Demon Slayer what-if: Could Muzan and other demons have saved themselves with body armor? Explored

Modified Sep 30, 2024 15:30 GMT

Understanding whether or not Muzan and other demons could have benefitted from the use of armor in the series (Image via Ufotable)

As Demon Slayer anime reaches its final arc, fans return to the manga and discuss various what-ifs. One such interesting discussion to emerge of late has been the the possible effects of body armor in the series. Those who are well-versed in the series know that there is no armor of any kind in the series as demon hunters and demons both fight with minimal protection.

They only carry offensive tools like swords, Morningstar, and a gun among other weapons. With that said, how would the outcome of the fight between the demons and the Corps be affected should the demons use full-body armor in the series?

There are various scenarios to account for and the slightest advantage in favor of the demons could drastically tilt the scales. Introducing body armor into the equation would require the analysis of armor material, its weight, its effect on defense, and speed among other things.

Disclaimer: This article contains massive spoilers from the manga chapters.

Demon Slayer: Would the demons emerge victorious should they use full-body armor in the series

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Full body armor is extremely heavy and it limits the movement of the combatant by a substantial amount. That being said, it is also important to note that it offers added protection against swords, which seem to be the weapon of choice for most demon hunters. Armor was used by soldiers who went up against sword-wielders and therefore, used materials like chainmail and iron-plated armor.

There is absolutely no doubt that demons would benefit from armor if they went up against regular human beings who wielded swords. However, the Demon Slayer Corps does not have regular sword-wielders, since they all utilize the Breathing Technique which enhances their physical attributes drastically. Tanjiro, with little to no battle experience, managed to cut an entire boulder with his sword. When the demon hunters are able to generate such high amounts of force, the purpose of donning armor is lost.

With materials like and iron and steel, the Nichirin Blade can easily cut through them with little to no difficulty. The only way of reinforcing armor is by increasing the thickness which would drastically increase the weight. Kibutsuji Muzan, who is the Demon King, was able to stand under the shade during daylight. This means the effect of the sun can be reduced if not completely mitigated if there is an object blocking the sun.

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With this idea in mind, armor would give them the advantage of fighting during daylight. This could potentially tilt the scales in their favor since the Demon Slayer Corps cannot afford to rest at all. Surveillance would need to be done round the clock and this will have a massive impact on how the Demon Slayer Corps manage their resources. This could be the advantage that Muzan and his legion would need to overthrow the demon hunters.

However, it is important to note that the reduction in speed against the likes of Hashira could be detrimental. Furthermore, the usage of Blood Demon Art can be tricky for those who can release poisonous substances from their body.

Their skin seems to be porous since Doma and Gyutaro are capable of releasing substances from their body that can poison the demon hunters. Limitations on the Blood Demon Art would put the demons on the backfoot against the demon hunters who are not only faster, but can operate at peak performance without poisonous substances hindering their abilities.

Conclusion

Muzan and his lackeys will not benefit from armor in the Demon Slayer series (Image via Ufotable)

There are a few advantages that armor can give the demons. The biggest one among them is their ability to fight during daylight. However, these advantages come at massive costs. The net effect of an armor is detrimental and doesn’t particularly give them an advantage.

In combat, speed is a very important factor and the armor has a drastic effect on it. Furthermore, limitations on Blood Demon Art would also make things worse for demons. Therefore, demons won’t really benefit from using armor against some of the most powerful demon hunters. Muzan and other Upper Moon demons would not have survived even if they had used armors.

Stay tuned for more Demon Slayer anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.

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Edited by Tiasha