The Strongest Characters The Infinity Castle Movie, Ranked

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1: Akaza Returns is finally in theaters, as this long-awaited animated film adapts the final arc of Koyoharu Gotouge’s original manga, which sees many iconic and beloved characters jumping into the titular Infinity Castle and engaging in intense battles against Muzan Kibutsuji’s and his order of powerful demons.

Needless to say, since this is the first third of Demon Slayer‘s final arc, the film stars some of the most powerful characters in the entire series (whether they’re demons or demon slayers), but the following eight are the absolute strongest ones in the movie. It’s important to clarify that only characters who actually engage in combat were considered for this list, as some of the series’ most powerful fighters — like Muzan or Kokushibo — did literally nothing in Part 1, and they’ll jump into action in the next two movies.

Kaigaku

The New Upper Rank Six And A Master Of Thunder Breathing

• Debut: Chapter 34 (Manga) Episode 17 (Anime)
• Blood Demon Art: Electrokinesis
• Breathing Style: Thunder Breathing

Anime-only fans finally found out why Zenitsu had gotten so serious at the end of the Hashira Training Arc: his old master — Jigoro Kuwajima — had killed himself after finding out that his other disciple, Kaigaku, had turned into a demon. Naturally, this leads to an incredibly suspenseful clash between the two Thunder Breathing wielders, and it’s one of the biggest highlights of the movie.

Unlike Zenitsu, Kaigaku was able to learn and master every form of Thunder Breathing, except for the first one. This means that he has a very fast-paced and ruthless fighting style that is almost impossible to read, and his strength is boosted even further by his Blood Demon Art, which allows him to generate real electricity that burns his opponents’ skin with every sword strike. He was definitely strong enough to obtain the title of Upper Six Rank, but he’s also the weakest member of the Twelve Kizuki, which is why Zenitsu was eventually able to defeat him.

Zenitsu Agatsuma

The Series’ Comic Relief Finally Got Serious And Showcased A New Technique

• Debut: Chapter 6 (Manga) Episode 4 (Anime)
• Breathing Style: Thunder Breathing

For most of the story, Zenitsu Agatsuma seemed like a really weak individual, as he often acted as a loud and annoying crybaby who only got serious enough to kill demons when he sleepwalked. But the sudden death of his master, combined with his resentment against Kaigaku, finally motivated him to get serious enough to enter the Infinity Castle with full determination and face his longtime rival in combat without needing to fall asleep.

Despite only knowing the first form of Thunder Breathing, Thunderclap and Flash, he was able to use it brilliantly against Kaigaku to deal damage in quick but effective bursts. However, one of the best scenes in the entire movie (and a moment that manga readers have been waiting to see animated for years) was when he revealed the seventh form he had personally created: Flaming Thunder God. Zenitsu defeated Kaigaku with this flashy and awe-inspiring attack, while also proving that he’s worthy of being the next Thunder Hashira.

Tanjiro Kamado

The Main Character Unlocked A Useful New Ability In His Fight Against Akaza

• Debut: Chapter 1 (Manga) Episode 1 (Anime)
• Breathing Styles: Water Breathing and Sun Breathing

Tanjiro Kamado – the main character of Demon Slayer – has gotten way stronger after training with all the living Hashiras, and he finally got to put that newfound strength to the test in this final arc. As the movie’s subtitle suggets, he and Giyu Tomioka face the third Upper Ranked Moon, Akaza, and get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to defeat the powerful demon that had brutally murdered Kyojuro Rengoku.

This is a really violent fight, and Tanjiro would have easily died at many points if it wasn’t for Giyu’s assistance. However, he was eventually able to defeat the demon when he awakened his Transparent World ability, which allowed him to read Akaza’s unpredictable moves and decapitate him without any killing intent. Although (and, as always) his kind and empathetic personality was also a key factor in the outcome of this fight. This encounter left Tanjiro so injured that he’s literally unable to move but, since this movie is only Part 1 of 3, he’ll obviously star in even more challenging battles in future films.

Muichiro Tokito

The Mist Hashira Appears Sparely Throughout The Movie, But He Still Got Showcase His Strength

• Debut: Chapter 44 (Manga) Episode 21 (Anime)
• Breathing Style: Mist Breathing

The Infinity Castle Arc is quite long, and it’s filled to the brim with many important characters, so, naturally, many of them barely got to do anything in the first movie, including almost all the Hashiras. Fortunately, the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, is not one of them because he got to star in a few brief (but exciting) fight scenes alongside Gyomei Himejima.

After all, Tokito became a major fan favorite after his role in the Swordsmith Village Arc, so fans were able to see him unleashing the elegant and efficient techniques of his signature Mist Breathing Style against some lesser demons in this film. It wasn’t much (and he’ll get to star in a major battle against a powerful foe in Part 2) but it was enough to remind the audience how strong and skilled this young Hashira truly is.

Giyu Tomioka

The Water Hashira Got His Chance To Shine While Fighting Alongside His Protégé

• Debut: Chapter 1 (Manga) Episode 1 (Anime)
• Breathing Style: Water Breathing

The Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, is one of those characters that got to showcase his incredible strength at many points throughout the show but never really participated in an intense battle against a powerful demon. This finally changed in Infinity Castle – Part 1, when he and Tanjiro were suddenly ambushed by Akaza and engaged in a long battle against him.

Even though Tanjiro dealt the finishing blow, it was Giyu who fought against the Upper Rank Three demon for most of the film, and he was forced to unleash some of his strongest Water Breathing techniques to keep up with him. Furthermore, he also unlocked his Demon Slayer Mark in this film, which not only helped him survive Akaza’s devastating Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow, but he also used the last of his strength to make sure the decapitated demon didn’t attack an unconscious Tanjiro in the final moments of their encounter. Needless to say, this fight cemented Giyu Tomioka as one of the strongest Hashira in both the movie and the entire series.{{

Akaza

The Upper Rank Three Proved Why He Obtained This Prestigious Title

• Debut: Chapter 63 (Manga) Demon Slayer: The Movie – Mugen Train (Anime)
• Blood Demon Art: Destructive Death

It should be no surprise that Akaza is the star of this movie, seeing as his name is literally in its subtitle and that most of the promotional material revolved around him and his rematch against Tanjiro. As the Upper Rank Three and the demon who killed the Flame Hashira, Akaza is an extremely effective fighter, both in terms of raw strength and precise techniques.

As revealed by his tragic flashback, he has been a skilled martial artist for thousands of years (even before he was turned into a demon by Muzan) and he combines that knowledge and strength with his unique Blood Demon Art, Destructive Death, which allows him to manipulate shockwaves to boost the power of his attacks and even create an invisible compass that can sense his opponents’ killing intent. Truth be told, Akaza could have easily won the fight and killed Tanjiro and Giyu — especially considering he was able to keep moving his body even after his head was cut off — but the sudden appearance of his old memories and his own competitive attitude incited him to take his own life to end the match in a mind-blowing and emotional scene.

Doma

Upper Rank Two Is A Sadistic Being That Took The Life Of A Beloved Character

• Debut: Chapter 98 (Manga) Episode 45 (Anime)
• Blood Demon Art: Cryokinesis

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle – Part 1 kicks off with a high-stakes fight that surely will have a big impact on all audiences. Early on in the movie, Shinobu Kocho meets Upper Rank Two, Doma, the leader of the Eternal Paradise Faith cult and the demon that killed her own sister many years in the past. They quickly engage in an intense combat, in which Shinobu unleashes some of her most efficient Insect Breathing techniques and injects him with some of her most potent substances.

Unfortunately for Shinobu, however, she was no match for Doma, as he’s so incredibly powerful and durable that he was able to withstand her poison and fight back without putting any real effort. Not only are his golden war fans surprisingly sharp, but his Blood Demon Art, Cryokinesis, allowed him to cover the battlefield with ice and even restrain his opponents’ breathing by freezing the surrounding air. Doma is so strong that he was able to kill Shinobu in one of the movie’s most shocking scenes, and now her disciple, Kanao Tsuyuri, will have to face and defeat him in order to avenge her master.

Gyomei Himejima

He’s Known As The Strongest Hashira For A Very Good Reason

• Debut: Chapter 44 (Manga) Episode 21 (Anime)
• Breathing Style: Stone Breathing

The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, is undoubtedly the strongest person in the Demon Slayer Corps, and the strongest character who actually fights someone on-screen in Infinity Castle – Part 1, seeing as other powerful fighters (like Muzan and Kokushibo) do nothing in this film. This shouldn’t be a surprise at all, since Gyomei is known as the Strongest Hashira in-universe and Kagaya Ubuyashiki even chose him as the person in charge of putting his plan to ambush Muzan Kibutsuji into action.

Thanks to his massive body, his many years of experience, his unique Nichirin Flail and Axe combo, and his powerful Stone Breathing Style, Gyomei Himejima is an almost unstoppable force, which is further cemented by the fact that he can be seen mowing down groups of lesser demons and breaking down many of the castle’s walls with ease. Of course, this was just a small taste of what Gyomei is truly capable of, and he’ll get to showcase his full strength in the upcoming Infinity Castle – Part 2.