Demon Slayer: Akaza's Blood Demon Art, Explained (2024)

Akaza is one of the most powerful demons introduced in the Demon Slayer series. As the Upper-Rank Three of the Twelve Kizuki, he possesses immense strength and destructive abilities beyond any normal demon. Central to his formidable combat skills is his uniquely developed Blood Demon Art, known as "Destructive Death." This deadly Blood Demon Art allows Akaza to manipulate shockwaves and thoroughly integrate them into his fighting style.

Through his mastery of the martial art known as Soryu, Akaza has achieved complete synergy between his demonic abilities and hand-to-hand combat techniques. This blend of martial arts and demonic power makes Akaza an extremely challenging opponent for even the most elite demon slayers.

Who is Akaza?

The Formidable Upper Rank Three

Over a century ago, Akaza was a human named Hakuji who trained vigorously in martial arts under the Soryu style. Though highly skilled, he was unable to save his loved ones when they required help, filling him with hatred for his human weakness. This drive to protect others would later influence Akaza's actions and worldview as a demon.

After becoming a demon, Akaza assumed the role of Upper-Rank Three in Muzan's Twelve Kizuki and earned a reputation for slaughtering numerous Demon Slayers. Akaza takes great joy in battles against strong opponents, relishing every moment of combat. He respects martial warriors for their strength but looks down on weakness, with his skin crawling at the sight of weaklings. Akaza maintains an indomitable will and obsession with evolving his skills to overcome all opponents. His deadly persistence was exhibited when he continued fighting even after being beheaded by Tanjiro's Blade.

Akaza's Blood Demon Art: Destructive Death

Akaza's Shockwave Manipulation

Akaza's Blood Demon Art revolves around his mastery of martial arts and manipulation of destructive shockwaves. He merges the use of shockwaves with his knowledge of the Soryu-style martial arts he learned as a human. The shockwaves Akaza controls appear as striking blue energies that manifest in various forms, such as invisible air pressure, circular shockwaves, or cannon-shaped spikes.

Akaza can generate these shockwaves at will from any part of his body. In combat, he infuses his attacks like punches and kicks with these shockwaves, enveloping his strikes in a faint blue light and amplifying their power. At the start of battles, Akaza performs a technique called "Technique Development" which involves unique stances from the Soryu Style.

With his Blood Demon Art and martial skills, Akaza launches devastating long-ranged barrages and precise short-ranged strikes. During his battle with Kyojuro Rengoku, Akaza kept the Flame Hashira at bay with shockwaves before engaging in close combat, where his skills shone. The explosive power of Akaza's shockwaves allowed him to smash Kyojuro's ribs and internal organs. He can also generate numerous shockwaves around his opponents, striking them from all angles simultaneously.

Akaza's Compass Needle

How Akaza Gains the Upper Hand in Battle

One of Akaza's most defining abilities is his "Compass Needle". This technique allows Akaza to manifest a light blue snowflake-shaped compass underneath him with numbers ranging from 1 to 12. Using this compass, Akaza is able to sense an opponent's "Fighting Spirit", their will to fight, achieving numerous combat advantages as a result.

Through his Compass Needle, Akaza can determine the strength of anyone with just a glance. It also grants him awareness of his surroundings and instinctive detection of opponents' movements, even from blind spots. This advanced perception enables Akaza to precisely aim for his foes' weaknesses without fail. As Tanjiro observed, it was like Akaza's attacks were magnetically drawn to their vitals, striking with unparalleled precision even through the slightest of openings.

Perhaps most formidably, Akaza's Compass Needle progressively adapts to opponents over time. It allows him to reactively learn from and anticipate their attack techniques and forms, gaining the ability to strike back with equal accuracy. The stronger his opponent's Fighting Spirit, the clearer his detection through the Compass Needle. With its guidance, Akaza demonstrates superhuman feats like finding Tanjiro’s location and overwhelming Giyu without sight or sound. Through this pinnacle of perception, Akaza pushes the limits of his deadly abilities to peerless heights in battle.

Akaza's Blood Demon Art Techniques

Akaza's Arsenal of Deadly Moves

In addition to his Compass Needle technique, Akaza possesses many other Blood Demon Art techniques that leverage his superhuman abilities.

Some of Akaza's most notable Blood Demon Art techniques include:

• Air Type: Akaza can punch the air in front of him and create powerful shockwaves that fly toward his target, hitting them from a distance. He can unleash multiple airborne shockwaves in quick succession and use them, whether in the sky or on the ground.
• Disorder: Akaza rapidly punches his opponent, unleashing a massive barrage of large shockwaves that can destroy everything in front.
• Annihilation Type: One of Akaza's most powerful moves. He crouches low and holds both arms at his sides, then lunges forward, unleashing two circular shockwaves from his palms with tremendous force.
• Leg Type: Crown Splitter: A reverse, rising axe kick that produces a shockwave on impact.
• Leg Type: Explosive Flurry: Swift flashing flurry of straight kicks that create afterimages, each emitting strong shockwaves. Powerful enough to launch Giyu Tomioka an extremely long distance.
• Leg Type: Flying Planet Thousand Wheels: A kick utilizing a flowing motion that strikes the target from below and launches it upward.
• Eight-Layered Demon Core: Akaza unleashes eight powerful punches, each strike creating large shockwaves similar to Disorder.
• Crushing Type: Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow: A powerful downward punch delivering a large shockwave into the ground that expands outward.
• Final Form: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow: Akaza's ultimate technique, an omnidirectional barrage of countless thin shockwaves that deliver a hundred blows from everywhere simultaneously.

Through mastery of these devastating techniques, Akaza has proven to be one of the deadliest demons the Demon Slayer Corps has ever faced.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba can be streamed on Prime Video.

Demon Slayer

8.6/10

Action

Adventure

Based on Koyoharu Gotouge's shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they try to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4

Studio

ufotable

Based On

Manga

Creator

Koyoharu Gotoge

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix