How Many Breathing Styles Are There in Demon Slayer? Manga Guide

If you are asking how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer, the clearest manga-based answer is 14 known Breathing Styles. That count includes Sun Breathing, the five main styles derived from it, later branch styles, and Moon Breathing, which is used by Kokushibo rather than the Demon Slayer Corps.

This article explains how that number is counted, which styles appear in the Demon Slayer manga, and why some readers may give a slightly different answer depending on whether they include demon-used techniques or only Corps-based styles.

Readers exploring manga-focused character and power-system guides on HariManga can use this as a clear starting point before diving deeper into specific Hashira, swordsmen, and final-arc matchups.

How Many Breathing Styles Are There in Demon Slayer?

In the Demon Slayer manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, there are 14 known Breathing Styles when counting every named style connected to the core power system. These are not all equal in origin, usage, or importance, but they form the recognized family of breathing techniques shown or referenced in the story.

The 14 known styles are:

• Sun Breathing
• Moon Breathing
• Flame Breathing
• Water Breathing
• Thunder Breathing
• Stone Breathing
• Wind Breathing
• Flower Breathing
• Serpent Breathing
• Insect Breathing
• Love Breathing
• Mist Breathing
• Beast Breathing
• Sound Breathing

So, when people search how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer, the safest short answer is 14, with one important note: some fans count 13 if they exclude Moon Breathing because it is associated with Kokushibo, a demon, rather than an active Demon Slayer Corps user.

Why the Count Can Be Confusing

The confusion comes from the way Demon Slayer presents its power system. Breathing Styles are not introduced all at once. Instead, the manga reveals them through Tanjiro’s journey, Hashira battles, flashbacks, and major confrontations against Upper Rank demons.

Another reason is the relationship between Sun Breathing and Hinokami Kagura. Tanjiro first knows the technique through the ceremonial dance passed down in his family. Later, the manga clarifies its connection to Sun Breathing, the original style. Because of that, Hinokami Kagura is usually treated as the inherited form of Sun Breathing, not a completely separate fifteenth style.

That is why the answer to how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer should be explained carefully. A simple number is useful, but the context matters if you want to understand the manga’s combat system properly.

The Original Breathing Style: Sun Breathing

Sun Breathing is the foundation of all other Breathing Styles in Demon Slayer. It is tied to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the legendary swordsman whose abilities shaped the entire history of demon slaying in the manga.

In the story’s lore, other styles developed because not every swordsman could master Sun Breathing directly. Swordsmen adapted the principles into forms that suited their bodies, instincts, weapons, and natural talents. This is how the main derivative styles were born.

For readers wondering how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer, Sun Breathing matters because it is not just one style among many. It is the root of the entire system, and its legacy affects Tanjiro’s growth, Muzan’s fear, and the emotional weight of the final battles.

The Five Main Styles Derived from Sun Breathing

The manga identifies five major Breathing Styles as central branches from Sun Breathing. These are Flame, Water, Thunder, Stone, and Wind. They are often treated as the primary foundations from which several other techniques later develop.

Flame Breathing

Flame Breathing is associated most famously with Kyojuro Rengoku and the Rengoku family. It emphasizes powerful, direct sword strikes and a fierce fighting spirit. In the manga, it also carries strong themes of duty, inheritance, and protecting the weak.

Water Breathing

Water Breathing is one of the first styles readers learn about through Tanjiro’s training under Sakonji Urokodaki. It is flexible, flowing, and adaptable, making it one of the most approachable styles for new readers to understand.

Thunder Breathing

Thunder Breathing is known for explosive speed and decisive movement. Zenitsu Agatsuma’s use of the First Form gives the style one of its most memorable manga identities, even though his growth comes from refining limited techniques to an extreme level.

Stone Breathing

Stone Breathing is used by Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira. It is physically demanding and heavily connected to strength, discipline, and spiritual focus. In power discussions, Gyomei often appears when readers ask who is the strongest demon slayer, especially in the context of the Hashira.

Wind Breathing

Wind Breathing is aggressive and relentless, matching Sanemi Shinazugawa’s combat style. Its techniques feel sharp, violent, and pressure-heavy, making it one of the more intense styles shown in high-level battles.

Branch Styles That Developed Later

Several Breathing Styles in Demon Slayer are specialized branches derived from the main styles. These variations show how the manga uses combat styles to reflect personality, body type, creativity, and individual limitations.

When asking how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer, these branch styles are essential to the count because they are not minor tricks. They are named, distinct styles with their own forms and users.

• Flower Breathing develops from Water Breathing and is associated with Kanae Kocho and Kanao Tsuyuri.
• Insect Breathing branches from Flower Breathing and is adapted by Shinobu Kocho, who compensates for limited physical decapitation strength with poison-based techniques.
• Serpent Breathing is connected to Water Breathing and reflects Obanai Iguro’s winding, unpredictable sword path.
• Love Breathing branches from Flame Breathing and is used by Mitsuri Kanroji, matching her unique flexibility, strength, and whip-like blade.
• Mist Breathing develops from Wind Breathing and is used by Muichiro Tokito, emphasizing obscuring movement and sudden attacks.
• Sound Breathing branches from Thunder Breathing and is used by Tengen Uzui, combining rhythm, explosive tactics, and dual blades.
• Beast Breathing is self-taught by Inosuke Hashibira and is generally treated as a personal derivative style shaped by his instincts and wild upbringing.

Where Moon Breathing Fits

Moon Breathing is the style that most often affects the final count. It is used by Kokushibo, who was once Michikatsu Tsugikuni before becoming a demon. Because Kokushibo is not a normal Demon Slayer Corps fighter during the main story, some readers hesitate to include Moon Breathing in a list of Corps styles.

However, if the question is how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer across the manga as a whole, Moon Breathing should be included. It is a named Breathing Style, it has forms, and it is directly connected to the history of Sun Breathing and Yoriichi.

This is why the most complete count is 14. A Corps-only count may be 13, but a manga-wide count is stronger and more accurate when discussing the full power system.

Are Hinokami Kagura and Sun Breathing Separate?

Hinokami Kagura should not usually be counted as a separate Breathing Style. In the manga, Tanjiro learns it as a family dance passed down through generations, but its deeper identity is connected to Sun Breathing.

This distinction matters because adding Hinokami Kagura as a separate style would raise the number incorrectly for most manga discussions. It is better understood as Tanjiro’s inherited path toward Sun Breathing rather than an independent style with a separate origin.

So if someone asks how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer and gets 15 as an answer, the extra number usually comes from counting Hinokami Kagura separately. For manga accuracy, 14 known styles is the better answer.

Do All Breathing Styles Have the Same Power?

No. Demon Slayer does not present all Breathing Styles as equal in every situation. A style’s strength depends on the user, training, physical condition, weapon compatibility, experience, and whether the fighter has awakened additional abilities such as the Demon Slayer Mark.

For example, Water Breathing is highly versatile, but that does not automatically make every Water Breathing user stronger than a Flame, Wind, or Stone user. Likewise, Sun Breathing is the original and most important style in the lore, but mastering it is extremely difficult.

The manga often suggests that a swordsman’s personal mastery matters more than the style name alone. This is why Hashira battles feel distinct: each fighter expresses their style through personality, discipline, and limitations.

Quick Manga-Based Count Summary

For a simple recap, here is the best way to remember the count:

• Complete manga-wide count: 14 known Breathing Styles.
• Corps-focused count excluding Moon Breathing: often treated as 13.
• Hinokami Kagura: connected to Sun Breathing, not usually counted separately.
• Sun Breathing: the original root style.
• Five major derivatives: Flame, Water, Thunder, Stone, and Wind.

This gives a clear answer to how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer without ignoring the nuance that makes the manga’s swordsmanship system interesting.

FAQ

How many breathing styles are there in demon slayer in total?

There are 14 known Breathing Styles in the Demon Slayer manga if you count every named style, including Sun Breathing and Moon Breathing.

Why do some people say there are only 13 Breathing Styles?

Some readers exclude Moon Breathing because it is used by Kokushibo after he becomes a demon, not by an active Demon Slayer Corps swordsman in the main timeline.

Is Hinokami Kagura a separate Breathing Style?

Usually, no. Hinokami Kagura is best understood as Tanjiro’s inherited form or path connected to Sun Breathing, rather than a completely separate style.

What is the first Breathing Style in Demon Slayer?

Sun Breathing is the original Breathing Style. The other major styles developed from it because different swordsmen adapted the technique to suit their own abilities.

Which Breathing Style does Tanjiro use?

Tanjiro begins with Water Breathing after training under Urokodaki. As the manga progresses, he increasingly relies on Hinokami Kagura, which is tied to Sun Breathing.

Final Thoughts

The best manga-based answer to how many breathing styles are there in demon slayer is 14 known Breathing Styles. That number includes Sun Breathing, Moon Breathing, the five major derivative styles, and the later specialized branch styles used by key characters.

If you want the Corps-only answer, 13 is understandable, but the complete manga-wide count is 14. For any future official clarifications, readers should check the latest official Demon Slayer manga materials or publisher updates before treating new details as final.