Every demon slayer enhances their tremendous fighting styles, known as ‘Breathing Styles,’ once they awaken their Demon Slayer Mark. There are only a select few that are capable of unleashing their full power, a fact which dates back to the Sengoku Era, when demon slayers were at their prime. It was originally Yoriichi Tsugikuni who unlocked the secret of the Demon Slayer Mark and passed down the Breathing Style techniques to future generations.
The Demon Slayer Mark allows humans to become even stronger than their mortal limitations, granting them a physical advantage over demons. They gained unique combat styles akin to the elements, as well as the innate ability to see the ‘Transparent World.’ The plot for Demon Slayer‘s third season sees both Mitsuri and Muichiro awaken their Demon Slayer Marks, unlocking the true potential of the Love Breathing and Mist Breathing Styles. This display of sheer determination inspired others around them to push beyond their limits, allowing the Demon Slayer Corps to overpower the Upper Moons.
There are currently 10 known slayers to have awakened their Demon Slayer Mark, but this number is expected to increase as the anime progresses through its third and presumably fourth season in line with the manga.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni (Sun Breathing Style)
It was Yoriichi who founded Breathing Styles, born with a demon slayer mark that he never needed to train to awaken. He is the first-ever Breathing Style user, specifically of the sun Breathing Style, later inherited by Tanjuro and Tanjiro Kamado. Tsugikuni’s Demon Slayer Mark represents red flames that stretch across the left side of his head, sprawling underneath his left eye and across his forehead.
Michikatsu Tsugikuni (Moon Breathing Style)
It feels appropriate for Yoriichi’s twin brother to have the polar opposite Breathing Style with the Moon Breathing Style. Michikatsu later became a demon and climbed the ranks of the Upper One Kokushibo. Despite mastering the Moon Breathing Style, Michikatsu was born with red flame marks similar to Yoriichi, those of which also span the length of his left side on his face, but also creep up his neck and throat from the right side. He is also an ancestor of Muichiro, which explains how the Moon Breathing and Mist Breathing Styles are not only inexplicably linked, but also immensely powerful.
Tanjuro Kamado (Sun Breathing Style)
Tanjiro’s father, Tanjuro, was also born with a Demon Slayer Mark, matching that of Yoriichi and later his son. An attribute that was passed down to Tanjiro, Tanjuro’s Demon Slayer Mark was underdeveloped, so rather than resembling — we would assume — red flames, the pattern on his upper left forehead resembles a grisly burn scar. Despite having a connection to the Transparent World, in his later years, Tanjuro became a frail and sick man. He died before the slaughter of his wife Kie Kamado and youngest children, but even in death, he continues to inspire Tanjiro and Nezuko.
Tanjiro Kamado (Sun Breathing Style)
Unlike Tanjuro, Tanjiro wasn’t born with a Demon Slayer Mark. However, he developed it quickly in the days of his early childhood, but what started out as a burn scar similar to his father’s has since evolved throughout the anime, now beginning to resemble more of Yoriichi’s Mark. It was in the aftermath of the Hashira Training that Tanjiro’s scar permanently transformed into a red flame, the symbol of the Sun Breathing Style. Later in the series, although it does not affect the Demon Slayer Mark, Tanjiro also masters the Water Breathing Style.
Muichiro Tokito (Mist Breathing Style)
As mentioned earlier, season three of Demon Slayer has focused on Muichiro’s evolution as a demon slayer, eventually awakening his Demon Slayer Mark. Since he is a direct descendant of Michikatsu Tsugikuni, he became the Mist Hashira in a matter of months, eventually awakening his mark in the battle against Upper Moon Five Gyokko. His maroon-colored mark resembles small clouds creeping out from the left and right side of his cheeks, as well as his forehead.
Mitsuri Kanroji (Love Breathing Style)
Also a main focus of season three, Mitsuri, the Love Hashira, awakens her Demon Slayer Mark in the battle against Upper Moon Four Zohakuten. Although she already possessed incredible skill, the Mark enhanced her abilities tenfold. Mitsuri’s Demon Slayer Mark resembled two upside-down hearts touching at the tips with angel wings protruding from between the hearts. This Mark is located on the left side of her clavicle.
Giyu Tomioka (Water Breathing Style)
The Water Hashira, Giyu, has mastered all 10 forms of Water Breathing and even created an eleventh style all for himself. He is Urokodaki’s successor, another mentor of the Water Breathing Style. After developing his Demon Slayer Mark, Giyu sheds his inhibitions as the Water Hashira, loses his inferiority complex due to Sabito’s death, and awakens his Mark in the battle against Akaza. Giyu’s Demon Slayer Mark resembles water-like markings trailing down his left cheek.
Gyomei Himejima (Stone Breathing Style)
As the strongest Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps, Gyomei possesses the Stone Breathing Style, which is enhanced after he awakens his Demon Slayer Mark in the battle against Kokushibo. His Mark resembles several cracks that trace down both his forearms. Kokushibo has predicted that because Gyomei’s Mark was supposedly cursed, he would die within a few hours of awakening it. Although he does die in battle against Kokushibo, there’s no evidence that the curse finished him off as opposed to simply succumbing to his injuries.
Sanemi Shinazugawa (Wind Breathing Style)
Among the most powerful characters in the franchise is Sanemi, the Wind Hashira. He too awakened his Demon Slayer Mark while battling Kokushibo, which resembles a windmill symbol, green in color, with two small dots on either side, located on his right cheek. It becomes more evident that Sanemi’s physical capabilities have increased when he was still able to hold his own against Kokushibo, despite being grievously injured and almost nearing death on several occasions.
Obanai Iguro (Serpent Breathing Style)
The current serpent Hashira, Obanai, awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, resembling three blue snake-like tattoos across his left arm and chest, in the final battle against Muzan. This granted Obanai the strength he needed to land several critical hits on Muzan, swiftly dodge incoming attacks (in a serpentine manner, mind you), and allowed him to continue fighting despite being severely injured. His pet snake Kaburamaru can predict an opponent’s attacks, which also falls under the Serpent Breathing Style as a new technique founded by Obanai to assist his blindness in one eye.