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.

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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 on May 28th, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Bleach is an anime that elicits a lot of mixed responses from people. Some people love this series despite its drawbacks, while others find the poorly-explained power systems to be too much to deal with. Sure, Bleach may not be the most tightly-woven series around, but there's no denying that its battles are a blast to witness, with numerous characters boasting a wealth of power that is generated solely for fans to witness some awe-inspiring displays. The loose systems of Bleach mean that Kubo can get really creative with some of the fights, showcasing abilities so elaborate and mind-blowing that these characters are just broken on the power scale. Still, ranking them isn't the hardest, given the legendary power displayed by some of the best heroes and villains in the series, and there have even been a few more characters added to this list to improve its ranking of Bleach's strongest characters.

17 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.

16 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.

15 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 ucoming 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.

14 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.

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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.

13 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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

1 Yhwach

The Almighty

• First Appearance: THE BLOOD WARFARE (Episode 367)

Yhwach is one of the most powerful characters in anime history. This Quincy was already pretty powerful as is, but his strength reached new heights after he managed to merge with the Soul King. The sheer amount of power this antagonist wielded after absorbing his father led to Yhwach becoming one of the most powerful beings in the entire series.

Once again, there was no way that Ichigo could've defeated this entity given how powerful he was, and it was a stretch that the combined efforts of his friends (along with a much-needed assist from Aizen) managed to take the Almighty out once and for all. This final fight was a huge disappointment, and fans have their fingers crossed that the anime adaptation deviates from this poorly choreographed battle and makes Bleach's ending way more memorable.

Bleach

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Release Date

October 5, 2004

Creator

Tite Kubo

Seasons

17

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

See at Hulu