The art of breathing techniques, inspired by the elements of nature and its derivatives, is the primary combat system in Demon Slayer. Various characters make use of different breathing styles to combat the more powerful demons.

Each breathing style is unique and awesome in its own way but they are not equal in strength. Several factors determine the strength of each form: its adaptability in various situations and its demonstrated effectiveness. Its effectiveness also depends on the skills of the user.

Additionally, forms invented by specific characters often reflect the strength and personality of their creators. Among the many Breathing Styles, here are some of the strongest breathing styles in Demon Slayer.

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10. Insect Breathing

Shinobu Kocho uses Insect Breathing, a technique derived from Water and Flower Breathing. She developed this style to imitate the lethal stings and movements of insects. The style focuses on swift, precise strikes with a specially coated thin blade. Each thrust injects a potent Wisteria poison, weakening and ultimately killing demons.

Shinobu’s four known forms are named after different insects, reflecting their movements: Butterfly Dance, Dance of the Bee Sting, Dance of the Dragonfly, and Dance of the Centipede. Shinobu’s movements mimic those of a butterfly, dragonfly, and centipede, while also capturing the sting and speed of a bee to effectively defeat her demon enemies.

While it doesn’t have the raw strength and power of other breathing styles, it relies on speed, agility and Wisteria poison to kill demons.

9. Beast Breathing

Inosuke Hashibira developed Beast Breathing from Wind Breathing and is its sole practitioner. This technique mimics the movements of wild animals, designed to be erratic and primal. Beast Breathing channels the ferocity and instincts of wild animals. Inosuke relies on his keen senses and raw power to unleash a barrage of unpredictable attacks.

Inosuke crafted the Beast Breathing style while living in isolation with boars in the mountains. It consists of 11 “fangs” or forms, each representing different styles of claw-like slashes.

Despite his wild nature in battles against demons, he also relies on extraordinary “senses” to connect with his animalistic instincts. His seventh form “Spatial Awareness” is a good example of how his breathing style can be applied outside of combat.

8. Mist Breathing

Mist Breathing, a sub-style of Wind Breathing, relies on deception and misdirection. The sole known user, Muichiro Tokito, utilizes swift, unpredictable movements to create a confusing haze around himself.

Mastering this demands not only exceptional agility but also an almost uncanny sense of timing, allowing the user to exploit any opening their opponent reveals

There are six forms of Mist Breathing, with Muichiro developing a seventh form called Obscuring Clouds. This seventh form is the most powerful, as it disorients enemies, provides a defensive mist barrier, and delivers lightning-fast strikes. Muichiro was able to dispose of Gyokko, an upper-rank demon, without much effort using Mist Breathing.

7. Thunder Breathing

Thunder Breathing, another main style directly descended from Sun Breathing, emulates the speed of lightning. Thunder Breathing is all about explosive speed and devastating single strikes.

Zenitsu Agatsuma describes it as a power surging through the muscles and blood vessels in his legs. Thunder Breathing has seven forms in total, but fans have primarily seen Zenitsu master the First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.

He developed three variations: Six Fold, Eight Fold, and God Speed. In the manga, he also unveils a Seventh Form called Honoikazuchi no Kami, which allows him to dash forward with a single strike resembling a yellow dragon-shaped lightning bolt.

6. Wind Breathing

Sanemi Shinazugawa is the current Wind Hashira, specializing in a technique derived directly from Sun Breathing. Wind Breathing is all about untamed power and ferocious speed. Wielders become whirlwinds of steel, their attacks generating devastating gusts that can rip demons to shreds.

The style boasts nine forms, each a different way to unleash the wind’s fury. Starting with basic dashes and slashes and culminating in powerful moves like Gale – Sudden Gusts. This technique mimics tornadoes and whirlwinds, primarily for offensive attacks.

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5. Water Breathing

Water Breathing is directly derived from Sun Breathing and also has three variants: Flower, Insect, and Serpent Breathing, all used by Giyu Tomioka’s fellow Hashira.

It is one of the most commonly used Breathing Styles, developed by Sakonji Urokodaki and employed by Tomioka, Murata, Sabito, Makomo, Tanjiro, and Aoi Kanzaki.

Water Breathing emphasizes controlled aggression and adaptability. It includes ten techniques plus an exclusive Eleventh Form called Dead Calm, developed and used by Tomioka. Water Breathing is one of the strongest, as evidenced by the advancements its users have made.

4. Flame Breathing

Flame breathing is one of the 5 primary breathing styles and also has the sub-form “Love breathing” developed by Mitsuri Kanroji. One of the most renowned Hashira and the fan-favourite, Kyojuro Rengoku, was the primary user of Flame Breathing.

His Go no kata: Enko (Fifth Form: Flame Tiger) is a series of powerful sword slashes that take the form of a flaming tiger enveloping the user.

Flame Breathing consists of nine techniques, with the ninth being Rengoku ( Purgatory ), a speciality of the Rengoku family. This style uses the movement of flames and the user’s abilities to deliver powerful, burning strikes.

3. Stone Breathing

Stone Breathing, a style exclusively seen in the manga thus far, is among the original five styles stemming from Sun Breathing. Mastered by the Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima, it comprises five known forms.

Gyomei’s blindness since birth endowed him with a profound connection to the Earth, enabling him to master Stone Breathing in just two months.

Stone Breathing’s five techniques emulate the solidity of earth and stone, utilizing the ground beneath the user for more powerful and heavy attacks. While the form’s potency largely depends on a practitioner like Gyomei, it stands out as one of the most distinctive and challenging styles to master, offering unexpected and formidable techniques.

2. Moon Breathing

Developed by the Upper Rank One Demon Kokushibo, it’s said to be a derivative of the legendary Sun Breathing. Moon Breathing comprises 16 different forms, solidifying its reputation as one of the strongest and most respected forms of breathing in the Demon Slayer universe.

These mimic the phases of the moon, with each form utilizing crescent-shaped slashes and movements that evoke the nighttime sky.

The style is characterized by its intricate swordplay, which flows effortlessly like the gentle beams of the moon. What sets Moon Breathing apart is its versatility in combat, allowing practitioners to adapt to various situations with precision and finesse.

1. Sun Breathing

Tanjiro Kamado is poised to unlock the ancient and formidable Hinokami Kagura, also known as Sun Breathing. This breathing technique stands as the oldest and most potent style, serving as the foundation for Flame, Water, Moon, Thunder, Stone, and Wind Breathing techniques utilized by demon slayers throughout history.

Inspired by the intensity and adaptability of the sun, Hinokami Kagura possesses the unique ability to diminish a demon’s regenerative capabilities.

Hinokami Kagura remains a closely guarded secret within the Kamado family lineage, boasting a repertoire of 13 techniques. Unlike other breathing styles, these techniques are not categorized as “First Form” and the like; instead, they are distinguished by their distinctive movements, such as “Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance.“

While Tanjiro has yet to master Hinokami Kagura, he has begun integrating its principles into his Water Breathing techniques. In moments where he has tapped into its power, he attests that it enhances his abilities to an even greater extent than Water Breathing ever could.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

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• Written by: Koyoharu Gotouge
• Genre: Shounen
• Studio: ufotable

Tanjiro Kamado is a young boy who becomes a demon slayer after demons kill his family and turn his sister, Nezuko, into a demon. Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps to avenge his family and find a cure for Nezuko.