Warning: major spoilers from Demon Slayer anime and manga!Out of all the modern shonen series,Demon Slayeris one of the best at capturing viewers' attention with unbelievable surprises. From the mostheart-shattering deaths to unexpected human characters turning into demons,Demon Slayer’sstory is filled with unexpected shocks at every turn. Some of the best manga twists are yet to be seen in the anime series, leaving plenty of thrilling fights and devastating losses for the finale.
Demon Slayer’sexhilarating fourth season, chronicling theTo the Hashira Trainingarc, recently concluded, andan exciting film trilogy is on the wayto draw the anime series to a close. The manga ended in May 2020, and the end of the anime is on the horizon too. Now is a perfect time to look back on some ofDemon Slayer’sgreatest plot twists in anticipation of the upcoming 2025 film trilogy.
10Tengen Uzui Retired
Because of His Gruesome Injuries and the Stress on His Wives, Tengen Stepped Down From Being the Sound Hashira
The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, is one of themost powerful Hashirato ever fight demons. His talent, expertise, and dedication to his job made it all the more shocking when he stepped down from his role.Tengen chose to retire after theEntertainment Districtarcthat covered his battle with Daki and Gyutaro. Tengen was injured so horrifically during this fight that he lost a hand and became blind in one eye.
Tengen’s battle wounds played a factor in his retirement, but he also made this decision due to the urging of his three wives. Suma, Makio, and Hinatsuru were heartbroken at seeing their husband so hurt and begged him not to battle demons anymore because the stress was too overwhelming for them. Taking into account his own physical health and the toll it was taking on his wives,Tengen made the astounding choice to quit actively demon slaying, although he participated in occasional training, such as the hashira training.
9Haganezuka Took Off His Mask
The Talented Swordsmith’s Face Was Finally Revealed, Much to the Surprise and Delight of Fans
One of the most anticipated scenes ofDemon Slayerwas pretty minor, but still exciting nonetheless. Hotaru Haganezuka, the swordsmith who meticulously crafts Nichirin swords for the demon slayers, was previously pictured only with a Hyottoko mask. Until season three,no one had witnessed the talented craftsman’s real face.
Demon Slayer Villains All Share The Same Weakness And It’s Not Sunlight
Each of the high-rank demons that Tanjiro has encountered has had one weakness, and it has more to do with what they were when they were still humans.
As Haganezuka worked diligently to repair Tanjiro’s sword, the Upper Rank Five demon Gyokko attacked him, but this never distracted Haganezuka in the slightest. Even once his mask cracked and broke, revealing the mysterious man’s face for the first time ever, he continued his important task. Not only did this moment prove Haganezuka’s diligence and skill, it alsounveiled the true identity of a characterwho was otherwise quite secretive and reclusive.
8Zenitsu and Nezuko Got Married
This Demon Slayer Pair Proves Opposites Attract, and Their Canon Romance Is a Plot Point No One Was Expecting
There arequite a few adorable canon romances inDemon Slayer,including Tanjiro and Kanao and Obanai and Mitsuri, to name a few. However, one love story fans certainly could not have predicted is the one between demon slayer, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Tanjiro’s sister, Nezuko Kamado. Their relationship started with Zenitsu’s complete infatuation with Nezuko, who eventually began feeling affection towards Zenitsu too.
10 Best Demon Slayer Couples
From slow-burn romances to sad and heartbreaking love stories. These are the best couples in Demon Slayer that touched the hearts of fans.
Although in earlier seasons ofDemon Slayer,Nezuko and Zenitsu’s interactionswere mainly played as jokes about Zenitsu’s out of control obsession, once Zenitsu developed more maturity, the love between them began to grow. In the distant future, after Muzan was finally defeated,Zenitsu and Nezuko are confirmed to have gotten married and had children. This fact may amaze fans who have not reached the end of the series yet, but it is certainly touching that the pair were able to find peace and build a happy family with one another.
7Obanai’s Tragic Backstory Was Revealed
The Serpent Hashira’s Childhood Was Filled With an Astonishing Amount of Abuse, Neglect, and Death
Most of the characters inDemon Slayerhave violent, disheartening backstories as a result of the difficult lives they have had to lead in a world plagued by demons. However,no origin story is quite as heart-rending as Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro’s. Obanai is typically quiet and reserved compared to the other Hashira, and his hesitance to open up to others makes sense considering his upbringing.
Unfortunately,Obanai was the victimof abuse from his own family and the villainous Serpent Demonthey worshiped. He was physically and mentally tormented, trapped in a cage, and once he did escape, the Serpent Demon killed his entire family as payback. Overall, Obanai has undergone unspeakable struggles in his life that are absolutely startling to hear about.
6Inosuke’s Mother Was Killed By Doma
Inosuke Finally Discovered Who Killed His Mother, Kotoha, When He Met the Upper Rank Two Demon
For a while, one of the mostpuzzling mysteries inDemon Slayerwas who Inosuke Hashibira’s parents were. Tragically, they did not appear in the series because they died during Inosuke’s childhood. Inosuke was raised by his mother, Kotoha, because his father was abusive, but another detail of Inosuke’s upbringing is absolutely mind-blowing.
Kotoha was in the Upper Rank Two Demon, Doma’s, cult, as one of his worshipers. She was unaware Doma was an evil demon, but once she discovered his true identity and fled, Doma murdered her. Discovering thatone ofDemon Slayer’sworst demons killed Inosuke’s mothernot only caught viewers off guard, but Inosuke himself when he learned of his origins.
5Shinobu and Kanao Avenged Kanae’s Death
Along With Inosuke Hashibira, the Courageous Demon Slayers Killed Doma, One of the Mightiest Villains
Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, and her adoptive sister, Kanao Kocho, are two well-knownDemon Slayercharacters. However, a little known fact is thatthe two demon slayers once had a third sister, who they mourn daily. Kanae Kocho was the bold, resilient oldest sister who saved Kanao from slavery, but she was sadly murdered by Doma, the Upper Rank Two demon.
Upon realizing who ended their beloved sister’s life, Kanao and Shinobu flew into a rage and retaliated against the evil creature. Inosuke Hashibira joined in to avenge his mother, and the group finally stopped Doma’s cruelty for good by killing him. This surprising scene had been a long time coming, andDoma finally had to suffer the same fate he subjected so many innocent victims to.
4Tanjiro’s Entire Family Was Murdered by Demons
Early in the Series, While He Was on an Errand, Tanjiro’s Family Was Slaughtered by the Demon King Muzan
Demon Slayer’sfirst episode opened withone of anime’s most horrifying tragedies, setting the tone for the rest of the series. While Tanjiro was away on an errand in town, he was completely unaware of the disaster unfolding at home. When he returned, it was too late;his entire family was already killedby the demon Muzan.
The scene of carnage Tanjiro encountered was difficult to believe or stomach. His onlysurviving family member was his sister Nezuko, who Muzan, the killer, turned into a demon like himself. It was a risk to begin the series with such a shocking incident, but it certainly caught viewers' attention instantly.
3Kyojuro Rengoku Dies
The Upper Rank Three Demon, Akaza, Is Responsible forDemon Slayer’sMost Unanticipated Death
PerhapsDemon Slayer’smost unexpected and agonizing deathoccurred during theMugen Trainarc. Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, was widely respected and passionate about slaying demons. Unfortunately, he met his match in the Upper Rank Three demon, Akaza.
Akaza was impressed by Rengoku’s skill, begging him to become a demon and use his powers for evil. Rengoku refused to succumb to Akaza’s temptation, so he lost his life, breaking the hearts of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, who looked on in horror. Even after the series has concluded, this remains one of the least expected and most tearjerkingDemon Slayerdeaths.
2Nezuko Conquered Sunlight
She Was the First Ever Demon To Unlock Sunlight Immunity, Astoundingly Unlocking This Ability Before Muzan
When Nezuko turned into a demon in season one, everyone warned her brother Tanjiro that her chances of reverting to her human form were slim. In theSwordsmith Villagearc though,she surprised everyone by unlocking a new skill previously believed to be impossiblefor a demon.Nezuko stood in direct sunlightwithout dying, proving she had conquered the sun.
25 Saddest Demon Slayer Deaths, Ranked
Deaths are unavoidable in Demon Slayer, as characters constantly fight for their lives. Some deaths are sadder than others, though.
At this point, even the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, had not mastered sunlight immunity. Nezuko being the first demon to walk freely in the sun unharmed was not only a major shock,it established her strength and potential.Nezuko is no average demon, and this emotional scene proves that better than any other.
1Tanjiro Turns Into a Demon
The Most Unexpected Character Was Turned Into One of the Evil Creatures Who Killed His Family
Demon Slayer’sbiggest plot twist by far took place in the final chapters of the manga. In a final act of violence, before he died,Lord Muzan turned Tanjiro into a demon.As much as Tanjiro despised demons, even he could not resist the transformation, and began attacking his own best friends.
The story had a happy ending and, luckily, Tanjiro’s loved ones were able to band together to save the hero from himself. Out of all the characters to become a demon,Tanjiro seemed the least likely because of his determination and willpower.Muzan could have ruined Tanjiro’s life completely with this action, but thankfully, his horrifying turn to evil was resolved.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Cast
Set in Japan’s Taisho Period, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba follows Tanjiro, a young boy whose family is killed by demons. With his sister Nezuko transformed into a demon, Tanjiro embarks on a quest to become a demon slayer, seeking vengeance and a cure for his sister’s condition.
