Mohsin Lag
It’s a question that has undoubtedly crossed the minds of many Bleach fans: Who are the characters that rank as the strongest in Bleach’s Thousand Year Blood War arc? It’s not that simple to answer, particularly given the numerous powerful characters in the series.
Throughout the Bleach TYBW arc, we’ve been introduced to various powerful individuals, each originating from diverse backgrounds—real humans, Quincy, Shinigami, and more.
Today, we’ve compiled a list of some of the strongest characters from this arc, individuals who possess the power to reshape the world if they chose to do so. From the series’ protagonist, Ichigo, to the badass Head Captain Yamamoto, and even the frightning antagonist, Yhwach, Bleach consistently surprisess us with the overpowring abilities of these strong characters.
18. Bambietta Basterbine
First on the list of the strongest bleach tybw characters is Bambietta Basterbine, also known as “The Explode,” is a powerful female Quincy affiliated with the Wandenreich’s Sternritter, holding the designation “E.”
Despite being beautiful, Bambietta possesses a sadistic nature, finding joy in the screams of her vanquished foes. As a Sternritter, she wields a Schrift power bestowed by Yhwach known as “The Explode,” granting her the ability to create explosive devices. Bambietta achieves this by infusing objects with her Spirit Particles, causing them to detonate.
What sets her apart from other Quincies is that she uses a sword in combat. She wields a unique short broadsword that splits at its tip, allowing for unconventional fighting techniques. When she activates her Vollständig, her Spiritual Power undergoes a transformation from blue to red, significantly enhancing the capabilities of The Explode.
Additionally, she sprouts a pair of wings composed entirely of Spirit Particles, granting her the power of flight. These wings serve as the breeding ground for Spirit Bombs, further accentuating her explosive prowess.
17. Mask De Masculine
Mask De Masculine, known as “The Superstar,” is a Quincy affiliated with the Wandenreich’s Sternritter. True to his name, this man really surprised me at first, as he exudes masculinity and derives his strength primarily from his physique.
His unique ability, dubbed “The Superstar Power,” enhances his strength when fueled by a dedicated cheering section, allowing for rapid injury recovery, often accompanied by a change in his mask’s color to a striking black hue. Upon activating his Quincy Vollständig, his mask transforms into a star-shaped configuration, granting him small wings and heightened flight capabilities. This power also enables him to craft diverse weapons using absorbed spiritual energy, particularly advantageous in battle, especially in locales like the Soul Society.
Adding to his combat versatility, Mask De Masculine’s wrestling background infuses his hand-to-hand combat with impactful moves like drop kicks and elbow slams, proving that he is one of the most overpowered quincies in bleach.
16. Bazz-B
Within Yhwach’s powerful members, Bazz-B is considered one of the elite Sternritters. Being a Quincy, he possesses the power of Hirenkyaku, a skill that allows him to move at full speed in the blink of an eye, often catching opponents off guard with his lightning-fast attacks. His physical strength is equally powerful, as he effortlessly sends adversaries crashing through solid stone with a single, devastating blow.
Bazz-B is adept at employing the Quincy technique known as Heilig Pfeil, creating formidable arrows crafted from spiritual energy, each possessing the capability to dismember foes with a single, precise strike. Additionally, his spiritual power stands on par with that of a Gotei 13 captain, as evidenced during his clash with Hitsugaya.
15. Mayuri Kurotsuchi
A long time figure in Bleach is Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the Twelfth Division Captain and leader of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute in Bleach, has gained the trust of the Gotei 13 through his exceptional skills. His primary strength lies in his scientific brilliance, allowing him to outthink his adversaries and invent numerous tools for combat.
Proficient in Kido and possessing a high Reiatsu level, he’s considered a strong rival among Bleach’s intellectual elite. Alongside legendary beings of the series like the Soul King, Yhwach, and Ichibe, who possess incredible wisdom and battle prowess, scientists like Mayuri prove to be also an overpowered and genius character to not mess with.
14. Askin Nakk Le Vaar
Nicknamed The Deathdealing, Askin Nakk Le Vaar is among the most powerful Quincies In the Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War arc. His unique power allows him to control the lethal dose of any substance or attack, provided he’s been exposed to it at least once.
This ability serves various purposes, such as granting him impressive healing abilities or rendering him immune to powerful attacks. Later in the manga, he used this power to partially incapacitate Ichigo Kurosaki, requiring the combined strength of multiple powerful soul society captains to ultimately defeat him.
13. Shinji Hirako
In the Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War arc, we were lucky enough to witness Shinji Hirako as he unveils his formidable Bankai, Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari. This Bankai possesses an intriguing ability unlike many others in Bleach. It crafts an illusion of an inverted world that alters the target’s perception, beliefs, sense of justice, and even identity.
Despite its strength, this Bankai does come with weaknesses. Its effects are indiscriminate, affecting both allies and foes, and it’s vulnerable to attacks covering a broad area. Given its unique and potent abilities, Shinji Hirako’s Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari undoubtedly ranks among the most overpowered Bankai in the entire Bleach series.
12. Kisuke Urahara
Kisuke Urahara is a strong and smart Shinigami with a full understanding of Soul Society. Despite his unassuming appearance, he is a master swordsman who possesses various deadly attacks and clever tactics in combat. Urahara ranks among the series’ strongest Kido users, proficient in all three forms: offensive Hado, defensive Bakudo, and healing Kaido.
His mastery extends to casting mighty spells like Hado 91: Senju Koten Taiho with an incantation, and effortlessly doing lower-level Kido without the need for incantations. Urahara is known for always hiding his skills and abilities, allowing him to consistently win the fights against his adversaries.
11. Gremmy Thoumeaux
Next up we have the scary Gremmy Thoumeaux, one of the strongest villain characters in the Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Gremmy, a Quincy and member of the Wandenreich’s Sternritter with the designation “V,” exhibited a sadistic personality. He could maintain a friendly facade when dealing with allies and rivals.
During his battle with Kenpachi, Gremmy attempted to wipe out the entire battlefield by conjuring a meteorite, but this plan didn’t succeed. However he was defeated due to his lack of maturity and strategic thinking.
Gremmy could bring anything he imagined to life, yeah he turns illusion to reality, like when he imagined his body was as tough as steel to avoid Kenpachi’s attacks. Additionally, he possessed the power called “My Other Self,” which doubled his authentic self’s abilities and imagination.
This also meant that none of his selves could be killed or pierced. Gremmy’s imaginative powers extended to “Create Life,” enabling him to bring beings to life, such as Quincy Guenael Lee. Despite his defeat, Gremmy remains one of the most powerful antagonists in the arc.
10. Retsu Unohana
Retsu Unohana, formerly known as Yachiru Unohana, is a strong female character in Bleach manga/anime series. She serves as the captain of the 4th Division of the Gotei 13, responsible for medical care and Kido in the Soul Society.
Everyone knows that she is a wise and composed female Shinigami, However, Unohana’s true self and power were recently unveiled during her intense battle against Kenpachi Zaraki in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. This revelation showcased her incredible strength, her dark past, leading fans to believe that she could have remained one of the Soul Society’s most powerful captains had she not been forced to confront Kenpachi.
Against Kenpachi, it was revealed that she is, in fact, Yachiru Unohana, a legendary Shinigami known for her brutal and fierce fighting style. In this battle, Unohana wielded her Znapakuto, unleashed her Bankai, Minazuki, for the final time, proving it to be one of the series’ most overpowered Bankai.
9. Uryu Ishida
In the previous season of Bleach, Shida wasn’t considered particularly powerful, and he wasn’t on the list of characters who could overpower strong captains and other formidable individuals. However, in Bleach’s Thousand-Year Blood War Part 2, the final arc takes things to a whole new level of intensity.
A major plot twist occurs when Uryu Ishida, a long-time friend of Ichigo, undergoes a significant power boost by joining Yhwach. He betrays his friends and joins the Sternritters, revealing that he possesses unique abilities among the Quincy.
Uryu Ishida is far from weak; in fact, he’s one of the strongest Quincy and Bleach characters, possibly even the most dangerous. Yhwach himself acknowledges Uryu’s exceptional status, noting that he is the sole Gemischt Quincy to have survived the Auswählen event that transpired nine years ago. Not only did Uryu survive, but he also retained all of his powers, something that sets him apart from some Sternritter who lost their abilities due to the Auswählen.
8. Jugram Haschwalth
Let’s move on to Jugram Haschwalth, a badass character who often catches everyone’s attention. He’s Yhwach’s right-hand man and holds the prestigious title of Wandenreich’s Sternritter Grandmaster. Jugram embodies the quintessential image of a Quincy — holy and angelic in nature. As the other half of Yhwach, he possesses an astonishing reservoir of power, making him an utterly strong antagonist in Bleach’s Thousand-Year Blood War arc.
Throughout Bleach TYBW, we catch glimpses of Jugram’s extraordinary abilities. As we have seen, he effortlessly shatters Ichigo’s Bankai, a scene that truly proves his immense strength. This man’s power is akin to the Quincy king himself, wielding the incredible ability of the Almighty, the power to bestow abilities upon fellow Quincies, and a host of other destructive spiritual powers. Jugram Haschwalth is nothing short of terrifying in every sense.
7. Shunsui Kyoraku
Shunsui Kyoraku, who holds the position of Captain Commander within the Gotei 13, stands as one of Bleach’s most overpowering Shinigami. His source of strength lies in his Zanpakuto, Katen Kyokotsu, which is unlike any other. In a world full of overpowered characters, Shunsui Kyoraku undoubtedly ranks among the mightiest.
A ridiculously skilled swordsman, he wields not one, but two blades with Katen Kyokotsu. However, his Bankai takes the cake for sheer uniqueness. Operating like a tragic four-act play, it inflicts every injury he’s endured onto his foe, subjects them to a debilitating illness, ensnares them in an energy-draining ocean, and ultimately ends them with a spirit energy noose.
Adding to this, Shunsui is also powerful in terms of physical strength. His ability to keep pace with the likes of Yamamoto proves his place as one of the strongest captains in the entire Bleach series, whether it be the manga or anime.
6. Ichigo Kurosaki
Ichigo Kurosaki, the main character of the entire Bleach series. He starts as a regular human but undergoes a remarkable transformation, gaining a wide range of powers and abilities. Here’s a breakdown of what makes him so extraordinary.
Ichigo’s strength comes from his heritage, as his parents imparted him with a blend of Quincy, Shinigami, and Hollow energies. As the series progresses, he evolves into a Shinigami/Hollow/Quincy/Fullbringer hybrid. In the Thousand-Year Blood War arc of Bleach, and while he’s still acclimating to his newfound powers, it remains uncertain if he fully mastered his Quincy abilities, though the potential is evident. His Shikai enables him to fire concentrated energy projectiles, while his Bankai enhances this power and bolsters his speed.
5. Kenpachi Zaraki
How strong is Zaraki Kenpachi in Bleach? Well, Kenpachi currently holds the title of the strongest among the Gotei 13 in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc of Bleach. He is an incridible swordsman with raw power that places him among the top-tier characters in the entire Bleach series.
To surprise you even further, even as a child, Kenpachi was considered stronger than Unohana, one of the most powerful Shinigami. This gives you an idea of his incredible potential. Now, let’s talk about Kenpachi post-awakening.
After surpassing Unohana, he engaged in a fierce battle with the powerful Sternritter Gremmy, one of Yhwach’s top warriors. Kenpachi confidently declared that his power surpassed even the bounds of imagination itself, proclaiming himself as “The Kenpachi.” When he unleashes his Bankai, Nozarashi, he transforms into a dangerous beast with incredible strength, capable of cutting through anything in his path.
4. Sosuke Aizen
Sosuke Aizen is a character who needs no introduction in the Bleachverse. This man has given the entire Soul Society a tough time with his tremendous intellect. He’s a master when it comes to the history, strategy, and tactics of Soul Society, and he holds knowledge that’s a mystery to many.
Aizen’s claim that he had already surpassed Ichigo before his sealing, which showcases his immense power. During his time of punishment, he wasn’t technically sealed, but rather restrained. This man is practically immortal, possessing an extraordinarily high level of Reiatsu. He’s a true master of Kido, Shunpo, and Hakuda, and I won’t spoil more for you.
In the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) arc, Aizen takes his power to another level, and we’re in for some exciting developments. Let’s see what coming next.
3. Genryusai Yamamoto
Yamamoto is the old man who’s defeated the mighty Yhwach in the past, making him undoubtedly one of the strongest characters not just in the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW) arc, but throughout the entire Bleach series from start to finish.
Yamamoto is a master in both sword-based and hand-to-hand combat, earning him immense respect and fear among his peers. His Shikai alone grants him so many powerful techniques, enabling him to deliver devastating blows that can shatter through Espada-level Hierro and defend against multiple punches from strong opponents.
What sets Yamamoto apart is his Zanpakutō, which happens to be the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō. It has greater attack power than any other Zanpakutō in Soul Society. And if that’s not impressive enough, he can even command a dead army of his previous opponents, who met their ends by his flames. His powers are truly unique and devastating, and it’s no wonder we didn’t want to see him go down easily.
2. Ichibe Hyosube
One of the newest characters from Bleach tybw is Ichibe Hyosube, the leader of the Royal Guard. His abilities are nothing short of overpowering, I mean, absolutely mind-blowing. Ichibe is like a master of all things Shinigami.
He’s got these giant hands and feet that he can manifest to attack his foes. It’s like having massive weapons at his disposal. And when it comes to moving around, his shunpo skills are lightning fast. He’s got this incridible reiatsu and martial skills that put him way ahead of your average Gotei 13 Captain.
Well, the man mastered all the Shinigami techniques, the four fundamental skills that all Shinigami should know.
Spoiler alert: He’s the only one so far who’s been able to keep up with Yhwach for a long time, and he’s even managed to gain the upper hand over him at times. Yhwach himself acknowledged Ichibe as the leader of the Royal Guard, which theoretically makes him the strongest Shinigami out there. This guy’s strength is on a completely different level!
1. Yhwach
Due to his incredible powers and Schrift “A,” known as the Almighty, Yhwach stands out as one of the strongest villains in the worlds of anime and manga.
As the main antagonist of Bleach, Yhwach, the Quincy progenitor, possesses all Quincie skills. He resurfaces 999 years after his seeming defeat at the hands of Yamamoto, wielding great Spiritual Pressure and improved skills as a result of Soul King absorption.
The Almighty makes him able to use the extraordinary power to predict myriad potential future timeframes and precisely select the most favorable outcomes. Well, Yhwach has complete command over practically any scenario. To make matters worse, he gains new boosts and powers as the story unfolds, establishing his status as a nearly invincible opponent.
