The Hashira are the highest-ranking warriors of the Demon Slayers Corps, with each member earning their place by eliminating powerful demons and saving countless lives. You can see the strength of this elite team first-hand by watching Kyojuro Rengoku rescuing everyone aboard the Mugen Train while battling an Upper-Rank Three demon at the same time. Another example is the moment Tengen Uzui stops an Upper-Rank Six demon in the Entertainment District Arc, along with the help of Tanjiro Kamado and his team.
Since the group encompasses many mighty warriors, fans have wondered who the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer is. The answer to this question is plain to see once you examine the anime and manga.
Spoiler Warning: You’ll definitely want to avoid reading past where the anime has been adapted so far if you haven’t read the manga, as these titles will spoil key battle scenes.
Gyomei Himejima as Demon Slayer’s Strongest Hashira
Gyomei Himejima is the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer because of his raw power and adaptability skills during battles. In Chapter 134, Hashibira Inosuke claims he is “The Strongest Demon Hunter” and explains how the sight of the Stone Hashira gives him the chills. Tanjiro also states how Gyomei is the only Hashira with a different smell, which hints at his dominant strength compared to all of them.
Himejima is so powerful that even his enemies are impressed with his skills. The Upper-Rank One demon, Kokushibo, states that it has been three hundred years since he encountered a swordsman as strong as the Stone Hashira in Chapter 169. As the fight goes on, the demon respects him by appraising Gyomei’s outstanding physique and uncanny precision.
Gyomei Himejima’s raw strength is evident in his origin story in Chapter 135. He explains how he single-handedly kept a demon at bay with just his bare fists, as shown here:
Besides Gyomei’s physical strength, his abilities are another factor that increases his overall power. He uses Transparent World to use his blindness to his advantage by being able to predict his opponent’s movements and even sensing their pulse.
Himejima’s Stone Breathing is also one of the most powerful techniques, and he is regarded as the most skilled user of this style. He pairs this ability with his spiked flail and axe to perform a deadly attack on any of his foes. For example, during the battle with Kokushibo, the demon cannot break the chains of his weapon, which shows the flail and axe’s advantage in both attack and defense mechanisms.
Furthermore, the author of Demon Slayer, Koyoharu Gotouge, potentially confirms Gyomei as the strongest Hashira when they included an extra in the manga, as shown here:
Now that you know who is the strongest Hashira in Demon Slayer, you can experience the fierce battles with Gyomei Himejima by reading the manga or wait to see it in the anime. Until then, we’ll just have to wait for the arrival of the Swordsmith Village Arc that will showcase two more of the Hashira’s powers. For more Demon Slayer content, you can look at the relevant links below and the latest news and guides on Twinfinite.
Featured Image Source: Ufotable, Inc.
