10 Best Demon Slayer Episodes

April 29, 2024, 8 p.m.

Movies

10 Best Demon Slayer Episodes

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Summary "Cruelty" marks the beginning as Tanjirou faces the horrors of demon attacks with bravery and kindness, setting up the core of the show.

"Sabito and Makomo" showcases Tanjirou's growth and inspires the next generation of Demon Slayers, leaving a lasting impact on fans.

"Never Give Up" highlights the intense battles and strong bonds formed as Tanjirou and his friends face powerful demons together.

With the newest season set to begin airing in May, eager fans are happily returning to the best episodes of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The smash hit series tells the story of Tanjirou Kamado, a Taisho-era teenager who comes home one day to find his family slaughtered by a demon, and his sole surviving sibling Nezuko transformed into one. To restore Nezuko’s humanity and make sure that no one else can fall victim to a demon’s fangs, Tanjirou takes up a sword and joins the Demon Slayer Corps.

As with most TV shows, Demon Slayer’s best episodes are the epitome of its strongest qualities. Fans love it for its amazing-looking action sequences, massive amounts of heart, and, at its best, truly beautiful animation. At its best, Demon Slayer is a thrilling series that gets stronger with each new arc.

10 “Cruelty” Starts Demon Slayer Off With A Bang

(Season 1, Episode 1)

The very first episode of the show instantly endears viewers to the humble and kind Tanjirou Kamado, and then horrifies everyone when he returns home to find that his family’s been massacred while he was gone. Their blood on the mountain snow would be the scene’s most striking image, were it not for Tanjirou frantically trying to protect a transformed Nezuko, who is at the same time trying with all her demonic might to eat him, from the Demon Slayer Giyuu, begging him for her life.

Of all titles that this opening episode could have received, “Cruelty” may seem like a strange one at first. But it sets up the core of the show very well: where cruelty like that of Kibutsuji Muzan and his demons exists, the bravery and kindness of humans like Tanjirou and Giyuu will be there to combat it. Were it not for Tanjirou’s determination to save his sister and Giyuu’s choice to give him a chance to do so, the ultimate achievement of the series’ as-yet-unadapted ending would never have happened.

9 “Sabito and Makomo” Is Tanjirou's First Major Victory As A Swordsman

(Season 1, Episode 2)

Before officially undergoing the test to become a Demon Slayer, Tanjirou trains for almost two years with the former Hashira Urokodaki. He’s alone until his final test, where he gets some surprise help from two other swordsmen, Sabito and Makomo. The pair train him themselves, not just unlocking strength he didn’t know he had in him, but make it clear for the first time how older Demon Slayers inspire and place their hopes on younger Slayers.

Though they do make an appearance in a certain Hashira’s flashbacks later, Sabito and Makomo only show up in person in this single episode. And yet, they are some of the most memorable characters in the show, with fans going so far as to craft perfect cosplay of Sabito. Especially when the anime was first airing, Sabito’s smile and the reveal of the split boulder are some of the most iconic shots of the whole series.

8 “The Boar Bears Its Fangs, Zenitsu Sleeps” Is The Main Squad's First Mission Together

(Season 1, Episode 12)

As befits a shounen hero, Tanjirou quickly makes friends on his demon-slaying travels. The first is Zenitsu Agatsuma, a high-strung coward with tremendous powers in Thunder Breathing, and the second is Inosuke Hashibira, a feral warrior with a boar mask and jagged dual blades. Together, they infiltrate a surreal mansion to rescue a kidnapped boy.

This episode does an excellent job of both building the friendship between the trio and demonstrating their unique strengths. Much as Zenitsu screams about everything, at his core he is determined to do the right thing: when he faints, his unconscious instinct is to protect the boy instead of run. Meanwhile, Inosuke and Tanjirou’s opposite fighting styles clash as they attempt to fight a demon that can constantly change their surroundings.

7 “Against Corps Rules” Is The First Truly Tragic Demon Death

(Season 1, Episode 21)

The climactic battle against the Spider Family on Mount Natagumo is one of the best story arcs in Demon Slayer. Rui is the first member of Muzan’s inner circle that Tanjirou fights, and his razor-sharp threads give the young Demon Slayer his most harrowing battle so far. Hard as Tanjirou has trained, he’s still not quite able to defeat Rui himself, with Giyuu bursting in to deal the actual death blow.

As determined as Tanjirou is to slay demons, he has a kind heart and considerable empathy for the tortured humans they used to be. The first major example of this is Tanjirou making Rui remember that his deepest desire was for family, and comforting him as he dies. More important than his being the one to kill Rui is being the reason he can pass into the afterlife as himself, offering a moment of peace to these "tragic creatures."

6 “Set Your Heart Ablaze” Is Kyojuro's Standout Moment

(Season 2, Episode 7)

The Mugen Train arc is arguably the show’s most famous, with its theatrical movie release even dethroning Spirited Away as the highest-grossing Japanese animated film ever made. Tanjirou and company are joined by the exuberant Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, on their next mission. But when the train ride there is hijacked by the demon Enmu, all of them must fight for their own lives and the lives of the many passengers under their protection.

The arc has many standout moments, but the finale had fans excited and heartbroken in equal measure. Kyojuro lays his life on the line to protect everyone from being eaten by the even stronger demon Akaza, never wavering from his code of honor and, while not quite enough to kill Akaza, fends him off with one final explosive attack. His influence on Tanjirou is powerful, and Tanjirou carries both Kyojuro’s sword guard and his memory for the rest of the series.

5 “Transformation” Changes The Tide Of This Arc's Final Battle

(Season 2, Episode 14)

The official season 2 of Demon Slayer is split into two cours, the Mugen Train Arc and the Entertainment District Arc. Tanjiro and the gang aid the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, in infiltrating a red-light district, rescuing Tengen’s missing wives, and flushing out a demon preying on women. Uncovering the demon’s identity is the easy part: the back half of the arc is a city-destroying battle that’s a much greater challenge.

Daki is a vicious and powerful demon, but in this episode is the twist of the real power behind her. When she’s too close to dying, her brother Gyutaro emerges from where he was hidden in her body; they're both Upper Kizuki. The reveal that these demon siblings merge their powers to kill twice as brutally comes at the same time as Tanjirou desperately trying to keep Nezuko’s demonic hunger from taking over and harming human bystanders.

4 “Never Give Up” Describes Both Sibling Teams

(Season 2, Episode 17)

In the penultimate episode of the season, the fight against Daki and Gyutaro rages on. With Tengen out of commission, it’s up to Tanjirou and friends to take the demon siblings out for good. While Tanjirou often empathizes with the demons he fights, it’s really driven home here as he battles a brother-sister team alongside Nezuko, with Gyutaro even mocking him for not being able to protect his sister like he protects Daki.

This fight is among the best in Demon Slayer, with stunning animation and brutal action. By this point, the entertainment district is on fire, and the force of the battle is leveling the place even faster. All the young Demon Slayers plus Nezuko are pulling out all the stops to keep up with Daki and Gyutaro and make it to their weak spots, from Inosuke and Zenitsu teaming up to Tanjirou Hinokami Kagura-ing so hard he activates his forehead mark.

3 “Yoriichi Type Zero” Helps Tanjirou Master The Nichirin Blade

(Season 3, Episode 2)

In the Swordsmith Village Arc, Tanjirou witnesses the craft that goes into making the Demon Slayers’ prized Nichirin Blades and hones his skills with the sword. After Muichirou thrashes both an antique training doll and Tanjirou, Tanjirou and his new friend Kotetsu are determined to improve both. Besting the doll is quite a lot tougher than Tanjirou anticipated.

As funny as Kotetsu being Tanjirou's harshest drill sergeant yet is, it isn't why this episode is so interesting. It both fleshes out the culture surrounding demon slaying and all the work that goes into it, and starts to offer more insight into its past. As with his study into Sun Breathing last season, what finally allows Tanjirou to surpass the doll’s flawless technique is a vision that grants him sharper reflexes, and his efforts are rewarded with a new blade.

2 “The Mu In Muichirou”'s Flashback Is Heartbreaking

(Season 3, Episode 9)

For most of the Swordsmith Village Arc, the Mist Hashira Muichirou Tokito has been, quite frankly, a huge jerk. But in his fight with Gyokko, both he and the audience find out why he’s been so cold and uncaring this whole time. He barely survived the demon attack that killed his twin brother Yuichirou, and, being stricken with severe amnesia, unconsciously assumed Yuichirou’s personality.

The flashback to the orphaned Tokito brothers’ childhood features one of the saddest deaths in Demon Slayer. Resentful of their parents and the Demon Slayer Corps, Yuichirou is harsh and often cruel to his meeker twin, insisting that Muichirou would be nothing without his protection. But in his last moments, Yuichirou begs any power that will listen to save his brother: he’s always believed Muichirou’s life is worth more than his, and his potential is infinite.

1 “A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light” Is A Stunning Finale

(Season 3, Episode 11)

With multiple Upper Kizuki storming the Swordsmith Village, the climax of this arc is thrilling in every corner. When everyone is at their limits, the battle against Hantengu comes down not to overwhelming power, but sheer determination to risk one’s own life to protect others. When Tanjirou’s strength fails him, to his horror it’s Nezuko who braves the sunlight to save the swordsmiths from being eaten.

This ending is the major plot revelation that sets the stage for the final arcs. Tanjirou’s desperation to protect everyone around him and his panic when he believes Nezuko is dead are matched only by his relief when he realizes Nezuko has evolved to be invulnerable to sunlight. It’s further proof that Nezuko is like no other demon alive, giving everyone hope for her humanity, but also alerting Muzan that she’s his final target and forcing the entire Demon Slayer Corps to get stronger in a huge hurry in the upcoming Hashira Training Arc.