Strongest Characters In Bleach

Key Takeaways

• Bleach characters showcase immense strength and unique abilities in epic battles, making the series captivating.
• Some characters, like Shinigami Uryu and mad scientist Mayuri, demonstrate impressive powers and intelligence in fights.
• Powerful characters like Aizen, Zaraki, and Yhwach exhibit incredible strength and iconic abilities that shape the series.

Given Bleach‘s trappings as a shonen show, it’s easy to see why the power displayed in this series is off the charts sometimes. The show is all about people flexing their skills as they wield the weapon of their choice and lay waste to their enemies in the most brutal manner possible. Sometimes, these foes can be so powerful that it takes a Herculean feat of strength to take them out! As a result, many characters in this show have reached immense heights of strength and power, using the suite of skills at their behest to take out monstrous foes with ease.

While the power scaling may not make sense in some battles, there’s no denying that some of the strongest Bleach characters wield their abilities like an extension of their own self. These confrontations are a huge part of what makes Bleach such a captivating series despite its many missteps, with its satisfying battles showcasing a wealth of creative abilities from characters who are more than willing to bring out the big guns when the situation calls for it.

Updated October 10, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With the third cour of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc having premiered in October 2024, fans of the Bleach franchise can finally see Ichigo pave the way for his inevitable confrontation with Yhwach to decide the fate of the universe. However, fans who are eagerly awaiting the final fight between Ichigo and Yhwach might be wondering exactly how the protagonist’s power levels compared to those of other characters in the franchise – especially the much stronger foes he met and faced throughout the story.

Among powerhouse figures in the series include one of Ichigo’s final rivals in the Hueco Mundo arc, a former Captain who became empowered with a Hollow Mask, said Captain’s companion who is also a potent Kido user, and the Shinigami’s resident medical specialist.

21 Hachigen Ushoda

Kido: Time-Space Barriers

• First Appearance: Visored! The Power Of The Awakened (Episode 122)

Despite his size and rather kind nature, Hachigen Ushoda is no pushover among the Visored. Being among the masked, Hachigen is a Shinigami with access to a Hollow Mask – practically implying that not only is he a skilled swordsman, but also capable enough to contain a Hollow’s uncontrollable power and use it to enhance his combat prowess.

However, unlike other Visored who were often within the Gotei 13, Hachigen was the lieutenant of the Kido Corps – Soul Society’s masters of the mystic arts. Hachigen specializes in Bakudo or prohibition spells, often creating barriers to stop foes in their tracks. However, Hachigen especially excels in two areas. First, his Time-Space Barriers can “regress” damage through his barriers, effectively healing others. Second, he has so much knowledge about Kido that he can practically create his own hybrid spells to solve situations on the fly.

20 Isshin Kurosaki

Zanpakuto: Engetsu

• First Appearance: The Day I Became a Shinigami (Episode 1)

At a glance, Ichigo’s father doesn’t seem that strong by any stretch of the imagination. He’s a goofball who is barely present during some of the major battles in the series, but that doesn’t mean this jovial character doesn’t boast a ton of power. When push comes to shove, Isshin shows everyone why he was once a captain in Soul Society. At least, he was before being thrown out for his forbidden relationship with a Quincy.

There are many times when he displays a ton of power using his Shikai alone, and fans can only hope that his Bankai is revealed during the Thousand-Year Blood War. The fact that he taught Ichigo everything he needed to completely obliterate Aizen and seal the antagonist for good shows that there’s a lot more to Isshin Kurosaki’s character and power that simply isn’t shown on-screen.

19 Uryu Ishida

Spirit Weapon: Heilig Bogen

• First Appearance: Greetings from a Stuffed Lion (Episode 7)

Uryu Ishida is a captivating character, with his background as a Quincy putting him at odds against Ichigo when they first meet. When the final arc kicks off, it seems like Ishida has betrayed his friends and joined the invading Quincy, but it doesn’t take long for fans to find out that he was always going to go back to Ichigo’s side after a time.

His powers are pretty impressive, even if they don’t leave too much of an impact given the monstrous power displayed by other characters in the series. Still, the way he uses his brains to turn the tide of battle is pretty impressive, and the fact that he managed to hold his own against the fearsome Jugram Haschwalt shows that he’s no pushover.

18 Askin Nakk Le Vaar

Vollstandig: Hasshein

• First Appearance: March of the StarCross (Episode 369)

One of the members of the Wandereich is deceptively strong. Askin Nakk Le Vaar, is one of the members of the Schutzstaffel, making it clear just how highly Yhwach rates him. The chilling manner in which he uses poison to incapacitate his enemies makes him a pretty cruel and calculating character. It’s clear that he loves dishing out all manner of death when the thirst for battle gets to him.

The fact that his Vollstandig hasn’t even fully manifested in the series yet makes it clear that the reveal of his powers is reserved for upcoming fights, which are bound to be quite bombastic. Fans can’t wait to see his powers and how the Shinigami take him down if they’re even capable of doing so.

17 Gremmy Thoumeaux

The Visionary

• First Appearance: THE LAST 9DAYS (Episode 380)

Nothing justifies the filthy manner in which a Sternritter as powerful as Gremmy was done away with. Sure, this foe served as an excuse for Kenpachi to show his true powers, but some people would argue that this excuse doesn’t justify how poorly Gremmy utilized his power, especially since he could make his wildest imaginations come to life.

Truth be told, Gremmy’s powers are poorly explained, leading many people to speculate that maybe he wasn’t all that powerful as the series built him up to be. His imagination should’ve been boundless, yet he fell at the hands of Kenpachi, who completely obliterated him in the most disrespectful manner possible. Some people argue that he could be more powerful than the Schutzstaffel, which is no mean feat.

16 Toshiro Hitsugaya

Bankai: Daiguren Hyorinmaru

• First Appearance: Assemble! The Gotei 13 (Episode 24)

The fact that Hitsugaya has to rely heavily on his Bankai all the time to make up for his gap in strength compared to the rest of the Gotei 13 might make most people think that he’s one of the weakest Shinigami in the series. However, there’s a reason why this child prodigy impressed his peers so much that he ended up becoming a Captain at such a young age.

The true extent of his power can be seen during the fight against Gerard Valkyrie, where Hitsugaya reveals just how much work and effort he put into perfecting his Bankai. To use the full extent of Daiguren Hyorinmaru’s potential, he temporarily becomes an adult to harness this power, freezing his foe in a display of pure strength that shows just how much potential he harbors despite his overreliance on his Bankai.

15 Ulquiorra Cifer

Resurreccion: Murcielago

• First Appearance: Prelude to the Apocalypse, The Arrancar’s Attack (Episode 113)

The cold and brooding Ulquiorra Cifer has garnered a reputation for being as merciless as he is disciplined, earning him the spot of Cuatro (4th) within Aizen’s famed Espada. Despite his odd obsession with hearts and his connection with emptiness, Ulquiorra is just as feared for his overall power. On top of his Hollow physiology, Ulquiorra boasts incredible speed, a more powerful Cero, and swordsmanship to the point of catching up to Ichigo’s mask-empowered Getsuga Tensho.

However, where Ulquiorra becomes even deadlier is when he activates his Resurreccion: Murcielago. This enhanced state boosts his overall prowess, alongside being able to release javelin-like Luz de la Lunas and a city-wide Cero Oscuras. Tapping into his Segunda Etapa will release immense spiritual pressure (to the point that it’s “not even Reiatsu”), with a bat-like form that comes with a prehensile tail and an even more powerful energy javelin called the Lanza del Relampago. It’s only through a mortally wounded Ichigo “ascending” into a fully-Hollowfied form that Ulquiorra is finally defeated.

14 Shinji Hirako

Bankai: Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari

• First Appearance: Ichigo and Rukia, Thoughts in the Revolving Sky (Episode 109)

Behind Shinji Hirako and his rather annoying demeanor is a serious and level-headed combatant, a trait that is quite unsurprising for the leader of the Visored – Shinigami who attained Hollow Masks and powers. As the story progresses, it’s soon revealed that Shinji’s combat prowess stems from the fact that he was once the Gotei 13’s 5th Division Captain – explaining his mastery over the sword and expertise in high-speed Shunpo and high-level Kido. When donning his Hollow Mask, he receives a significant power boost and even lets him use the Hollows’ trademark Cero.

However, where Shinji shines is when he starts fighting for real. The activation of Sakanade’s Shikai twists the perception of foes who inhale the sword’s mist. Everything in the victim’s surroundings is reversed, making it nigh-impossible to adapt to Shinji’s attacks. Taking it a step further is his Bankai, which turns allies into enemies – regardless if they are Shinji’s comrades – in an instant.

13 Mayuri Kurotsuchi

Bankai: Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo

• First Appearance: Assemble! The Gotei 13 (Episode 24)

Beneath the different make-up and headgear of Mayuri Kurotsuchi is a mad scientist who puts the likes of Victor Frankenstein to shame. This Shinigami Captain is rather infamous not just for his genius-level intellect, but in what he decides to do with them. On top of being a master strategist, Mayuri’s knowledge (obsession) with medicine has turned him into Soul Society’s de-facto “go-to” scientist. Body modification is the name of Mayuri’s game, resulting not only in weird doodads such as various gadgets throughout his body, but he can even casually replace his own organs on the fly. Other feats include finding a way to resurrect Arrancars with their personalities intact, and even transform his body into pure liquid.

This madness is extended to his Zanpakuto, Ashisogi Jizo. Using the weapon’s Shikai will paralyze anyone hit by the weapon or the scream of its baby form – and as a kicker, the victim’s pain receptors are left unaffected. Because why not? Meanwhile, his Bankai releases hyper-lethal gas that only Mayuri has the antidote for. And to add insult to injury, Mayuri can “modify” his Bankai in different ways – change its appearance, and even change the poison’s composition so only he knows its antidote at any given time.

12 Byakuya Kuchiki

Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi

• First Appearance: Kon’s Great Plan (Episode 15)

Byakuya is the antagonist in the Soul Society arc, choosing to uphold his duty above anything else when he brings Rukia back for her execution. This sets the stage for an incredible battle between him and Ichigo, pushing the protagonist to develop and unlock his own Bankai to even the playing field. This battle is a test of ideologies too, and Byakuya ultimately loses because, deep down in his heart, he knows that Rukia doesn’t deserve to die.

Not only is his Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, one of the most powerful abilities in Bleach, but he is talented in using Kido as well. When Byakuya gets serious, there aren’t many foes who can stand against his might.

11 Lille Barro

Vollstandig: Jilliel

• First Appearance: THE LAST 9DAYS (Episode 380)

The Sternritter are some of the most powerful antagonists in the entire series. These Quincy take no prisoners and have made it clear that they’re not to be trifled, and the wealth of their powers can be seen in the impressive way they decide to battle it out against the Zero Squad.

Given how powerful every character in the Zero Squad is, it’s easy to see just how much confidence Yhwach’s strongest lieutenants have in their abilities. Lille Barro is one such character who can use his weapons to destroy anything and everything around him. The fact that his partial Vollstandig is powerful enough to destroy entire cities at the drop of a hat is a testament to just how powerful he is.

10 Jugram Haschwalth

The Balance

• First Appearance: Foundation Stones (Episode 368)

It takes something really special to be considered the other half of the Quincy King, and this is precisely what Jugram Haschwalth can brag about. This character is as mysterious as they come, but there’s a reason why he occupies such a high rank within the Sternritter despite being weak as a child.

He’s able to balance out everything in combat, making him a character who doesn’t seem powerful but is still undefeatable in the right conditions. This ability to alter the very nature of fate itself is an interesting one that shows why Yhwach took such a liking to this character.

9 Gerard Valkyrie

Vollstandig: Aschetonig

• First Appearance: THE LAST 9DAYS (Episode 380)

Gerard Valkyrie is one of the most unique characters in the entire series. He’s certainly one of the most powerful Quincy, and this is mainly because of his powerful ability that allows him to enjoy the power of miracles to make victory likely against all odds.

This power may be poorly explained, but it’s clear that this powerful Sternritter is not to be taken lightly. Even after facing the brunt of Kenpachi’s powerful Bankai and being split in half, his miraculous power allows him to survive this fatal blow and fight. He even loses his body at one point but continues to exude some truly monstrous energy that is finally put to rest when Yhwach uses Auswahlen to rob him of his strength.

8 Kisuke Urahara

Bankai: Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame

• First Appearance: Fight to the Death! Ichigo vs. Ichigo (Episode 6)

The disgraced Captain, who was framed and exiled from Soul Society, is one of the most powerful characters in the entire series. After all, it takes some extreme skill to help Ichigo master his powers and learn his Bankai in record time!

Urahara himself learned how to manifest his Bankai in three days, with the final form being one of the most unique powers in the entire series. The power to split apart and fix anything means that Urahara doesn’t have to worry about taking any damage, while his opponent needs to measure their step every step of the way if they don’t want to be cut into ribbons.

7 Kenpachi Zaraki

Zanpakuto: Nozarashi

• First Appearance: Gin Ichimaru’s Shadow (Episode 20)

Kenpachi Zaraki is one of the most entertaining characters in the entire series, using some really simple yet awesome ways to take out his opponents. The man is so ridiculously strong that he doesn’t even need to know the name of his own Zanpakuto to reach the level of other Captains in terms of pure strength.

If he wasn’t strong enough as is, then his fight with Unohana has unlocked a whole new level of power that is going to make Kenpachi a force to be reckoned with. His Bankai is the stuff of nightmares, and anyone who wants to witness Kenpachi’s transformation into an Oni should wait and watch for later episodes in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc to sweep them off their feet.

6 Ichigo Kurosaki

Bankai: Tensa Zangetsu

• First Appearance: The Day I Became a Shinigami (Episode 1)

The protagonist of Bleach may be a bit too bland for most people’s tastes, but there’s no denying that this character is one of the strongest Shinigami in the entire series by a country mile. The fact that he has unlocked the true form of his Zanpakuto means that his abilities are going to skyrocket and reach even greater heights now!

Viewers can’t wait to see how his new Bankai changes Ichigo, with his power being truly threatening in every way. The Thousand-Year Blood War’s first cour ended with the shot of him holding his dual Zanpakuto, and his powers were palpable for everyone to see when he made an amazing entry to help the Shinigami out during their conflict against the Sternritter.

5 Shunsui Kyoraku

Bankai: Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju

• First Appearance: Assemble! The Gotei 13 (Episode 24)

One of the coolest characters in the entire series, Shunsui Kyoraki wastes no time in letting players know just how powerful he is. This man is one of the few Shinigami to dual-wield his Zanpakuto, which in itself is a display of strength that serves as a taste of how much power Shunsui harbors, despite not revealing all his cards until the final arc.

His Bankai is so powerful and wild that Shunsui doesn’t reveal it until he’s far away from his allies. Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju is a Bankai that structures itself as a story with four acts, with each debilitating effect more damaging than the last. It’s a last resort that destroys Lille Barro, and fans can’t wait to see this attack be adapted in the adaptation of the Thousand-Year Blood War.

4 Ichibe Hyosube

Shin’uchi (Bankai): Shirafude Ichimonji

• First Appearance: The Shooting Star Project -ZERO MIX- (Episode 374)

The Zero Division is stated to be the strongest group of Shinigami in Soul Society by a country mile. While this raises questions as to why they haven’t made an appearance in previous arcs, most people won’t mind when they see these powerful Soul Reapers in battle.

The Captain of the Zero Division, Ichibe Hyosube, can mess around with the names of things around him, allowing him to weaken anything around him by changing the very nature of their names themselves. The implementation of this power is pretty unique, with Ichibe altering the very nature of his opponents to make them vulnerable in an instant.

3 Sosuke Aizen

Shikai: Kanzen Saimin

• First Appearance: 14 Days Before Rukia’s Execution (Episode 23)

To this day, many passionate fans will argue that Aizen never deserved to lose his battle against Ichigo. The main character plot armor for the protagonist was sky-high during this encounter, and this led to one of the greatest anime villains of all time being humiliated.

The fact that Aizen’s Bankai hasn’t been revealed yet is a testament to just how scary this individual is. Fans can only hope that the anime adaptation for the Thousand-Year Blood War arc fixes this omission and gives Aizen the time in the spotlight it deserves.

2 Genryusai Yamamoto

Bankai: Zanka No Tachi

• First Appearance: Assemble! The Gotei 13 (Episode 24)

It’s a shame that the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 ended up dying at the hands of a wily Yhwach. The man’s strength was beyond compare, and most people agree that he would’ve made quick work of the Soul King’s son had it not been for his underhanded tactics that stole Yamamoto’s Bankai.

Watching his body get cleaved in the most brutal manner possible is a striking image that fans won’t forget anytime soon. It’s also a turning point in the series, forcing the Captains and other Shinigami to improve their skills if they wished to take out the Sternritter.