Bleach is one of the juggernaut series to come from Shonen Jump and is one of the most successful manga and anime series in the world. Created by Tite Kubo, Bleach has had over fifteen seasons of breathtaking animation, containing some of the most powerful characters in anime. Bleach follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school boy who becomes a soul reaper and protects his town from specter-like monsters called hollows. Ichigo fights alongside other Soul Reapers from the Soul Society that possess unmeasurable power; one of the strongest Soul Reapers of them all is Genryusai Yamamoto, the captain-commander of the entire organization of Soul Reapers called the Gotei 13.
Yamamoto has ruled over the Soul Society for over one thousand years as the Gotei 13's founder and leader. Yamamoto is aided by his Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, a fire weapon that is feared amongst all other Zanpakuto; Yamamoto can release some of the most devastating techniques in the Bleach series that can incinerate targets on contact. Whenever Yamamoto steps on the battlefield, it is certain nothing will be left but ash. Here are some of Genryusai Yamamoto's strongest abilities and attacks.
7 Ikkotsu
Yamamoto possesses exemplary skill in both weapon and hand-to-hand combat; among all his peers, he is greatly respected and feared as an unbeatable opponent, even in his old age. Yamamoto does not rely on the powers of his Zanpakuto in order to do battle and will easily face off against powerful opponents with his bare hands.
One of the techniques he unleashes is Ikkotsu, a single punch that delivers devastating damage to his target. Yamamoto first revealed this technique while fighting Wonderweiss when facing off against Aizen Sosuke; after striking Wonderweiss with this blow, he nearly disintegrated his torso.
6 Sokotsu
Sokotsu is the second hand-to-hand technique that Yamamoto revealed in the fight against Wonderweiss; Yamamoto took a powerful stance, gathered strength into both fists, and struck his opponent with a double strike simultaneously. Yamamoto's blinding speed and immense strength were something Wonderweiss could not withstand, even after being created for the sole purpose of nullifying Yamamoto's power. In a single blow, the captain-commander of the Gotei 13 utterly destroyed Wonderweiss with minimal effort.
5 Taimatsu
Taimatsu is the introductory technique into the power of Ryujin Jakka; the innate ability of Yamamoto's Zanpakuto is that it emits flames that incinerate all who come in contact with them. Yamamoto can create these flames with a simple wave of his blade, and instantly the entire area is engulfed in unquenchable fire that scorches the earth and melts everything that cannot withstand his spiritual pressure. Simply being in the flame's presence is enough to turn weak souls into dust and shake even the mightiest of Soul Reapers.
4 Tenchi Kaijin
Yamamoto's swordsmanship knows no equal; having taught the best fighters within the Gotei 13, including Zaraki Kenpachi, Yamamoto's fighting capabilities have yet to be seen in their full potential. On rare occasions, when Yamamoto faces off against an opponent of reasonable strength, he will unleash this technique upon them with full intent to erase them from his presence. Yamamoto slashes through the air with his Zanpakuto and emits a powerful attack that cuts through anything in its path and completely eradicates the target from the universe on an atomic level.
3 Ennetsu Jigoku
Using this technique, Yamamoto calls upon the fire of Ryujin Jakka and creates several guizers of flame that form a cage around his target. This technique prevents escape due to the immense heat the flame bars create.
After having his opponent trapped, Yamamoto uses all his focus to defeat them; however, if the situation grows dire, Yamamoto can ignite the cage and create a massive explosion that can destroy all within the cell, even himself. The fact that this attack has enough strength to end Yamamoto himself speaks of its deadly capabilities.
2 Kyokujitsujin
This technique is only used after Yamamoto has deemed it necessary to unleash his Bankai; immediately after being released, the flames of Ryujin Jakka condense and focus at the tip of Yamamoto's sword.
The pure power and energy that the fire now contain create a vorpal blade that cuts through all things and turns them to cinder instantly. This attack has overcome the most powerful defenses in the Soul Society, even the Quincy ability, which increases their defensive fortitude ten-fold.
1 Jūmanokushi Daisōjin
Yamamoto is widely regarded as an honorable man and fair sportsman, which adds to his respect in the Gotei 13; however, Yamamoto possesses a secret technique that only a select few are aware of. As one of the oldest and wisest characters in Bleach, in his two-thousand years as a warrior, Yamamoto has slain hundreds of opponents, and in doing so, Ryujin Jakka has sealed their essence within Yamamoto's Zanpakuto. On command, after stabbing his sword into the ground, Yamamoto can summon the souls of the defeated to fight for him. Each soul has the same power as the flames of Ryujin Jakka and can not be extinguished.