The popular shonen series Bleach has an exciting combat system that is largely centered around zanpakuto, or soul-cutting swords. It is mainly Soul Reapers who carry zanpakuto, and talented Soul Reapers can use the shikai or even bankai releases of their zanpakuto to use the true power of their swords.

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There are several categories of zanpakuto, including those that have kido-based abilities, such as Momo Hinamori's sword, Tobiume. Other zanpakuto, meanwhile, are based entirely on melee combat, and these swords can often rival their fancy kido-based peers. It may be noted that some zanpakuto, such as Wabisuke's shikai, are melee-based swords with a kid ability, and thus don't quite count as pure melee zanpakuto. The same is true of Captain Soi Fon's shikai, Suzumebachi.

10 Kubikiro Orochi, Hiyori Sarugaki's Zanpakuto

Hiyori Sarugaki in Bleach.

Hiyori Sarugaki is one of the eight Visored, or masked Soul Reapers. For the most part, she was seen fighting with her sealed zanpakuto, such as when she sparred with Ichigo Kurosaki partway through the Arrancar arc. She can even fire cero blasts while her Hollow mask is on.

What about her shikai? Based on its few appearances, Hiyori's shikai, Kubikiro Orochi, is a melee-type. It appears as a thick, heavy sword blade with a serrated edge, excellent for shredding her victims to bits. And Hiyori certainly has the skills to use such a weapon.

9 Haguro Tonbo, Lisa Yadomaru's Zanpakuto

lisa yadomaru bleach

Another Visored is the former Lieutenant known as Lisa Yadomaru, who once served in squad 8 under Captain Shunsui Kyoraku. Lisa is stern and serious, and she's got the combat skills to back it up. She didn't do much fighting until Sosuke Aizen and the elite Espadas showed up.

Lisa made up for lost time with her Hollow mask and her shikai, the massive Haguro Tonbo. Its spade-like blade can cut through just about anything, and Lisa and her fellows posed a serious threat to the deadly Tier Halibel with it. That zanpakuto is bigger than its user, in fact.

8 Gegetsuburi, Marechiyo Omaeda's Zanpakuto

omaeda bleach

The Lieuenant of squad 2, Marechiyo Omaeda, is faster and craftier than he looks. He once fought a mammoth-like Arrancar named Nirrge Parduoc, putting on an act as a total buffoon. Then, at the last moment, Marechiyo ambushed Nirrge and struck back with his shikai: Gegetsuburi.

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This shikai has only mediocre hitting power, but then again, it does have multiple heads, allowing Marechiyo to deal several strikes with one blow. He can move those balls and chains all over the place to surround the enemy, and strike from unexpected angles. How tricky.

7 Sanpo Kenju, Yachiru Kisajishi's Zanpakuto

Yachiru Kusajishi in Bleach.

The tiny Lieutenant of Squad 11 is Yachiru Kusajishi, and for a long time, she kept her true power hidden, preferring to watch her Captain do the fighting. Eventually, Yachiru finally activated her shikai, though she was never seen speaking its command phrase.

Yachiru's shikai is Sanpo Kenju, and upon release, two creatures wielding weapons will appear, and Yachiru will still have her own zanpakuto. Those two creatures attack in tandem with Yachiru, making it difficult for any foe to avoid so many blows.

6 Kazeshini, Shuhei Hisagi's Zanpakuto

bleach kazeshini shuhei

Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi learned many vital lessons from his ex-Captain, Kaname Tosen, including the importance of a fighter fearing his or her own power, and thus respecting it. That's exactly how Shuhei feels when he activates his shikai, Kazeshini (death wind).

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Shuhei's shikai will take the form of two long, thin rods with two scythe blades each, and each rod is attached to the other with a very long chain. Shuhei can use the chain to whip Kazeshini around in an erratic and merciless manner and slash his foes from unexpected angles over and over again. With Kazeshini, Shuhei easily finished off Findorr Calius, a lobster-like Arrancar.

5 Hozukimaru, Ikkaku Madarame's Zanpakuto

ikkaku bankai bleach

One of the most powerful Soul Reapers in squad 11 is Ikkaku Madarame, who is absolutely devoted to Captain Zaraki and the squad's rule of melee-only combat. Ikkaku scorns all forms of kido and magic, instead making good use of his powerhouse zanpakuto, Hozukimaru.

Hozukimaru's shikai appeared in the Soul Society arc, being shaped like several wooden rods that can bend at the joints. The bankai, Ryumon Hozukimaru, manifests as two massive bladed weapons bound by thick chains to a third, crescent-shaped blade with a dragon pattern on it. This bankai was more than enough to defeat Edorad Leones, a powerful Arrancar.

4 Shinso, Gin Ichimaru's Zanpakuto

gin ichimaru bleach

The former Captain of squad 3 was Gin Ichimaru, and his zanpakuto was truly remarkable, even if it seemed simple at first. Its true ability is rather quirky and borders on kido territory, but as a whole, this zanpakuto can be mainly considered a melee-type.

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Gin's shikai can rapidly extend the blade to incredible lengths, and push its opponent far away if it doesn't simply impale them first. The bankai, Kamishini no Yari, is a souped-up version of the shikai and can extend a whopping eight miles. Even more impressive is its speed, being able to extend and retract in an eyeblink, regardless of distance.

3 Zabimaru, Renji Abarai's Zanpakuto

Renji's final bankai form in Bleach

This zanpakuto is a curious case. For a time in Bleach, it was weaker than Shinso, but much later on, Renji Abarai met with squad 0 and achieved Zabimaru's true form, which is arguably a bit stronger than Shinso ever was. So, Zabimaru narrowly outranks Shinso.

Zabimaru is a pure melee zanpakuto in shikai form, and its bankai, Hihio Zabimaru, is a giant bone-snake that can crush its foes or fire energy blasts from its mouth (borrowing a bit from kido). The ultimate Zabimaru was even stronger and had the firepower necessary to vaporize Sternritter "S" Mask de Masculine. Impressive.

2 Nozarashi, Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanpakuto

Bleach Shikai Nozarashi

The notorious Captain Kenpachi Zaraki has always been a melee specialist, not bothering to learn even the most basic kido spells at all. Instead, he loved to fight with his sealed zanpakuto, and he would draw out duels on purpose to savor the experience. But then he got an upgrade.

Much later on, Kenpachi finally unlocked his shikai, Nozarashi, transforming his sword into a huge cleaver that slew Sternritter "V" Gremmy Thoumeaux. He even achieved bankai, becoming a true monster in the process.

1 Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo Kurosaki's Zanpakuto

Ichigo and Zangetsu

In the beginning, Ichigo wielded a nameless zanpakuto that, looking back, was hopelessly weak and generic. All that changed when he trained with Kisuke Urahara and unlocked Zangetsu, his real Zanpakuto. From one story arc to another, Zangetsu has been growing and evolving more and more.

Zangetsu's stock went up when Ichigo achieved bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, astonishing Byakuya Kuchiki with its sheer speed. Ichigo later got his hands on the ultimate Zangetsu, and in further story arcs, he had another, even better Zangetsu. By the series' end, Zangetsu was as strong as Ichigo needed it to be, and no foe could stand up to it. Not even king Yhwach.

NEXT: Bleach: 10 Best Sword Duels In The Series, Ranked