A decade ago, Bleach was one of the most popular anime and manga series in the world. In terms of storytelling, Bleach is decent, and several characters do stand out because of their personalities. That being said, it was the combat that truly made the series special.
Whether they are Soul Reapers, Hollows, or Quincies, every single character in Bleach possesses their own unique set of abilities, and many of them are quite dangerous in battle. It is true that each ability has its strengths, but certain abilities are far superior to others, and there are a few that are overpowered to the point of being completely broken.
Updated on July 21, 2023, by George Voutiritsas: So far, the Thousand-Year Blood War arc has been a massive success. The animation, music, and voice acting have all been superb, and the highly anticipated action sequences have lived up to the hype. As the arc continues, those who have not read the manga will get the chance to see some new Bleach abilities for the first time. Some of these abilities are quite unique and strong, but there are others that feel really overpowered. Most fans know what the most overpowered abilities in the Bleach series are, but there are other abilities that deserve to be mentioned as well.
20 The Love Forces Others To Become Obsessed With The User
Pepe is one of the Sternritter, and fans of the anime got a glimpse of his power in the first part of the Thousand-Year Blood War when he used it on Jidanbo. His power is called The Love, and it allows him to shoot heart-shaped projectiles by placing his hands together.
When someone gets hit by this projectile they become obsessed with Pepe to the point that they will do anything he asks. This includes attacking allies. He can even use it to take control of Zanpakuto. When he activates his Vollständig, he can create ropes linked with hearts that are capable of piercing Captain-level Soul Reapers.
19 Amor Allows Zommari To Take Control Of Others
Zommari Rureaux was the 7th Espada, and he was arguably the fastest Arrancar. His speed allowed him to keep up with Byakuya, and he could create up to five after-image clones. Zommari may have been the third weakest Espada, but he possesses one of the best Resurreccion.
When he releases his Zanpakuto he gains access to 50 eyes, and he can use Amor. By using one of his eyes Zommari can place a sun-shaped tattoo onto someone's body. If it lands on a person's arm, he can control their limb and use it to cause self-harm. If he places a tattoo on someone's head, he takes control of their entire body.
18 The Zombie Uses Blood To Turn Others Into Zombie Puppets
Giselle Gewelle may look helpless and weak, but her ability is quite powerful. Thanks to The Zombie, she can take control of anyone as long as they get splattered with her blood, and they must follow her orders. She basically turns people into zombie puppets, and she can use it on other Quincies as well, but they need to already be dead.
She can take control of Captain-level Soul Reapers, but she needs to use large quantities of blood. Such an ability sounds very dangerous, but while it is active, Giselle is able to endure and heal herself no matter how severe the injury is.
17 Suzumebachi's Nigeki Kessatsu Can Kill In Two Hits
Sui-Feng is the Captain of Squad 2 as well as the Commander of the Stealth Force. She is one of the fastest characters in Bleach, and when she combines that speed with her Shikai ability, she becomes one of the most dangerous Soul Reapers alive.
Her Zanpakuto is called Suzumebachi, and its Shikai takes the form of a gauntlet with a stinger-like blade. Thanks to Suzumebachi's Nigeki Kessatsu, Sui-Feng can kill an opponent in just two hits, and she does not even need to hit a vital spot. If she strikes the same exact spot with the stinger, Suzumebachi's venom will destroy the target within moments.
16 Nozarashi's Bankai Can Cut Through Anything
When Kenpachi Zaraki defeated Captain Unohana, he finally gained the ability to communicate with his Zanpakuto. It is called Nozarashi, and its Shikai is a massive cleaver that possesses immense cutting power, but its Bankai transforms Kenpachi into a real monster.
Its Bankai does not currently have a name, but it assumes the form of a much smaller and jagged cleaver. It turns Kenpachi's skin red, and he gains a number of horns and black markings, which give him the appearance of an oni. It grants Kenpachi superhuman physical strength, and it can literally cut through anything in its path.
15 The Compulsory Turns A Person's Nerves Into Weapons
Pernida is one of Yhwach's personal guards, but it is not human. It is actually the left hand of the Soul King, but it can still use a few Quincy abilities, and he was given a power known as The Compulsory, which turns its nerves into weapons.
Pernida can shoot its nerves from its fingers and extend them into its opponent's body. It can control the opponent's movements, but the most terrifying aspect of this ability is the fact that Pernida can use it to instantly destroy the enemy's body. It can tear off limbs or crush someone's body effortlessly.
14 Tosen's Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi Eliminates Nearly All Of A Person's Senses
Only the strongest Soul Reapers are capable of becoming Captains, and Kaname Tosen led the 9th Division despite being blind. His Shikai can knock someone unconscious by releasing a high-pitched tone, and he can create a trail of blades that rain down from above.
His Bankai is the real menace, though. Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi creates a black void that grows until it forms a large dome. This dome completely nullifies an adversary's sense of smell, sight, taste, and hearing. With this ability, Tosen can deliver fatal attacks from anywhere, and his opponent will not be able to defend themselves properly.
13 The Modified Version Of Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō Can Counter Any Ability
Mayuri Kurotsuchi is the Captain of the 12th Division, and his genius-level intellect has allowed him to become a Zanpakuto Modification Expert. Unlike other Soul Reapers, he can manually alter and improve his Zanpakuto, and this includes his Bankai.
Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō: Matai Fukuin Shōtai takes the form of a massive, purple-skinned baby with a golden loincloth, and it sits atop a pile of umbilical cords. This Bankai sends information to Mayuri, and when enough has been gathered, it creates a modified version of itself that possesses an ability that can perfectly counter his opponent's power.
12 The Miracle Makes The Impossible Very Much Possible
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Like Pernida, Gerard Valkyrie is part of Yhwach's personal guard, but he was not given his power; he was born with it. It is called The Miracle, and it allows him to produce miracles by giving form to his thoughts and desires.
In truth, this ability is probability manipulation, as it allows him to do things that would otherwise be impossible or near impossible. For instance, if he fought multiple Captains at once, chances are he would not be strong enough to win, but this ability makes him strong enough to take them on. If another ability were to cause certain death, The Miracle would allow him to survive.
11 The X-Axis Is The Ultimate Ranged Attack
Lille Baro is the leader of Yhwach's personal guard, and he was given The X-Axis, which is undoubtedly the best ability for a ranged fighter to have. Lille uses a rifle, and with The X-Axis, all of his shots have the power to pierce through anything. It also gives him perfect accuracy, and none of his attacks can be blocked.
This is what happens when he has just one eye open. If both are open, all of his enemy's attacks are able to safely pierce through his body, giving him a form of intangibility.
10 The Balance Turns Misfortune Into A Weapon
Jugram Haschwalt is the Sterntritter Grandmaster and Yhwach's second-in-command. He is a natural-born genius with immense spiritual power, and he assumes command of the Quincies whenever Yhwach sleeps. He can also use Yhwach's powers during this time.
His Schrift is called The Balance, and it allows him to take any misfortune that occurs around him and disperse it to others who are experiencing good fortune. In battle, whenever something significantly favors Jugram's opponent, Jugram can overcome it with misfortune. At its core, this ability is meant to maintain balance.
9 Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari Turns Allies Into Enemies
Shinji Hirako was reinstated as Captain of the 5th Division after Aizen's defeat. While fighting Aizen in the fake Karakura Town, he revealed his powerful Shikai - which has the ability to invert everything within its vicinity. This is an optical illusion produced by a pink mist.
His Bankai is even more troublesome, and he is actually not allowed to use it within the Soul Society. It is called Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari, and upon activation, Shinji is surrounded by large flower petals which are designed to protect him. This Bankai is meant to be used against scores of enemies at once because those caught within its area of effect begin to mercilessly kill their allies as if they were enemies.
8 The Complete Version Of Toshiro's Daiguren Hyōrinmaru Negates Abilities
Toshiro Hitsugaya may be young, but he is the Captain of the 10th Division, and he wields the strongest ice element, Zanpakutō, within Soul Society. With his sword, Toshiro can create and manipulate ice, and this power is greatly enhanced when he uses his Bankai.
When Daiguren Hyōrinmaru reaches its mature state, Toshiro becomes almost unbeatable. Toshiro becomes an adult in this form, and he can flash-freeze anything with a simple hand gesture, and anyone who touches him instantly freezes as well. This ice fully negates an enemy's abilities and bodily functions.
7 Yamamoto's Zanka no Tachi Can Wipe Anything Out Of Existence
Bleach fans will finally get to see Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Bankai in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. He wields Ryūjin Jakka, the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō, and he can produce flames that can burn anything to ash.
His Bankai is called Zanka no Tachi, and it has the power to destroy all of Soul Society. He can raise an army of the dead comprised of all the enemies his sword has burned. His sword and body are coated in flames as hot as the sun, so no one can even touch him without dying. If that were not enough, a single sword slash can incinerate anything out of existence.
6 Ichibē's Ink Is Insane
Ichibē Hyōsube is the leader of the Zero Division, and he is responsible for naming everything within Soul Society, so it makes sense that his powers revolve around names. His Zanpakutō is called Ichimonji, and when he releases its Shikai, it produces black ink.
If this ink touches something, its name gets covered, and it loses whatever power it had. He can use his ink to create a giant mausoleum that drains all the darkness from his opponent until there is nothing left of them. His Bankai is one of the strongest because he can use the ink to rename things. If he were to name someone a fruit fly, they would be as strong as a fruit fly.
5 Baraggan's Senescencia Causes Everything To Age
Each Espada represented an aspect of death, and Baraggan represented old age. His main ability is called Senescencia, and it appears to always be active. In its normal state, Senescencia slows time around him, and if he touches someone, he can cause that body part to rapidly age until it becomes useless.
This ability gets empowered when he releases his Zanpakuto, as anything that comes near him rapidly ages until it disintegrates. Long-range attacks will never work because they will "die" before they even reach him, and melee attacks are pointless because the attacker will end up aging themselves out of existence before they can hit him.
4 Aizen's Complete Hypnosis Can Trick Anyone
Aizen is, without a doubt one, of the most charismatic anime villains, and he also happens to be extremely powerful. He is an immortal being and a highly skilled Kido master, but his strongest ability is called Kanzen Saimin. This is the Shikai ability of his Zanpakuto, Kyōka Suigetsu, and with it, he can use a form of complete hypnosis.
He can control all five of his target's senses and cause them to misinterpret another person's physical appearance, weight, feel, and smell. This is great for combat because it allows Aizen to turn other people into decoy versions of himself, so allies end up fighting and injuring each other.
3 Antithesis Reverses All Damage
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Uryū is one of Ichigo's closest allies, and he spends a good portion of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc acting like a loyal member of Yhwach's army. Yhwach ends up declaring Uryū his successor and bestows upon him the Antithesis ability.
With this ability, Uryū can choose two targets and completely reverse what has transpired between them. Essentially, Uryū can allow his enemy to hit him with a fatal attack and then reverse all of the damage at the last second to instantly win the battle.
2 The Visionary Can Turn Imagination Into Reality
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Each Sternritter is dangerous, but Gremmy Thoumeaux is on a completely different level because he possesses an ability called The Visionary. With this power, Gremmy can make any fantasy in his imagination a reality. He can use his mind to reshape the battlefield any way he wants.
If he imagines that his opponent no longer has bones, their bones will disappear. If he fights a Soul Reaper and imagines himself being immune to their Bankai, their Bankai will not harm him. He can even create clones of himself that can use the same ability independently.
1 The Almighty Can Alter The Future
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Yhwach is the son of the Soul King and the father of all Quincy, and he is the final villain of the Bleach series. He is capable of many things, including flawless healing and soul absorption, but all that is nothing compared to The Almighty.
When this ability is active, he gains Omni-Precognition, which allows him to see into the near-distant future. He can see every possible outcome at once and alter the future to his advantage. If he sees himself die, he can leave remnants of himself behind in advance to facilitate a reincarnation after ten years. He can also consume beings and gain access to their powers.