Is Shinobu Kocho the weakest Hashira in Demon Slayer? Explained

Analyzing Shinobu
Analyzing Shinobu's combat abilities in the anime and manga series (Image credits: Ufotable)

Demon Slayer has done a phenomenal job of creating a wide range of characters with varying abilities. Naturally, there is a set of characters who are a cut above the rest. These characters sit atop the Demon Slayer Corps, and they are some of the finest demon hunters in the country.

These people are referred to as the Hashira. The Hashira, or Pillars, specialize in a particular Breathing Technique and are handpicked by the organization's leader. They are deployed when some of the most powerful demons are present on the battlefield. Within this subset, some are powerful, and some are on the weaker side of the spectrum.

The question that most fans are asking is this: Is Shinobu Kocho the weakest Hashira in Demon Slayer? Yes, Shinobu Kocho is physically the weakest Hashira in the anime and manga series. It is important to note that the weakness in question strictly pertains to her physical strength. She is the only Hashira who cannot slice the head of a demon. One might wonder how Shinobu managed to rise the ranks and become a Hashira in the first place.

Where Shinobu lacks in strength, she makes up for it with her speed and her understanding of demon anatomy. She has a specialized sword designed to thrust and stab. Since she understands the anatomy of a demon, she can concoct some of the most potent poisons that can kill some of the toughest demons.

Shinobu's sacrifice helped her teammates defeat Doma (Image credits:Ufotable)
Shinobu's sacrifice helped her teammates defeat Doma (Image credits:Ufotable)

She detests demons with a passion since her elder sister died to one. Shinobu Kocho bore a grudge against the Upper Moon 2 demon, Doma. Unfortunately, that was her last fight as a demon hunter, and she didn’t stand a chance against him. However, her sacrifice was a part of her plan. She consumed wisteria poison for months on end to fill every orifice of her body with a potent poison.

She knew that Doma would consume her, given his erratic nature and views on women in the Demon Slayer series. Her predictions were spot on, and he ended up consuming lethal poison that was designed to kill him. He became so weak that Inosuke Hashibira and Kanao Tsuyuri managed to deliver the fatal blow. Demon Slayer anime-only fans will be delighted to know that Shinobu impacted the story even after her unfortunate death.

Disclaimer: This article contains massive spoilers from the Demon Slayer manga series.


Shinobu’s impact on the Demon Slayer Corps following her death

Shinobu Kocho’s efforts were monumental in defeating Kibutsuji Muzan. The Insect Hashira was one of the most important characters in the entire series. She worked with Tamayo despite her hatred for demons. However, she realized that Tamayo was working with the Demon Slayer Corps to defeat Muzan. Therefore, the two of them created a multi-stage drug that weakened Muzan considerably.

It prevented him from splitting into hundreds of pieces and escaping the battlefield. Furthermore, it aged him rapidly while weakening and destroying his insides in the process. While Shinobu was dead at this point in the manga, her efforts continued to help the demon hunters. It was because of her knowledge that the swordsmen could keep Muzan engaged till the break of dawn. This is why fans consider her to be one of the most underrated characters in the anime and manga series.


Shinobu is, physically, the weakest Hashira in Demon Slayer. However, her speed and knowledge of medicine were unparalleled. She managed to play an important role in defeating Doma and helped Tamayo create a drug that ultimately led to Muzan’s downfall. She is an underrated character whom fans love.

Edited by Rohan Jagannath