In Demon Slayer, it’s not enough to have a sword—you’ve got to know how to breathe! And not just any breathing—I'm talking fire-spitting, lightning-slashing, whirlwind-generating techniques that can make a demon think twice about snack time. But let’s be real, some techniques are way cooler (and deadlier) than others. So, Let’s rank the breathing techniques from "demon-slaying badass" to "just okay."
13. Insect Breathing
Insect Breathing, created by the delicate yet deadly Shinobu Kocho, specializes in precision. Rather than relying on brute strength, Insect Breathing uses quick, precise thrusts laced with poison to incapacitate or kill demons.
It’s an ideal technique for someone like Shinobu, who isn’t physically strong enough to decapitate demons. The form is highly effective against weaker demons but struggles against powerful opponents, relying heavily on strategy rather than force.
12. Love Breathing
Love Breathing, created and used by the bubbly Mitsuri Kanroji, is a variation of Flame Breathing. It’s an unorthodox style that combines Mitsuri’s incredible flexibility with powerful slashes. While it may seem less intense compared to other forms, Love Breathing's unpredictability and Mitsuri's speed make it quite effective. However, its whimsical and less destructive nature places it lower on the list.
11. Beast Breathing
Beast Breathing, created by the wild Inosuke Hashibira, is as feral and unpredictable as its user. It incorporates animalistic movements and instincts, allowing Inosuke to attack in a chaotic and aggressive manner. Beast Breathing’s wild style makes it difficult to predict, and its dual-wielding nature gives it an edge in close combat. However, it lacks the finesse and versatility of higher-ranked techniques.
10. Serpent Breathing
Serpent Breathing, used by Obanai Iguro, mirrors the movements of a snake, allowing for fluid, twisting attacks that can strike from any angle. It’s a graceful and lethal form, emphasizing quick strikes and evasion. While Serpent Breathing is effective in skilled hands, it lacks the overwhelming power of more offensive techniques, relying instead on precision and strategy.
9. Sound Breathing
Utilized by Tengen Uzui, the flamboyant Sound Hashira, Sound Breathing is one of the most unique forms in the series. It uses sound and rhythm to attack enemies with explosive force. Tengen’s combat style revolves around flashy, bombastic movements paired with his twin Nichirin blades.
Sound Breathing is incredibly effective in creating large-scale devastation but lacks the precision of other techniques. Still, its adaptability in confusing the enemy and creating chaos gives it a respectable rank.
8. Mist Breathing
Mist Breathing, practiced by Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, emphasizes stealth and confusion. Its techniques mimic mist’s ability to obscure and disorient enemies, allowing the user to strike from unexpected angles.
The lack of visibility and the sudden nature of attacks make Mist Breathing dangerous. However, its overall power is less overwhelming compared to the likes of Flame or Stone Breathing. Mist Breathing excels in quick, disorienting strikes but lacks raw destructive potential.
7. Wind Breathing
Wind Breathing is all about ferocity and unpredictability. Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, uses this technique to create powerful gusts and tornado-like slashes that can disorient and eviscerate demons.
Its wild, turbulent nature allows the user to go on the offensive while keeping their enemies at a distance. Wind Breathing techniques can adapt to different ranges and are unpredictable, making them difficult for opponents to counter. However, its chaotic style can leave the user open if not wielded with precision.
6. Water Breathing
Water Breathing is one of the most flexible and balanced techniques. It’s practiced by Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, and Tanjiro Kamado early on in his demon-slaying journey. Water Breathing mimics the fluidity of water, allowing for smooth, flowing movements that can adapt to any situation.
While not as overwhelmingly powerful as Sun or Moon Breathing, Water Breathing’s versatility makes it a reliable and effective form, particularly for those who prefer a more graceful combat style.
5. Flame Breathing
Flame Breathing, wielded by the charismatic Kyojuro Rengoku, embodies the raw destructive power of fire. Its offensive techniques focus on generating intense heat and flames, which can overwhelm most opponents with sheer force.
The ferocity and grandeur of Flame Breathing are best demonstrated by Rengoku's Ninth Form, a powerful move that channels his fiery will into a devastating attack. Although not as versatile as other forms, Flame Breathing’s sheer offensive makes it a force to be reckoned with.
4. Thunder Breathing
Fast, explosive, and fierce—Thunder Breathing strikes with the speed and precision of lightning. Known for its iconic ‘First Form: Thunderclap and Flash’, this breathing technique focuses on enhancing the user's speed to perform lightning-fast slashes.
Zenitsu Agatsuma, one of the series' main characters, utilizes Thunder Breathing to cut down opponents in a blink of an eye. While its primary strength is its speed, the technique also allows for powerful, concentrated attacks that can take down enemies before they even have time to react.
3. Stone Breathing
Stone Breathing is a rare and highly formidable form, mastered by Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira. It’s based on the solid and unyielding nature of stone, giving the user immense strength and endurance. Gyomei’s use of the style, coupled with his weapon of choice—a spiked flail and axe—makes Stone Breathing a truly devastating technique.
2. Moon Breathing
Moon Breathing is wielded by the Upper Rank demon, Kokushibo. Moon Breathing combines the elegance of swordsmanship with destructive crescent-shaped slashes. With each technique releasing waves of crescent-shaped blades, this style boasts both range and power. Moon Breathing’s intensity increases the more Kokushibo fights, making him nearly unstoppable in prolonged battles.
1. Sun Breathing
The Sun Breathing technique, or Hinokami Kagura, stands at the pinnacle of all breathing forms. It's the original and most powerful form, from which all other breathing techniques have been derived. Practitioners of Sun Breathing can generate overwhelming flames and intense heat. Tanjiro Kamado, the series’ protagonist, discovers and masters this technique, allowing him to unlock incredible power.
Conclusion
Demon Slayer showcases a wide array of breathing techniques, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. From the all-powerful Sun Breathing to the more niche styles like Insect and Serpent Breathing, the ranking reflects the overall power, versatility, and impact these techniques have in the battle against demons.
