- Slayer 2 breathing tier list: Thunder leads S-tier with unmatched burst mobility and dash cancels.
- Water ranks A-tier as the most balanced, beginner-friendly style with reliable finishers.
- Wind dominates mob farming but has punishable wind-ups in PvP.
- Mist rewards skilled players with repositioning tech but lacks raw damage.
- Insect sits in C-tier — poison damage-over-time is fun but slow in direct fights.
Slayer 2 Breathing Tier List Overview
Your breathing style defines your entire combat identity in Slayer 2. Each style is learned from a specific trainer scattered across the map, usually after completing a small quest and paying in-game currency. This tier list weighs three factors: raw skill damage and combo potential, PvP effectiveness (mobility, hitboxes, and punish ability), and farming speed against NPCs.
Because Slayer 2 receives frequent balance updates, rankings shift between patches. Demons currently enjoy strong early-game power spikes with Blood Demon Arts, while Slayers scale better with weapon upgrades and breathing mastery.
| Tier | Breathing Style | PvP Rating | Farming Rating | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Thunder | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | Fastest burst combos, dash cancels |
| A | Water | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | Balanced moveset, dependable finishers |
| B | Wind | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | Huge area damage for mob farming |
| B | Mist | ★★★★ | ★★★ | Confusing movement tech, low raw damage |
| C | Insect | ★★ | ★★★ | Poison damage-over-time playstyle |
Slayer 2 receives weekly updates. Always test a style in PvP servers before committing spins to a re-roll — today's S-tier pick can drop a tier after a single balance patch.
S-Tier and A-Tier Styles Explained
Thunder Breathing (S-Tier)
- Thunderclap and Flash: signature dash attack, a PvP favorite
- Sixfold follow-up extends burst combos
- Unmatched mobility with dash cancels
- Best weapon: Standard Katana
- Ideal for one-shot combo players
Water Breathing (A-Tier)
- Water Surface Slash and Water Wheel offer reliable dash attacks
- Constant Flux serves as a strong finisher
- Most well-rounded moveset in the game
- Best weapon: Standard Katana
- The safest first pick for new Slayers
Thunder sits alone in S-tier because of its speed. The Thunderclap and Flash dash closes distance instantly, letting you start combos before opponents can react, while Sixfold and Rice Spirit extend the pressure. Water trails just behind — it lacks Thunder's explosive openers but trades nothing away, making it the best all-around pick for players who want consistent performance in both PvP and PvE.
Thunder is learned from a Jigoro Kuwajima-inspired trainer NPC, and Water from an Urokodaki-style trainer near the starting village. Complete each trainer's quest and pay the unlock fee in Wen to learn the style.
B-Tier and C-Tier Styles
Wind Breathing earns its B-tier spot through farming. Dust Whirlwind Cutter and Gale Sudden Gusts cover wide areas, shredding groups of enemies — but slow wind-ups make it easy to punish in PvP. Mist Breathing (learned from a Muichiro-inspired trainer) is the opposite: Low Clouds Distant Haze and Obscuring Clouds create confusing repositioning that frustrates opponents, but the raw damage output lags behind.
Insect Breathing rounds out C-tier. It requires a specially treated Stinger Katana and applies poison damage over time instead of direct slashes. Butterfly Dance: Caprice and Dance of the Bee Sting are fun, but in PvP the slow burn gets outclassed by Thunder and Water burst damage.
| Style | Trainer | Signature Move | Best Weapon | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind | Sanemi-inspired NPC | Dust Whirlwind Cutter | Standard Katana | Punishable wind-ups |
| Mist | Muichiro-inspired NPC | Obscuring Clouds | Standard Katana | Low raw damage |
| Insect | Shinobu-inspired NPC | Butterfly Dance: Caprice | Stinger Katana | Slow damage output |
Wind's full kit includes Black Wind Mountain Mist and Idaten Typhoon; Mist adds Eight-Layered Mist and Dance of the Dragonfly rounds out Insect. Every style unlocks moves progressively as you train.
How to Unlock Your Breathing Style
Level Up First
Farm low-level bandits and demons near the starting village. Always accept a quest before farming so you earn quest rewards on top of kill XP until you hit the required level.
Find Your Trainer
Locate the trainer matching your chosen style — Thunder, Water, Wind, Mist, or Insect NPCs are spread across villages and wilderness zones.
Complete the Trainer Quest
Each trainer requires a short questline before they will teach you. Insect Breathing additionally requires obtaining a specially treated blade.
Pay the Unlock Fee in Wen
Budget in-game currency for the training fee. Boss farming is the fastest way to earn Wen once you can clear mid-level enemies.
Commit to Your Path
Switching breathing styles later requires significant investment. Pick one that matches your playstyle and stick with it as you master the moveset.
New players should default to Water Breathing — its balanced moveset with dash attacks and strong finishers teaches fundamentals without punishing mistakes the way Thunder's glass-cannon combos do.
Breathing vs. Blood Demon Arts
Slayer 2 is a two-sided game: humans learn Breathing Styles while Demons gain Blood Demon Arts from Muzan-related NPCs. In the current meta, Demons enjoy stronger early and mid-game power spikes thanks to passive health regeneration, while Slayers scale better late game with weapon upgrades and breathing mastery.
| Option | Early Game | Late Game | Key Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slayer + Thunder | Strong | Excellent | Requires mechanical skill |
| Slayer + Water | Solid | Strong | Lower burst ceiling |
| Demon + String BDA | Excellent | Strong | Sunlight weakness, hunger |
| Demon + Temari BDA | Strong | Strong | Weak close range |
String BDA competes directly with Thunder for the top overall spot — its sustained damage and reliable combo starters dominate both PvP and boss fights. Temari Ball BDA is the best keep-away tool in the game, controlling spacing with bouncing projectiles.
Choose your race early. Demons gain Blood Demon Arts and health regeneration but burn in sunlight and manage hunger; Slayers get breathing mastery and weapon scaling. Switching later is costly.
Before You Commit to a Style:
- Reach the level requirement for your chosen trainer
- Save enough Wen for the unlock fee
- Watch PvP footage of the style's full moveset
- Confirm your clan passives match your style choice
- Test mobility skills in a low-stakes PvE zone
FAQ
Q: What is the best breathing style in the Slayer 2 tier list?
Thunder Breathing currently tops the Slayer 2 breathing tier list. Its Thunderclap and Flash dash attack, Sixfold follow-ups, and dash cancels give it the fastest burst combos and unmatched PvP mobility, though it demands precise execution.
Q: Is Water Breathing good for beginners?
Yes. Water Breathing is the most well-rounded, beginner-friendly style, with reliable dash attacks like Water Surface Slash and strong finishers such as Constant Flux. It performs consistently in both PvP and farming content.
Q: Can I switch breathing styles after unlocking one?
You can, but switching requires significant investment, typically re-roll spins or currency. Community advice is to research a style's full moveset before committing to avoid wasting resources.
Q: Do breathing styles change with balance updates?
Yes. Slayer 2 receives frequent updates and rankings shift between patches. Check the official Trello roadmap (https://trello.com/b/ZF7GWtKP/project-slayers-trello) and community channels for the latest balance changes.