Rank 3: Giyu Tomioka
- Title: The Water Pillar
- Breathing Technique: Water Breathing (derived from: Sun Breathing)
Giyu is one of the most talented swordsmen and has perfected the Water Breathing to the extent that he has even developed his own eleventh form: the Dead Calm. With this, he achieves a physical state that allows him to block all opposing attacks.
This attack is thanks to his calm and composed nature in battle. Through his relaxed demeanor, he can keep a cool head even in hopeless situations and land precise attacks.
Rank 2: Sanemi Shinazugawa
- Title: The Wind Pillar
- Breathing Technique: Wind Breathing (derived from: Sun Breathing)
Sanemi has demonstrated in training with Giyu that the two are on the same level. They both receive praise from a demon of the 12 Demon Moons, stating that they stand out even among the Pillars. Sanemi is the counterpart to Giyu: He epitomizes raw strength and wild determination.
But his aggressive fighting style is not all he has to offer. Sanemi has an advantage over Giyu, which is why he is placed higher: He possesses the extremely rare Marechi blood. It is extremely delicious for demons, and even the slightest whiff is enough to make them hungry and lose their concentration.
Rank 1: Gyomei Himejima
- Title: The Stone Pillar
- Breathing Technique: Stone Breathing (derived from: Sun Breathing)
The strongest Pillar by far is Gyomei, as confirmed by both his comrades and high-ranking demons. Although he is blind, he has honed his other senses to perfection. With his supernatural hearing, he can perceive details that escape other demon slayers.
Gyomei also holds rank 1 in terms of strength. In volume 11 of the manga, the author reveals who would win in an arm-wrestling contest. Gyomei is the only person deemed “incredibly strong” and would thus win the contest. Even in an official ranking created in the second fan book regarding the speed of the Pillars, he ranks 3rd.
Did you know that the beautifully animated breathing techniques that are so praised in the anime didn’t actually exist originally? In the manga, the breathing techniques looked very different. They were created specifically for the anime: Demon Slayer deceives its viewers in the anime about what fans love the most
