In a world of Soul Reapers, there are plenty of powerful individuals. The fantasy world of the anime Bleach boasts quite a few different outlets for characters to draw power from, whether it be their training, unique bloodline, or the holos themselves.
Adapted from the manga, Bleach’s anime series would begin airing in 2004 before being canceled abruptly in 2012. However, the manga would continue to introduce even more powerful beings and grant upgrades to some of the series’ main cast. These characters are now being exposed to a new audience thanks to the reboot series Thousand-Year Blood War.
To cover all bases, this article will include the fifteen strongest characters from the Bleach manga series, but you may be familiar with some of them from their time on screen.
15. Toshiro Hitsugaya
One of the most popular characters in the show simply for his cool powers and appearance, Toshiro Hitsugaya is also one of the series’ strongest. The captain of Division 10, Hitsugaya, uses his Ice-type Zanpakuto with a bankai that shrouds him in ice-shaped parts of a dragon. This frosty attack proves to be more than enough to go blow-to-blow with many of the strongest foes in Bleach.
14. Kisuke Urahara
Urahara might not present himself as a significant threat in Bleach, but given his intelligence, it shouldn’t really be a surprise that he is quite the fighter. Formerly the captain of Division 12, Urahara is no slouch with a sword having excellent blade work to accompany a variety of spells. Using his Shikai makes his sword capable of firing energy blasts with each swing or using energy to circle or create a barrier against foes. While we only see Urahara’s Bankai used once, having the power to restructure anything it comes in contact with is quite the overpowered tool.
13. Gremmy Thoumeaux
The first Quincy to appear on our list hasn’t yet made their anime debut, but don’t be mistaken, Gremmy Thoumeaux is no one to take lightly. A member of the Sternritter’s Gremmy can make anything he imagines become a reality leading to a range of unique fighting skills with the only limit being imagination.
12. Uryu Ishida
One of Bleach’s oldest characters and main cast members, Uryu Ishida, like Ichigo, comes into his own during the Thousand-Year Blood War and, in turn, scores a place on our list. A member of the Quincy, Uryu has access to his spirit weapon, which is a bow capable of firing energy and all kinds of other unique spells. Antithesis is another power Uryu uses that is extremely useful, giving him the ability to reverse any altercation that has taken place between two people or objects.
11. Jugram Haschwalth
One of Yhwach’s right-hand men, Jugram Haschwalth, is one of the strongest Sternritter in the series. One of Jugram’s most powerful abilities is the power to distribute misfortune to his foes. If an attacker strikes a blow on Jugram, that good fortune is also inflicted upon them, making him quite the challenging opponent.
10. Lille Barro
During the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, there were plenty of powerful Quincy introduced, one of them being Lille Barro. On the battlefield, Barro is a force to be reckoned with, boasting incredible marksmanship and a handful of unique powers, including his enhanced form, where he can fire multiple shots through a set of wings that can help him emerge victorious through tough situations.
9. Byakuya Kuchiki
A fan favorite, Byakuya Kuchiki is one of the most daunting figures in the early parts of both the manga and the anime. Boasting his Zanpakuto Senbonzakura, this captain of the Soul Societies 6th Division has a variety of unique abilities that offer ranged offense in battle stemming from his sword Senbonzakura which can separate into hundreds of extremely dangerous flower petal-shaped blades. What makes Byakuya even more powerful is his high level of intellect on top of his various attacks.
8. Shunsui Kyoraku
You don’t get to be the captain of the 1st Division without being gifted in combat, and while Shunsui Kyoraku may appear to be a relaxed person in battle, you’ll want to be cautious. Alongside his mastery in swordsmanship, Shunsui has incredible spiritual power making him one of the strongest members of all the soul society.
7. Kenpachi Zaraki
Another fan favorite, we never got to see Kenpachi’s true powers on screen, but in the manga, now he’s learned how to use Nozarashi’s Bankai, Kenpachi’s already high power level has skyrocketed to a level that few characters can match. Anime watchers should expect to see this occur in part two of Thousand-Year Blood War.
6. Sosuke Aizen
The former 5th Division captain, it takes quite a lot of strength to topple the Soul Society, and that’s precisely what Aizen was able to do. Along with his intelligence, Aizen is a master swordfighter with phenomenal speed and has a laundry list of special abilities, powers, and forms he can use in battle. His on-screen demise may have done him a disservice but don’t let it fool you — Aizen is one of the strongest characters in the series.
5. Gerard Valkyrie
Being a Sternritter, Gerard Valkyrie has a species ability that renders him basically unkillable. With this in mind, it would be hard not to put him higher on this list, but he was eventually taken down, albeit due to him losing his powers.
4. Ichibe Huosube
The protector of the Soul King and current commander of the Royal Guard, Ichibe Huosube, is a highly talented fighter with immense power. Wielding ink that can render enemies useless, stripping away their power, it’s no wonder Ichibe wound up so high on our list.
3. Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto
You don’t rule over the Soul Society for so long without being incredibly skilled yourself, and Yamamoto has a millennium of experience. With a combination of skills and experience, Yamamoto is a force that very few can challenge within the franchise. Yamamoto’s Bankai is the strongest in the franchise, capable of incinerating everything in a massive radius in just minutes. Furthermore, even without his, Shikai can easily cut through almost anything.
2. Ichigo Kurosaki
The series’ main character Ichigo Kurosaki goes from being one of the weakest Soul Reapers to out-scaling most of them. Whether it’s his sword mastery, hollow forms, Quincy heritage, or his range of other abilities and skills he’s learned along the way, now Ichigo has control, he is undeniably one of the most powerful characters in the series.
1. Yhwach
No one in Bleach can compare to the son of the Soul King, Yhwach. Had it not been for one slip, he’d have successfully ended the world of Bleach once and for all single handily. Sealed away for almost 1000 years, it’s no secret that Yhwach is the strongest character in the series, with a perfect combination of skill, power, nullification abilities, future sight, and intelligence that make him a nightmare to battle against.
Published: Jun 6, 2023 10:06 pm