Stone Breathing is a Breathing Style that mimics earth and stone and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms utilize the ground beneath the user and the vast surroundings to generate powerful and sturdy attacks that specialize in both offense and defense. The user seemingly visualizes creating surges of earth and stone when unleashing their attacks.
The Breathing Style was originally created by one of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's students who attempted to learn Sun Breathing. But due him to not being as innately powerful as Yoriichi, he was unable to master it and was instead taught an alternative personalized Breathing Style that focused specifically on his strengths and weaknesses, eventually branching out completely and becoming Stone Breathing.[1]
Based on the only user in the series, Gyomei Himejima, it can be assumed that Stone Breathing can only be used with a flail and/or axe. However, in Kokushibo's flashback, the progenitor of Stone Breathing is seen wielding a giant Kama with a considerably long shaft.
Stone Breathing has 5 known techniques and forms at minimum, of which all were demonstrated.
First Form: Serpentinite Bipolar (壱ノ型蛇紋岩・双極,Ichi no kata: Jamongan - Sōkyoku?)[2] - The user throws both the flail and axe towards their intended target and manipulates the chain by rotating it thus causing the axe and flail to also rotate in order to drill and grind right through their target.
Second Form: Upper Smash (弐ノ型天面砕き,Ni no kata: Tenmen Kudaki?)[3] - The user throws both their axe and spiked flail for a pincer move before smashing down on the chain to cause the flail to then rebound and smash into their target from afar.
Third Form: Stone Skin (参ノ型岩軀の膚,San no kata: Ganku no Hadae?)[4] - The user rapidly twirls and swings the chain around them to unleash an omnidirectional flurry of attacks with both the flail and axe. This technique can also be used to block and counter enemy attacks from all directions at once.
Fourth Form: Volcanic Rock, Rapid Conquest (肆ノ型流紋岩・速征,Shi no kata: Ryūmongan - Sokusei?)[5] - The user manipulates both the flail and axe weapons at both ends of the chain by swinging the chain on both sides in order to strike their opponents using a two pronged wide ranged attack.
Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice (伍ノ型瓦輪刑部,Go no kata: Garin Gyōbu?)[6] - The user utilizes a powerful barrage with their flail and axe, doing a great amount of damage. The axe is destined to hit first with the trajectory of the flail following from the opposite side and slamming it into the opponent.
Game Exclusive Techniques[]
Third Form: Stone Skin, Deva (参ノ型岩軀の膚・金剛,San no kata: Ganku no Hadae - Kongō?)[7] - An offensive variant of Stone Skin. After knocking their opponent with their flail, the user sends both flail and axe towards them, leaps in the air, and preforms Stone Skin, but instead of the omnidirectional barrage of attacks deflecting attacks from the user, it instead is concentrated in the direction of their target striking them from multiple angles. They then finish by hurling their axe next to the now grounded opponent, and diving down in their direction, crushing them with their own weight.
Earth-Shattering Morningstar (地鳴強投,Jimei Kyōtō?)[7] - The user hurls their flail at the target, and then immediately pulls it back and hurls their axe at them twice.
Raging Boulder (巌突転進,Gantatsu Tenshin?)[7] - The user moves towards their target, swings their flail at them, jumps up and spins around to hurl the flail towards them again, and finally twirls their weapon around 360° horizontally to hit them with both flail and axe, all in quick succession.
Dance of Divine Protection (仁王舞い,Niō Mai?)[7] - A move virtually identical to Stone Skin. The user rapidly twirls and swings the chain around them to unleash an omnidirectional flurry of attacks with both the flail and axe, specifically to block and counter enemy attacks from all directions at once.
Splat (撥ね潰し,Hane Tsubushi?)[7] - Similar to Upper Smash, the user hits hits their opponent with their flail and axe several times, before twirling the flail around and hurling it downwards, smashing the target.
TBA[7] - A technique exclusive to current Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima and his young protege Genya Shinazugawa. Genya shoots their opponent using his gun before Gyomei hurls his axe and launches them skywards. After the axe boomerangs back towards Gyomei, Genya grabs hold of the chain and is sent upwards as Gyomei hurls his flail at the opponent, with the young Demon Slayer shooting his target as the chain circles around them mid-air. Gyomei then strikes the ground with his axe and tosses up a massive boulder, which Genya grabs hold of and uses his superhuman strength to maneuver it directly on top of their target. As they falls to the ground, the target is crushed by both the boulder and Gyomei's flail which shatters it, with Genya leaping away to avoid being hit by the latter.
Stone Breathing is the only one of the five fundamental breathing styles to not have a Breathing Style branched off from it.
Since Gyomei Himejima and the progenitor of Stone Breathing used completely different weapons for the same Breathing Style, it can be assumed the forms of Stone Breathing can be performed in different manners and with a range of heavy weapons.
The Stone Hashira of the Sengoku period (far left) is noticeably taller than his peers.
Both Gyomei and the progenitor also seem far more physically robust than their peers, though it is unclear whether their physicality is essential for Stone Breathing.
Demons' opinion on being slayed by Stone Breathing and its wielder is as follows:[8]
"I peed myself in fear." - Demon A
"I wanted to cry, but he was crying too. So confusing!" - Demon B
"I've never seen a weapon like that before. It went WSH WSH!" - Demon C
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