There are many weapons shown throughout Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, but there are a few that stand out such as the Love Hashira’s whip sword. Demon Slayers tend to go through numerous Nichirin swords, requiring more to be provided very frequently. The Swordsmith Village arc explores the importance of the titular wordsmiths, but also showcases special weaponry.
Throughout the beginning of the third season, Tanjiro and his friends arrive at the Swordsmith Village to gain new swords. Tanjiro is in bad shape, as are other Demon Slayers. From learning about secret weapons, like three-hundred-year-old blades, and having a weapon upgrade thanks to Nezuko, there’s been a lot to see. However, the best sword thus far is Mitsuri Kanroji’s.
Demon Slayer’s Love Hashira Wields a Surprising Blade
Due to her attractive appearance, Mitsuri is generally overlooked as a swordswoman. She is seemingly not as tough as others in the Demon Slayer Corps on first glance; however, Mitsuri is known as one of Demon Slayer’s strongest Hashira for a reason. Coming to the aid of the villagers, she wields a whip Nichirin katana – that is, a Nichirin katana that is as flexible as a whip. Her lengthy, thin, and flexible blade is unlike typical katanas, granting her more reach and speed.
At first glance, this Nichirin sword seems very impractical. It doesn’t function like a typical sword and would seemingly cause a lot of problems when it comes to fighting. The question of how close combat could be an effective tactic or how it could be sheathed would all come up in its design. Yet Mitsuri is more skilled and strong than she appears, able to wield it effortlessly in close and ranged combat. Her fighting style is also unique as she created Love Breathing herself, adapting it to suit her own needs after learning Flame Breathing. The fifth episode of Demon Slayer Season 3 shows off her first form: Shivers of First Love. This is enough to take down one of the demon fish summoned by Gyokko.
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Whips tend to be very iconic weapons when wielded effectively by characters in comics and other media. Indiana Jones and Catwoman are both known for using whips as their primary weapons. It is rare that whip and sword combos are used, though there are examples such as Soul Caliber’s Ivy. While Tanjiro’s Flame Breathing and Nezuko’s power upgrade work together to create a burning blade, flame swords aren’t uncommon overall. After all, flame swords can be found in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and extend back in history to biblical, Hindu, and Celtic lore, among others. From serrated edges to giant swords, anime is full of impressive weapons. However, Mitsuri Kanroji’s whip katana is unexpected and innovative, giving the Hashira from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba a more distinctive fighting style than she could have with a standard katana.
