Tite Kubo's hit anime/manga franchise Bleach is a classic shonen action title, where most of the main characters use swords, or zanpakuto, to fight. As a zanpakuto grows in power and the user forges a stronger bond with it, that sword's full potential may be realized, such as shikai and bankai.

A truly powerful Soul Reaper who has trained extensively and formed a perfect partnership with their zanpakuto may finally manifest its bankai, the final release. Only a handful of Bleach Soul Reapers ever unlocked bankai, each of them wildly different and unique. Some are more powerful than others, and some bankai definitely have more visual flair and cooler special abilities than others do, making for some truly unforgettable action scenes.

Updated on April 17th, 2024 by Sage Ashford: Bleach's bankai release is one of the most innovative power systems in shonen. Used exclusively by some of the series' most powerful characters, they're kept rare, and most of them look incredibly awesome. Thousand-Year Blood War has given even more backstory to Zanpakuto and their bankai release forms, even showing off some of the ones viewers never got to check out before. This list has been updated to add more of the coolest bankai in Bleach.

15 Kamishini No Yari Can Cut Down An Enemy Faster Than Most Can React

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 297, "The Extending Blade?! Ichigo vs. Gin!"

Gin Ichimaru was once the Captain of Squad 3 until he betrayed the Soul Society along with Captain Sosuke Aizen. Gin used his shikai in the Soul Society arc, but his bankai, Kamishini no Yari, wasn't revealed until the Fake Karakura Town arc when Gin faced off against Ichigo Kurosaki.

Kamishini no Yari can extend its blade several miles with incredible piercing power, but its real advantage is the speed at which the blade can extend and retract. As Ichigo noted, the moment Gin can point his zanpakuto's short blade straight at the enemy, Kamishini no Yari can extend in an instant and stab the target to death. While it isn't much to look at visually, the speed and ease of use Gin has with his bankai makes it pretty cool.

14 Tekken Tachikaze Is Straightforward But Edgy

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 285, "The Hundred-Year Grudge...Hiyori's Revenge"

Kensei Muguruma, as a Visored, relies more on his Hollow mask and shikai to fight than his bankai, but when facing the Sternritter, he stops holding back. Kensei activated his bankai, Tekken Tachikaze, which took the form of bladed brass knuckles for melee combat. It's the type of edgy weapon a '90s superhero might employ, which fits Bleach's edgier shonen universe.

Tekken Tachikaze unleashes powerful explosions when it strikes Kensei's enemies, and at punching range, most foes will have a tough time fighting properly. If Kensei can keep his fists on his opponent, the explosions continue, which is sure to overwhelm anyone's defenses, eventually. Another physical type bankai meant to be used as a weapon, Tekken Tachikaze makes Kensei look cooler even if it isn't that cool looking on its own.

13 Ryumon Hozukimaru Reflects The Standard Squad 11 Mindset

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 118, "Ikkaku's Bankai! The Power that Breaks Everything"

Squad 11 is known for preferring physical combat over any other type, meaning they shy away from anything that doesn't rely on direct strength. Few bankai represent direct strength than Ikkaku Madarame's Ryumon Hozukimaru. This bankai combines a monk's spade with a guandao for a bulky, massive weapon that Ikkaku is surprisingly nimble with.

Bankai are scarcely achieved outside the Gotei 13 so it's impressive a third seat like Ikkaku wields one at all, but it's not without its limitations. Hozukimaru doesn't start off at full strength and only awakens after it's been used in battle for a bit, increasing Ikkaku's reiatsu over the course of a fight. While most bankai grant strange new abilities, Ikkaku's simple yet straightforward bankai still looks awesome if nothing else.

12 Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo's Unique Look Fits Mayuri's Sense Of Aesthetic

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 44, "Ishida, The Utmost Limits of Power!"

This bizarre bankai is the ultimate weapon that Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the scientist, can muster in combat. Named after a Japanese child guardian deity, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo is a baby's head and arms attached to a long, caterpillar body, complete with a metal halo over its head.

Aside from brute-force ramming attacks, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo can release a deadly gas from its mouth to incapacitate anyone in the area. Captain Kurotsuchi took things a step further and modified this bankai so that it can self-destruct if it goes out of control, or if someone tries to use it for themselves. Kurotsuchi's bankai isn't for everyone, much like everything else he does — however, due to its unique aesthetic, it's absolutely unforgettable.

11 Kenpachi's Bankai Is A Tool Only He Would've Unlocked

Bleach Chapter 669, "刃 II"

Zanpakuto and their upgraded forms, the Shikai and Bankai, are meant to be reflective of the people who use them. Naturally, a battle maniac like Zaraki Kenpachi's weapons don't involve summoning other people to help him fight, or even fancy outfit changes like Ichigo or Hitsugaya. It does, however, change Zaraki himself, turning his skin red and giving him a pair of oni horns.

While Zaraki's bankai makes him look entirely different, the new technique doesn't even have a name. It makes him far stronger and can cut through nearly anything with ease, but the berserk warrior never bothers to try to name the ability. Still, it fits Zaraki's straightforward style, making one of the coolest Captains already look even more fearsome in battle.

10 Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame Can Change Anything It Touches

First Appearance: Bleach Chapter 664, "The Gift"

One of the biggest mysteries of the series was learning what the exiled Kisuke's bankai even did. Even throughout the entire battle against Aizen, Bleach fans never got to see what Urahara's bankai did, or even looked like. It wasn't until the final arc of the series that Urahara was finally forced to summon it, and it looked nothing like anyone would've ever expected.

Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame has the ability to completely restructure anything it touches, whether it's an enemy or an ally. Urahara can use this ability to harm or heal, or both in the same fight if necessary. Either way, it's one of the cooler-looking bankai, as it's one of the few that summons an entirely new entity to aid in combat.

9 Kinshara Butoudan Puts On An Impressive Show

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 384, "Rages at Ringside"

Once Aizen was dealt with, many of the Soul Reapers who'd been transformed into Vizoreds were able to return to the Gotei 13, including Rose. Rose became the captain of Squad 3, relying on the power of his flashy Zanpakuto, Kinshara. Kinshara is flashy enough in its Shikai as a massive, golden whip, but the bankai is even more impressive. The bankai is Kinshara Butoudan, which looks like a massive pair of hands and a troupe of large dancing beings known as the Dancers of Death.

Rose's Kinshara Butoudan is ostentatious but beautiful. Kinshara's special power creates music that can take root in his opponent's heart. Once they believe him, he can create illusions and convince his opponents of how real they are. With a conductor's wand, Rose can create attacks that resemble drowning or being engulfed in flames, and the illusion is real enough to fool most opponents. While Rose's power might be frightening, it's still a breathtaking visual showcase.

8 Kukujo Tengen Myo-O Is An Awesome Summon That Fights Alongside Its Master

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 53, "Gin Ichimaru's Temptation, Resolution Shattered"

This is the ultimate weapon of Captain Sajin Komamura, the huge, wolf-headed leader of Squad 7. Sajin's bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo-o, is a sort of samurai with black armor, a horned helmet, and a truly massive sword. This bankai will mimic Sajin's movements and deliver slow but powerful attacks. With it, Sajin took down the massive Arrancar Poww in just one blow. To Sajin's dismay, the explosive Bambietta Basterbine stole Kokujo Tengen Myo-o early in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, leaving Sajin practically defenseless without it.

Sajin's bankai is deceptively simple, as it seems to rely on just being a massive tool of destruction. Even more impressive is how durable it is, as it can take a hit from a Cero without any issue. Its main ability involves casting away its armor to create a being of sheer reiatsu, making it nearly impervious. Either form though looks unbearably cool, especially fighting alongside a giant wolf like Sajin.

7 Hihio Zabimaru Is Proof Of Renji's Refusal To Be Left Behind

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 52, "Renji, Oath of the Soul! Death Match with Byakuya"

It is pretty rare for anyone outside the 13 Captains to unlock bankai, but partway through the Soul Society arc, Renji did exactly that. After losing to Ichigo, Renji re-examined his relationship with Zabimaru, and his bankai followed soon after. Hihio Zabimaru is a highly sectioned, bony snake entity, complete with a red mane and a snakehead with fangs.

Renji's bankai is quite flexible, as it can protect Renji with its long body, perform head-butting attacks, and fire jets of red energy to attack Renji's enemies from afar. If need be, Hihio Zabimaru can split into pieces, and each one can move independently. It's hard to be cooler than a giant bone snake that can fire energy attacks from its mouth.

6 Tensa Zangetsu Gave Ichigo The Power Needed To Protect The People He Cared About

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 58, "Release! The Black Blade, the Miraculous Power"

Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki trained hard with Yoruichi for three days to get bankai, and at the last moment, he unlocked Tensa Zangetsu. This was only possible thanks to Urahara's special training methods, as most bankai take years at the least, or even up to decades of training. This unusual bankai gave him the power necessary to face Byakuya on Sokyoku Hill in the Soul Society arc.

The original Zangetsu isn't large like most bankai are. It forms a long, thin black blade with a manji tsuba (hand guard), and this blade gives Ichigo incredible speed and cutting power. Later, when Ichigo develops his bankai completely, the sword goes back to looking like his massive Shikai, granting him the power of an improved Getsuga Tensho. Ichigo's weapon might not be complex, but it always looks impressive.

5 Zanka No Tachi Could Destroy All Of Soul Society

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 372, "The Fire"

Captain Yamamoto was actually ashamed of his fearsome fire-based bankai, and after Yhwach's initial defeat, Yhwach considered himself a fiery monster who might destroy the Soul Society. Bleach didn't reveal Yamamoto's bankai until the final battle with Yhwach in the TYBW story arc.

Yamamoto's bankai, Zanka no Tachi, is a charred blade with enormous heat-based power. Zanka no Tachi also has a special technique for each cardinal direction, with the south technique reviving all of Zanka no Tachi's previous victims as burnt skeleton warriors under Yamamoto's command.

4 Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi Can Take The Senses Of Any Opponent

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 53, "Gin Ichimaru's Temptation, Resolution Shattered"

Captain Kaname Tosen of Squad 9 has a zanpakuto, Suzumushi, that primarily affects the senses. His shikai emits a piercing tone that can knock people out, such as when Tosen incapacitated Uryu Ishida in the Soul Society arc. Only once, though, was Tosen seen using his bankai as well.

Tosen's bankai is Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi, which contains both Tosen and his opponent in a huge black bubble, like a balloon. In that realm, Tosen's enemy can't hear or see anything, making it difficult for them to fight back. However, if an opponent like Kenpachi can touch Suzumushi's handle, their senses will be restored.

3 Hakka No Togame Is Deadly As The Fiercest Winter Storm

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 385, "The White Haze"

Like her brother, Rukia Kuchiki is a prodigy in the world of Soul Society. Despite being only a lieutenant in the 13th Division, she quickly developed her own shikai, the stunning Sode no Shirayuki. With further training, though, she was able to create something stronger and more beautiful: Hakka no Togame. This Bankai changes Rukia's look entirely, encasing her in a gorgeous kimono that looks like it's made of pure ice.

Much like Rukia's shikai, Hakka no Togame can reduce things to absolute zero. However, her bankai does so even more effectively, reducing a large range around her to a state of complete freezing. In this state, even touching Rukia is dangerous, as just getting near her can cause people to freeze. With Hakkai no Togame's special power, she can fire off waves and pillars of cold mist that instantly reduce anything caught in it to absolute zero. While the power is terrifying, every battlefield she touches is still gorgeous.

2 Daiguren Hyorinmaru Is The Result Of A Genius' Efforts

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 60, "Reality of the Despair, the Assassin's Dagger is Swung"

Among the Soul Reapers, Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is probably the youngest to have a bankai. In fact, Hyorinmaru the ice dragon whispered in Toshiro's mind even before he started training, and Rangiku Matsumoto took notice. She urged Toshiro to undergo Soul Reaper training, an effort that hugely paid off. Daiguren Hyorinmaru, Toshiro's bankai, can fly and freeze nearly anything, though it has a time limit Toshiro must be mindful of.

Daiguren Hyorinmaru can use many powerful offensive moves, such as crushing a foe in several walls of ice or trapping them in a massive tree-like structure that can even capture Espadas like Tier Harribel. While Hitsugaya is still young it's hard to deny how impressive his bankai is both in terms of power and appearance, as he transforms himself into a humanoid ice dragon. Later, Hitsugaya even manages to level up his bankai further, transforming himself into an adult to better handle the power of his bankai, which gains the ability to flash-freeze people.

1 Senbonzakura Kageyoshi Is Beautiful Yet Terrifying

First Appearance: Bleach Episode 52, "Renji, Oath of the Soul! Death Match with Byakuya"

Byakuya Kuchiki is the proud Captain of Squad 6, and his zanpakuto, Senbonzakura, is equally beautiful and deadly. Its shikai appeared partway through the Soul Society story arc, with the zanpakuto's blade dissolving into hundreds of pink petal blossoms that can shred the opponent with ease.

Byakuya's bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, is a much larger version of that shikai, flooding the battlefield with millions of petals that no foe can evade or block for long. Byakuya can even trap the opponent with him inside his bankai, reforming Senbonzakura Kageyoshi into an enclosed arena made of hundreds of floating swords.