Giyu and Sabito trained under the same sensei, learning the ways of Water Breathing. But was Sabito stronger than Giyu?
Sabito was indeed stronger than Giyu. He spent the entire final selection saving his fellow demon slayers. Giyu admitted that if Sabito survived the exam, he’d likely be the Water Pillar instead.
In chapter #131, Tanjiro became tasked with convincing Giyu to participate in the Pillar Training sessions. Giyu began to feel an unworthiness over his position after reliving memories of Sabito, a fellow water swordsman who trained under Urokodaki.
Sabito And Giyu’s Final Selection: Who Was Stronger?
Giyu explained to Tanjiro how during the final selection process, Sabito continually put his life on the line to protect the other attendees.
“He pretty much single-handedly defeated every demon on that mountain. Everyone aside from Sabito got accepted in that selection.”
Giyu explaining Sabito’s actions to Tanjiro
Giyu became injured by a demon during the beginning of the selection. Fading in and out of consciousness, Sabito saved him by entrusting Giyu to another boy. Sabito then heroically ran towards another voice that was crying out for help.
Awakened after the selection was over, Giyu did pass the exam for technically surviving the seven days. Sabito passed away after losing to the Hand Demon, a foe Tanjiro would later defeat during his own selection process.
“But I am a human who couldn’t beat a single demon, and I was bailed out. Can I really say I passed? I am not worthy of becoming the Water Pillar.”
Giyu expressing his sadness to Tanjiro
Giyu expressed to Tanjiro that Sabito would have had a better chance of attaining a Demon Slayer mark than he would have. Tanjiro thinks to himself that if Sabito were alive, he’d probably be an amazing swordsman.
It’s likely that Sabito was stronger than Giyu. Sabito single-handedly slayed almost every demon during the duo’s final selection, going out of his way to protect strangers. Had he not lost to the legendary Hand Demon, Sabito would have grown to become an excellent swordsman and likely the Water Pillar instead of Giyu.