SPOILER WARNING: This contains spoilers for the Infinity Castle and Sunrise Countdown Arcs
Every series has at least one character who's divisive among fans, and Demon Slayer is no different. While most of the series' cast is beloved, Zenitsu definitely has his fair share of detractors out there. He's a great addition to the cast who benefits from some incredible growth as Demon Slayer progresses, but it's not hard to see why some fans have a hard time stomaching his antics.
Zenitsu often comes off as incredibly cowardly and as a wannabe womanizer, two traits that aren't going to do you any favors in popularity contests among anime fans. Still, he does have his fair share of great moments throughout the series that show off just how great his character can be. When looking back on Demon Slayer and all the main cast went through, these stand out as Zenitsu's most OP moments.
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Protecting Nezuko From Inosuke
Inosuke and Zenitsu's friendship didn't get off to the best start. The two have always had different personalities, but you have to give Zenitsu props for standing up to the much more aggressive Inosuke shortly after meeting him. Inosuke was able to sense Nezuko in her box and realizing that she was a demon, went in for the kill, only to be stopped by Zenitsu.
Though he knew that Tanjiro was harboring a demon, Zenitsu put his trust in his new friend and decided to defend Nezuko from Inosuke's attacks. He takes a pretty bad beating from Inosuke but never relents, showing just how tough he is. It might not be as impressive as defeating a demon, but Zenitsu really got a chance to shine here.
Helping Out in the Fight Against Enmu
Enmu proved to be a tough early challenge for the Demon Slayer trio. The Lower Rank One's ability to manipulate people's dreams made him a unique challenge for our protagonists, but they managed to pull through by working together. You'd expect Tanjiro and Inosuke to be the heavy hitters during this confrontation, but Zenitsu showed off some amazing potential as well.
Ironically, putting Zenitsu to sleep ended up being the worst thing Enmu could have done. Zenitsu's instincts kicked in while asleep, making him a much more difficult opponent to deal with in that situation. Not only did he play a major role in saving the people sleeping on the Mugen Train, but he also managed to help out Nezuko once again.
Defeating the Tongue Demon in the Tsuzumi Mansion
This is Zenitsu's first major battle in the series, and it served as a great glimpse at his potential. Wandering through the halls of the Tsuzumi Mansion with Shoichi, the duo is attacked by the Tongue Demon, and it's not a great look for Zenitsu. His cowardice and incompetence are on full display, with him eventually passing out due to fear. Thankfully for both of them, that was the best thing that could happen.
Now sound asleep, Zenitsu acts on pure instinct and easily handles the Tongue Demon, first cutting out its tongue before finishing it off by decapitating it. It's definitely an unexpected turn of events, but it gave fans a look at just how strong Zenitsu could be if he could get over some of his less favorable traits.
Taking on the Son Spider Demon
Some moments in the Mount Natagumo are pure nightmare fuel. You can probably guess how Zenitsu reacted when he encountered a member of the twisted Spider Family. The Son Spider Demon seemed to enjoy torturing Zenitsu, taunting him while injecting him with a poison that would eventually transform him into a spider. But once again, Zenitsu was saved by the fact that the demon's ability put him to sleep.
Just as the Son Spider Demon thinks he's won, Zenitsu turns things around, attacking him and catching him off guard. The Son Spider Demon did seem like a fearsome opponent leading up to this, but Zenitsu is able to overwhelm him with his incredible speed. Soon enough, Son's arrogance turns into fear, and he tries to retreat, giving Zenitsu the perfect opportunity to land the finishing blow.
Beheading Daki With Inosuke
The Entertainment District Arc was full of unforgettable moments and featured some incredible battles. It was also one of Zenitsu's best arcs, as not only did we get to see him show a little more courage than usual, but he also contributed to a daunting battle against Daki and Gyutaro.
This battle showed off some amazing teamwork from the main trio. Just as Daki and Gytaro supported each other, we also got to see how well Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu work together. Making use of his incredible speed, Zenitsu was able to push Daki back, but ran out of strength when trying to decapitate her. Thankfully, Inosuke was able to intervene, and together, the duo managed to decapitate Daki just as Tanjiro finished off Gyutaro.
Playing a Big Part in the Battle Against Muzan
As expected, the final confrontation against Muzan took all the Demon Slayer Corps had to throw at him. It took not only the combined efforts of the Hashira, but also the sacrifice of many Demon Slayers to finally put Muzan down.
Zenitsu played a big role in the final confrontation alongside his friends and the remaining Hashira. Once again, he made use of his incredible speed, impressively keeping up with the Demon King and offering some much-needed support to Tanjiro and Inosuke.
Surpassing Kaigaku and Avenging his Master
Zenitsu's battle against Kaigaku was his most challenging one-on-one confrontation in the series, both physically and emotionally. Not only does this fight show how strong Zenitsu becomes by the end of Demon Slayer, but it's also a great moment for his character, as he gets to avenge his Master by defeating his traitorous fellow pupil.
Kaigaku proves to be an incredible challenge for Zenitsu, with his demonic powers giving him a massive edge in battle. Zenitsu struggles despite his speed and improved mastery over Thunder Breathing, but he eventually manages to turn the tide. Having recalled the past he shared with Kaigaku as Jigoro's students and the respect he once had for the now Upper Rank Six, Zenitsu pushes through his limits and uses his strongest attack, Seventh Form: God of Fire Thunder, to put Kaigaku down once and for all.