Kyōjurō Rengoku vs. Giyū Tomioka: Who Is More Powerful?

Comparing Demon Slayer characters is exceptionally fun, as witnessed by the number of articles we have here on Fiction Horizon. Now, we’ve mostly compared Demons and Demon Slayers, but in this article, we will compare two Demon Slayers and two major Hashira, who are also major supporting characters in their respective arcs. One of them is Kyōjurō Rengoku, while the other is Giyū Tomioka. In this article, you will find out which of the two would win in a direct clash in Demon Slayer.

Kyōjurō Rengoku and Giyū Tomioka are, more or less, equally strong, and there is no clear winner here (Giyū wins if he activates his Demon Slayer Mark, but only under these circumstances). Rengoku has some amazing offensive skills, while Tomioka is a defensive expert, which is why it is obvious that they would nullify each other’s powers, meaning there is no clear winner.

The rest of this article will further elaborate on the above-given answer, as we will compare Kyōjurō Rengoku and Giyū Tomioka in more detail. Through several categories, you will see who the stronger of the two is and why our answer is like it is, i.e., why there is no clear winner in this fight.

Physical powers and fighting skills

Kyōjurō is one of the most powerful and skilled swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps and serves as the Flame Hashira. Even powerful Demons like Akaza, the Upper-Rank Three, and the fourth-strongest known Demon acknowledged Kyōjurō’s might.

He even went so far as to offer Kyōjurō to transform him into a Demon in order for him to surpass human constraints and grow more powerful, which is an offer he makes only to those swordsmen he believes have exceptionally high skill levels. He is on the edge of entering the Transparent World that only the most powerful Demon Slayers can access, according to Akaza, who also lauded his spirit and said that he is reaching his peak. Despite being severely injured at the time, Kyōjurō was tremendously strong, which Akaza characterized as extraordinary.

Giyū is a very skilled swordsman who serves as the Demon Slayer Corps’ Water Hashira. Rui, the Lower Rank Five, and the Spider Demon (Father) were both easily vanquished by him. He could hold his own against Upper-Rank Three Akaza for a considerable amount of time while defending Tanjirō.

Like Kyōjurō, Akaza is so impressed by Giyū’s abilities that he offers to have the Hashirato convert him into a demon. The latter asserts that it had been fifty years since he faced up against a Water Hashira of Giyū’s caliber. Giyū is also a unique swordsman with a combat style that mixes excellent offense, unbeatable defense, and ranged assaults. However, Giyū will be disadvantaged when facing an opponent who prefers close fighting. He should have struggled to deflect his blows but will still be a strong foe.

And while Tomioka is certainly a formidable fighter, Rengoku’s offensive power is truly amazing, and Tomioka simply hasn’t shown much power in the series. Their skills are more or less identical, but Rengoku is physically stronger.

Points: Rengoku 1, Tomioka 0

Speed

Even accomplished Demon Slayers like Tanjirō and Inosuke Hashibira could not capture Kyōjurō’s combat with Akaza due to his speed and reflexes as Hashira, despite Akaza’s assertions that he was in another dimension. Kyōjurō’s speed was so great that it could even shake the ground and almost knock a train off its tracks. Kyōjurō can also move far more quickly than it appears, killing demons before they can respond. Just before the Upper Rank struck Tanjirō, he dislodged Akaza’s arms thanks to his lightning-fast reflexes. Kyōjurō was also able to follow Akaza’s lightning-quick moves and high-speed techniques.

Giyū is extremely fast and has been labeled as the sixth fastest among the Hashira. He was able to tie Inosuke Hashibira up before realizing what just happened. He was also able to cut off Rui’s head in the blink of an eye.

The databook stated that Rengoku was the fifth fastest Hashira, whereas Tomioka was the sixth one. We cannot really argue anything here, as the official sources state that Rengoku is faster.

Points: Rengoku 2, Tomioka 0

Defense

Kyōjurō fought with tenacity and endurance of a superhuman. Kyōjurō suffered eardrum damage while fighting the Flute Demon, but he didn’t even blink as he persevered in the fight until he prevailed. During his battle with Hairō, he sustained numerous severe wounds and injuries from gunfire and explosions from the former Lower Rank Two, but he still had time to defuse every bomb he had planted without showing any signs of discomfort or exhaustion, which left Hairō wondering if the man he was fighting now was the same as the one he had fought in the past.

He could control him in five different railroad carts without becoming tired. He demonstrated his amazing defense while fighting Akaza as well.

Giyū has superhuman endurance. Despite some scratches, he could still combat Akaza because he knew that the latter had powerful attacks. In contrast to his other Hashira partner, Mitsuri Kanroji, who was severely harmed by the same strike, he could battle alongside Obanai Iguro after being struck by Muzan’s attack and receiving a blood injection.

Combining his natural abilities and those he achieved through training, Tomioka is a defensive specialist and one of the best Hashira in this aspect. He is as good in defense as Rengoku is good in offense, which is why he easily wins this point.

Points: Rengoku 2, Tomioka 1

Breathing Style

One of Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s students attempted to learn Sun Breathing at first, but since he was not as skilled as Yoriichi, the latter taught and trained them in an alternative personalized style that was focused on their strengths and weaknesses, which eventually became Flame Breathing.

Both present and prospective members of the Demon Slayer Army have received instruction in this specific Breathing Style from members of the Rengoku family, whose main Breathing Style it is. Kyōjurō was highly proficient in using it, using it on the same level as his father, the former Flame Hashira. His mastery was such that he had little to no trouble dealing with Enmu and also managed to severely injure Akaza, the Upper-Rank Three.

The foundation of Water Breathing is a fluid, adaptable movement that can be used in various contexts and allows the opponent’s force to be used against him. Sakonji Urokodaki is the primary teacher of this Breathing Style in the Demon Slayer Corps. However, there may be others. All five of the primary Breathing Styles, including Water Breathing, are descended from Sun Breathing.

As for Giyū, he was the best Water Breathing user in fifty years, as admitted by Akaza, thus proving that he was a worthy successor of Urokodaki. He could use a total of 11 forms and was fast and effective in both offense and defense.

And while their proficiencies with their respective styles are similar, we have to consider the obvious fact that Water is effective against Fire and that Tomioka activated his Demon Slayer Mark, which significantly increased his prowess, which is why he receives this point.

Points: Rengoku 2, Tomioka 2

The clash between Kyōjurō Rengoku and Giyū Tomioka is a stalemate

As we have said, and as the points confirm, this clash is actually a stalemate, as the two Hashira can nullify each other’s strengths. Rengoku is much better at offensive techniques and is a powerful fighter, whereas Tomioka is a defensive specialist. Since their skills are roughly identical, we simply couldn’t determine a proper winner here, which is why we have concluded that the two of them are – more or less – equally strong.