Twelve Kizuki Ranking and Strength Analysis! Complete Guide to Upper and Lower Moon Blood Demon Arts in Demon Slayer
As Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train captivates audiences worldwide, not only are the members of the Demon Slayer Corps highly appealing, but the antagonistic force "demons," led by the Demon King "Kibutsuji Muzan," especially his strongest direct subordinates, the "Twelve Kizuki," are also widely discussed for their unique Blood Demon Arts and background stories.
This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the organizational structure of the Twelve Kizuki, the power gap between the Upper and Lower Ranks, and a complete introduction to the Blood Demon Arts and characteristics of all members, helping you fully understand these fascinating and powerful antagonists.
Analysis of the Nature and Fatal Weaknesses of Demons
In the world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, demons were originally human. They transformed into bloodthirsty, monstrous beings after receiving the blood of the Demon King, "Kibutsuji Muzan." They possess strong vitality and regenerative abilities, allowing them to recover quickly even from severe injuries.
However, demons are not invincible; they have two major fatal weaknesses:
- Sunlight: Once exposed to sunlight, a demon's body will turn to ashes.
- Nichirin Blades: Decapitation by the special blades wielded by the Demon Slayer Corps is the only method, besides sunlight, that can completely kill a demon.
Additionally, demons can enhance their power by consuming humans. Those demons with exceptional abilities or who demonstrate high loyalty to Muzan can receive more blood, thereby awakening supernatural abilities known as "Blood Demon Arts".
The Twelve Kizuki Class System and Organizational Structure
Kibutsuji Muzan's Absolute Rule
In the society of demons, there exists an absolute hierarchy with Kibutsuji Muzan at the apex. Muzan is not only the progenitor of all demons but also possesses the ability to transform freely and conceal himself within human society, and he can control the life, death, and thoughts of all demons under his command through his will.
The Elite Status of the Twelve Kizuki
"Twelve Kizuki" is an elite organization composed of the twelve strongest demons personally selected by Muzan. They are divided into six "Upper Ranks" and six "Lower Ranks", with strength distinguished by numbers—the smaller the number, the stronger the member.
Among them, the strength of the Upper Ranks far surpasses that of the Lower Ranks, with members remaining almost unchanged for centuries; in contrast, the Lower Ranks frequently changed and were ultimately disbanded by Muzan himself due to their weakness. This cold-blooded purge meeting is jokingly referred to by fans as the "Muzan's Power Bullying Conference".
[鬼舞辻無慘能力分析與過去歷史詳解]
Upper Rank Demons: Detailed Analysis of the Strongest Combatants of the Twelve Kizuki
The Upper Ranks are the most troublesome enemies for the Demon Slayer Corps, each member possessing terrifying strength sufficient to easily defeat Hashira-level swordsmen.
Upper Rank One: Kokushibo - The Strongest Warrior of the Twelve Kizuki
As the leader of the Twelve Kizuki, Kokushibo was originally a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman who uses "Moon Breathing." He is a terrifying samurai wearing a kimono and possessing six eyes. He exudes overwhelming dignity, and even fellow Upper Rank Akaza holds him in awe.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Moon Breathing: Combines sword techniques with Blood Demon Art, unleashing numerous slashes accompanied by crescent moon blades
Character traits：
- Dressed in samurai style, with six eyes on his face
- Fights demons with a Nichirin Blade, possessing unrivaled strength among the Twelve Kizuki
Upper Rank Two: Doma - Eternal Paradise Faith Leader
Doma is the leader of the "Eternal Paradise Faith," always greeting people with a smiling face but possessing an extremely cold personality devoid of emotion. After becoming a demon, he used religion to attract followers and devour them, showing particular preference for women. He is also the one who turned Daki and Gyutaro into demons.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Cryokinesis Blood Demon Art: Can create freezing ice crystal powder; inhalation causes pulmonary alveoli necrosis
Character traits：
- Appears as splendid as a cult leader, holding a pair of golden folding fans
- Eyes display rainbow colors, with an eerie and captivating smile
Upper Rank Three: Akaza - The Ultimate Martial Artist
Akaza, who left a deep impression on viewers with his deadly battle against the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku in the Mugen Train Arc, is a martial arts enthusiast who respects the strong and despises the weak. He fights solely with supreme martial arts and physical prowess, has criminal tattoos covering his entire body, and holds respect for powerful opponents.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Destructive Kill: Compass Needle: Deploys a snowflake-shaped array underfoot, allowing precise sensing of the opponent's fighting spirit
- Destructive Kill: Air Type: Fires powerful air fist shockwaves from a distance
Character traits：
- Short hair, body covered in blue tattoos
- Fighting style is bare-handed close combat
[煉獄杏壽郎VS猗窩座戰鬥分析與感動場面回顧]
Upper Rank Four: Hantengu - Multiple Personality Split Demon
Initially appears as a timid, cowardly old man, but after his true form is beheaded, he splits into four youthful avatars representing "Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Pleasure", each possessing unique abilities.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Sekido: Releases lightning attacks
- Karaku: Generates strong winds for area attacks
- Urogi: High-speed flight and ultrasonic attacks
- Aizetsu: Uses a spear for mid-range attacks
- Zohakuten: Form created when Sekido absorbs the other three, capable of manipulating trees to attack
Character traits：
- True form is an old man with a horn on his forehead
- After splitting, becomes young demons with different appearances, each representing a different emotion
Upper Rank Five: Gyokko - Twisted Artist
Gyokko is a deformed demon who resides in a vase, harboring a twisted obsession with art and viewing his killing methods as creative works. He attacked the Swordsmith Village alongside Hantengu.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Water Prison Bowl: Traps enemies in a cage made of water
- Thousand Needle Fish Kill: Spits out small fish carrying poisonous needles from its mouth
- Scale Killing Fish Array: Final form after molting, can turn anything it touches into fish
Character traits：
- Hides inside a pot long-term, possesses multiple arms
- Grotesque in appearance, extremely proud of his "art"
Upper Rank Six: Daki & Gyutaro - Siblings Sharing the Position
These sibling demons share the position of Upper Rank Six, and both their necks must be severed simultaneously to kill them. Daki infiltrated the Entertainment District as an oiran, beautiful yet cruel; her older brother Gyutaro hides within Daki's body, ugly in appearance but immensely powerful.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Daki: Controls the "Eight-Layered Obi Slash" that can cut through anything
- Gyutaro: Controls razor-sharp blood slashes "Flying Blood Sickles" that carry potent poison
Character traits：
- Siblings are one entity, sharing a single seat
- Represents the tragedy and distortion of the lower strata of society
[遊郭篇完整劇情解析：墮姬妓夫太郎兄妹的悲劇故事]
Lower Rank Demons: The Weaklings Abandoned by Muzan
The strength of the Lower Rank demons is far inferior to that of the Upper Ranks, and their members were frequently defeated in battles with the Demon Slayer Corps. After the death of Lower Rank Five "Rui", Muzan was enraged by the weakness of the Lower Ranks, so he summoned all Lower Rank members and carried out a purge, with only Enmu surviving.
Lower Rank One: Enmu - The Sole Survivor
The only demon who survived the purge meeting among the Lower Ranks. Because he showed pleasure and worship towards Muzan's cruel decision, he instead received more blood and was given a new mission. He possesses the ability to manipulate dreams and posed a great threat to Tanjiro and his companions on the Mugen Train.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Forced Hypnosis: Freely manipulates others' dreams, trapping enemies in beautiful dreams from which they cannot awaken
Character traits：
- Has a mouth on the back of his left hand
- Words and actions are filled with a morbid sense of sadomasochism
Lower Rank Five: Rui - The Tragic Boy Who Longs for Family
A young demon who appears in the Natagumo Mountain Arc, yearning for a false "family bond". He shares his blood with other demons, forcing them to play the roles of family members. His Blood Demon Art involves manipulating tough threads, and his strength far surpasses that of other Lower Ranks.
Blood Demon Art abilities：
- Spider Thread Manipulation: Controls sharp and hard spider threads for attack and defense
Character traits：
- White short hair, youthful face
- Has a strong and twisted obsession with family
The tragic fates of the other Lower Rank demons
During Muzan's purge meeting, all the following Lower Rank members were killed:
- Lower Rank Two: Rokuro: Killed for asking Muzan for blood
- Lower Rank Three: Wakuraba: Killed for attempting to escape
- Lower Rank Four: Mukago: Killed because Muzan saw through her cowardly heart
- Lower Rank Six: Kamanue: Killed because his inner doubts about Muzan were read
Twelve Kizuki Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Q1: How big is the strength gap between the Upper Rank and Lower Rank demons?
A1: The strength of the Upper Rank demons far surpasses that of the Lower Rank demons. According to the story's description, the Upper Ranks have remained unchanged for centuries, while the Lower Ranks change frequently. The combat power of one Upper Rank demon is roughly equivalent to several dozen Lower Rank demons, which is also why Muzan ultimately decided to dissolve all Lower Ranks.
Q2: Why did Muzan dissolve the Lower Rank demons?
A2: Because the Lower Rank demons were too weak and were frequently defeated by the Demon Slayer Corps, they failed to exert the威慑力 that the Twelve Kizuki should possess. After Lower Rank Five "Rui" was defeated, Muzan deemed the Lower Ranks to have lost their value and therefore convened a purge meeting to kill them all, sparing only Enmu.
Q3: Who is the strongest among the Twelve Kizuki?
A3: Upper Rank One "Kokushibo" is the strongest being among the Twelve Kizuki. He was originally a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman, mastering the Moon Breathing style, and is held in awe even by other Upper Rank members. His strength is such that multiple Hashira-level swordsmen struggle to contend with him.
Q4: How are Blood Demon Arts awakened?
A4: Blood Demon Arts are the special abilities of demons, typically awakened after receiving a large amount of Muzan Kibutsuji's blood. The strength of the ability is related to the demon's power, the amount of blood received, as well as personal talent and obsession. Each demon's Blood Demon Art is unique, reflecting their life experiences or personality traits.
Q5: Do the numerical rankings of the Twelve Kizuki change?
A5: Yes, they do. The rankings of the Twelve Kizuki are not fixed; when new powerful demons join or existing members are defeated, the rankings are readjusted. However, rankings among the Upper Ranks rarely change due to their immense strength; the Lower Ranks change frequently and were ultimately all dissolved by Muzan.
Q6: Can any demon defy Muzan Kibutsuji?
A6: Extremely difficult. Muzan possesses the ability to read the thoughts of all demons and can control their life and death through his will. Even demons as strong as the Upper Ranks cannot truly defy Muzan's will. This absolute control is the foundation of Muzan's maintenance of the demon hierarchy.
[鬼滅之刃世界觀完整解析：鬼殺隊組織架構與歷史]
Conclusion: The Charm and Influence of the Twelve Kizuki
From the supreme Upper Rank One "Kokushibo", to the twisted Lower Rank Five "Rui" who yearned for family, the Twelve Kizuki in Demon Slayer are not only powerful antagonists driving the plot, but also characters filled with complex humanity and tragic elements.
Their unique "Blood Demon Arts" and distinct character settings greatly enrich the story's depth and tension. Whether it's Akaza vs. Kyojuro Rengoku's life-and-death duel, or the tragic past of the Daki and Gyutaro siblings, each member of the Twelve Kizuki carries profound narrative significance.
Understanding these demons' backgrounds and abilities will undoubtedly allow you to gain a deeper appreciation and enjoyment when revisiting the story or watching new works. With the release of the Infinity Castle Arc, it is believed these classic antagonist characters will once again bring shock and emotion to the audience.
[Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc Movie Latest Information and Viewing Guide]