In the Demon Slayer universe, swords are not mere weapons—they are an extension of the soul. Nichirin blades, which are made from a special ore that attunes itself to sunlight, are the only knives capable of dispatching demons. What is even more interesting about them is that they shift color according to the person wielding them. Every color is not incidental; it mirrors the nature of the user, his combat style, and sometimes even his fate.
Curious about what your blade would be? Let’s have a look at ten of the most iconic Nichirin sword colors in the show and what they reveal about their users.
10. White – The Mist and Mystery Sword
Plain-looking as it may be, white is meant to represent the elusive and unobtrusive power of the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito. Calm and unattached, Muichiro’s combat style is reflective of his sword—obscuring, deceptive, and striking before foes can get their bearings. Within Japanese tradition, white is symbolically a color representing purity or even death, which is rather apt for a swordsman who has an otherworldly feel on occasion. Although the anime occasionally depicts his blade as having a bluish hue, official sources establish that it’s supposed to be white.
9. Indigo-Gray – Wild Power Unleashed
Inosuke Hashibira doesn’t play by the book, and neither do his swords. Jagged, indigo-gray blades that match the wildness of their wielder, these swords appear to be hammered out in battle. His Beast Breathing technique is entirely self-taught, by instinct and brute force. Twin swords in his feral upbringing and relentless, brawler energy, these blades reflect. As rough as they can be, there’s precision and menace in their randomness.
8. Amber – Flashy Style and Flash
Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui isn’t one to hide when he can stand out. His two amber-colored cleavers are as flashy as his personality—huge, chained up, and wholly unsheatheable. Tengen’s Sound Breathing method reads the movement of his enemies like sheet music, allowing him to strike with flamboyant flair and crushing power. Amber blades represent both the beauty and the tumult of his combat rhythm.
7. Lavender – Serpent’s Stealth and Precision
Obanai Iguro’s blade is unlike any other—not just in color, but in shape. His lavender sword is thin, winding, and flexible enough to mimic the movement of a serpent. Serpent Breathing, derived from Water Breathing, is all about precision strikes from odd angles. With a weapon that moves like a snake and a personality cloaked in mystery, Obanai’s lavender blade is the perfect extension of his coiled, calculating style.
6. Gray – Strength in Stillness
Gyomei Himejima, the giant Stone Hashira, swaps a typical katana with a gigantic flail-and-ax combination. His gray sword does not howl for attention—it embodies perseverance, serenity, and unshakeable power. Though he looks intimidatingly large, Gyomei is a pious and empathetic soul. His gray sword represents something greater than brute force—it’s an ode to serenity and emotional depth.
5. Green – Wind’s Unrelenting Force
Sanemi Shinazugawa’s emerald sword slices like a tempest. Being the Wind Hashira, his attacks are swift, untamed, and savage—just like him. The green Nichirin blade indicates an impulsive personality, poured into spiky, high-speed assaults that batter people down. Sanemi does not slacken off, and neither does his blade.
4. Dark Pink – Love with a Bite
Mitsuri Kanroji’s dark pink, ribbon-like sword is as unique as she is. Her Love Breathing form blends passion with agility, using a weapon so flexible and dangerous it could easily harm her—if she weren’t so precise. This blade, symbolic of her deep emotional strength and physical prowess, perfectly captures her kind-hearted spirit and surprising combat effectiveness.
3. Yellow – Speed and Shock
Zenitsu Agatsuma’s yellow blade, with a thunderbolt pattern etched through it, speaks volumes—this is an instrument of sheer speed. While usually nervous and insecure, Zenitsu is a different creature when he’s out cold, moving at lightning speed and delivering blows of breathtaking force. His Thunder Breathing, particularly his personal First Form, is a masterclass in speed and timing. The yellow sword? A literal burst of genius.
2. Blue – Calm, Collected, and Deadly
Blue Nichirin sword signifies fluidity and mastery. Giyu Tomioka, Water Hashira, possesses this hue in elegance and subtle command. Water Breathing enables him to glide through combat like a river—tranquil on the surface but lethal beneath. Blue captures not just his fighting technique but also his stoic nature and repressed emotional complexity.
1. Black and Red – Mystery, Flame, and Legacy
At the very top, we have two of the most famous—and least seen—blade colors.
- Red is fire that burns evil. Used by the fiery Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, this blade symbolizes honor, bravery, and blaze-like conviction. In combat, it can even burn hot enough to prevent demons from healing.
- Black is the unknown great. When Tanjiro Kamado’s sword went black, it was not a good sign—many users of black blades do not survive long. But as the series progresses, this color starts to imply greater meaning. The black blade is most closely associated with the fabled Sun Breathing, from which all styles derive. Tanjiro’s blade even glows red in moments of intense power—mirroring the fabled swordsman Yoriichi Tsugikuni, whose blade also changed from black to red.
Each of the Nichirin blades has a tale to tell—not only about the way a character fights, but about who they are as people. Whether blue and serene, or gray and feral, or black and red and mythical, these swords are not merely weapons—they’re living mirrors of the slayers who carry them.