Does Makima Die Because Of Denji Or Another Character?

In Chainsaw Man Denji surprises Makima by delivering the decisive blow, ending him. Because Makima can not die unless forgotten by others, taking advantage of Pochita's special treatment toward Denji. Denji made a contract with Pochita(because Pochita is the Chainsaw Devil). He agrees to let Pochita dream every night, and in essence, Pochita forgets Makima. It's a very clever reflection of the proverb "knowledge is power." Having erased her memory, Denji makes his final howling cut (in more ways than one) for a critical hit on Makima just as she was about to land. Thus, she died instantly.

That final confrontation rewired everything for Denji — not in some neat heroic-upgrade way, but in this messy, human-aftershock way that stuck with me. For years his life had been a chain of immediate, childish wants: a hot meal, a warm bed, someone to like him. Makima exploited that simplicity and turned his need for affection into a leash. Her death ripped that leash off and left him standing in a world where the rules were suddenly his to interpret. Without Makima's control, Denji gains something rare: real choice. That freedom isn’t glamorous — it comes with guilt, nightmares, and the knowledge that many of his past actions were staged or coerced. He has to rebuild trust with others, relearn what he actually wants beyond surface pleasures, and confront how much of himself was manufactured by someone else. Narratively, that shift pushes him out of puppet territory into the messy gray of agency. He’s still impulsive, still hungry for simple comforts, but now his decisions bear the real weight of consequence. For me, that’s the most compelling part: watching a character whose life was literally choreographed learn how to improvise. It’s heartbreaking and oddly liberating, and it makes 'Chainsaw Man' feel less like spectacle and more like a study in what freedom costs — which, honestly, is exactly the kind of story I can’t stop thinking about.

I’ve seen so many 'Chainsaw Man' fanfictions dive deep into Makima’s psychological grip on Denji, and it’s fascinating how writers twist their dynamic. Some stories soften her edges, painting her as a tragic figure who genuinely cares but can’t express it healthily. Others double down on her cruelty, turning their relationship into a full-on psychological horror where Denji’s desperation is exploited even more brutally. The best fics balance both, showing how her manipulation isn’t just about power—it’s this eerie mix of calculated control and fleeting moments where she almost seems human. One standout trope is 'role reversal,' where Denji becomes the one manipulating Makima, flipping the script in ways that reveal how fragile her dominance really is. Another popular angle explores alternate endings where Denji breaks free earlier, forcing Makima to confront her own emptiness without him as a pawn. The emotional depth in these fics often hinges on small details—like Makima’s chillingly casual touches or Denji’s internal monologues where he questions if any of her affection was real. It’s messed up, but that’s why it works so well.

That finale punches you in the chest. In 'Chainsaw Man' Makima (the Control Devil in human form) is defeated — Denji kills her during the climax of the story. It isn’t a neat, heroic goodbye; it’s brutal, complicated, and fueled by decades of manipulation and trauma that Makima inflicted on everyone around her. Denji’s choice is violent and final in the moment, and the scene is written to feel like both revenge and heartbreak. What complicates things is what comes after: the Control Devil’s power and essence don’t simply vanish from the world. A little girl named Nayuta shows up in the aftermath and is ultimately connected to Makima’s nature — effectively a rebirth or reincarnation of that same force. So yes, the Makima who held power and authority is killed, but the thematic cycle continues through Nayuta. For me, that bittersweet loop is what sticks — justice served, but the world keeps turning, and new problems rise from the ashes. It left me unsettled and strangely satisfied at the same time.

This pops up in every thread I lurk in — simple version: in the anime as it was released in the first season, Makima's ultimate fate from the manga is not shown. The TV adaptation covers only the early-to-middle beats of 'Chainsaw Man' and stops well before the climactic, spoiler-heavy chapters where her storyline reaches its conclusion. If you want the full story, the manga goes further and yes, her arc ends in a way that dramatically changes the direction of the series (and it’s one of those moments that makes people argue in the comments for weeks). The anime leaves you on a major cliff, intentionally or not, so viewers who only watch the show won't see her full arc play out. I get why people are impatient — Makima is central and chilling, and her resolution is one of those plot points that hit hard in print. I'm excited and nervous for the studio to tackle it when season two comes around; it's going to be wild to see that on screen.

And finally in Chainsaw Man is the fall of Makima. The Chainsaw Man devoured her; one part of him which was called Pochita. As part of the hero, Denji's, system of vengeance this happened. Denji was absorbed by Pochita and let himself be eaten out of her attacking range. Once within his sights, he took the chance to put that old serpent out forever.