A complete breakdown of Water Breathing — all 10 forms from First Form: Water Surface Slash to Tenth Form: Constant Flux. This is the most widely practiced breathing style, known for its flowing, adaptive movements that combine offense and defense seamlessly.
Water Breathing is one of the five main breathing styles derived directly from Sun Breathing. It mimics the fluid and adaptive nature of water, with forms that flow from one to the next without interruption. Known for its versatility, Water Breathing is often the first style taught to new demon slayers due to its balanced approach. The style features 10 distinct forms, each designed to handle specific combat situations. Giyu Tomioka, the current Water Hashira, is considered the most masterful practitioner, while Tanjiro Kamado learned the style under Sakonji Urokodaki and became one of its most notable users. For more information, visit the Water Breathing page on the Fandom Wiki.
First Form: Water Surface Slash — A straightforward horizontal slash that generates a concentrated blade of water, the most fundamental technique.
Second Form: Water Wheel — A powerful aerial spinning slash that descends on the target like a vertical water wheel, used for breaching defenses.
Third Form: Flowing Dance — A continuous series of twisting slashes that follow the user's body movement, ideal for fighting multiple opponents.
Fourth Form: Striking Tide — Consecutive forward slashes that strike the same spot rapidly, designed to break through tough demon hide.
Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought — A gentle downward slash that can disarm or incapacitate without lethal force, reflecting Tanjiro's compassion.
Sixth Form: Whirlpool — A spinning slash that creates a whirlpool effect to entangle and trap enemies, excellent for crowd control.
Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust — A piercing thrust that creates a ripple effect through the target, designed for precise, penetrating damage.
Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin — A high-arcing slash that descends with crushing force, channeling the power of a waterfall.
Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow — A low-to-ground horizontal sweeping attack that changes direction unpredictably, ideal for catching foes off guard.
Tenth Form: Constant Flux — The ultimate Water Breathing technique, a fluid dance of continuous slashes that creates a water dragon. This form can be maintained indefinitely and is Giyu Tomioka's signature move, never once been broken in battle.
Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, is the strongest Water Breathing practitioner. His mastery of Constant Flux makes him nearly untouchable in combat. Tanjiro Kamado learned the style from Sakonji Urokodaki and mastered all ten forms, though he later transitioned to Sun Breathing. Other notable users include Makomo and Sabito, Urokodaki's former students who died during Final Selection but helped train Tanjiro as spirits. The style's wide adoption across the Demon Slayer Corps makes it the most commonly taught breathing technique at training facilities. Read more about the Water Hashira on the Giyu Tomioka page on the Fandom Wiki.
Pro Tip: Water Breathing's Tenth Form: Constant Flux is the only form categorized as a never-ending technique. Giyu Tomioka can sustain it indefinitely by making minuscule adjustments with each rotation. Beginners should focus on mastering First Form's accuracy before attempting the advanced forms — each form builds on the fundamentals of the previous one.
Water Breathing spawned several derivative styles. Flower Breathing, used by Kanao Tsuyuri and the late Kanae Kocho, emphasizes graceful, acrobatic slashes with a lighter blade. Serpent Breathing, practiced by Obanai Iguro, focuses on twisting, winding attacks that coil around the opponent. Both styles retain Water Breathing's fluid foundation while adding unique properties. Flower Breathing includes the rare "Last Form: Crimson Eye Moon Blossom," a technique Kanao developed independently. These derivatives demonstrate Water Breathing's versatility as a base style.
Mastering Water Breathing requires months of rigorous training under an experienced instructor. Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira who trained Tanjiro Kamado, developed a comprehensive training regimen that begins with Total Concentration Breathing, the foundation of all breathing styles. Students must learn to regulate their breathing rhythm to increase oxygen intake and enhance physical performance, enabling them to fight at peak capacity for extended periods. The next phase involves repetitive sword drills to develop muscle memory for each of the ten forms, with students practicing each form hundreds of times until it becomes instinctive. Urokodaki's most famous training method was the boulder-splitting exercise on Mount Sagiri, where Tanjiro had to use Water Breathing to cut through a massive boulder. This seemingly impossible task taught him to focus his breath and find the structural weakness in any defense. Tanjiro spent months practicing against traps, pitfalls, and obstacles placed throughout the mountain before he was even allowed to attempt the boulder. The final stage before becoming a full demon slayer is Final Selection, where students must survive seven days on a mountain infested with demons. Water Breathing's versatility makes it ideal for this trial, as its flowing forms can adapt smoothly to any combat situation. For more on the training process, visit the Sakonji Urokodaki page on the Fandom Wiki and read about Tanjiro's complete training journey on the Tanjiro Kamado page on the Fandom Wiki.
Water Breathing is one of the five main breathing styles derived from Sun Breathing. It mimics the fluid nature of water with 10 distinct forms that flow seamlessly from one to the next.
Water Breathing has 10 forms, from First Form: Water Surface Slash to Tenth Form: Constant Flux. It is the most widely practiced breathing style, often taught first to new demon slayers.
Giyu Tomioka is the Water Hashira and strongest practitioner. Tanjiro Kamado learned all 10 forms under Sakonji Urokodaki. Makomo and Sabito were also notable Water Breathing users.
The Tenth Form: Constant Flux is considered the ultimate Water Breathing technique. It is a fluid dance of continuous slashes that creates a water dragon and has never been broken in battle.
Flower Breathing, used by Kanao Tsuyuri and Kanae Kocho, and Serpent Breathing, practiced by Obanai Iguro, are both derivative styles of Water Breathing.
