15 Strongest Bleach Characters Of All Time, Ranked

Bleach is a series with a wide variety of different powers and abilities, and some characters have such incredible mastery over these abilities that they’re all but unstoppable. But just who are these characters, and how do they stack up against one another?

In the world of Bleach, there are many different kinds of spiritual beings, such as Soul Reapers, Hollows, and Quincy. Each group has wildly different abilities from the others, which can make them a bit difficult to compare directly. Still, it’s possible to roughly gauge how powerful an individual character is based on what they’re capable of, and how they’ve matched up against other enemies in the past. Without further ado, here are Bleach‘s 10 strongest characters.

15

Gremmy Thoumeaux

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Last 9 Days”

Gremmy Thoumeaux is a Sternritter who wields the Schrift V, “The Visionary.” This allows him to turn anything he can imagine into reality, from ridiculous ideas like turning one’s bones into cookies to creating an entirely fictitious person in Guanael Lee. All he need do is imagine he’s tougher than steel, and his body will become more durable, or imagine that his injuries don’t exist, and they instantly vanish. Gremmy even imagined a giant meteor crashing into the Seireitei, which had the potential to kill nearly every character in the series at once.

Gremmy’s one major weakness is that if his attention is diverted, the effects that he is imagining will come to an end. Gremmy can also potentially put himself in a bad situation by envisioning his own defeat, thereby making it into a reality.

14

Askin Nakk Le Vaar

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “March of the StarCross”

Askin Nakk Le Vaar is the newest member of Yhwach’s Schutzstaffel, and the user of the Schrift abilit D, “The Deathdealing.” This allows him to ingest a substance and then change its lethal dose value, giving him the ability to reduce an enemy’s resistance to poisons, or even non-poisonous substances like Reishi. It also allows Askin to develop an immunity to that substance himself, ensuring that he’s not accidentally harmed by his own weapons. Askin also possesses a Quincy Vollstandig, Hasshein, which allows him to fly, and enhances the Deathdealing further.

Askin is a very unserious type of man, often joking around and acting cowardly on the battlefield, but this is all a ploy to get his foes to lower their guard, making it possible for him to strike when the enemy least expects it.

13

Pernida Parnkgjas

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Last 9 Days”

Pernida Parnkgjas is a Quincy who is, literally, the left hand of the Soul King, the god of Bleach’s universe. His physical appearance is that of a giant left hand, although for most of the story Pernida is cloaked in a hood, concealing his true appearance. Pernida has the Schrift ability C, “The Compulsory,” with which it can attack enemies using its nerve fibers, taking control of their bodies and shredding their muscles in seconds. Pernida is also capable of growing and evolving at an astounding rate, as it represents the force of progress and evolution.

Pernida proved to be an exceptionally difficult opponent, killing Nemu and forcing Kenpachi Zaraki to rip his own arm off. It could even clone itself, creating duplicate giant arms that were every bit as deadly as the original Pernida.

12

Kisuke Urahara

First Appearance: Bleach, “Fight to the Death! Ichigo vs. Ichigo”

Kisuke Urahara is the former captain of Squad 12, as well as Mayuri’s predecessor at the Soul Reaper’s Research and Development Institute. While he now lives in exile in the human world, Urahara has become a key mentor for Ichigo. Despite his friendly demeanor, Urahara often means business, and no one wants to be on his bad side when he gets serious. Urahara gets to use his Bankai, Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame, in the final act of Thousand-Year Blood War, battling against Askin Nakk Le Vaar.

Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame can reconstruct anything it touches, cutting things open or stitching them back up. While Urahara insists it’s not a Bankai suited for training others, its special ability makes it exceptionally deadly in combat, able to split whatever it makes contact with. It can even be used to heal, as Urahara proves by using it on himself.

11

Senjumaru Shutara

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Shooting Star Project (Zero Mix)”

Senjumaru Shutara is a member of Squad Zero, credited with the creation of the Shihakusho robes that Soul Reapers wear. During the fight between Squad Zero and Yhwach’s elite guards, the Schutzstaffel, Senjumaru’s compatriots in Squad Zero killed themselves in order to undo the blood seal on Senjumaru’s Bankai, affording her tremendous power. Using her Bankai, she was able to trap each of the Schutzstaffel, as well as Uryu and Haschwalth, in pocket dimensions they couldn’t escape from, effectively defeating the entire group in one shot.

Senjumaru’s Bankai is clearly very powerful, with each pocket dimension tailored to its occupant. While Senjumaru was ultimately defeated by Uryu’s clever use of his Schrift ability, it doesn’t change the fact that she was able to nearly wipe out the enemy forces singlehandedly, and she’s without a doubt one of the strongest Soul Reapers around.

10

Lille Barro

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Last 9 Days”

Lille Barro has the honor of being the leader of Yhwach’s Elite Guard, known as the Schutzstaffel, and was the first Quincy to be granted a Schrift. Lille’s Schrift, X: “The X-Axis,” allows him to fire bullets which can pierce anything between them and their target. The bullets travel instantaneously and are impossible to block, meaning that if Lille wants someone dead, there’s very little that anyone can do to stop him. Lille can also cause himself to become intangible by opening both his eyes; Lille often deliberately handicaps himself by keeping his left eye closed, seemingly just for the added challenge.

Lille also has a Vollstandig, Jilliel, which allows him to enhance his abilities even further, firing up to 24 blasts from his wings, while simultaneously making him almost completely invulnerable to damage. It even allows him to regenerate lost body parts, including his head. His one weakness is his own power being reflected back at him, almost putting him on the tier of a god.

9

Shunsui Kyoraku

First Appearance: Bleach, “Assemble! The Gotei 13”

Shunsui Kyoraku was the Captain of Squad 8, but became Head Captain after Yamamoto was killed. He’s among the oldest of the living Soul Reapers, and puts his incredible experience to use battling against the Sternritter. Shunsui is a skilled tactician, making him well-suited for the role of leading the 13 Court Guard Squads. His Zanpakuto, Katen Kyokotsu, is fairly unique in that it takes the form of two swords; its Shikai form transforms into two scimitar-like swords, while granting Shunsui the power to force his opponents to follow the rules of children’s games, such as shadow tag.

Shunsui’s Bankai is rarely used, as it can affect nearby allies as well as enemies. It creates an area of altered perception, where those exposed to it feel glum and hopeless. It can summon torrents of water to drown opponents with less spiritual pressure, and even decapitate foes using a special string, in accordance with a story that Shunsui tells.

8

Jugram Haschwalth

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “Foundation Stones”

Jugram Haschwalth is Yhwach’s number two, taking over for him when he must rest. Jugram wields the Schrift B, “The Balance,” which allows him to take misfortunes that fall upon those around him and redistribute them to those who’ve had good luck instead. This allows him to force his opponents to suffer the injuries they’ve dealt to him, a dangerous power if ever there was one. His shield, Freund Schild, can also absorb misfortunes and redirect them back at his opponent, but the shield allows him to save these misfortunes and unleash them all at once, debilitating opponents in an instant. Jugram also gains the ability to see the future using The Almighty, whenever Yhwach is asleep.

Jugram Haschwalth’s Schrift makes him almost impossible to kill, and ultimately he was only defeated because Yhwach called upon another Auswhalen, which killed the remaining Quincy Sternritter in order for Yhwach to take their power for his own.

7

Gerard Valkyrie

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Last 9 Days”

Gerard Valkyrie is another Quincy and member of the Schutzstaffel, Yhwach’s Elite Guard. Gerard doesn’t possess an ordinary Schrift granted to him by Yhwach, but instead has a special power since birth, known as “The Miracle,” as he is the incarnation of the Soul King’s heart.

The Miracle makes unlikely events more likely to happen right as they are needed, a power that’s almost impossible to plan around. The Miracle allows Gerard to instantly regrow lost limbs, increase his power to match that of his opponents, and even become an enormous size, growing larger as he takes damage. Gerard’s sword, Hoffnung, also allows him to redirect damage it would’ve taken to his opponents.

Gerard was nigh-unkillable, and even when he appeared to be down, he simply transformed into a new form, becoming an enormous, monstrous figure with his Vollstandig. He was only taken down by Yhwach’s Auswhalen, which struck while he was in the midst of battle with Byakuya and Hitsugaya.

6

Kenpachi Zaraki

First Appearance: Bleach, “Gin Ichimaru’s Shadow”

Kenpachi Zaraki is one of the strongest Soul Reapers in the Soul Society, and that was true even before he had unlocked Shikai or Bankai. Zaraki is a bloodthirsty battler, eager to fight against strong opponents regardless of the circumstances. He’s well known for having an absolutely incredible degree of spiritual pressure, putting almost every other captain to shame by comparison. Throughout Thousand-Year Blood War, Zaraki unlocks his sword’s Shikai, which allows him to cut through the very fabric of space-time.

Zaraki later unlocks Bankai, which grants him tremendous physical power and transforms him into a demonic appearance, but allowing him to cut even the giant Gerard Valkyrie in two. Zaraki’s raw power is unmatched in the Soul Society, and even beyond it, few can match up to his abilities.

5

Yamamoto

First Appearance: Bleach, “Assemble! The Gotei 13”

The former Head Captain and Founder of the 13 Court Guard Squads, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, was an insanely powerful Soul Reaper, able to face down Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake at the same time without breaking a sweat. Having been around for over a thousand years, Yamamoto’s wisdom and experience was invaluable to the Soul Reapers. Yamamoto’s Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, was so incredibly powerful that he rarely drew it; if Yamamoto were to activate his Bankai carelessly, he could incinerate almost the entire Seireitei in an instant, forcing him to be exceptionally careful with his powers.

With his Bankai, anything that his blade cuts will be burned out of existence, and Yamamoto claims it harnesses the power of the Sun itself. Yamamoto can even use his blade to call upon the spirits of those who he’s already killed and have them attack his foes, a truly horrific power for a nominally heroic character.

4

Ichibe Hyosube

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Shooting Star Project (Zero Mix)”

Ichibe Hyosube is the leader of Squad Zero and one of the oldest and most powerful Soul Reapers in existence. Ichibe possesses the ability to control and alter the true name of an object or being, an extremely powerful ability. He was also the first Soul Reaper to unlock Bankai, before such a thing even had a name. Ichibe’s Bankai allows him to rename whatever is painted with the tip of his blade, a power which he first uses on Yhwach, turning him into “Black Ant.” Ichibe also can’t be killed by dismemberment; provided someone speaks his name to grant him initial energy, Ichibe’s body can reconstitute itself no matter how many pieces he’s been cut into.

Ichibe’s greatest attack is so powerful, it can even destroy the soul, preventing reincarnation. Ichibe was only defeated by Yhwach and his ability to change the future, but just about any power short of that would be useless against him.

3

Aizen Wields

First Appearance: Bleach, “14 Days Before Rukia’s Execution”

Sosuke Aizen was once the Captain of Squad 5, but defected from the Soul Society to pursue his own goals of conquering the universe. Aizen used an object known as the Hogyoku to create the Arrancar and enhance his own abilities, ultimately fusing with the Hogyoku to grant him an immeasurable degree of power. His Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, is capable of creating extremely realistic illusions that affect all the senses of anyone who looks upon it–which includes nearly every Soul Reaper there is. Aizen has never used his Bankai, but presumably has one as a former captain.

While Aizen ultimately loses his Hogyoku-enhanced powers, that was indisputably Aizen at his absolute strongest. Even without the Hogyoku, however, Aizen is regarded as one of the most dangerous beings in Soul Society by Yhwach, with his amazing spiritual power at an almost incomparable level.

2

Ichigo Kurosaki

First Appearance: Bleach, “The Day I Became a Soul Reaper”

Ichigo isn’t just a human; he’s the son of a Soul Reaper and a Quincy, whose birth was affected by the presence of the altered Hollow known as White. As such, Ichigo possesses powers from almost all of Bleach‘s different classifications of spiritual beings, giving him a diverse array of skills and abilities unlike anyone else. His spiritual power is off the charts, particularly late in the Thousand-Year Blood War, making him more than a match for any Sternritter looking for trouble. He can Hollowify to increase his power further, transforming into a monstrous-looking form.

Ichigo’s Zanpakuto gets reforged and gains a new Bankai during Thousand-Year Blood War. The extent of this new Bankai’s power isn’t really shown in the manga, but it is suggested as being exceptionally powerful.

1

Yhwach

First Appearance: Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, “The Blood Warfare”

Yhwach is, without question, the most powerful character in Bleach. It’s not even close. Yhwach’s ability, The Almighty, doesn’t just allow him to see into the future, but allows him to change it, and he can even affect the present by performing actions in the future, such as destroying Ichigo’s Bankai. No matter what one tries to do to him, he can see it coming and prevent it or undo it, rendering him almost completely untouchable. Yhwach can grant “Schrifts” to others who touch him, and then call upon the Auswhalen to return those powers to himself once they’re developed.

Yhwach becomes even stronger once he takes the Soul King’s power, able to literally reshape the universe into whatever form he sees fit. Yhwach is only defeated due to his one secret weakness: Still Silver, a substance formed in the hearts of those whom he performed the Auswhalen on. Contact with Still Silver causes him to lose his powers temporarily, making him as vulnerable as any other mortal. Despite this weakness, though, there’s no question that Yhwach is the most powerful figure in all of Bleach.