There are many strong characters in Demon Slayer, but the terrifying Upper 1 demon Kokushibo is in a class by himself.
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When a shonen anime gains a huge fan base, power rankings and “who would win” debates ensue, and Demon Slayer is no different. Fans frequently argue about who would win in a no-holds-barred brawl between the characters. Because of his unusual power set, Kokushib is one of the most fiercely debated characters among fans.
Kokushib, who makes his full appearance in the manga’s 99th chapter and anime episode 45, titled “Someone’s Dream,” is a member of the Twelve Kizuki, a group of the world’s most powerful demons. Kokushib has the Upper 1 rank, making him the most powerful demon in an already terrifying bunch, second only to Muzan Kibutsuji, the demon king.
Kokushibō's Many Skills
One of the most dangerous things about Kokushibō is his skill with a sword. He can easily slice through even the most talented foes and seems to be able to constantly swing without showing signs of fatigue. He also has many demon abilities, including Flesh Manipulation, which lets him alter his appearance and body shape. Kokushibō uses this ability to create a weapon out of his own flesh. This flesh katana is amazingly sharp, and it’s just as strong as blades made from Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore. Plus, its fleshy make-up allows Kokushibō to alter the weapon to fit his needs and quickly regenerate it should it be destroyed.
Kokushib was the first demon to use Breathing Styles, and his signature one, Moon Breathing, is one of the most dangerous. This technique grants him more control over his sword, allowing him to make a variety of complicated and reality-defying slashes that are nearly hard for the target to avoid. It also allows him to produce and fire a succession of crescent-moon-shaped blades as he swings, creating a pain vortex for anyone who approaches too close.
Kokushib was the first demon to use Breathing Styles, and his signature variant, Moon Breathing, is one of the most lethal ever. This technique grants him more control over his sword, allowing him to make many complicated and reality-defying slashes that are nearly hard for the target to avoid. It also allows him to produce and fire a succession of crescent-moon-shaped blades as he swings, creating a whirlwind of anguish for anyone who approaches too close to him.
Kokushib also possesses a Demon Slayer Mark as a result of his training with Yoriichi Tsugikuni. When this mark is active, Kokushib’s powers are enhanced. He has the ability to see and use the translucent world, allowing him to target individual muscles in his opponent and forecast their motions based on their blood flow, making him even more lethal. On top of that, Kokushib has lived for approximately 500 years and has faced innumerable Demon Slayers and adversaries. This means he has a lot of experience and knows how to conduct himself in combat and counter a variety of fighting methods, allowing him to effectively strategize to defeat any attacker.
Who Could Beat Kokushibō?
Kokushib is one of the most powerful beings in the Demon Slayer universe. Members of the Twelve Kizuki can only advance in rank by assassinating the person who presently holds that position. The fact that Kokushib has remained in charge for so long, despite how power-hungry the other members are, demonstrates his great authority. This is supported by Kokushib easily slashing Akaza’s arm off following a ranking debate. As a result, it is natural to believe that he is more powerful than Doma, Hantengu, Akaza, Gyokko, Gyutaro, and Daki. Because if they thought they could, they would have tried to take his place.
Muzan Kibutsuji, the parent of all demons, is likely mightier than Kokushib, as the 180th chapter shown that even with a fraction of Kokushib’s power, Muzan can easily wipe out a horde of Demon Slayers. In fact, even after being injected with medications that are progressively weakening his body and reducing his powers, he can remain a menace until the end of the last battle. This demonstrates Muzan’s power considerably outclasses anything Kokushib has shown, especially given that it takes a significantly smaller force of Demon Slayers to defeat Kokushib.
Of course, the most important question is whether Kokushib is stronger than Tanjiro Kamado. This is a difficult issue to answer because, while Tanjiro begins weak, he swiftly gains power as the story progresses, even mastering the Sun Breathing technique, which greatly improves the user’s skills. While Tanjiro is critical to the defeat of Muzan Kibutsuji, he does so with a lot of aid and only makes as much of an impression as he does because of a last-minute power boost. As a result, it appears likely that Kokushib would be able to defeat Tanjiro if he confronted him alone at any point before the final fight, providing Tanjiro does not receive assistance from any of his allies or the other Demon Slayers, as they are his trump cards in impossible scenarios.
Aside from Muzan Kibutsuji, another figure who outperforms Kokushib is his brother, Yoriichi. Yoriichi is an unrivalled swordsman and the inventor of Breathing Styles, which allow him to gain incredible power when utilising one. Yoriichi is not only capable of injuring Muzan and bringing him near to death, but he also injures Kokushib with a sword blow during their final combat. This enrages Kokushib, especially as Yoriichi dies in old age before launching his attack.