11. Hashira Training Arc
This arc is like the training montage in a film, where the heroes improve their abilities before the final battle. Tanjiro and the Demon Slayers go through intensive training with the expert Hashira, while the Hashira train themselves to master the mysterious mark which grants them ultimate focus in their sword techniques. In a series as action-packed as Demon Slayer (and an epic title to boot), this arc was kind of a slow point for the series.
10. Asakusa Arc
The Asakusa Arc has the big twist reveal of introducing Muzan Kibutsuji way earlier than anyone expected, but otherwise its kind of a forgettable arc. The introduction of medic demon Tamayo and her assistant Yushiro pays off later in the series, but the battle with demons Susamaru and Yahaba is just okay.
9. Mugen Train Arc
The Mugen Tain Arc is one of Demon Slayer‘s most interesting arcs, conceptually, offering a rare steampunk-themed moment in the series. It made inventive use of demonic power mixed with technology, and the normal human world. However, the final section of the arc sets the tone for the series, as a seemingly major character (Kyojuro, the Flame Hashira) is killed, and the power of the Upper Rank Demons is revealed. Mugen Train feels like one of Demon Slayer‘s smaller arcs, which is why it will be perfect as a movie feature!
8. Swordsmith Village Arc
This arc saw Muzan and the Upper Ranks get the jump on the Demon Slayer Corps, by ambushing a key resource of the team: their swordmakers. The two creepy (and quite tricky) demons (Upper Ranks 4 &5) created a sense of desperation and thrills, as the Demon Slayers and some equally strange new friends (Mitsuri, Genya) had to hold the line.
6. Final Battle Arc
Demon Slayer‘s final battle arc left a lot of fans overwhelmed, as the Hashira (along with Tanjiro and Co.) are trapped in Muzan’s Infinity Castle. The fragmented battles, and questionable focus (a lot of time examining on the top demons, instead of the Hashira or Tanjiro), left a lot of fans underwhelmed. Still, it has the Hashira, Tanjiro and his corps buddies unleashing their ultimate techniques, and the Demons revealing their own horrific attacks, to match. In other words, it’s the battle finale fans waited to see!
The final battle with Muzan seemed to drag on a very long time, with the demon king strangely being one of the least interesting demons in the bunch, in terms of powers. Nezuko also got shorted, in the eyes of many fans. For a series that started out so strongly, Demon Slayer didn’t end nearly as well. If that wasn’t enough, the final epilogue of the series left a lot of fans screaming “WTF?!”
5. Drum House Arc
This is the arc that beautifully cemented the core team of the Demon Slayer series: Tanjiro, Nezuko, and their Demon Slayer misfit friends, Zenitsu and Inosuke. That friendship was forged in the heat of a strange battle with the demon Kyogai – which was also our first taste of the more surrealist version of Blood Demon Art powers, as the Drum House’s shifting planes were basically a precursor for the series’ final battle with Muzan in the Infinity Castle.
4. Natagumo Mountain Arc
After having a good introduction to the core characters, Demon Slayer quickly upped the ante with the Natagumo Mountain Arc. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosoke get a big mission to together for the first time, and this one turns out to arguably be Demon Slayer‘s biggest and best “horror” moment. The Natagumo Mountain arc also opened the door to the next level of power in the series: we saw the horrific power of Lower Rank 5 Rui and his Spider Family, while also getting to see the power of the Demon Slayer Hashira (Giyu and the amazing Shinobu Kocho) rise up to meet it.
3. Entertainment District Arc
The Entertainment District arc is a rare standout in Demon Slayer: a bonafide mystery story that had some wonderful slow-burn Noir overtones. Tanjiro, Inosuki, and Zenitsu have to investigate a rumored demon in the red light district, and Demon Slayer introduced fans to one of its biggest fan-fave characters, the Sound Hashira, Uzui. Uzui’s story was arguably the best character development within the Hashira group, and the actual reveal of the demon(s) turned out to be a nice twist, as the serpentine demon Daki and her brother Gyutaro had one of the more compelling stories within the demon Upper Ranks.
2. First Mission Arc
The First Mission arc built upon the strong momentum of Demon Slayer’s launch, by going through the smart, careful pace of deepening the mythos of the series. Tanjiro has to take on his first investigative mission and battle a demon that actually uses strategy and cunning aside from pure fright and might. We learn of the Blood Demon Arts that instantly deepened Demon Slayer‘s entire combat system – but what makes the First Mission Arc so a standout moment for fans, is that it was the moment Nezuko stepped up from tragic sidekick to being the Best Girl icon she is, by jumping into battle alongside her brother.
1. Final Selection Arc
When it comes to Demon Slayer it’s easy to pick the best arc, because inevitably it’s the first one. Manga and anime can be notoriously slow in their slow-burn buildups, but Demon Slayer didn’t have that problem, at all.
Justin Morgan helped bring TeslaBel from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a contributor to TeslaBel, Justin mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.