Demon Slayer: All Thunder Breathing Techniques, Explained (2024)

Most shonen anime have amazing combat techniques and styles that are common in their universe. In the case of Demon Slayer, this appears in the form of breathing styles that are beautiful to witness. The grace and poise present in these styles are so striking that most people forget that their purpose is to behead powerful demons and cleanse the world of their horrors. It's the allure of these breathing styles that makes each and every battle in Demon Slayer feel like poetry in motion, with combatants giving it their all to augment their swordsmanship skills and take out tough enemies by whipping out every powerful technique they can employ in a battle.

Thunder Breathing is one such technique that Zenitsu has used to great effect in the series. Of course, Zenitsu is only the master of the first form, but the other techniques of Thunder Breathing will also be awe-inspiring to witness in Demon Slayer. Given how powerful the first form already is, the wait to see the rest of Thunder Breathing's arsenal is agonizing. To satiate the curiosity of fans when it comes to this breathing style, here are all the techniques from Thunder Breathing and what they accomplish. All these moves are extremely damaging, look quite dazzling, and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Thunder Breathing is easily one of the best breathing styles to come out of the imaginative mind of Koyoharu Gotouge.

Updated July 26, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: With the Hashira Training arc ending on one of the most nail-biting cliffhangers in anime history, fans can't wait to see what the Infinity Castle film trilogy has in store. A bunch of amazing fights will be adapted into a cinematic experience. One such battle will be between two of Jigoro Kuwajima's students who went down completely different trajectories. Zenitsu may have been a coward, but his mastery of the first Thunder Breathing form made it clear that he's more naturally inclined to learn the style than Kaigaku. The latter was too hungry for power and learned every other Thunder Breathing form barring the first one, only to be berated by his teacher for jumping the gun. The fight between the two promises to be a spectacle, especially since fans will get to see all Thunder Breathing forms.

7 First Form: Thunderclap And Flash

The User Unsheathes Their Katana In Record Time For A Single Fast-Paced Cut

• Manga Debut: Chapter 23
• Anime Debut: Episode 12

The first of many Thunder Breathing forms is easily the most recognizable and legendary move on this list. After all, the manner in which Zenitsu bodies any demon who's unfortunate enough to face his unconscious self makes for one of the best parts of the show.

Zenitsu has practiced this form time and time again, to the point where he can pull it off unconsciously due to how embedded this technique is in his brain. Watching him behead demons using this technique makes for one of the most memorable parts of the series. This technique can have even more power added to it, as seen in the anime when Zenitsu amplifies the effectiveness of this technique in a truly spectacular fashion. It's clear that big things are planned for this character, who could become one of the most powerful demon slayers of all time.

Variation: Sixfold

• Manga Debut: Chapter 34
• Anime Debut: Episode 17

The Mount Nagatumo arc was one of the highlights of the first season, letting people witness some brilliant fights featuring the three fledgling demon slayers. Zenitsu had to face off against the so-called "eldest son," one of Rui's twisted creations who poisons the Thunder Breathing user during their fight.

After being sent into a state of unconsciousness, Zenitsu channeled his inner power and unleashed the sixfold variant of Thunderclap & Flash, moving at breakneck speeds to behead the demon. It's an awe-inspiring move that further cements Zenitsu as one of the strongest demon slayers around.

Variation: Eightfold

• Manga Debut: Chapter 91
• Anime Debut: Episode 42

The fight against Daki was extremely high-stakes, with the beloved demon slayer trio teaming up to behead the Upper Rank Six. Her obi attacks were a nightmare to deal with, and Inosuke needed protection as he spotted Daki's faltering stamina.

When the Beast Breathing user jumped into the fray, Tanjiro and Zenitsu combined their attacks to fend off the obi slashes heading Inosuke's way. This is when the eightfold variant of Thunderclap & Flash appeared, successfully combining with Tanjiro's Flowing Dance to repel Daki's obi and leave her head open for a ripe decapitation.

Variation: Godspeed

• Manga Debut: Chapter 43
• Anime Debut: Episode 93

After Gyutaro joined the fray and fought off Tanjiro and Tengen, Zenitsu needed to up the ante with Inosuke to behead Daki in the meantime. He did this by whipping out the Godspeed variant of Thunderclap & Flash, which was powerful enough to get the jump on Daki and leave her vulnerable.

He stated that this technique could only be performed twice before his leg muscles gave out, but he'd improved by the time he whipped out this technique against the Demon King himself. Zenitsu used this technique more than twice against Muzan, showing just how far he'd come as a demon slayer.

6 Second Form: Rice Spirit

Five Slashes Accompanied By Bolts Of Lightning

• Manga Debut: Chapter 145
• Anime Debut: N/A

Keep in mind that the techniques that are about to be discussed are used by a character who has yet to be introduced in the anime. Spoilers are inbound past this point! If fans don't want to know a lot about the final arc of the series and the most important fight of Zenitsu's life, then they should wait until the Infinity Castle film trilogy becomes a reality.

The other student who studied with Zenitsu was impatient and didn't bother to learn the first and most crucial Thunder Breathing form. While he learned the rest of the moves, he was scolded by Jigoro, who stated that he could never be a proper Thunder Breathing user unless he learned how to use Thunderclap & Flash. During the events of the Hashira Training arc, Kaigaku ends up losing and rendering his services over to the Upper Rank One, Kokushibo. As a result, he was turned into a demon who could use Thunder Breathing to such a level that he even generated black lightning from his own body.

As a result, all his attacks gained this lethal lightning that could defeat powerful opponents without facing too many issues. His second form is no exception, with Rice Spirit being a succession of five slashes that are accompanied by his black lightning. It is fatal to most opponents, but Zenitsu had the constitution and awareness required to avoid any major damage from this attack. Given how Kaigaku's betrayal caused his master to commit seppuku, there was no way Zenitsu was going to let himself lose in a fight against the reason for his guardian's demise.

5 Third Form: Thunder Swarm

A Stream Of Lightning Surrounds The Target

• Manga Debut: Chapter 145
• Anime Debut: N/A

The third form of Thunder Breathing involves an attack that swarms an opponent from all directions and gives them little to no room to escape. This makes Thunder Swarm a highly damaging technique that can completely decimate anyone who isn't ready to deal with its consequences. It's one of the many techniques that display why Kaigaku is such a force to be reckoned with, even if he was unable to master the first form of Thunder Breathing and was too impatient to master the other styles.

If this wasn't bad enough, Kaigaku's electrokinesis also allows him to use his black lightning to add even more damage. The idea of being surrounded by black lightning while getting peppered by sword strikes sounds like a horrific way to die. Only an expert swordsman would be able to bear the brunt of this blow, and Zenitsu managed to do just that. Unfortunately, it was clear that Kaigaku had many more tricks up his sleeve, which he was more than keen to show.

4 Fourth Form: Distant Thunder

A Ball Of Lightning Generates Bolts To Distract, Impede, & Kill

• Manga Debut: Chapter 144
• Anime Debut: N/A

Another technique that is tailored for Kaigaku's attacks is the Fourth Form of Thunder Breathing, which allows him to display just how powerful and destructive his electrokinetic powers are. His Distant Thunder technique involves generating a ball of lightning, which can be fatal if used against lesser demon slayers. Fans can only wonder what the technique would look like if used by a Thunder Breathing user who wasn't a demon.

This lightning ball unleashes a bevy of lightning strikes against its opponent in a bid to seriously injure them, if not kill them outright. It takes every ounce of speed and strength that Zenitsu has to avoid these lightning strikers and prevent any serious damage from debilitating him during battle. This was a must since this lengthy battle required both Thunder Breathing users to be at the top of their game to secure victory. Too much damage would've taken Zenitsu out of the picture and sent him to an early grave — something that would've drawn the ire of many fans who love this goofy yet powerful character.

3 Fifth Form: Heat Lightning

An Upward Sword Slash Accompanied By A Bolt Of Lightning

• Manga Debut: Chapter 145
• Anime Debut: N/A

All the techniques that Kaigaku can unleash with his Thunder Breathing should make it evident that the majority of his attacks can be converted into ranged strikes that can seriously injure his opponent. His Heat Lightning is no exception, adding another powerful, highly damaging move to an arsenal that would already lay waste to lesser opponents. Thankfully, Zenitsu is cut from a different cloth and wasn't going to be taken down by this technique.

The fifth form of Thunder Breathing allows Kaigaku to strike upwards with his sword, generating a lightning bolt that rises to attack any opponent that might be above him. Given the sheer speed of this technique, only the most attuned reflexes around can block or avoid this attack. Even then, it's still possible to incur some damage regardless. After all, any demon who has the power of these Breathing Techniques is a force to be reckoned with, with Kokushibo being another great example.

2 Sixth Form: Rumble And Flash

A Long-Ranged Series Of Lightning Attacks

• Manga Debut: Chapter 145
• Anime Debut: N/A

The majority of techniques discussed in this list are one-off attacks that end with a single move. This isn't the case with Rumble and Flash, which incorporates a bunch of strikes and lightning attacks to wear the opponent down with sheer pressure. It's the most powerful technique in Kaigaku's arsenal and is bound to spell instant doom for any enemies who think that they have the power to fight such a powerful demon. Thankfully, Zenitsu's speed and perseverance allowed him to weather this storm before unleashing an amazing attack of his own.

While Zenitsu did get damaged by this attack, he didn't falter and set his sights on the end goal, which was to behead Kaigaku and take care of this ambitious ex-demon slayer once and for all. After Kaigaku showed off all Demon Slayer forms barring the first one, Zenitsu managed to show him the error of his ways by whipping out the most powerful Thunder Breathing form in Demon Slayer.

1 Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi No Kami

The User Augments Their Speed Before Landing A Powerful Hit

• Manga Debut: Chapter 145
• Anime Debut: N/A

While Kaigaku had certainly mastered his fair share of techniques, he could never get a grip on the First Form of Thunder Breathing, which meant that he would never be a true master of all Thunder Breathing forms. This wasn't the case with Zenitsu, whose mastery of Thunderclap and Flash is clear for everyone to see.

This mastery allowed Zenitsu to create a Seventh Form of Thunder Breathing that is unique only to him: Honoikazuchi no Kami. While this move might seem similar to Thunder Breathing's First Form, the speed and power of this technique are on a whole new level. As is the case with most ultimate techniques in Demon Slayer, Zenitsu's battle aura also takes on the form of a Lightning Dragon as well.

It took this Herculean technique to finally defeat Kaigaku and send him to the afterlife once and for all, capping one of the best battles in the show. Fans can't wait to see how Ufotable will do justice to this amazing battle in the anime, although there's still quite some time left before the Infinity Castle arc is adapted. Given how epic this moment is going to be, manga readers can't wait to see Zenitsu whip out a technique that finally takes out the brat who never respected his sensei and bullied him every step of the way.

Demon Slayer

Action

Adventure

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Studio

ufotable

Creator

Koyoharu Gotoge