The Gotei 13 is the military force of Soul Society, comprising its most skilled warriors. These Shinigami are tasked with defending Soul Society, protecting stray souls, and purifying Hollows. In addition, these warriors are occasionally embroiled in near-apocalyptic scenarios, forcing them to rise beyond their own limits.

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As a powerful organization, Soul Society has made numerous enemies over the millennia. Whenever these threats arise, the most powerful Shinigami are forced to fight on the front lines to protect their home. Captains go through decades and centuries of rigorous training, which means they are vastly more capable than the average Shinigami.

Updated on October 14, 2022 by Ajay Aravind: The first episode of Bleach's Thousand-Year Blood War arc was released on October 11th. Audiences can't wait to see their favorite characters in this new adaptation, some of whom include the legendary Captains of Soul Society. On the other hand, some viewers are eagerly waiting to see previously un-animated Bankai — arguably one of the defining features of Bleach. In any case, the fandom is in for a real treat.

Updated on February 23, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: The Bleach anime is going to take another couple of years to reach its conclusion, and fans couldn't be more delighted. As such, we've revamped this list with some more information about the strongest captains in the Gotei 13.

20 Isane Kotetsu

4th Division (Current)

isane kotetsu bleach

Isane Kotetsu is promoted to Captain of the 4th Division at the end of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, showing just how much the Gotei 13 relies on her medical expertise. She doesn't seem too focused on her Vice-Captaincy in the beginning but rapidly changes her work ethic under Unohana's tutelage.

Isane is an active participant in the Shinigami Women's Association, where she plays a somewhat important role. Fortunately, Unohana frequently reminds Isane to shed her timid tendencies in order to be taken seriously. Almost nothing is known about Isane's combat prowess, except that her Zanpakuto is most likely melee-oriented.

19 Love Aikawa

7th Division (Former)

love aikawa bleach

Love Aikawa's serene demeanor is enviable, especially given Bleach's belligerent tone. He trusts his friends, his colleagues, his superiors, basically anyone who deserves his respect. Love refuses to indulge in violence unless absolutely necessary, regularly advocating his personal doctrine of goodwill to anyone within earshot.

As a former Captain, Love Aikawa creates an atmosphere of universal harmony in the 7th Division, earning both deference and admiration from his subordinates. His fate following the Thousand-Year Blood War arc remains ambiguous, but it can be assumed that he survives the battle with Gerard Valkyrie.

18 Kaname Tosen

9th Division (Former)

Kaname Tosen fighting in the Bleach anime.

Kaname Tosen firmly believes in "tak[ing] the path with the least bloodshed." While thoroughly admirable, this tenet inevitably leads him down the path to self-destruction. He foolishly believes in Aizen's vision, which is why he betrays the Gotei 13 and breaks Sajin Komamura's heart in the process.

Tosen doesn't really understand the difference between vengeance and justice, as seen when he brutally massacres his own comrades. At the same time, Tosen embarks on a journey of redemption right before his death, highlighting the honorable aspects of his otherwise problematic personality.

17 Kensei Muguruma

9th Division (Current)

Kensei Muguruma looking back at Shuhei

Kensei Muguruma's irritable nature prevents him from making many new friends, but Team Ichigo nevertheless worms its way into his cloistered heart. His Vice-Captain, Mashiro Kuna, is a major source of mental stress for Kensei — he's compelled to waste most of his waking hours dealing with her unpredictable antics.

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The fact that Kensei can run the 9th Division and still handle unexpected situations is proof that he knows how to multitask without slipping up even once. Captains are expected to manage a diverse range of time-sensitive problems, and he's obviously the Shinigami for the job. That said, Kensei needs to learn to choose his opponents wisely.

16 Rose Otoribashi

3rd Division (Current)

Rose from bleach looking at sword

Rose Otoribashi would rather keep the peace than get himself embroiled in avoidable conflicts, which is why he doesn't discriminate between friends and family. His backstory is briefly covered in the Turn Back the Pendulum arc, but his leadership qualities are essentially glossed over.

In fact, the 3rd Division's Captain incorporates melody into his Zanpakuto; his spiritual powers essentially revolve around music. In other words, Rose's Kinshara Butodan performs illusion-based musical and dance movements. This Bankai would have been magnificent if not for a conspicuous disadvantage: opponents who can't hear it are totally immune.

15 Lisa Yadomaru

8th Division (Current)

Lisa Yadomaru looking defeated in Bleach.

A former member of the Visored, Lisa Yadomaru is the current Captain of the Gotei 13’s 8th division, having assumed the position from Shunsui Kyoraku. She tends to maintain a cool head, an especially useful character trait given the turbulent politics of Soul Society.

Although Lisa's demeanor switches between apathetic and moody, her allies can always rely on her presence. Her Zanpakuto doesn't look very special, at least until Lisa employs it in battle. Lisa twists and twirls her Haguro Tonbo with such unbelievable speed and dexterity that most opponents are instantly overwhelmed.

14 Shinji Hirako

5th Division (Current)

Hirako Shinji walks the line between comic relief and solemn certainty, a rather difficult balance to maintain for any character. Although he enjoys seemingly frivolous hobbies and generally acts like the class clown, very few people actually doubt his dedication to Soul Society. Besides, the Gotei 13 doesn't nominate insincere people for a position as crucial as Captain of the 5th Division.

Shinji displays his martial mettle against Grimmjow Jaggerjacquez, effortlessly repulsing the 6th Espada with a combination of Zanjutsu and Hollowification. Although Aizen successfully exploits his naive attitude, Shinji returns to help Ichigo master his Hollowification and, eventually, save the world from Yhwach.

13 Suì-Fēng

2nd Division (Current)

Bleach Sui-Feng Summons Suzumebachi

The cantankerous Captain of the 2nd Division, Suì-Fēng's loyalty is often indistinguishable from her stubbornness. While her demeanor and expressions make her seem egregiously haughty, she's merely trying to camouflage her insecurities behind a mask of overconfidence.

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As implausible as it sounds, Suì-Fēng is a genuinely modest character with humble beginnings. She displays her unbreakable willpower on various occasions, as demonstrated by her uncanny ability to shrug off her emotions during battle. Suì-Fēng leads her troops on an iron leash, much to Vice-Captain Omaeda's chagrin.

12 Rukia Kuchiki

13th Division (Current)

Rukia Kuchiki looking happy in Bleach anime

Rukia Kuchiki comes from a lower-class background in Rukongai, but her sister's marriage to Byakuya automatically makes her a part of the aristocratic Kuchiki family. She rarely wears her heart on her sleeve, partly because she wants to follow in her big brother's footsteps. Although Rukia grows stronger over the course of the story, she achieves her Bankai for the first time in the Royal Realm.

Her Hakka no Togame has the potential to be one of the strongest Bankai in Soul Society, but she's got a long way to go before that happens. Rukia becomes the Captain of the 13th Division around a decade after the series' conclusion, completing the story that began with her breaking into Ichigo's bedroom.

11 Sajin Komamura

7th Division (Former)

Sajin Komamura is shouting in bleach

Sajin Komamura owes a debt of eternal gratitude to Yamamoto and assiduously strives to fulfill his duties as the Captain of the 7th Division. There is no one in Soul Society more loyal, honest, or conscientious than Komamura, but his slightly abrasive personality occasionally generates unintentional drama.

On the other hand, he's completely willing to die a martyr, explaining why he acquires the Dangai Joue technique from his surly great-grandfather. In the end, Komamura goes out in a blaze of glory — the epitome of what it means to be a Shinigami. Komamura has since been replaced by Captain Tetsuzaemon Iba.

10 Kisuke Urahara

12th Division (Former)

Kisuke Urahara spends only nine years as the Captain of the 12th Division, but his accomplishments are nevertheless praiseworthy. He insists on investigating the mysterious disappearances taking place in Soul Society's Rukongai, even if it means violating Yamamoto's explicit orders.

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As a result of Urahara's diligence and insight, Shinji, Rose, Lisa, Kensei, Mashiro, Hachigen, Hiyori, and Love manage to survive their horrific Hollowification ordeal. Central 46 doesn't take very kindly to this discovery, however, and decides to punish Urahara for his alleged crimes. Urahara continues to serve Soul Society to the best of his ability, regardless of they treat him.

9 Toshiro Hitsugaya

10th Division (Current)

Toshiro Hitsugaya releasing his zanpakuto

Despite his relatively young age, Toshiro Hitsugaya quickly rises through the ranks and becomes the Captain of the 10th division. He’s considered a true prodigy — Kyoraku Shunsui ruefully mentions that Hitsugaya's strength and potency will eventually outstrip his own.

Hitsugaya wields a Zanpakuto known as Hyorinmaru. Both his Shikai and Bankai abilities revolve around controlling water and ice, albeit with dramatically different outputs. Further, Daiguren Hyorinmaru receives a critical upgrade in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, magnifying Hitsugaya's already significant reiryoku reservoir.

8 Mayuri Kurotsuchi

12th Division

Mayuri is the current Captain of the 12th division as well as the President of the Shinigami Research Institute. He is as infamous for his deadly creations for his unfathomably unethical experiments. Although notoriously unstable, Mayuri is a Shinigami with a deeply curious mind, hellbent on discovering the mysteries of science.

Mayuri's experimental mindset extends to his Zanpakuto — he has altered Konjiki Ashisogi Jizou so many times that it's barely recognizable anymore. He unleashes his modified Bankai during his duel with Pernida Parnkgjas, the so-called Left Hand of the Soul King, but Mayuri is ultimately unable to defeat the enemy without Nemu's help.

7 Byakuya Kuchiki

6th Division (Current)

Byakuya Kuchiki in Bleach Brave Souls looking to the side.

As the 6th Division's Captain, Byakuya is a prodigious talent in a room filled with prodigious talents. He initially serves as the primary antagonist of the Soul Society Invasion arc, where he forcefully subjects his own sister to the clearly capricious whims of the Central 46. Luckily, Ichigo smacks Byakuya around long enough to change his obstinate mind.

Byakuya’s masterful control over Senbonzakura Kageyoshi can put the most experienced fighters out of commission. This Bankai turns his sword into a swirling swarm of micro-blades, each of which can be manipulated independently. This adaptable fighting style makes Byakuya one of the strongest Captains in Bleach.

6 Jushiro Ukitake

13th Division (Former)

Jushiro Ukitake 13th Captain with flowing hair in Bleach.

Jushiro Ukitake is the former Captain of the 13th division, having been replaced as Captain by Rukia Kuchiki. He sacrifices his life in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, illustrating his unimpeachable integrity. Ukitake's Sogyo no Kotowari, one of only two dual Zanpakutos in Soul Society, can absorb and reflect energy-based attacks, no matter how powerful.

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He showcases this magnificent ability during his battle with Cotoye Starrk, the Primera Espada. Ukitake isn't a particularly adept fighter, considering his lifelong illness, but his strategic and tactical intelligence more than make up for his physical failings.

5 Yoruichi Shihoin

2nd Division (Former)

yoruichi bleach

Out of all the Shinigami in the Seireitei, Shihoin is considered the most powerful hand-to-hand combatant. She once held an exalted position in Soul Society, being the Captain of the 2nd Division, the Commander-in-Chief of the Omnitsukido, and the Executive Militia Corps' Director.

Unfortunately, Yoruichi is forced to renounce her titles and privileges to protect Urahara and the Visoreds. Unlike anyone else in the series, she possesses the ability to metamorphose into a cat, but this unique power isn't explored after the Soul Society Invasion arc. Yoruichi's strength and leadership qualities make her one of the better Captains of the Gotei 13.

4 Retsu Unohana

4th Division (Former)

retsu unohana in bleach

Retsu Unohana was the Captain of the 4th division, Soul Society’s greatest healer, and the first person in history to hold the title of Kenpachi. Unohana is a legendary Shinigami with countless fights under her belt, though she bears only one battle scar. This is a testament to her incredible fighting ability, not to mention her inexhaustible medical knowledge.

Unohana uses her Shikai, Minzauki, for healing purposes. Her Bankai, also named Minazuki, may or may not have similar properties as her Shikai. This is because the manga fails to explain the nuances of her Bankai. Unfortunately, even the anime adaptation failed to rectify this glaring omission.

3 Kenpachi Zaraki

11th Division (Current)

Kenpachi Zaraki In Bleach The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc

Zaraki grows up in the most lawless region of Soul Society, gradually becoming strong enough to defeat the tenth Kenpachi and inherit his Captaincy. However, he doesn't inherit the real title until he kills Retsu Unohana.

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Zaraki is a force to be reckoned with — his combat potential is simply astonishing, even when he doesn't use his full strength. His Zanpakuto, Nozarashi, furthers his destructive endeavors by greatly increasing his cutting ability. In its Bankai form, Nozarashi transforms Zaraki into a raging berserker, where all his senses and physical abilities are boosted to incomprehensible levels.

2 Shunsui Kyoraku

1st Division (Current)

Shunsui Kyoraku is looking serious with his eyepatch on in bleach

Shunsui is the Captain of the 1st Division and the incumbent Captain-Commander. As such, he retains the ability to issue commands to all members of the Gotei 13. Upon the previous Captain-Commander's passing, Shunsui immediately replaced Yamamoto with a complete vote of confidence. This highlights the prestige that Shunsui has built up over the course of his professional career.

Shunsui has shown himself to be consistently strong enough to defeat high-ranked opponents on numerous occasions. His Bankai is one of the deadliest seen in the series, with its unique abilities forcing opponents to play by Shunsui’s "rules". With Karematsu Shinju, he can deal incredible amounts of damage, even to beings who claim to be intangible.

1 Yamamoto Genryusai

1st Division (Former)

Yamamoto holding his Bankai in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

Yamamoto is the former Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. He originally formed the Gotei 13 to fight against the Quincy in the first Great War. Yamamoto has the most powerful Zanpakuto in Bleach. When in Bankai form, his flames burn with such intensity that Ice- and Water-type Zanpakuto users can’t even manifest their abilities, lest they evaporate.

Yamamoto coats himself in flames that burn as hot as the sun, and gains the ability to resurrect those killed by his flames and have them do battle on his behalf. These ridiculously overpowered flames, alongside his years of knowledge, mean that Yamamoto is the strongest Captain to ever exist.

NEXT: 10 Things To Remember Before Watching Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War