The Twelve Kizuki often referred to as Demon Moons in Demon Slayer are ranked by strength and power, divided into two distinct tiers: the Upper Ranks is known as (Jōgen) and the Lower Ranks is known as (Kagen).
Hierarchical Structure: The ranks are numbered from 1 to 6, where 1 is the strongest and 6 is the weakest within each tier.
Tier Superiority: All Upper Ranks are significantly more powerful than all Lower Ranks. For example, Upper Rank 6 is stronger than Lower Rank 1
Overall Ranking: The complete power hierarchy from strongest to weakest is: Upper 1 > Upper 2 > Upper 3 > Upper 4 > Upper 5 > Upper 6 > Lower 1 > Lower 2 > Lower 3 > Lower 4 > Lower 5 > Lower 6.
Keep in mind that ranks are not always static; demons can challenge higher-ranked members in “Blood Battles” to take their position, though Upper Ranks have remained largely unchanged for over a century while Lower Ranks are frequently replaced or executed by Muzan Kibutsuji if they fail.
Some history about Demon Moons
The first interaction with Muzan Kibutsuji and Tanjirou Kamado was in season 1 (2019) episode 8. The first 2 that Muzan sent were Susamaru the girl with the tamari balls and Yahaba the guy with the arrows.
They appeared at the end of episode 8 and the battle started in episode 9. They believed they were one of the 12 Kizuki (Demon moons) but they weren’t, they were deceived by Muzan to believe so.
The twelve Kizuki have numbers engraved in their eyes showing which ranking they are in.
The demon who lost his ranking number
Another demon who lost his ranking number is Kyogai. Kyogai held the ranking of Lower Rank Six within the Twelve Kizuki, the elite demon forces led by Muzan Kibutsuji.
He was a member of the Lower Moons, which are divided into six positions where Lower Rank One is the strongest and Lower Rank Six is the weakest. He appeared in season 1 episode 11 and was defeated in episode 13 by Tanjirou.
On season 1 episode 15 to 20 Rui lower ranking 5 showed up who was defeated by Hashira Giyu Tomioka. He was the primary antagonist of the Mount Natagumo Arc and the leader of the Spider Family.
Although his rank was second-lowest among all the demons, his actual combat power was significantly higher. Official sources and the character’s creator, Muzan Kibutsuji, acknowledged that Rui’s strength was comparable to Lower Rank One or Lower Rank Two.
Rui maintained his lower position because he lacked interest in climbing the hierarchy, prioritizing his twisted obsession with “family” over status.
After Rui got killed, Muzan summoned all the Kagen (lower ranking) demons who served him and killed them all except for Lower Rank One. The lower rank one demon is called Enmu who was the main antagonist of the Mugen train arc. In the same arc, Akaza (Upper ranking 3) demon appeared, fought and killed the flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku.
In the entertainment district arc , Daki and Gyutaro appear and both of them are Jōgen (upper ranking) six!
In swordsmith village arc Gyokko who is a Jōgen (upper ranking) five appeared along with Hantengu (upper ranking) four, Doma (upper ranking) two and Kokushibo (upper ranking) one. Akaza (upper ranking) 3 also showed up, but we know him from Mugen train arc already.
Based on all the information I have gathered this is the complete power hierarchy from strongest to weakest:
Kokushibo > Doma > Akaza > Hantengu > Gyokko > Daki and Gyutaro > Enmu > Rokuro > Wakuraba > Mukago > Rui > Kamanue
Below is a diagram that showcases the strongest demon moons and their ranking. Left side shows the strongest to the weakest in the right side.
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