Bankais in “Bleach” are the second and final upgraded forms of a Zanpakutō. Zanpakutōs are the main tools and weapons of the Arrancar and Shinigami. To attain Bankai, one should be able to materialize and subjugate their Zanpakutō spirit. In this article, you will learn the strongest Bankais in the anime. Let’s begin.
1. Jakuho Raikoben
The user of this Bankai, Soi Fon, is a trained and skilled assassin, which means she favors stealth and martial arts. Her stinger-like Shinkai used during battles is brute. But none is as powerful as her Bankai, the Jakuho Raikoben.
Mounted on her right arm, Jakuho Raikoben fires a powerful missile that explodes enough to injure even a high-ranked enemy. Avid “Bleach” viewers saw her using it against BG9 or Sternritter K after stealing it back in the Thousand-Year Blood War.
2. Tensa Zangetsu
Used by no other than Ichigo Kurosaki himself, his Tensa Zangetsu Banki isn’t to be taken lightly. Avid viewers can recall how he discovered this true Bankai of his, wherein he uses not one but two swords.
Tensa Zangetsu allows its wielder to unleash a massively powerful golden Getsuga Tensho, an ability capable of dealing immense damage. Though the full extent of this Bankai’s power is yet to be seen, its potential is evident by the fact that Yhwach finds it extremely hard to steal and break this Bankai.
3. Suzumushi Tsuishiki
Captain Kaname Tōsen intensely dislikes violence and bloodshed, giving him a pacifistic aura that gets in conflict with his previous role as a Soul Reaper Captain. But this is why he wields a Shikai that can easily knock down its target with a potent attack that targets the body instead of causing bloodshed.
The Bankai of Tōsen is much stronger than you think, to the point that it can trap both him and his enemy in a black balloon. There, enemies cannot see or hear anything, giving the Bankai’s wielder some serious advantage in battle while the blade is used. The only weakness of this Bankai is that if the opponent can touch the weapon, their senses get restored.
4. Zanka No Tachi
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the old, wise, and long-time captain of Gotei 13 for over a thousand years, the Dumbledore of “Bleach,” commands immense respect because of his unparalleled capability. Yamamoto is touted as the strongest among all the other captains thanks to his Bankai, the Zanka no Tachi.
With just a single strike, this Bankai can effortlessly cleave through almost anything or anybody. But this magnitude is also its weakness, as it limits its duration since it can engulf all of Soul Society, leaving nothing but ask and depleting the surroundings with air and water.
5. Shatatsu Karagara Shigarami No Tsuji
Bear with PVP Live on that name. In the story of “Bleach,” there’s the Royal Guard that fought well versus the four members of Yhwach’s four bodyguards, the Schutzstaffel, for a time. However, the tides of battle and odds turned against them. Thus, one of the members of the Royal Guard, Senjumaru Shutara, must make some tough decisions. That decision was for the three members of the Royal Guard to agree to give their lives for the goal.
Shutara now needed to compensate for the sacrifice. To do so, she must activate her Bankai, the Shatatsu Karagara Shigarami no Tsuji, modeled after looms and weaving cloth. Its power is overwhelming, such as weaving, not clothes, but new fates and destinies for the four members of Schutzstaffel. Did she succeed? Definitely.
6. Nozarashi
Next is Nozarashi. Kenpachi Zaraki owns this Bankai. Zaraki is well-known for his incredible strength, powerful enough to overpower even the most formidable enemies without relying on Bankais or supernatural abilities. But he wasn’t satisfied with this.
Therefore, he unveiled his Nozarashi Bankai, which can surpass the potencies of most Bankais in “Bleach.” This Bankai is uncomplicated and simple but straightforward, just like Zaraki himself. It grants him the power to slice through anything and anybody, letting him triumph over all enemies he fights with.
7. So’o Zabimaru
During the Soul Society arc, Renji Abarai, a lieutenant, surprised viewers when he revealed his Bankai, then known as Hihio Zabimaru. This Bankai formed a snake skeleton donning a thick fur collar, a segmented weapon that can unleash devastating melee attacks and fire energy from its mouth. Abarai uses this weapon against foes such as Ilfort Grantz, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Szayelaporro Grantz.
Eventually, in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Abarai trained with Squad 0, leading him to gain his true Bankai, the So’o Zabimaru. This Bankai is even stronger than his former Hihio Zabimaru, capable of unleashing fire-based power to take on enemies and burn them to cinder without the hope of resurrecting.
8. Mukojochu Muramasa
Last but not least is the Mukojochu Muramasa Bankai, wielded by shinigami Kōga Kuchiki. This Bankai was first introduced in the Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc. This Zanpakutō alone was able to bring turmoil in the whole of Soul Society. This event was known as the Zanpakutō Rebellion. Now, Muramasa can speak with other Zanpakutō and unleash their darkest hatred, causing the other swords to leave their wielders or masters.
Upon the unveiling of the Bankai, another character, Kōga Kuchiki, was able to summon it in the real world, making it the sole Zanpakutō to do so. With this weapon, Kuchiki and Muramasa can tackle opponents separately and launch attacks at them by taking control of their Zanpakutō spirits.
“Bleach” is a phenomenal anime. This TV series tells the story and adventures of Kurosaki after he obtains the power of a Soul Reaper. The Soul Reaper is the death personification equivalent to the Grim Reaper. He gets this power from another Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki. This newfound power forces him to take on the duties and responsibility of defending and protecting humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife. You can now stream “Bleach” on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
