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Karyl Trejo

Karyl’s first introduction to anime was none other than Sailor Moon, and when she had finished watching the complete series, she realized she was completely hooked. She soon graduated to Trigun, Hellsing, and Cowboy Bebop — and thus, her lifelong love of anime was born. These days, she remains a voracious watcher of anime and fills in the gaps of her downtime with whatever manga she can get her hands on. When she’s not arguing about the differences between sub and dub to the unwary (team sub all the way!), she’s memorizing the lyrics to her favorite J-pop songs so she can sing them to her cats.

Latest posts by Karyl Trejo (see all)

• Strongest Bleach Characters Ranked - June 22, 2022
• What is Baryon Mode in Naruto - June 7, 2022
• Best Psychological Anime of All Time - May 30, 2022

The world of Bleach is full of a wide variety of remarkably powerful characters, each complete with their own abilities and skillsets. Many of these incredibly strong individuals have trained for hundreds of years, making them exceptionally skilled at both intellect and fighting prowess. 

The franchise is well known for developing characters with unique bloodlines and special abilities that have the potential to wipe out entire cities. Interestingly enough, many of the most powerful fighters in Bleach are also one of the oldest – the ultimate proof that nothing outmatches experience and wisdom in the Bleach universe.

Without Further Ado: The List Itself

Since Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is right around the corner, I wanted to take the time to rank the strongest characters in the Bleach universe. However, because Bleach has so many powerful fighters, it can definitely be more than a little bit difficult to rank them in pure strength alone. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4iZo9sAz9I

With that in mind, here is my pick on who are the strongest Bleach characters (in alphabetical order):

• Byakuya Kuchiki
• Genryusai Shigekumi Yamamoto
• Gerard Valkyrie
• Ichibe Housube
• Ichigo Kurosaki
• Jugram Haschwalth
• Kaname Tousen
• Kenpachi Zaraki
• Komamura Sajin
• Kurtosuchi Mayuri
• Lille Barrio
• Shunsui Kyokaru
• Sosuke Aizen
• Yhwach
• Yoruichi Shihouin

In this list, I’ve taken into account each of the different traits and attributes of the characters, such as wisdom, intellect, and ruthlessness. Of course, I’ve also taken into account fan favorites such as Toshiro Hitsugaya, Byakuya Kuchiki, and even Yoruichi Shihōin. 

My Bottom Line Up Front

My top pick for the strongest Bleach character was, hands down, easily Yhwach. For manga readers, you’d understand what I mean. Being the first Quincy and Son of the Soul King entails great power that anime fans have yet to experience. 

My two runner-ups included:

1. The main protagonist, Ichigo 
2. And of course, Sosuke Aizen (because of his fusion with Hōgyoku)

Yoruichi

Starting off the list, we have Yoruichi. Don’t let her feline transformation fool you into thinking she’s any less powerful than most of the characters in Bleach, though. She is not only a princess of one of the Soul Society’s noble families, but she can also transform into an adorable black cat, too. 

Despite being a Shihoin, she escaped to Earth and gave up all of her titles, making her a criminal in her own family’s eyes. In cat form, Yoruichi can still harness her spiritual force and move at extraordinary speeds, despite her physical limitations. Her transformation doubles up as a disguise, making her a formidable assassin. 

She has no set time limit for this ability, either, and has definitely proven herself to be a top-tier combatant in the Bleach franchise. Aside from Yoruichi being the quickest character in Bleach, she is skilled in both hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship.

After all, she’s not known as the Flash Goddess for nothing. She has perfected this talent to the point that she can appear in many places at once. No doubt, Yoruichi is widely regarded as the most accomplished Hoho master in all of Soul Society.

Kaname Tousen

As the former Captain of Gotei 13th’s 9th Division, Kaname Tousen followed Aizen in their betrayal of Soul Society. Don’t be fooled by his blindness, though. He is able to wield his Zanpakuto with incredible proficiency despite this disability. 

With impressive swordsmanship, he is able to stand his ground against Kenpachi Zaraki (one of the best swordsmen in the series). He’s incredibly quick and nimble on his feet, as well. In one instance, he was able to catch Grimmjow off guard by sneaking up behind him before Grimmjow was even aware of his presence. 

Speaking of his Zanpakuto, Suzumushi can use a special ability that projects a loud cry capable of knocking opponents in range unconscious. But, perhaps his strongest ability is his Hollow Mask. 

Upon wearing this mask, both his strength and speed increase exponentially. To top it off, he also gains incredibly fast regeneration abilities, which allow him to fight relentlessly and without fear.

Komamura Sajin

It’s clear that Komamura Sajin has immense raw power that’s innate within him. His wolf-like form allows him to be one of the best in hand-to-hand combat. Already masterful at fighting without a weapon, his mastery in swordsmanship proves that he is a well-rounded fighter capable of adapting to different circumstances.

Since he is also a captain, he possesses a large amount of spiritual energy that he can unleash on a battlefield. Built like a tank, Komamura is able to take unruly amounts of damage and yet still go on to fight. Even after being hit by a Kido spell from Aizen, he holds his own when refuses medical treatment.

His Bankai summons a giant samurai that wields a katana. He is able to easily force his way against a barrage of enemies if he so chooses. The form is massive, and because of it, Komamura can inflict insane amounts of damage wherever he swings his sword.

Though, despite this feat, he’s definitely beatable as he becomes a large target for enemies. In turn, it makes it difficult for him to dodge attacks.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi

As Soul Society’s very own mad scientist, Mayuri Kurotsuchi possesses high intellect and great battle knowledge. While it’s obvious he’s weak when it comes to pure strength, his intellect and quick wit make up for it in combat. 

Being a genius inventor, he can create a number of different contraptions and tools that could help him even when up against much stronger opponents. A master strategist in his own right, Mayuri can easily beat tougher foes when given ample time to prepare. 

He is able to play out each possible scenario in his mind having different contingency plans when things don’t go his way. His research has even led him to experiment with body modification. In the series, Mayuri has upgraded several of his body parts to serve different functions in and out of combat. 

He can even turn himself into liquid when stabbing himself with his Zanpakuto. When needed, this serves as a highly effective escape tool as he cannot be attacked or harmed.

Jugram Haschwalth

It takes no small feat to become the right-hand man of Emperor Yhwach. In doing so, Jugram Haschwalth has become incredibly intelligent and adept in both the sword and the bow. Despite being incredibly weak in his younger years, training under Yhwach unlocked his full potential being claimed as Yhwach’s “other half.”

Similar to Yhwach, he is the only Quincy to have the ability to impart his own strength to other Quincy. In the same manner, he is also capable of amplifying his own strength when he’s with fellow Quincy all the while strengthening them as well.

One of his special abilities, called “The Balance,” allows him to redirect the harm he takes from enemy attacks by controlling the flow of fortune. With this ability, he is able to absorb most attacks that come at him onto his opponent. This power allows him to go up against almost any foe as it would be difficult to overcome the “misfortune” that his opponents face.

Byakuya Kuchiki

Byakuya Kuchiki is a fan favorite for a reason. He is one of the most terrifying characters in the manga and anime’s early chapters. This commander of the Soul Society’s 6th division wields the Zanpakuto Senbonzakura, which can divide into hundreds of very destructive flower petal-shaped blades.

He possesses a number of special powers that enable ranged offense in battle. Furthermore, Byakuya is a superb swordsman with perfect precision and the graceful ability to execute devastating assaults with minimal effort. 

He’s recognized for his Shunpo abilities, too. Byakuya is also arguably one of the most adept practitioners of this technique in all of Soul Society, having been taught by but never bested by “Goddess of Flash” Yoruichi Shihoin. 

He also has a good understanding of high-level Kido spells, performing many in quick succession with little effort and no invocation. He is a powerful force with his Hakuda skills, high degree of intelligence, and expert strategies.

Shunsui Kyokaru

Despite his dislike for fighting, Shunsui is one of Soul Society’s most skilled swordsmen. His two swords have enabled him to become ambidextrous, allowing him to interchange them between his hands, making him a very versatile opponent. 

Shunsui’s fighting style entails a combination of evasion and assaulting an opponent from behind or in front, relying on surprise to overwhelm them. Being a captain, Shunsui is a master of the Shunpo technique. He has the ability to leap huge distances and return very instantaneously, as well as escape swift and devastating blows. 

He also possesses immense spiritual strength, and he is reported to have Reiatsu unequaled by any of his contemporaries or predecessors. Despite his laid-back demeanor, Shunsui has proven to be a smart and observant individual on several occasions. 

Shunsui has always had an eye for seeing the genuine nature of anybody he encounters, even when he was younger. With his strong sense of intuition and enhanced endurance and durability, Shunsui definitely is a force to be reckoned with.

Kenpachi Zaraki

Kenpachi Zaraki, the current holder of the title of Kenpachi, is the most physically threatening force in the Soul Society. Kenpachi does not rely on any unique abilities or techniques and has always been a full-fledged brawler. He has always been preoccupied with winning and coming out on top, making him a force to be reckoned with. 

Kenpachi conceals his powers throughout most of the series in order to enjoy his bouts, but towards the end of the series, he releases his actual might and prowess. Kenpachi can do massive amounts of damage with his Bankai and has unruly Reiatsu control which is kept at bay with his eyepatch.

Kenpachi’s sword skills have been developed to an almost virtuoso degree, allowing him to strike multiple times while changing from slashing to piercing with ease. He also possesses superhuman strength in both hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, allowing him to slay hundreds of adult combatants while he was still a youngster.

Lille Barro

Several strong Quincy were introduced throughout the 1000-Year Blood War arc, including Lille Barro. He is a terror on the battlefield, with great marksmanship and a number of unique abilities. He also has an augmented form that allows him to fire several rounds through a set of wings that can aid him in overcoming difficult situations.

Lille Barro was a dedicated member of Yhwach’s personal guard and the first Quincy to receive power from him. This got to him, and he began to boast about himself as Yhwach’s finest and best creation. Although a skilled and dangerous warrior, he is frequently caught off guard by unexpected circumstances that he fails to predict. 

This renders him vulnerable against adaptive fighters, but his lethal sniper talents still make him one to be feared. Despite this, Intangibility is granted to him in his “Monk of Destruction” form, which makes him difficult to beat when paired with his light beams.

Gerard Valkyrie

Gerard Valkyrie was part of the Quincy elite forces known as the Sternritter, with a special ability that made him virtually unkillable. During the majority of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Gerard served as one of Yhwach’s personal guards and was pitted against the combined forces of Byakuya, Kenpachi, and Toshiro’s Bankai.

Gerard’s ability as the “Miracle” allowed him to call on miracles whenever he was in trouble. This ability renders him practically unkillable because he becomes stronger with each wound. Gerard can transfer all the physical damage he’s endured by focusing on people’s “fear” of being unable to eliminate him. 

Just like the Valkyries in Norse Mythology, Gerard can also grow a massive pair of wings if he needs to fly. These wings also create an aura of energy surrounding his spirit weapon which can then reflect whatever damage it takes on its attacker. I would have ranked Gerard much higher on this list, but Yhwach eventually led to his demise by taking back his powers.

Ichibē Hyōsube

Ichibē Hyōsube, the Soul King’s guardian and current commander of the Royal Guard, is a gifted warrior with enormous strength. He bears the title of the “High Priest,” and is entrusted to protect the royal family as part of a special unit of Soul Reapers. 

He possesses a wide spectrum of insanely powerful abilities, as well as millennia of combat expertise. Ichibe’s Zanpakuto releases ink and grows much stronger in his Bankai. Anything covered in his ink loses its identity, and anything without a name loses strength.

By writing Kanji all over his target, he acquires the ability to give everything a name. Ichibē even utilized this power on Yhwach, making him as feeble as a bug for a short time. With the ability to wield ink that may leave adversaries worthless by draining their power, it’s no surprise that Ichibe ranked so high on my list.

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto

Yamamoto has centuries of experience in controlling the Soul Society for nearly a thousand years, making him unmatched in both abilities and expertise. His Bankai has become a weapon of devastation because of his devotion to training and his strong character. 

He has repulsed countless Soul Society invasions, including Yhwach, the Soul King’s son. If that isn’t impressive enough, though, Yamamoto is also a specialist in the methods of:

• Shinpo
• Kido
• Hakuda Shinigami

This, along with Yamamoto’s expertise and Zanpakuto, causes most opponents to tremble in terror even before Yamamoto attempts to incinerate them. No one controls the Soul Society for that long without being toppled by a Soul Reaper, making him incredibly talented and feared in the franchise. 

Sosuke Aizen

After betraying Soul Society, Sosuke Aizen would go on to become one of the strongest characters in the entire series. In the anime, he is the main antagonist. You get to witness his incredible mental and physical prowess through the use of his Zanpakuto and Kido.

His cunning and manipulative nature makes him all the more ruthless compared to any character in Bleach. What’s more, is that his immense spiritual power allows him to cut down several captains without so much as breaking a sweat. 

The strength that he showed when stopping the blade of Ichigo with only his finger says it all. But, to top it all off, his fusion with Hogyuku has granted him pretty much immortality by the show’s standards, and he was able to regenerate even from Ichigo’s Mugetsu. 

However, he was only able to withstand this attack at the cost of his Hōgyoku powers. Nevertheless, Aizen has shown godlike strength throughout the show, and his spot on this list is well deserved. 

Ichigo Kurosaki

This list would not be complete without the iconic Ichigo Kurosaki, the main protagonist of the Bleach series. Ichigo moves from being one of the weakest Soul Reapers to surpassing the majority of them. As the son of a powerful exiled Shinigami and a human mother, he has unnaturally high Reiatsu making him an insanely powerful hybrid.

Ichigo’s Human body is in excellent physical condition. Since he was a boy, Ichigo has been trained in martial arts, both professionally and by his father. In his assaults, he has frequently demonstrated tremendous quickness and synchronization.

Ichigo’s most remarkable talent is his rapid development; he grasps the fundamental control of advanced techniques in days that would take even the most gifted Shinigami several years. He also has had a natural capacity to perceive spiritual creatures and sense their presence since he was a youngster. 

Being recognized multiple times to possess enormous amounts of strength, endurance, and durability, compared to fellow Shinigami, Ichigo is a cut above the rest. Whether it’s because of:

• His sword proficiency
• His Hollow forms
• His Quincy background

Or if it’s thanks to the variety of other powers and skills he’s picked up along the journey, Ichigo is definitely one of the most powerful and iconic characters in Bleach.

Yhwach

It’s no secret that Yhwach is the most powerful character in the Bleach series. As the son of the Soul King, he led the Wanderweich in a thousand-year battle against the Soul Society. If not for Ichigo Kurosaki, he would have annihilated the entire world of Bleach if it hadn’t been for a single misstep. 

No one in Bleach compares to Yhwach, having been sealed away for nearly 1000 years. Yhwach was born with the capacity to give a portion of his soul to another person just by touching them. He possesses immaculate healing abilities, allowing him to treat the physical, mental, and spiritual afflictions of people who come into contact with him. 

Yhwach also has the ability to see all that will happen from now until the long future. He may also consume other creatures, including higher beings, by physical touch, absorbing their abilities and energy and containing their tremendous essence within his body, claiming their power.

He is able to grow stronger and live longer each time he reclaims a chunk of his soul. To add to all of that, he collects spiritual energy from the surroundings and blends it with his own spiritual force as a Quincy to form weapons. 

You can’t go wrong with the father of all Quincy and the commander of the Wanderweich when making a list of the strongest characters in Bleach. He is a nightmare to be in combat against due to his ideal blend of talent, power nullification skills, future sight, and intellect.

Not Quite The Strongest: My Honorable Mentions

Toshiro Hitsugaya

One of the fan favorites, Hitsugaya Toshiro is considered a genius in Soul Society. As a child prodigy, his natural talent is unmatched. His genius-level intellect and innate talent propelled him into becoming the youngest Shinami to reach the captain rank. 

With his Zanpakuto, he summons an ice dragon named Hyorinmaru. His powers revolve around his ability to manipulate ice and water which makes him extremely versatile and dangerous in combat.

Since he is young, he still has much more potential that has yet to be unlocked. He could have easily been ranked higher on the list. But, considering his young age, he still has time to grow and become more powerful. 

Urahara Kisuke

Another honorable mention is Urahara Kisuke. While his Zanpakuto isn’t the strongest compared to the rest, his intellectual prowess matches that of even Mayuri’s. With his inventive mind, he’s able to match up against a lot of characters in the show.

He didn’t make the list because his Zanpakuto is quite weak compared to the others mentioned. Since it’s very limited, he relies heavily on his knowledge and wit. A core character early on in the series, he deserves to be at least mentioned for his part in taking down Aizen. 

Uryu Ishida

Maybe a surprising addition for some to this list is Uryu Ishida. Being a doctor at Karakura Hospital, he isn’t exactly a character you’d expect to be extremely powerful yet his proficiency with the bow and high spiritual makes him a dark horse in the series.

His power wasn’t blatantly displayed in both the manga and the anime, his Antithesis power is one of the more deadly abilities. However, the Antithesis is a double-edged sword. 

Since the skill reverses what has occurred between two targets, it is only effective if Uryu himself is badly injured. It’d be extremely painful for Uryu to get extremely injured each time he uses this ability. For that reason, he didn’t make the list.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Final Thoughts

For the longest time on Shonen Jump, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach — also known as the Big Three — reigned supreme. These series were so quintessential in the anime scene, with each of them exemplifying what was so wonderful about the shonen genre in one way or another.

Whether you’re Bleach, Naruto, or One Piece fan, it’s no coincidence that Bleach has become as popular as it is today. Right now is the best time to be part of the Bleach fandom. 

Soon, we might even get to witness Yhwach in action. With the Thousand-Year Arc Blood year Arc finally being animated after 10 years since it was last on-air, the fans will finally get to witness a new story unfold… and maybe an even stronger character will emerge in the series, as well.