‘Bleach‘ is one of the most popular shonen anime and its newest season, ‘The Thousand Year Blood War Arc’ has just started airing. In the anime characters known as Shinigami, they use their Zanpakuto to control a variety of powers in the ‘Bleach‘ universe. The first evolution of a Zanpakuto produces a Shikai power, while the second produces a Bankai power. It can take more than ten years to fully unlock a Bankai because they are uncommon and typically only found on characters with the Lieutenant or Captain rank.
However, if mastered, they produce astounding powers, some of which alter their wearers and others of which unleash catastrophic strikes. Let us see the top ten most powerful Bankai.
Read More: What Is A Shinigami? Are These Creatures Real?
10) Hakka No Togame (Rukia Kuchiki)
It is currently unknown how she got her Bankai, but after wielding it in her battle with s Nödt, the enormous strength she possesses is obvious. When Rukia activates, her body seems pure and pale; her long, loose Kimono, which resembles Sode no Shirayuki’s spirit form is made up of a variety of line patterns that adorn and cover her entire body.
Rukia’s Zanpakuto, which she uses to attain Absolute Zero, has catastrophic freezing effects that Hakka no Togame enhances. When the Bankai is summoned, a thick blanket of white mist surrounds Rukia and her target, causing everything in its path to freeze and fall apart. Being a very powerful Bankai, it is too difficult for Rukia to master; any mistake in using it can cost her her life. This is why she is on the list of the most powerful Bankai.
9) Shirafude Ichimonji (Ichibē Hyōsube)
This Bankai is so potent that, if the Quincy King hadn’t had his time-traveling Almighty boost, Ichib might have defeated him. Shirafude uses his ink, which emanates from his Shikai, to alter the characteristics of anyone Ichibe has previously struck.
For instance, he could employ the name “black ant” to render his opponent as helpless as an ant and to empower allies. The only drawback is that it needs an earlier strike from the ink, but once it’s locked in, Ichibe is essentially in the clear.
8) Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō (Mayuri Kurotsuchi)
The two forms of Mayuri’s Bankai, the 12th captain of the Gotei 13, are Konjiki Ashisogi Jiz and Matai Fukuin Shta.
The former summons a hideous baby-like monster that unleashes a fatal poison with a 200-meter range that Mayuri is resistant to. It is a wonderful technique to negate other Shikai and Bankai for Mayuri to utilize his alternate Bankai, which he customizes to counter his opponent’s skills.
7) Minazuki (Retsu Unohana)
Zanpakuto by Unohana is fully released as Mizakuni. Unohana’s Zanpakut’s blade liquefies upon discharge into a thick, dark red substance that quickly leaks from the blade to cover a sizable area close to the user. The liquid Minazuki releases acts as an incredibly potent acid, rapidly dissolving the opponent’s skin and flesh.
On contact, it has the power to turn even physically strong opponents like Kenpachi into skeletons, and it can even kill the Bankai’s owner. Unohana used this along with her potent Kaid throughout their combat to withstand the negative effects of her Bankai and significantly quicken the process of killing and restoring Kenpachi.
6) Complete Daiguren Hyōrinmaru (Tōshirō Hitsugaya)
After the decisive battle with Aizen, Hitsugaya significantly fortifies his Bankai, bringing its evolution to a conclusion after 18 months of arduous struggle. Later on, Hitsugaya claims that Daiguren Hyrinmaru is finished as the final petal of his ice flower falls during his conflict with Gerard Valkyrie.
He claims that his strength was insufficiently developed to allow him to fully utilize his Bankai, yet he was still able to age himself into an adult body and realize his full potential. When the Bankai is released from Hitsugaya, he is a tall, lean man with ice covering his shoulders, forearms, and knees.
Read More: What Does Otaku Mean? Is It An Insult In Japan?
5) Kamishini no Yari (Gin Ichimaru)
The Kamishini no Yari is a versatile weapon, just like Gin. Gin’s blade may be extended by it with incredible strength for several kilometers. However, as Ichigo points out, the real danger is in how quickly it spreads, not in size or strength. As lethal as the blade is, it only serves as a cover for the poison that is concealed inside and kills by dissolving cells at the molecular level.
The “Buto” position also allows Gin to quickly extend and compress his Bankai several times in a single motion, simulating an attack from numerous swords simultaneously.
4) Unnamed (Kenpachi Zaraki)
Kenpachi was powerful enough to join the Gotei 13 Captains even without Bankai, but it wasn’t until the Quincy War that he finally discovered his nameless potential. When activated, Kenpachi essentially transforms into a devil with berserker-like strength.
When Kenpachi is activated, a significant amount of spiritual power capable of leveling neighboring structures is released. In this form, Kenpachi takes on a demonic appearance with reddened skin, numerous black markings all over his face, and horns on his forehead. His sword is remarkably similar to his Shikai; it is a modified version of it with a jagged design that resembles a knife.
Zaraki’s Bankai endows him with extraordinary physical power and slicing prowess. which allowed him to slash Gerard Valkyrie which makes it one of the most powerful Bankai.
3) Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame (Kisuke Urahara)
Urahara’s Bankai was revealed in the later half of the Quincy war but the wait was worth it. Urahara’s Bankai appears as a huge woman wearing a revealing crimson robe and having her black hair braided into a bow on her head. While Urahara himself has declared that his Bankai is not ideal for training anyone, lending powers to others, or assisting, Yoruichi claimed that Kisuke developed the complete emancipation of Benihime in just three days.
With just the touch of his palms, Kannon Biraki Benihime Aratame has the power to restructure and alter everything, including living things. He also can create openings for his competitor by using this power to restructure areas that would ordinarily be off-limits to outsiders.
2) Tensa Zangetsu (Ichigo Kurosaki)
While strengthening and enhancing its durability, Ichigo’s first Bankai causes his sword to become smaller. More than that, his speed sharply improves to the point that he can slash Byakuya’s throat in an instant. Additionally, unlike other Bankai, Ichigo can keep his up for long periods; he once used it nonstop for three months.
Ichigo’s clothing changes along with the changing of his Zanpakut, and he is always dressed in the long black coat that also houses the materialized form of Zangetsu; a portion of this garment (Shihakusho) counts as a component of his reiatsu.
Although Ichigo’s second Bankai’s abilities aren’t made clear, they allow him to be powerful enough to split a Soul King-enhanced Ywach in half but not kill him due to the time reversal ability
1) Zanka no Tachi (Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto)
He is the captain of the Gotei 13 for a reason and his Bankai proves it. His Bankai was revealed during the Quincy war and it left the manga readers speechless.
Yamamoto is the captain-commander of the Gotei 13 and the strongest Shinigami. His Bankai concentrates all the flames that his Shikai had previously emitted onto his blade. It can pierce through anything because it is hotter than the sun. Because of its intensity, victims appear to be “reduced to nothingness” rather than being burned.
The flames that his Shikai had previously produced dissipate as soon as the sword is released, leaving only a charred and slightly worn saber. This power can dry out the water in Gotei 13 in its entirety because of its heat level. According to Unohana, his power was so much that he could easily destroy the gotei 13, which is why his power should not be used in the seiretei. This is why he has the most powerful Bankai.
Read More: Top 5 Couples In ‘One Piece’
