There was a time when the Big Three reigned supreme on Shonen Jump, with all three manga exemplifying the best aspects of the genre in one way or another. Although One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach are still three of the most popular IPs in the magazine's history, the latter two series have already reached their respective conclusions.

Due to fans' complaints about Bleach's declining quality, TV Tokyo decided to "cancel" the series before the Thousand-Year Blood War arc could be animated. At the time of its unfortunate conclusion, several characters had already showcased their impressive strength. Now, with the anime's final arc well underway, it's important to take a closer look at some of the strongest characters in Bleach.

Updated on February 10th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: As one of Shonen's "Big Three," Bleach continues to be widely popular among its dedicated fanbase. Fans can't stop talking about the incredible power scales used throughout the series. The newly animated Thousand Year Blood War arc has reignited fan debates. To make things a bit easier, we've updated this list with more details about the strongest Bleach characters.

25 Hachigen Ushoda Is An Extremely Powerful Kido Practitioner

Hachigen Ushoda, an extremely powerful and knowledgeable Kido practitioner, was exiled from the Gotei 13 because of his inadvertent Hollowification. Despite his seemingly benign exterior, Hachigen proved to be among the most formidable opponents in Bleach.

Not only did Hachigen destroy multiple Gillian-class Menos Hollows with his Kido, but he also developed brand new spells like his trademark Hachigo Sogai. Hachigen humbly compared himself with Orihime, partially oblivious to the transcendent depth of her powers. Moreover, he successfully tricked the Second Espada into killing himself with his own Resurrección.

24 Mask De Masculine Is Only Defeated By Renji's New Bankai

Yhwach's Sternritter are some of the strongest characters in Bleach. Although Mask De Masculine may not be as powerful as some of his colleagues, he's certainly not a pushover. In fact, he casually manages to defeat the Soul Reaper captains Rose Otoribashi and Kensei Muguruma despite both of them unleashing their Bankai. Then again, those two Visoreds really dropped the ball, and they probably could have done better if they really tried when fighting Mask.

Mask relies heavily on a mysterious subordinate named James, who somehow serves as the source of the Sternritter's strength. Even a newly evolved Renji finds it difficult to fight this villain at first. That said, Renji's brand-new Bankai vanquishes Mask De Masculine once and for all.

23 Grimmjow Jaegerjaques Has Always Been A Force Of Nature

Grimmjow Jaegerjaques might be a tiresome blowhard, but nobody can deny his overwhelming power. When he triggers his Resurrección Pantera, Grimmjow transforms into a dangerous foe capable of dealing deadly damage against the strongest characters in Bleach.

While he's not impressively strong in the Hueco Mundo and Fake Karakura Town arcs, Grimmjow becomes a veritable force of nature during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. He casually defeats and kills Askin Nakk Le Vaar by ripping his heart out of his chest. Grimmjow's fate is ambiguous, but he likely survived the clash.

22 Renji Abarai Has Come A Long Way Since The Soul Society Arc

Renji Abarai has always been extremely strong, long before his powers were magnified in the Royal Realm. Despite the melee nature of his Shikai, he knows how to inflict both close and long-range damage with Zabimaru. Renji's Bankai received a tremendous upgrade in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, outfitting his body with a prehensile bone tail.

In addition, the Zaga Teppo technique supplements So'o Zabimaru's offensive power with a Cero-esque blast of pure Reiatsu. The resulting explosion is capable of incinerating enemies as dangerous as Mask de Masculine. Renji has come a long way since losing to Ichigo in the Soul Society arc.

21 Mayuri Kurotsuchi Has Countless Devious Tricks Up His Sleeve

Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of Squad 12 may not be as intelligent as Urahara or as crafty as Aizen, but this savage Soul Reaper scientist has countless tricks up his sleeve. There is nothing that Mayuri fails to analyze, no matter how bizarre or outlandish his preparation methods seem to bystanders.

Mayuri even modifies the structure and functions of his own Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizou, according to his combat needs. Mayuri and Nemu Kurotsuchi battle Pernida Parnkgjas in the final moments of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc before ultimately defeating the Sternritter. Mayuri Kurotsuchi reappears in the Echoing Jaws of Hell one-shot, as hale and hearty as ever.

20 Bazz-B's Schrift Can Temporarily Offset The Flames Of Ryujin Jakka

Bazzard Black, more commonly known as Bazz-B, wields the element of fire. Although not nearly as strong as someone like Yamamoto Genryusai, this Sternritter's heat-based powers are more than enough against relatively small fry like Hitsugaya. Bazz-B employs a series of techniques collectively known as Burner Finger, each with increasing potency.

Burner Finger 3 alone is capable of liquefying solid objects from rocks and buildings to enemy bodies. When Yhwach triggers the Auswählen, he decides to travel to the Royal Realm and challenge his former best friend Jugram. Unfortunately, Bazz-B does not survive this encounter.

19 Royd Lloyd Defeats Kenpachi And Briefly Tolerates Zanka No Tachi

Loyd Lloyd and Royd Lloyd are a pair of identical twin brothers. It's currently unknown if their powers were merely augmented by Yhwach or if they had them to begin with. While Loyd could mimic someone else's physical strength and abilities, his brother Royd is only capable of replicating another's appearance and memories.

Yhwach tasks Royd with distracting Yamamoto while he spends time with Aizen, and it is Royd's replica that the Captain-Commander defeats with his Bankai. That said, facing Zanka no Tachi head-on without instantly evaporating is a testament to Royd's remarkable strength.

18 Rukia Kuchiki Obtains One Of The Greatest Bankai In Bleach

Rukia Kuchiki begins the story when she accidentally stumbles into Ichigo's bedroom, only for him to kick her into the wall. She soon becomes his treasured friend, prompting Ichigo to invade Soul Society when the Central 46 sentences her to death. Rukia plays second fiddle to Ichigo for most of Bleach, but she gets her chance to shine in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.

There, Rukia learns to manifest her Bankai in the Royal Realm just before her career-defining fight with Äs Nödt. She is later seen in the manga's final chapter, where she's declared as the 13th Division's Captain, officially making her one of the strongest Bleach characters.

17 Byakuya Kuchiki Returns From The Royal Realm With Even More Power

Despite his genuine and honest nature, Byakuya earns Ichigo's ire throughout the Soul Society arc. He subsequently turns into an important ally, even though he doesn't openly express his admiration for Ichigo until the final arc. Byakuya is nearly murdered by Äs Nödt during the First Wandenreich Invasion, after which he undergoes a revitalization procedure in the Royal Realm.

Byakuya returns more powerful than ever, claiming that he finally understands the true nature of his Bankai. Byakuya demonstrates his newfound abilities against Gerard Valkyrie, casting his potent Ikka Senjinka on the overpowered villain. Although the Sternritter survives the attack, Yhwach's Auswählen obliterates Gerard from existence, saving Byakuya from certain death.

16 Toshiro Hitsugaya's Adult Form Is Revealed In The Final Arc

There was a point when Captain Hitsugaya was little more than a joke. The smallest threats required him to unleash his Bankai, and even then he couldn't keep up with his more experienced colleagues. However, there's a reason why Gin Ichimaru referred to him as the "heavenly white angel who blesses Soul Society once a century."

Toshiro Hitsugaya's Bankai achieved its maximum potential in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Daiguren Hyorinmaru can now flash-freeze solids, liquids, gases, and even abstruse abilities like Gerard Valkyrie's The Miracle. At this point, Hitsugaya is easily one of the strongest Bleach characters.

15 Yoruichi Shihoin Doesn't Even Need To Use Her Zanpakuto

Yoruichi Shihoin has a Zanpakuto, but she has never been seen using it. This is because Yoruichi can easily resolve any conflict with her speed or fists. As the "Flash Goddess" of the Soul Society, Yoruichi's movements are barely perceptible, leaving her opponents out of breath and thoroughly flabbergasted.

Yoruichi nonchalantly knocked out dozens of trained Onmitsukido warriors before confronting and defeating her protégé, Suì-Fēng/Soi Fon, the current Captain of squad 2. Yoruichi's Shunko reinforces her combat skillset, especially when she transforms into her "Thunder Beast Battle Form," Shunryu Kokubyo Senki.

14 Isshin Kurosaki Was Once Squad 10's Captain

Isshin Kurosaki was nothing more than comic relief at the beginning. He spends most of his time taking care of his three children, although Ichigo is often annoyed by his father's constant antics. In reality, Isshin was once the Captain of Squad 10, making him one of the strongest characters in Bleach.

Isshin actually managed to crack Aizen's Hogyoku-enhanced Cocoon form, highlighting the sheer strength of his Shikai, Engetsu. Like his son, Isshin also relies on Getsuga Tenshos as his main technique. The difference is that Isshin's attacks are considerably more refined than Ichigo's haphazard slices.

13 Askin Nakk Le Vaar Seemingly Forces Mayuri To Back Away

Although not intended to be a part of Yhwach's Schutzstaffel, or elite guards, there's a last-minute shuffle that allows Askin Nakk Le Vaar to accompany his leader to the Royal Realm. Initial evidence for Askin's peerless prowess comes from Mayuri Kurotsuchi's refusal to fight him, proving that the Sternritter is more trouble than he appears.

Urahara discovers this firsthand when he challenges Askin to battle. Despite his incandescent brilliance, Urahara is unable to defeat Askin without help from multiple quarters. Both Yoruichi and Grimmjow are also involved in this battle, a triple combo that manages to overpower even Askin.

12 Kisuke Urahara Is Easily The Smartest Character In Bleach

Kisuke Urahara is easily the smartest Bleach character, his intellect being the driving factor behind nearly all his victories. While it was technically Ichigo Kurosaki who defeated Soeuke Aizen in the Fake Karakura Town story arc, Aizen might have escaped if not for Urahara's sneaky Kido lodged within the villain's body.

Kisuke Urahara unleashed his Bankai just once in the series, but Kannonbiraki Benihime Atarame instantly outmaneuvered Askin Nakk Le Vaar, which is saying a lot, given Aksin's Schutzstaffle status. The Thousand-Year Blood War arc leaves Urahara's fate unclear, but there's no doubt that he's one of the strongest Bleach characters of all.

11 Lille Barro's Vollständig Transforms Him Into A Quasi-Divine Being

The Thousand-Year Blood War introduced some remarkably powerful enemies, with Yhwach's Schutzstaffel being the most intimidating. As the first of Yhwach's Shrift-ed minions, Lille Barro takes great pride in himself and his overwhelming arsenal.

Lille Barro's Vollständig, known as Jilliel, empowers him with arcane abilities like teleportation, intangibility, and hyper-regeneration. Lille is the only Sternritter capable of a secondary Vollständig, not unlike Ulquiorra Cifer's Segunda Etapa. In this form, he generates enough power to decimate entire cities.

10 Gremmy Thoumeaux Can Bring His Imagination To Life

Gremmy Thoumeaux proudly calls himself the most powerful Sternitter, a seemingly vainglorious boast that's validated soon enough. He enters the picture right before Kenpachi makes his way to the upper level of Soul Society — perfect timing for these two juggernauts to collide.

Gremmy throws everything in his imaginarium at Kenpachi, from missile launchers to a literal meteor aimed at the Seireitei. This Sternitter's abilities are so incomprehensible that his allies flee the scene to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Even Kenpachi has no choice but to activate his Shikai to fight Gremmy on equal footing.

9 Uryu Ishida Fights On Par With Jugram Haschwalth

Uryu Ishida isn't very strong at the start of Bleach. In fact, he's miles behind Ichigo when it comes to power scaling. However, Uryu gains a massive reiatsu boost after Yhwach grants him The Antithesis, which subsequently transforms him into a truly dangerous combatant.

With this Schrift, Uryu can reverse any damage he suffers during battle, as seen when he deflects the deleterious effects of Hashwalth's attack. Most importantly, Uryu incapacitates his former boss with an arrowhead of Still Silver — this courageous action allows Ichigo to swoop in and save the day. Despite Uryu's dislike of fighting, he's one of the strongest characters in Bleach.

8 Gerard Valkyrie Only Dies When Yhwach Triggers The Auswählen

Gerard Valkyrie is practically invincible. He mocks Hitsugaya, Byakuya, and Kenpachi, pompously claiming that "their Reiatsu is so tiny that [he] can scarcely sense it." Valkyrie wields The Miracle, a quixotic ability that allows him to twist the rules of probability in his favor. As such, there is no heroic character in Bleach strong enough to vanquish him in a head-on battle.

Byakuya and Hitsugaya's combined attack obliterates the Sternritter's head and torso, but his body inexplicably sews itself back together. In fact, Gerard remains technically undefeated until the very end — he only dies because Yhwach triggered the Auswählen process.

7 Jugram Haschwalth Controls The Abstract Concept Of Misfortune

Yhwach calls Jugram Haschwalth his other half, referring to his "power of giving and sharing." Haschwalth's The Balance is undoubtedly a formidable Schrift, one that consumes and transfers misfortune. In other words, he can dispense his own unlucky circumstances to his opponents.

Haschwalth employs a unique shield known as the Freund Schild, which ostensibly absorbs and deflects any adversity he faces at any given time. He casually overwhelms Uryu's Antithesis with The Balance but permits the Quincy to go free when Yhwach betrays them.

6 Shunsui Kyoraku Is The Only Logical Choice To Succeed Yamamoto

The Gotei 13 is left rudderless after Yhwach kills Yamamoto, forcing the Central 46 to name a new Captain-Commander. They select Shunsui Kyoraku, highlighting the latter's tremendous Reiatsu and centuries' worth of managerial experience. He begrudgingly accepts his new role and instantly begins preparing for the Wandenreich's Second Invasion.

When Shunsui's Bankai fails to harm Lille Barro, Nanao Ise takes up the charge and defeats the quasi-divine Sternritter. As the only logical choice for Captain-Commander, Shunsui Kyoraku can be considered one of the strongest Bleach characters.