The Thousand-Year Blood War is the final arc in the Bleach anime. This significant arc showcased the final war between Soul Society and the hidden Quincy empire, the Wandenreich. Naturally, there will be many losses on both sides. In previous arcs, very few Bleach heroes died, but all that changed in the anime's grand finale.

Some of the characters who die in Thousand-Year Blood War were fairly minor, such as fluff Sternritters like Shaz Domino or Jerome Guizbatt, but other deaths were highly impactful and personally meaningful to the arc. Some deaths completely changed the course of the war, and other deaths marked serious changes for certain character arcs and Bleach lore.

Updated on January 18, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: The Bleach manga ran for fifteen years straight, while the anime was seemingly canceled in 2012. Luckily for the fandom, the Thousand-Year Blood War arc received an anime adaptation in late 2022, bringing the series back into the global spotlight. Being a Shonen anime, Bleach never really killed off any major characters until the final arc, when many of them began dropping like flies. As such, we've updated this list with some more information.

Major spoilers for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War's manga and anime ahead.

15 Chojiro Sasakibe Died After Being Impaled By Driscoll Berci

Episode 367: "BLOOD WARFARE"

Only days before their invasion, the Quincy arrived in the Seireitei and confronted Captain-Commander Yamamoto with a verbal declaration of war. Then, Driscoll Berci (Sternritter O: The Overkill) attacked the barely-written Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe with his ability, impaling him on Yamamoto's office wall.

Sasakibe soon died from this mortal injury, which deeply saddened Yamamoto. This early death vividly emphasized the threat that the Quincy army posed. Besides revealing that Bankai could be stolen, Sasakibe's death also made Yamamoto unusually sloppy and reckless with rage when the Quincy's main force arrived to fight the Soul Reapers.

14 Royd Lloyd Was Defeated By Yamamoto And Killed By Yhwach

Episode 372: "The Fire"

Several Sternritter died in the initial invasion of Soul Society. Captain Kenpachi Zaraki killed three of them, while Yamamoto unknowingly killed one. Royd Lloyd (Sternritter Y: The Yourself) used his ability to mimic Emperor Yhwach and fight in his place. Yamamoto defeated Royd, thinking he was Yhwach the whole time.

Royd fulfilled his mission of distracting and exhausting Yamamoto in battle, which proved the strength of the Wandenreich's resolve. His death also left Yamamoto's Zanka no Tachi open to being stolen by Yhwach just seconds later. Royd's death proved that the Quincy would pay any price, including their lives, to ensure a swift victory.

13 The Zero Squad Were Killed By Yhwach And His Schutzstaffel

Death: Across Multiple Chapters

The Zero Squad were Soul Society's strongest Soul Reapers, but they were quickly killed after Yhwach's Auswählen gave his elite Schutzstaffel a second wind. The deaths of Kirio Hikifune, Senjumaru Shutara, Tenjiro Kirinji, and Oetsu Nimaiya proved how unstoppable Yhwach was. Ichibe Hyosube only survived by pure luck.

So far, the Zero Squad's deaths only apply to the manga. They put up a better and longer fight in the anime even after the Auswählen, so their fates could change as well. Should they be among those who die in Thousand-Year Blood War when it returns for the third cour, their deaths would fulfill a similar purpose and importance to their manga deaths.

12 Yamamoto Was Defeated And Killed By The Real Yhwach

Episode 373: "BORN IN THE DARK"

Captain-Commander Genryusai Yamamoto tried to fight the real Yhwach, but it was no good. Yhwach stole Yamamoto's Bankai with his medallion, then used mundane Quincy powers and his sword to finish off his longtime nemesis. Yamamoto was cut clean in half, and then Yhwach vaporized his remains.

Yamamoto's death left an enormous power vacuum in the Gotei 13, and established Yhwach's might right away. Eventually, Captain Shunsui Kyoraku succeeded him as Captain-Commander, a grim opportunity for Kyoraku to prove himself as the new leader of the Gotei 13. This also meant finding someone to replace him as Squad 8's Captain.

11 Quilge Opie Was Sliced In Half By Grimmjow Jaegerjacquez

Episode 371: "Wrath As A Lightning"

Quilge Opie (Sternritter J: The Jail) was the first Sternritter to appear in Thousand-Year Blood War. He defeated several Arrancars, then fought Ichigo's team in Hueco Mundo while Yhwach's army invaded Soul Society. Quilge delayed Ichigo by trapping him inside The Jail, but Ichigo eventually broke free.

Quilge was planning to use The Jail again to delay Ichigo further, but then Kisuke Urahara and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (in a surprise return) finished him off. Quilge's death allowed Ichigo to head toward Soul Society at last. More importantly, the fact that Quilge took so much punishment before dying showed how terrifying the Sternritter were.

10 Unohana Retsu Received A Fatal Wound From Zaraki Kenpachi

Episode 376: "The Battle"

For many years, everyone knew Captain Unohana as Retsu Unohana, Squad 4's kindly commander, and Bleach's most powerful medic. Thousand-Year Blood War revealed a shocking truth: Unohana was actually Unohana Yachiru, one of the Gotei 13's original captains, and one of the most brutal Soul Reapers in history.

Unohana once fought Kenpachi when the latter was still a kid, but she didn't draw out his full potential back then. Shortly after Yamamoto's death, Unohana lethally trained Kenpachi to unlock his true power, but at the cost of her life. Kenpachi mourned her death, but Unohana died happily. Unohana's death solidified Kenpachi's place as the strongest and most vicious Soul Reaper alive.

9 Äs Nödt Was Frozen To Death By Rukia's New Bankai

Episode 385: "The White Haze"

Captain Byakuya Kuchiki lost badly when Äs Nödt (Sternritter F: The Fear) stole Senbonzakura and nearly killed him with it during the invasion's first stage. Later, Rukia Kuchiki stumbled upon Äs Nödt and challenged him, fighting her terrifying Quincy foe with new ice powers. Äs Nödt turned the tables with his Vollstandig until Byakuya intervened.

This gave Rukia a chance to release her newly achieved Bankai, Hakka no Togame, and kill Äs Nödt with it. This neatly symbolized Rukia's growth as a Soul Reaper, and Byakuya was (uncharacteristically) proud of her. Meanwhile, Byakuya redeemed himself and his honor by weakening Äs Nödt with his reclaimed Zanpakuto.

8 The Soul King Was Killed And Absorbed By Yhwach

Chapter 625: "LIVING JAGUAR"

The mysterious Soul King was absolutely vital for Soul Society's continued existence. At one point, Yhwach aimed to absorb the king and gain even more power. Ichigo and his allies couldn't let that happen, but despite their best efforts, Yhwach successfully killed and absorbed the Soul King.

This "death" marked a turning point in Thousand-Year Blood War, where the stakes reached their peak and the heroes were almost out of time. The war had reached its endgame, and the heroes had to either defeat Yhwach right away, or witness their worlds destroyed in the Soul King's absence. Thankfully, the worst outcome never came to pass.

7 Jushiro Ukitake Offered His Life To Protect The Soul King

Chapter 621: "THE DARK CURTAIN"

Captain Jushiro Ukitake didn't do that much in Soul Society Arc or even the Arrancar Arc, but he had one last card to play in Thousand-Year Blood War. Ukitake's life was saved when Mimihagi, the Soul King's right arm, spared him from a fatal illness. Now, Ukitake decided to repay the Soul King by offering his borrowed life.

Ukitake didn't hesitate to offer his life so he could protect and partially restore the Soul King. His final act was in vain, but it demonstrated Ukitake's incredible resolve. It also left a vacancy in Squad 13 that Rukia Kuchiki filled in the epilogue a few years later. Ukitake's death was so important to the manga's lore that it's likely that he'll still be among those who die in Thousand-Year Blood War's anime.

6 Nemu Kurotsuchi Gave Her Life To Take Down Pernida Parnkgjas

Chapter 643: "BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 6 [Waiting For Love]"

Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi was a calm, helpful character who played a minor role in most of Bleach's arcs (both canon and filler). But like a few other minor Soul Reapers, she finally got a chance to shine in Thousand-Year Blood War and show everyone — including her Captain and "father" Mayuri Kurotsuchi — what she was really capable of.

Nemu faced the bizarre and terrifying Pernida Parnkgjas (Sternritter C: The Compulsory), and her normally abusive Captain urged Nemu to retreat and survive so she could continue to live and evolve. Instead, Nemu gave her life in combat to help take down Pernida. Nemu's manga death was important because it revealed Mayuri's repressed humanity, meaning it probably won't be altered for the anime.

5 Yhwach Was Neutralized And Killed By Uryu And Ichigo Together

Chapter 684: "The Blade"

The Quincy emperor and god, Yhwach, threatened far more than the Soul Reapers and the Seireitei. Yhwach wanted more than revenge for the fallen Quincy from the first war with the Soul Reapers. He also sought to create an eternally deathless world so no one would perish ever again. This also meant destroying the current world as everyone knew it.

Yhwach very nearly created his "ideal" world, but Ichigo fought him one last time and slew him with Uryu's help. Yhwach's death ensured a total Soul Reaper victory, and it also protected hope across the universe. Yhwach almost came back from the dead in the epilogue, but Ichigo's son made sure that he was among those who remained dead in Thousand-Year Blood War.

4 Bambietta Basterbine Was Killed And Zombified By Giselle

Episode 388: "Marching Out the ZOMBIES"

Bambietta Basterbine (Sternritter E: The Explode) made an explosive impression when she took part in the initial Quincy invasion of Soul Society. Bambietta faced Sajin Komamura and stole his Zanpakuto, then fought him a second time later in that war. Bambietta lost to Sajin's powerful human form, allowing Sajin to avenge his own fallen Bankai.

Sajin did well, but he wasn't the one who killed Bambietta. Instead, Giselle Geweller (Sternritter Z: The Zombie) finished her off to turn Bambietta into a zombie. Bambietta was one of the first Sternritter who died in Thousand-Year Blood War. Her death teased the extent of Giselle's morbid powers and cruelty.

3 Jugram Hashwalth Perished When Yhwach Activated Auswählen

Chapter 681: "THE END TWO WORLD"

Jugram Haschwalth (Sternritter B: The Balance) was Yhwach's right-hand man. Whenever Yhwach was asleep, Jugram briefly took over his duties and became Sternritter A: The Almighty. That being said, Jugram also had his own formidable Schrift known as The Balance. Jugram appeared early in Thousand-Year Blood War, and gradually became more important as the war continued.

Bleach fans even got to see Jugram's backstory through flashbacks. His arc culminated in his victory over Uryu Ishida, but it was in vain. As such, Jugram's death by Auswählen was the impetus for his last-second decision to help Ishida. He lived long enough to aid the Quincy retreat in the light novel, which the anime may or may not adapt.

2 Yachiru Kusajishi Disappeared After Kenpachi Released His Shikai

Episode 387: "The Headless Star"

Yachiru technically didn't die. She was revealed to have been Zaraki Kenpachi's Zanpakuto this whole time, and she left her corporeal body when Kenpachi activated his sword's true name and power. However, this also meant that the Yachiru who Bleach's cast and fans knew and loved was no longer with them.

Yachiru seemingly vanished into thin air, and Kenpachi could barely hear her voice and feel her presence. Her cessation of existence allows her to be counted among those who died in Thousand-Year Blood War. Yachiru's death was important, and unfortunately necessary, for Kenpachi to realize his full potential as a Soul Reaper.

1 Masaki Kurosaki Sacrificed Her Life To Protect Ichigo

Episode 378: "EVERYTHING BUT THE RAIN “June Truth”" (Flashback)

Canonically, Masak Kurosaki died long before Bleach aired its first episode in 2004. Originally, Masaki was believed to have died protecting Ichigo from the Grand Fisher. However, Thousand-Year Blood War recontextualized this by revealing that Masaki really died because of Yhwach's previous Auswählen.

Masaki was a Quincy, and she could've easily defended Ichigo from a rogue Hollow. But thanks to Yhwach, she was robbed of her powers at the last second, dying in Thousand-Year Blood War. Not only did the truth of this very important death rewrite Ichigo's origins and motives, but it retroactively became the catalyst for the entire anime.