Anime and manga series Bleach has seen its protagonist Ichigo battle against a variety of villains, from monstrous Hollows to fellow Soul Reapers to the ultimate Quincy King. While some of these are more critically acclaimed than others, the villains appearing in this series are often among the most insidious in all of anime. Of course, one can’t help but wonder: which villain is the biggest threat of them all?
There are a few factors that influence the ranking of these Bleach villains. They are not obligated to achieve their goal, or even get close to it (although that certainly helps). Instead, the main focus is on the kind of threat they pose to Ichigo and his friends. They can be menacing because of their extraordinary strength, or their sharp intellect, or even just because they are so unique that Ichigo has no experience fighting them. Without further ado, here are 10 of Bleach’s greatest villains.
Kugo GinjoMore
While he may come from Bleach’s least common backstory, Ginjo actually has quite a few traits that make him a dangerous opponent for Ichigo, and not just because Ichigo lost his Shinigami powers. Ginjo is one of Bleach’s Fullbringers, a rare type of person who can use the same psychic powers as Hollow. As a result, Ginjo is a new type of enemy that Ichigo never actually encountered, other than dueling Ginjo’s followers before he betrayed. Ginjo has also served as an alternate Soul Reaper, and is therefore familiar with their techniques, giving him a sizable advantage. On top of that, however, Ginjo also has a very clever plan, using his subordinates’ mind control powers to create a situation where Ichigo would initially trust him.
animal halibel
The Halibel Rank was the 3rd Espada under Sosuke Aizen, making her one of the most powerful beings in Hueco Mundo. As one of Bleach’s powerful Arrancars, Halibel is capable of using the techniques of Hollow and the Soul Reaper, both of which she is very talented at. She is also famous for her three followers, Tres Bestias, who have the ability to take their body parts and combine them to create a super powerful Hollow-like creature that will fight for them. Halibel’s Zanpakuto is quite unique, with an open midsection that collects psychic energy that can be used to attack, while its released form allows her to manipulate water, even freezing or boiling water.
Coyote Starrk
Another Arrancar serving Aizen, Coyote Starrk is one of the few Espadas to rank higher than Halibel, at #1. Starrk is best known for his bizarre weapon, which is actually made of the other half. yours, Lilynette. Instead of a sword, Lilynette can take the form of a pair of guns, which Starrk uses with extreme precision. The guns allow him to fire Cero’s attacks at high speed without recharging, making each shot potentially fatal. However, Starrk can create energy blades if he needs a sword, as he did when facing Bleach’s Captain Kyoraku. Starrk’s craziest ability is that if he and Lilynette merge back into a single creature, he can then create any number of smaller creatures, such as clinging wolves. enemies and then explode.
Gin Ichimaru
Gin Ichimaru is a Shinigami who betrayed Soul Society along with Aizen. He wields a Zanpakuto resembling a throwing sword, and its bankai form allows him to poison his opponents at any time with a single hit. His strength, while respectable, is not the main thing that makes him so dangerous. Gin is extremely cunning, a fact that he conceals with a constant smile on his lips. Not only has Gin betrayed the Soul Society – he’s also been plotting to betray Aizen all this time, making it very difficult to determine which side he’s actually on. He’s also mostly succeeded, and getting over Aizen is no small feat, even if it doesn’t work out in the end.
great fisherman
Grand Fisher is one of the first major enemies to appear in Bleach. Despite being a pretty strong Hollow, Grand Fisher’s fighting abilities are definitely weak compared to many on this list. However, Grand Fisher is attractive for another reason: his direct connection to Ichigo is the result of the murder of the boy’s mother. For Ichigo, fighting Grand Fisher is personal, so fighting it is almost always fun. The Grand Fisher gets its name from the lanternfish-like lure on its head, which can take the form of people familiar to its target and lure them to their deaths. It is said to have been undefeated against the Soul Society for decades, and eventually took on the form of Arrancar before being destroyed.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
Grimmjow was the #6 Espada under Aizen, and quickly developed a rivalry with Ichigo, eager to confront him again and again. Grimmjow was a respectable opponent; he once brought the kidnapped Orihime to heal Ichigo before their battle so it would be fair. Grimmjow’s slayer, Pantera, transforms him when released, giving him more cat-like traits to revert back to his pre-Arrancar form. He can use claw-based attacks to form blades of spiritual energy that can strike from quite a distance. Grimmjow is also known for his violent outbursts and general disobedience, especially towards Ulquiorra, and the two have several times come close to running into each other.
Great
The leader of Bleach’s Quincy Wandenreich, Yhwach is almost beyond imagination. One of his first acts on screen was defeating Captain Yamamoto, who has been described as nearly undefeated in every previous battle. Yhwach is able to give power to his subordinates in the form of Schrifts, a big part of why the entire Wandenreich is so dangerous. Yhwach’s greatest strength is his ability to see and manipulate the future, allowing him to basically just fend off almost any attack thrown at him. This is all in addition to Quincy’s standard strength, of which he is of course a master.
Byakuya Kuchiki
Although Byakuya hasn’t played the villain in Bleach for a long time, his time as Ichigo’s greatest rival is one of the most memorable in the series. Byakuya’s severing claw, Senbonzakura, is easily one of the most powerful in the Spirit World, as its shikai form involves the blade splitting into countless deadly cherry blossom petals, able to tear an opponent apart without Byakuya taking a step. His Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, takes this to the next level by creating a path lined with rows of giant blades, which then all turn into deadly petals, destroying almost anything. opponents easily. Byakuya is also a master of a technique known as Senka, in which he takes a quick step to get behind his opponent and strike precise pressure points, severing the flow of spiritual energy in their bodies and causing them to fall. they are powerless. Although Bleach’s Quincy would later teach Byakuya true fear, he is actually one of Ichigo’s greatest rivals.
Ulquiorra Cifer
Ulquiorra is the 4th Espada, but is often seen as Aizen’s right-hand man and the main protector of Orihime when she was their prisoner. Ulquiorra as Orihime’s warden naturally had a lot of conflict with Ichigo, who was there mainly to save Orihime. His Zanpakuto, Murcielago, allows him to transform into a more beastly state in which he gains huge bat-like wings and horns on the top of his head. His second form essentially turned him into a complete demon, and his void seemed to start bleeding. Ulquiorra’s most dangerous technique is his Cero Oscuras, the most powerful Cero form seen in the series, capable of destroying large numbers of Las Noches. Ulquiorra’s cold nature makes him the perfect shield for Ichigo’s temper, and their final battle is considered one of the best in the series.
Sosuke Aizen
Sosuke Aizen is a former Shinigami who orchestrated many of the events of the series, from the accusations against Rukia to the creation of the Arrancar. Aizen is an extremely intelligent and cunning man with sky-high ambitions, a combination that makes him more dangerous than any other character on this list. Aizen’s slayer, Kyouka Suigetsu, was the perfect choice for him, as it wasn’t for attack; instead, it allows Aizen to hypnotize anyone who has seen its liberated state, leaving them only capable of becoming aware of what he wants. Aizen then fuses with Hogyoku, an extremely powerful object that grants him immortality and multiple forms to fight.
While there are plenty of more interesting Bleach villains out there, these 10 mark some of the most interesting and dangerous opponents of the heroes throughout the series. These great villains are an important part of what was created Bleach very successful, from their amazing abilities to the rivalries and personal relationships they have with the heroes.
