What are devils?
Devils are supernatural beings born from human fears. Each one embodies a feared concept, such as guns, bats, or darkness.
The more people fear a concept, the stronger its devil becomes. That connection explains why devils tied to widespread or instinctive fears can be so much more dangerous than others.
Devils, fiends, and hybrids
- Devils
- Supernatural beings that embody a fear. They cycle between Earth and Hell when they die.
- Fiends
- Devils occupying human corpses. They keep devil abilities in a weakened form and can usually be identified by features on their heads. Power is the Blood Fiend.
- Hybrids
- Humans merged with devils who can transform using a trigger. Denji pulls the cord in his chest to become Chainsaw Man.
Contracts
A human can make a contract with a devil to use its power. The terms depend on the deal: a devil may demand a body part, lifespan, or another payment.
Contracts seen in the story
- Aki / Fox Devil
- Aki can summon the Fox Devil to bite an enemy.
- Aki / Curse Devil
- Aki uses a nail-shaped weapon to activate the Curse Devil. The contract costs him part of his lifespan.
- Himeno / Ghost Devil
- Himeno gives up her right eye in exchange for the use of the Ghost Devil's arm.
Fear and power
Fear shapes a devil's strength. Some groups recur throughout the story, though a category alone does not describe everything a devil can do.
- Primal fears
- Devils such as Darkness and Falling embody fundamental fears. They are among the most powerful devils.
- Horsemen
- Death, War, Famine, and Control. Makima is the Control Devil.
- Weapon devils
- Devils associated with weapons, including Gun, Bomb, and Sword.
- Other devils
- Devils such as Bat and Leech embody more specific fears.
The Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, has a distinct ability: devils it eats can be erased along with the concepts they represent.
Death and reincarnation
When a devil dies on Earth, it is reborn in Hell. When it dies in Hell, it returns to Earth. Its new incarnation generally does not retain memories of its previous life.
This cycle allows a feared concept to return as another incarnation of its devil. The Chainsaw Devil's ability to erase devils is an exception to that cycle.