she'll be punished by Rui. Shinobu says the two of them could have been friends if there were a way for her to make up for the 80-plus humans she has slain - but since there isn't, she has no choice but to inject her with poisonous wisteria.
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COLLECTION26 LISTS
Demon SlayerWant to know more about your favorite Hashira? Curious to know which 'Demon Slayer' fights fans love the most? From fun trivia to hilarious memes, here are the rankings of everything in the Demon Slayer universe!
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Demon Slayer
Want to know more about your favorite Hashira? Curious to know which 'Demon Slayer' fights fans love the most? From fun trivia to hilarious memes, here are the rankings of everything in the Demon Slayer universe!
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