The Bleach animated series made a comeback last year with Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Arc, nearly after a decade after the original anime stopped airing. This new arc helped fans re-live their childhood once again, as well as bought in a whole new audience because of the hype it was surrounded by.
Bleach is also considered one of the Big Three Shōnen style anime, and much like other anime, it contains a well-established power system that acts as one of the fundamental pillars on which the series stands.
The Bleach power system mainly depends on the character getting powers from something called as a spiritual awakening, which is essentially aligned with the user’s willpower and beliefs. This concept is called Reiryoku, and the most powerful form of the same is known as Bankai.
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Strongest Bankai Users In Bleach
Bankai is considered to be one of the strongest abilities in the world of Bleach, and the powers of the same vary from user to user, following is a list of the 7 strongest users of Bankai in the series, excluding Ichigo, the main character of the franchise.
7. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi
Used by Byakuya Kuchiki, this Bankai allows its user to essentially manipulate a huge cloud of blades, that can cut through anything. Kuchiki usually does not use his Bankai as he never faces any opponent tough enough to do so, however, after seeing Ichigo, he uses his Bankai for the first time ever.
6. Complete Daiguren Hyōrinmaru
Used by Tōshirō Hitsugaya, this bankai allows him to freeze anything he wishes to with just a flick of his hands. Anything that becomes frozen will also have its abilities and effects subdued, rendering something like a weapon useless.
5. Minazuki
Used by Retsu Unohana, Minazuki is the total release of Unohana’s Zanpakuto.
When released, the blade dissolves into a thick red liquid that covers the area near the user.
Anybody who dares to then step in the same will be completely dissolved and nothing but a skeleton of the opponent will be left in the end, making this one of the best bankais in the series.
4. Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari
Used by Shinji Hirako, this Bankai allows its user to create a platform similar looking to that of a flower, with Hirako in the centre and petals extending out from each direction.
This bankai technique hypnotizes every individual who is in the attack range, causing them to fight with each other instead, and the petals can also fold up to act as a shield for Hirako. It must be noted that this technique cannot be used in a face to face combat and can only be made use of when there are numerous enemies at the same time.
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3. Unnamed
Used by Kenpachi Zaraki, this bankai technique remains unnamed but is one of the most powerful bankai in the series. The release of this technique unleashes a large amount of spiritual power, capable of destroying buildings in the vicinity.
This bankai grants the user extreme physical strength as well as powerful slashing capabilities, allowing Zaraki to be one of the strongest characters in Bleach after activating his bankai.
2. Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū
Used by Shunsui Kyōraku, this bankai is often considered to be his last trump card to be used and is only put in effect when allies are far away enough.
In order to activate, Shunshui sits down on the ground with his blade facing downwards, causing black roots to emerge and spread on the ground rapidly, it also creates an aura around the user, This particular aura literally changes the opponent’s perception of their environment, causing it to appear dark and makes them feel chills down to their spine.
1. Zanka no Tachi
Used by none other than Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, also known as Yamamoto sensei, his Bankai is considered to be the most powerful bankai among all the other Gotei 13 ones.
This ability allows him to engulf his blade in flames which were previously made by his Shikai Vanish, leaving something of a burned effect on his sword.
Essentially, his ability is that he can gather energy from Ryūjin Jakka’s flames, and release it from his blade, allowing him to destroy nearly everything, without even leaving a trace behind.
The reason why Ichigo had to be excluded from the above list is due to him being already known as a powerful Bankai user. He is also the main character of the series, so he is occasionally served with power-ups as part of the plot, on the other hand, this list sheds some light on characters who have managed to become one of the most powerful characters in the franchise.
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Source: FictionHorizon
