The long-awaited Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle arc has finally been adapted into anime, bringing Demon Slayer to its dramatic climax. With breathtaking battles, emotional farewells, and stunning animation, the series has given fans a chance to witness just how far each of the Corps’ finest swordsmen have come. Among the breathing styles, Water Breathing stands out as one of the most influential and enduring, with a legacy that shaped much of the story.

The Water Breathing style has been passed down through generations, refined by both masters and prodigies alike. With Infinity Castle showcasing the culmination of years of training and sacrifice, now is the perfect time to re-examine every major Water Breathing user. From early trainees to the greatest Hashira, each fighter has left their mark on the Corps’ history.

Aoi Kanzaki

The Lucky Survivor Who Found Strength Elsewhere

Aoi Kanzaki, while not actively participating in combat, is a skilled member of the Demon Slayer Corps. She initially trained as a Demon Slayer and learned the Water Breathing technique, but only survived the Final Selection because of luck. After that, she became afraid of fighting and chose instead to work in the Butterfly Mansion, assisting with medical care and rehabilitation of injured Demon Slayers.

Aoi’s understanding of Water Breathing is a key part in her character’s growth and backstory, and she excels in her supporting role of providing care and motivation to her fellow Demon Slayers. Her dedication to the cause, even outside the battlefield, showcases how, despite her fear of fighting, she is still brave and committed. Aoi might not rank among Demon Slayer’s strongest women, but she’s still a capable fighter in her own right.

Murata

The Ordinary Swordsman Who Refuses to Quit

Murata is a lower-ranked Demon Slayer who has a basic proficiency in Water Breathing. He often finds himself overshadowed by stronger characters, but Murata is just as iron-willed and reliable as any other member of the Corps. Murata’s encounters with demons throughout the series and manga show how resilient and determined he is, despite his limited combat skills. His greatest strength lies in his teamwork, supporting more skilled Demon Slayers in their missions. Murata’s courage and perseverance make him a valuable, if modest, Demon Slayer in the fight against demons.

What makes Murata all the more remarkable, though, is just how long he makes it in the series. While some of Demon Slayer’s strongest Hashira die in combat, Murata survives long past the point any reasonable person would expect, being on of the Infinity Castle arcs few survivors who actually went into battle.

Makomo

The Gentle Teacher Who Lives Through Tanjiro

Makomo, a former trainee of Sakonji Urokodaki, is known for her gentle nature and exceptional training skills. Though she was killed by a Hand Demon during the Final Selection, her spirit lives on and continues to guide and inspire new Demon Slayers in training.

Makomo’s mastery of water breathing was evident in her grace and precision, and she often focused on her agility and evasion movements. Her teachings have been very helpful to many Demon Slayers, particularly Tanjiro Kamado, who adopts many of her Water Breathing techniques, and that is shown in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle throughout Tanjiro’s battles. Makomo’s legacy is in her dedication to helping others grow, making her an irreplaceable part of the Water Breathing lineage.

Sabito

The Wasted Talent Who Became a Legend in Death

Like Makomo, Sabito fell too soon to the Hand Demon, but his skill was undeniable. His mastery of Water Breathing was exceptional, rivaling far more experienced swordsmen. Even in death, he became one of Tanjiro’s fiercest teachers, forcing him to surpass his limits.

Infinity Castle makes Sabito’s loss feel all the more tragic. While weaker Demon Slayers lived long enough to see Muzan’s fall, like Murata, Sabito’s brilliance was cut short. Still, his spirit burns brightly in the legacy of every Water Breathing swordsman that followed.

Sakonji Urokodaki

The Mentor Whose Legacy Shapes the Corps

Once the Water Hashira, Sakonji Urokodaki represents the foundation of the Water Breathing style as seen in Demon Slayer. Though retired by the time of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, his teachings endure through his students, Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomiyoka, who carry his influence into the Demon Slayer Corps’ final battles.

Sakonji’s strict but compassionate training method made him one of the most respected mentors in the series. While age and time have pulled him from the battlefield, Infinity Castle proves that his legacy is alive in every form of Water Breathing wielded by his successors. His era may have ended, but his impact never will.

Giyu Tomioka

The Water Hashira Who Perfected the Style

Giyu Tomioka has long stood as the pinnacle of Water Breathing mastery. His calm demeanor, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm, and sheer composure in battle cemented his reputation as a Hashira. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle reaffirms his role as one of the Corps’ most reliable warriors, standing strong in the fight to the very end.

Yet, while his precision and mastery are undeniable, Giyu is a man of balance rather than innovation. His perfection of the form makes him an extraordinary Water Breather, but it is ultimately Tanjiro who pushes the style into uncharted territory, surpassing even Giyu in versatility and mastery, as shown in their battle against the Upper Moon Akaza.

Tanjiro Kamado

The Successor Who Transcended Water Breathing

Tanjiro Kamado’s journey began with Water Breathing, and by the time of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, he has surpassed every predecessor who wielded the style. Though he later mastered Sun Breathing, he never abandoned his water roots. Instead, he fused the two into a seamless, devastating hybrid that only he could achieve as the main character of the franchise.

Tanjiro represents the evolution of Water Breathing, as someone who took the elegance of the form and elevated it with his creativity, heart, and relentless drive. Infinity Castle highlights his ultimate growth, proving that he is not only the strongest Water Breathing user but also one of the Corps’ greatest warriors of all time in Demon Slayer.

Release Date

2019 – 2024-00-00

Network

Fuji TV, Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV, Kansai TV, Tokai Television Broadcasting, Fukui TV, Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, Iwate Menkoi Television, Sendai Television, SAGA TV, TNC, OHK, Ishikawa TV, Kochi Sun Sun Broadcasting, TV Shizuoka, UMK TV Miyazaki, Television Shin Hiroshima System, NST, NBS, Sakuranbo TV, TSK, Ehime Broadcasting, KTS, NIB, Fukushima TV, TOS, AKT, Toyama Television, TV Kumamoto, Okinawa Television Broadcasting

Directors

Hideki Hosokawa, Shinya Shimomura, Akihiko Uda, Takuro Takahashi, Shuji Miyahara, Masaru Takeuchi, Toshiyuki Shirai, Takuya Nonaka, Yuki Ito, Ken Takahashi, Takahiro Majima, Yusuke Shibata

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  Natsuki Hanae

  Tanjiro Kamado (voice)

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  Akari Kito

  Nezuko Kamado (voice)