7 Demon Slayer Characters Who Would’ve Made A Better Final Villain Than Muzan

Be warned, this article reveals major plot points from after the Infinity Castle arc! Anime often features powerful and frightening villains, and Muzan Kibutsuji fulfills that role perfectly in Demon Slayer. He’s the root of all evil in the series and represents the ultimate challenge Tanjiro and Nezuko must overcome after everything they’ve been through.

Currently, no other demons match his incredible power. But let’s imagine there were characters who could challenge him as the biggest threat in Demon Slayer – who might they be?

Rengoku’s Undying Spirit Could Have Been Lethal

The final battle on the Mugen Train remains one of the most emotionally powerful moments in the anime. Rengoku’s unwavering determination deeply affected not only Tanjiro and his friends, but even Akaza. Akaza was so struck by Rengoku’s strength and dedication that he desperately wanted to turn him into a demon.

Rengoku’s strong will is what kept him from joining Akaza, but if he had, he likely would have become an incredibly powerful demon. His death deeply affected Tanjiro, and if Rengoku had become a demon instead, that impact would have been even greater. If he’d survived until the end, having a former Hashira as a final enemy would have dramatically changed the emotional weight and course of the battle.

Kagaya Would Have Broken the Demon Slayers

Kagaya Ubuyashiki was the leader who represented all the demon slayers. He was known for his kindness and compassion, which inspired the swordsmen to fight even harder against Muzan. When he confronted Muzan, he explained that the Demon Slayers were a powerful, unified group that had been battling demons for generations. He assured Muzan that even if he were to die, the Demon Slayers would continue their fight with even greater determination.

If Muzan had turned Kagaya into a demon, it would have devastated the Demon Slayers. Kagaya was a father figure to many of the Hashira, having saved them and given them a new life. His transformation would have been emotionally crippling for most, and it would have taken them a long time to accept that they needed to fight him.

Akaza Was Never Defeated

Akaza was incredibly powerful, ranking as one of the strongest demons – an Upper Moon Three. However, his fragmented memories prevented him from fully embracing evil. Unlike other demons, he couldn’t bring himself to harm or consume women, despite knowing it would increase his power. Demons like Muzan and Doma had no such reservations, and this willingness allowed them to surpass Akaza in strength.

I watched as Akaza fought Tanjiro and Giyu, and in the end, he remembered his past. It was a surprising turn, and it led him to end his own life. It really seemed like he would have won if those memories hadn’t surfaced. It made me think, if he hadn’t been held back by his human side – those lingering feelings and memories – he might have become an even more terrifying villain, completely focused on gaining power and never stopping.

Doma Is Easy to Hate

A great villain needs to be someone viewers love to hate, and Doma certainly fits the bill. He’s cunning and unsettling, making him a particularly disliked character in the anime. He deliberately taunts his opponents, like when he expressed regret to Shinobu that he hadn’t been able to consume Kanae. Later, he upset Kanao by claiming she ruined his meal while he was absorbing Shinobu’s body.

Even as a human, he couldn’t understand or respect his parents. He devoured his followers, claiming he was relieving their pain. If he had lived to the end, his cruel words and complete lack of empathy would have made him a powerful and despised final boss.

Kokushibo Is the Current Next Best Villain

image via studio UFOtable.

As the most powerful of the Twelve Kizuki, Kokushibo is a major threat to Muzan and could potentially take his place. Like Muzan, he’s lived for centuries, and during that time, he’s likely killed and turned countless people into demons. He’s also unique among demons because of his exceptional swordsmanship.

He was a powerful demon slayer in a previous life, mastering techniques like Total Concentration Breathing and developing a unique Moon Breathing style, even gaining a Demon Slayer Mark. However, what truly would have made him a formidable villain was his family history and personality.

I’m absolutely fascinated by Kokushibo’s story! Being Yoriichi’s older twin – and with Yoriichi being hailed as the strongest – he carried this immense pressure to be better. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t reach his brother’s level. It’s so tragic how that constant failure slowly twisted him, fueling envy and resentment until it ultimately led him down the path to becoming a demon. It really makes you think about how much that sibling rivalry impacted him.

If he’d been the ultimate villain, the story would have been richer and more detailed. He wouldn’t have just been a demon; he’d also have a history as a human, a talented demon hunter, and an ancestor of one of the main characters.

Nezuko, as a Villain, Would Have a Greater Emotional Impact

From the beginning of Demon Slayer, the close relationship between Nezuko and Tanjiro has been central to the story. Tanjiro’s initial goal was to protect Nezuko, even though she had become a demon. As they traveled, people grew to love Nezuko, and she became an important character. Eventually, she gained the ability to withstand sunlight and even played a key role in defeating powerful demons.

In the climactic battle, after Muzan was defeated, he desperately transferred all his darkness into Tanjiro, turning him into a demon. Nezuko arrived shortly after, but if she’d been just a little faster, she might have been the one Muzan targeted. That would have created an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking situation for Tanjiro and the other demon slayers.

I always thought Nezuko had the potential to be a truly compelling villain, even more so than being a central figure in the fighting. I remember during Season 3, Tanjiro was put in an impossible position – he had to choose between helping others and saving his sister. He froze, unable to decide. It made me wonder, if that situation happened again, what would he do? Would he finally be forced to make a choice?

Tanjiro, The King of Demons

This manga introduced a villain who might be the most powerful and ruthless one we’ve seen so far. Even after losing, Muzan refused to give up and attempted to transfer his power into Tanjiro, hoping to live on through him. This transformed Tanjiro into an incredibly strong demon. Because Tanjiro is related to Nezuko, his demon form already had the unique ability to withstand sunlight, and he could also use the powerful Sun Breathing technique – a technique previously used to severely injure Muzan.

Tanjiro would have been able to anticipate the attacks of other demon slayers, knowing their skills and fighting styles well. This would have made him incredibly powerful. By this time in the story, most of the Hashira had already died, and those who were still alive were too badly hurt to fight the newly emerged King of Demons.

Seven characters had the potential to completely change the story of Demon Slayer, leading to a very different outcome. They each possess the power to cause immense damage or create significant emotional fallout.

Demon Slayer is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

2026-02-16 21:37