Highlights

• Demon Slayer's breathtaking animation by Ufotable has propelled its popularity to new heights in the anime world.
• Rengoku's Flame Breathing techniques showcase power and skill, highlighting the ferocity and intensity of this style in battle.
• The Flame Breathing techniques, including the devastating Ninth Form, offer fans a glimpse into the raw power and complexity of this unique fighting style.

Demon Slayer has quickly risen in popularity to become one of the most watched and beloved anime of all time. Ufotable deserves all the credit for animating a beautiful show that has become the driving force behind the manga's popularity. The fact that Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has gone on to become the highest-grossing Japanese movie release of all time is a testament to how beloved this series is. The is showing no sign of stopping, with the recent Entertainment District arc wrapping up in spectacular fashion and stoking the flames of hype for this amazing series once again.

A big part of what makes Demon Slayer such a beloved show is its fight scenes. The breathing styles that these slayers use in battle make for some beautiful visual spectacles as they engage in some truly high-octane battles. Flame Breathing is one such technique that is beautiful to witness, with Kyojuro displaying the effectiveness of this technique during the Mugen Train arc. For curious fans, here are all the techniques of this breathing style and a comparison of just how effective and powerful they really are.

Updated on April 8, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Flame Breathing is a style that made a short yet memorable appearance that fans still love to this day. It helps that the person who showcased these techniques, Kyojuro Rengoku, established himself as one of the most likable characters in anime in no time at all. His boisterous charm and heroic personality made Mugen Train a treat to get through, which is why the aftermath of his epic battle with Akaza is hard to fathom. There's no denying that Rengoku was a strong warrior, and fans can only wonder how things would've changed if he'd awakened his fated Demon Slayer Mark to turn the tide of battle against this fearsome. His death showed just how harrowing it is to face an Upper Rank Demon Moon, and also marked an end to the display of any Flame Breathing techniques in later fights.

All Flame Breathing Techniques in Demon Slayer

A total of six Flame Breathing techniques have been shown in Demon Slayer, all of them being pretty effective and memorable in their own right. One thing that fans may have noticed is that there's a noticeable gap between the fifth and ninth forms of Flame Breathing, with the final form serving as the most powerful technique in this short-lived breathing style. It's clear that this moniker was given to Rengoku's attack to make this move feel all the more formidable, even if he was unable to turn the tide of battle against Akaza. Unfortunately, with Rengoku's death, it seems that the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth forms of Flame Breathing will remain a mystery.

6 First Form: Unknowing Fire

The User Dashes Towards The Target And Unleashes A Horizontal Slash To Decapitate Enemies

Flame Breathing is a ferocious technique that uses a mix of power and skill to decimate any enemy that might be standing in a person's way. Each of its forms is meant to communicate the sheer force of power that accompanies every strike in this breathing style. Kyojuro shows just how much patience and expertise you need to pull off most of these techniques, with even his first form being extremely powerful and effective at incapacitating most enemies.

The first form itself is as brutal as it is dazzlingly beautiful. It's the simplest technique, where the user simply charges towards the enemy and tries to behead them with the swiftest and cleanest strike. However, a technique that sounds so basic ends up taking a form of its own with the power of Flame Breathing. It shows everything that this technique is not to be trifled with in the slightest.

5 Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun

An Arcing Vertical Slash In An Upward Motion, Usually Unleashed From A Tail Guard

The second form of Flame Breathing is an effective technique that uses the upward trajectory of a sword slash to great effect. Users of Flame Breathing that manage to get their breathing under control can unleash an extremely powerful upward slash that rises up in a near-perfect arc and decapitates any enemy that might be unlucky enough to get caught in this technique.

It's beautiful in the adaptation, with the rising arc and the trail of flames looking absolutely gorgeous. The Rising Scorching Sun is another simple yet powerful technique that most Flame Breathing users should be familiar with if they want to call themselves the master of this particular breathing style. Given Kyojuro's experience, it's easy to see why he could pull off this technique multiple times without even breaking into a sweat.

Unfortunately, it was clear that these techniques simply wouldn't be enough to take care of a powerful demon like Akaza. Kyojuro had to throw everything but the kitchen sink into this battle to even stand a chance of winning, and he certainly proved his dedication to the fight by showing all the advanced styles of Flame Breathing.

4 Third Form: Blazing Universe

A Downwards Slash, Usually Unleashed From A High Guard

Flame Breathing's third form is pretty much the opposite of the second form. Instead of swinging their blade upward, the user strikes downward instead with as much power as possible. Most lesser demons would be incapacitated in one go with this technique, although it's obvious that someone like Akaza would require way more effort to be taken care of with this technique. That being said, Kyojuro certainly can't be faulted for using this technique, given how powerful and effective it is in any other situation.

While Blazing Universe might not have been all that effective in Demon Slayer, there's no denying that this move still boasts a lot of power. It's one of the better techniques present in this Breathing style and can serve as a valuable addition to anyone's arsenal. After all, the momentum of a downward swing is going to be pretty powerful anyway, and coupling this with the inherent power of Flame Breathing makes it even more effective at taking down enemies.

3 Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation

Multiple Slashes Unleashed In A Fluid Circular Motion

Certain moves in a breathing style end up being incredibly useful due to the impressive degree of their usefulness in battle. This applies to Blooming Flame Undulation, which allows Flame Breathing users to mount both a great attack and defense at the same time due to the practical nature of this technique. As would be expected, this technique is incredibly complex, with only the most powerful Flame Breathing users having the capacity to carry out such an impressive move.

The explanation makes this technique seem rather simple, with the user spinning their blade around in a circular motion at rapid speeds. However, it's the application of this technique that makes it so useful in battle. It allows users to block and deflect projectiles when at long range and is particularly devastating at close range against a group of demons. If this technique is carried out to the letter, then it wouldn't be a stretch to say that multiple enemies could be easily beheaded with this technique.

2 Fifth Form: Flame Tiger

The User Charges Forward, Unleashing Numerous Sword Slashes While Taking On The Form Of A Flaming Tiger

Sometimes, a single attack isn't enough to take down a hardy demon. In such an event, the user needs to carry out multiple attacks with pinpoint precision in order to expose defenses and hopefully land a mortal blow. Flame Breathing's fifth form is meant to accommodate this requirement, with Flame Tiger being one of its best moves. It helps that this move is visually spectacular as well, letting enemies bask in its gloriousness before being absolutely annihilated by this massive power.

This technique involves the user using multiple sword slashes to whittle away at their opponent, with the aura of their attacks being so strong and overpowering that they take on the form of a tiger that's covered in flames. Suffice it to say, any lesser enemy that's unlucky enough to be caught in this technique will find themselves departing from the world sooner rather than later. At the very least, they would be able to appreciate some great visuals before being whisked away to the afterlife.

1 Ninth Form: Rengoku

A Flaming Dragon Envelops The User As They Charge At High Speeds And Unleash A Devastating Sword Slash

Only the legendary Rengoku family would have the gall to jump straight to a ninth form after learning the five established forms of Flame Breathing. This original form is one of the most powerful attacks in Flame Breathing's repertoire with a destructive capacity that is breathtaking to behold.

Similar to the first form, Rengoku is a slashing attack employed by the user after dashing toward an opponent. However, its destructive capacity is so immense that it can leave a full-blown crater at the point of impact. In order to hammer in just how destructive this technique really is, the adaptation of Demon Slayer also features a dragon wreathed in flames that are generated while dashing toward the opponent at high speed. It's easily one of the most powerful techniques in the entire show.

Unfortunately, this technique also showed the gulf of power between the Hashira and the Twelve Kizuki. Even after being absolutely assaulted by this technique, Akaza still managed to survive while landing a fatal blow on his opponent in the process. It's a heartbreaking moment, showing that there's still a long way to go for the Demon Slayers before they even stand a chance against such incredibly powerful opposition.