Breathing techniques are the foundation of combat in Demon Slayer. Developed by swordsmen to fight demons, each style has unique forms, strengths, and histories. This guide covers all known breathing styles.
How Breathing Works
Breathing techniques enhance physical abilities through:
- Controlled respiration: Specific breathing patterns
- Increased oxygen flow: Boosts strength, speed, healing
- Total Concentration: Maintaining breathing 24/7
- Form visualization: The visual effects represent technique mastery
Sun Breathing (Hinokami Kagura)
The Original Style
Created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Sun Breathing is the first and strongest style. All other breaths derive from it.
Forms
- Dance
- Clear Blue Sky
- Raging Sun
- Burning Bones, Summer Sun
- Setting Sun Transformation
- Solar Heat Haze
- Beneficent Radiance
- Sunflower Thrust
- Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance
- Fire Wheel
- Fake Rainbow
- Flame Dance
- Thirteenth Form (combines all twelve)
User: Tanjiro Kamado
Water Breathing
Characteristics
Derived from Sun Breathing; emphasizes fluidity and adaptability. Forms mimic water movement—waves, rain, tides.
Forms
- Water Surface Slash
- Water Wheel
- Flowing Dance
- Striking Tide
- Blessed Rain After the Drought
- Whirlpool
- Drop Ripple Thrust
- Waterfall Basin
- Splashing Water Flow
- Constant Flux
- Dead Calm (Giyu’s personal form)
Notable Users
- Giyu Tomioka (Water Hashira)
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Sabito, Makomo
Flame Breathing
Characteristics
Aggressive, powerful attacks with offensive focus. Forms generate heat and overwhelming force.
Forms
- Unknowing Fire
- Rising Scorching Sun
- Blazing Universe
- Blooming Flame Undulation
- Flame Tiger
- Rengoku (exclusive to Rengoku family)
Notable Users
- Kyojuro Rengoku (Flame Hashira)
- Shinjuro Rengoku (former)
Thunder Breathing
Characteristics
Focuses on speed. Users burst forward with lightning-fast attacks, often ending fights in single strikes.
Forms
- Thunderclap and Flash
- Rice Spirit
- Thunder Swarm
- Distant Thunder
- Heat Lightning
- Rumble and Flash
- Flaming Thunder God (Zenitsu’s creation)
Notable Users
- Zenitsu Agatsuma (only knows First Form + Seventh)
- Kaigaku (former Thunder Hashira candidate)
Wind Breathing
Characteristics
Wild, unpredictable slashing attacks. Emphasizes ferocity and wide-area damage.
Forms
- Dust Whirlwind Cutter
- Claws-Purifying Wind
- Clean Storm Wind Tree
- Rising Dust Storm
- Cold Mountain Wind
- Black Wind Mountain Mist
- Gale, Sudden Gusts
- Primary Gale Slash
Notable Users
- Sanemi Shinazugawa (Wind Hashira)
Stone Breathing
Characteristics
The most powerful physical attacks. Requires immense strength; focuses on defense and heavy blows.
Notable User
- Gyomei Himejima (Stone Hashira) – considered strongest Hashira
Derived Breathing Styles
From Water
- Flower Breathing: Graceful, feminine style → Serpent Breathing
- Insect Breathing: Modified for Shinobu’s weak body
From Flame
- Love Breathing: Mitsuri’s unique flexible style
From Thunder
- Sound Breathing: Uses sound and explosive attacks
From Wind
- Mist Breathing: Obscures movements, confuses enemies
- Beast Breathing: Inosuke’s self-taught wild style
Total Concentration Constant
Elite slayers maintain breathing 24/7:
- Constantly enhanced physical abilities
- Accelerated healing
- Requires months to master
- All Hashira achieve this
Related: Why Demon Slayer Became the Biggest Anime of the 2020s