The 20 Best Bankai In 'Bleach'
In the world of Bleach, a Soul Reaper is nothing without their bladed partner, the Zanpakutō. In addition to being a Soul Reaper's main weapon for combat, these Japanese-style swords also contain hidden powers called Bankai, that give their wielder extraordinary advantages in combat. One Zanpakutō can summon a skeleton snake demon, whereas another calls forth an indestructible samurai giant.
There is an amazing number of incredibly powerful Bankai wielded by heroes and Bleach villains alike, but which ones are truly supreme?
If your favorite Bankai is the Hakka no Togame check out the best Rukia Kuchiki quotes.
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Don't let this old man fool you, Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai is anything but a helpless grandpa. He's a hell of a fighter, especially when he activates his bankai — the Zanka no Tachi — which allows him to wield the fires of Hell.
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It's only fitting that an oddball characer like Kisuke Urahara wields a Bankai that's a little out of the ordinary. The Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame takes the form of a massive, beautiful woman with braided hair arranged in loops. When it's called forth, it offers Urahara the power to restructure anything to his liking.
This restructuring can be used for offense or defense, as the Bankai can split open structures, repair buildings, and heal physical wounds.
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Withheld as a last resort, Shunsui's Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū is a frightening maneuver that causes its victims considerable physical and mental harm. When Shunsui points his weapon downward, he unleashes the black tendrils of his Zanpakutō onto the battlefield.
Horrifically, the Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū distorts its victims' perception of reality to make them feel hopeless. If that weren't enough, anyone under the Zanpakutō's control feels every wound inflicted upon the wielders body.
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The Bankai Kenpachi Zaraki uses has no name. However, that doesn't stop the nameless Bankai technique from being trouble for anyone unlucky enough to encounter it. Kenpachi's Bankai transforms him into a red-skinned demon that's capable of causing mass destruction, sort of like The Incredible Hulk.
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Anyone who is squeamish around blood will be creeped out by the way Retsu Unohana activates her Bankai. The moment its unleashed, the blade of Retsu's Zanpakutō liquefies into a dark red substance that eerily resembles blood.
From the blood-like liquid emerges a remarkably strong shortened katana, that yields uniformly gruesome results.
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Byakuya's Bankai — the Senbonzakura Kageyoshi — has the power to summon thousands of blades from the ground that rain down on an enemy like a violent hail storm. Because of the incredible speed of the numerous projectiles, no one can accurately see or dodge the Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
As if that isn't enough, all the blades summoned by the Senbonzakura Kageyoshi can also be used to shield Byakuya from danger.
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Ichigo's Bankai power is pretty simple, but highly effective. His two bladed Zanpakutō are placed side by side to activate a surge of energy that engulfs the user's body. The Zanpakutō becomes a black and white khyber knife blade that is so dangerous, it had to be destroyed by Yhwach before its special ability could be activated.
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When her Rukia Kuchiki's Bankai — the Hakka no Togame — is activated, the wielder becomes a literal ice queen, complete with stunningly pale features and a deadly frost attack. Once she's powered up, Rukia is able to reach absolute zero and unleash an icy mist that freezes everything around her.
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When Gin Ichimaru activates the Kamishini no Yari's special ability, there's no immediately noticeable effect. The Bankai continues to resemble a wakizashi, and doesn't grow to be twice the size of its wielder. While the weapon may look the same, the transformation causes Gin's Zanpakutō to become ridiculously powerful.
Once it's operating at full power, a single slash can bring down a full-sized office building from miles away.
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Tōshirō Hitsugaya — Daiguren Hyōrinmaru
Photo: Bleach / Studio PierrotThis ice-based Bankai does more than simply freeze evil spirits. The Daiguren Hyōrinmaru provides Hitsugaya with an ice dragon that forms up around his hand. Hitsugaya can use his frozen dragon to fight like a monster, while obliterating his enemies with ice-based attacks.
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Mayuri Kurotsuchi — Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō
Photo: Bleach / Studio PierrotThere's nothing eerier than a giant monster, especially one made out of poison. For a creepy dude like Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the giant caterpillar baby known as the Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō is a perfect companion. Its special ability is poisonous breath that's nearly impossible to avoid.
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Chōjirō Sasakibe — Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū
Photo: Bleach / Shonen JumpThe power of thunder is at the fingertips of Chōjirō Sasakibe and his Bankai, known as the Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū. By releasing thunderbolts from Chōjirō's blade, the Bankai constructs a dome of lightning above the user's head.
Its special ability also allows Chōjirō to manipulate the weather, which results in dark clouds, thunder, and lightning storms.
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Music lovers will get a kick out of this Bankai. The Kinshara Butōdan allows its user, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, to become a demonic conductor. When activated, two large, golden hands holding a conducting baton emerge, as well as dancers with petal-shaped protrusions on their faces.
These Dancers of Death are ready to do as their master commands.
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Whenever he's in a pinch, Sajin Komamura relies on his iron samurai giant to help him finish the fight. The Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe is a gigantic, sentient suit of armor that copies the movements of its furry master. Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe can also shed its armor to reveal an invulnerable being made up of spiritual energy.
However, if the giant sheds its armor, it will inevitably die afterward.
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Kaname Tōsen — Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi
Photo: Bleach / Studio PierrotThe Bankai of Kaname Tōsen can make one think they're fighting Sonic the Hedgehog, there are so many glowing rings involved in its special ability. The Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi is a move that releases a plethora of rings that are used to construct a black dome. This dome blocks out its victim's sense of sight, sound, scent, and spiritual energy.
Once they're trapped, victims are forced to rely on their sense of touch to continue fighting.
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Renji Abarai's Bankai — the Hihio Zabimaru — resembles a skeleton snake from Hell. The demonic skull doesn't just look cool, it actually serves a greater purpose. The Hihio Zabimaru can pull a large blade from its mouth, which gives Renji a notable advantage in combat.
Additionally, Renji also has a large skeleton arm that's known as the Hihiō at his disposal, which allows him to effortlessly crush his enemies, or hurl unbelievably heavy objects with ease.
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Ikkaku Madarame's Bankai can be summarized with two simple words: giant blades. Dubbed the Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, Ikkaku's Bankai grants him two huge, pointy weapons. The first weapon is a Chinese Monk's spade, and the second is a standard guandao. Both blades are chained to a central weapon that resembles an axe.
Unlike most Bankai, there's no special ability associated with the Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, but Ikkaku's strength does increase throughout his usage of it.
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Soifon — Jakuhō Raikōben
Photo: Bleach / Studio PierrotYou know your enemy means business when they start assaulting you with missiles. The Jakuhō Raikōben is a shiny gold weapon of mass destruction that's wrapped around Soifon's right arm. It holds incredible power, but its use causes a massive recoil.
To add to the chaos, Soifon can target and fire the missile like a rocket launcher.
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Tekken Tachikaze doubles the fun by giving Kensei Muguruma two knives. These knuckle blades are different from Kensei's other weapons, as they feature a curved silver edge. They also encase Kensei's arms in armor, which is the perfect protection from the explosive damage caused by the Bankai's special ability.
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Shūsuke Amagai — Raika Gōen Kaku
Photo: Bleach / Studio PierrotThe Raika Gōen Kaku is a powered-up form of Shūsuke Amagai's Zanpakutō. When called forth, its physical appearance morphs so that the sword become tougher, stronger, and larger with the addition of a red blade hook.
The transformation isn't just for show, it also allows Amagai to conjure up fiery attacks, such as a flamethrower, fireballs, and a fissure of fire.
