Summary

• The strongest Soul Reaper Captain in Bleach is Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the founder of the 13 Court Guard Squads and the oldest and most powerful Soul Reaper.
• Raw power and strength are important, but cunning and intelligence play a major role in determining the strongest Captain.
• While some Captains have impressive abilities, others like Isane Kotetsu, Kensei Muguruma, and Rojuro "Rose" Otobashi are considered weaker in terms of combat strength.

Bleach's Soul Reaper Captains rank among the series' most recognizable characters, naturally inviting readers to ask which Captain ranks above the others in terms of strength. Bleach is known for its amazing fight scenes, creative character and weapon designs, and complex and intricate plots. While the series ended several years ago, the anime is receiving its long-awaited proper ending by adapting the manga's final arc: Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War.

While the current Captains of the Soul Society's 13 Court Guard Squads might be the most famous, some characters are known to fight at Captain-level power or were once Captains but stepped down at some point. While raw power and strength obviously play a role in these rankings, cunning and intelligence are also major factors when it comes to who the strongest Soul Reaper Captain actually is. After all, Bleach's Bankai abilities can be extremely complicated, and it takes a talented mind to master them.

15 Isane Kotetsu - Captain of Squad 4

First Appearance: Chapter 109

Squad 4 is the healing squad, so it makes sense that its captain wouldn't be a top-tier fighter. Isane is also relatively new to the role of Captain, only stepping in after their previous captain, Retsu Unohana, was killed. While she must have unlocked Bankai in order to be a Captain, her Bankai has never been seen in the series. Her Shikai release sees her Zanpakuto Itegumo release two smaller blades from the sword's guard, allowing her to catch enemy swords, and hasn't been shown to have a special ability, making it one of the weakest Zanpakuto.

14 Kensei Muguruma - Captain of Squad 9

First Appearance: Chapter 214

A former Visored, Kensei regained his rank of Captain after reuniting with the Soul Society. Kensei's Zanpakuto, Tachikaze, takes the form of a small knife, meaning he must fight up close with his opponents. Kensei's Shikai release allows him to fire off ranged blades of air, helping to mitigate his weakness to long-distance attacks somewhat. Those problems return in his Bankai release, which bizarrely takes the form of armor plating for his arms and fists. His punches pack a lot of power, but that power doesn't amount to much when most opponents have a way to keep their distance.

13 Rojuro "Rose" Otobashi - Captain of Squad 3

First Appearance: Chapter 214

Another former Visored, Rose has a rather poor record in combat. Rose is skilled in using his rather unique Zanpakuto, which takes on a whip-like form in its Shikai state. His Zanpakuto Kinshara's Bankai is fairly powerful, summoning "dancers of death," which can attack on his behalf, as he commands them like an orchestra conductor. He can also use his Bankai to create illusions out of music, trapping foes and damaging them as if these illusions are real. Rose is also capable of Hollowfication for a limited time, although he rarely makes use of that ability since becoming Captain.

12 Suì-Fēng - Captain of Squad 2

First Appearance: Chapter 81

Suì-Fēng is the captain of Squad 2 and the Stealth Force leader, taking over for Yoruichi. Her Zanpakuto, Suzumebachi, takes the form of a "stinger" that fits over her hand in its Shikai state, capable of marking opponents who will then die if struck in the same place again. Its power is mitigated by the extremely short range, however. Her Bankai, Jakuho Raikoben, takes the form of a rocket launcher, which is completely at odds with her close-up fighting style. Her abilities just don't fit well together, making Suì-Fēng one of the weakest Captains in actual combat.

11 Sajin Komamura - Captain of Squad 7

First Appearance: Chapter 81

Komamura is unique among Soul Reapers for his animalistic appearance, having the head of a dog. Komamura initially hid this trait by wearing a helmet at all times, but after the helmet was destroyed, he came around and realized he didn't need it. Komamura's Zanpakuto, Tenken, allows him in its Shikai state to attack with massive, phantasmal strikes, as if from a giant, that copy Komamura's moves. In its Bankai release, Kokujo Tengen Myo'o, Komamura summons an enormous armored giant that similarly emulates his movements, allowing his attacks to pack far more of a punch.

10 Yoruichi Shihoin - Former Captain of Squad 2

First Appearance: Chapter 51

Once the Captain of Squad 2, as well as the head of Stealth Force, Yoruichi ultimately decided to leave to live discreetly in the world of humans alongside Urahara and his band of refugees. Yoruichi makes up for her lack of power with clever tricks; she's known to carry things like razor-sharp wire for setting traps. Yoruichi is a master at hand-to-hand combat and has access to some powerful transformations, such as her Shunko Raijin Senkei, which takes its name from a Japanese god of thunder. Unlike most other Captain-level fighters, her Zanpakuto has never been shown.

9 Kisuke Urahara - Former Captain of Squad 12

First Appearance: Chapter 13

Urahara is a highly intelligent character who was the President of the Soul Reaper Research and Development Institute, and he hides incredible strength and speed behind his goofy demeanor. Urahara was also once the captain of Squad 12, the same research division Mayuri Kurotsuchi now leads. Urahara keeps his Zanpakuto disguised as a walking cane, meaning he's able to strike at a moment's notice.

Urahara's Zanpakuto, Benihime, is able to manipulate energy for powerful attacks and defensive maneuvers. Aside from his swordsmanship, Urahara is also a master of Kido techniques, incantations that disable opponents, and is proficient at unarmed combat.

8 Tōshirō Hitsugaya - Captain of Squad 10

First Appearance: Chapter 81

Hitsugaya is the leader of Bleach's Squad 10 and the youngest Captain. Hitsugaya was so talented that he achieved Bankai before becoming a Soul Reaper--an accomplishment that normally takes decades. He's a master of swordplay, with his Zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru, able to control and manipulate ice in its Shikai and Bankai states. With but a slash, Hitsugaya can manifest a dragon made of ice. His signature move is to condense ice into wings for his Bankai, allowing him to hover and fly about during battle, and he's able to draw moisture from the air to regenerate them from damage.

7 Mayuri Kurotsuchi - Captain of Squad 12

First Appearance: Chapter 81

Mayuri is both the Captain of the 12th Division and the President of the Research and Development Institute. Known for his preference for unethical experiments, his Zanpakuto, Ashisogi Jizo, is one of the deadliest around, as Mayuri's weapon secretes a poison that can shut down a person's nervous system upon contact. In fact, Mayuri's abilities frequently change as he tampers with his weapon often, making him difficult to predict. He's also modified his own body to be able to turn into a liquid to avoid death, while his left hand can be launched like a grappling hook.

6 Shinji Hirako - Captain of Squad 5

First Appearance: Chapter 183

Shinji Hirako is the Captain of the 5th Division, and the former leader of Bleach's mysterious Visored. As a Visored, Shinji possesses both the power of a Hollow and a Soul Reaper, a combination unique to only a handful of characters. Shinji's Zanpakuto, Sakanade, has the ability to confuse opponents' sense of direction with a pink mist, giving him a chance to finish battles quickly. Shinji's Bankai was finally used in the Thousand-Year Blood War anime, and its massive radius can affect hundreds of enemy soldiers at once, causing his enemies to kill each other.

5 Byakuya Kuchiki - Captain of Squad 6

First Appearance: Chapter 51

Rukia's adoptive brother, Byakuya, is also the first Captain to be fought in Bleach. As the Captain of Squad 6, Byakuya is highly skilled in techniques like Kido and swordsmanship. His Zanpakuto, Senbonzakura, causes the blade of Byakuya's sword to split into thousands of tiny cherry blossom-like blades, which can slice an enemy to pieces before they move. His Bankai takes this even further, creating a hallway of enormous swords which shatter into countless blades which he can control at will. His preferred technique, however, is precise chi strikes which render an opponent powerless.

4 Jūshiro Ukitake - Captain of Squad 13

First Appearance: Chapter 116

Ukitake is the Captain of Squad 13 for the majority of Bleach and is one of the oldest and most experienced Soul Reapers. Ukitake suffers from a debilitating illness, so he often avoids confrontations when possible. He wields an enormous level of spiritual power which he can channel almost endlessly into attacks. Ukitake's Zanpakuto is unique in that it's made up of two blades joined together by a chain when in its unleashed Shikai state. This allows Ukitake to capture energy fired at him and redirect it back at his opponent even stronger. Ukitake's Bankai, however, has never been revealed.

3 Kenpachi Zaraki - Captain of Squad 11

First Appearance: Chapter 65

Kenpachi Zaraki is the leader of Squad 11, and one of the most unusual Soul Reapers. Zaraki craves challenges, so he wears an eyepatch that suppresses his spiritual power to make fights more fun for himself. He goes through most of the series without learning the name or unleashed states of his Zanpakuto--a blade that he took off a dead Soul Reaper, rather than one that was forged for him specifically. Zaraki defeated the former Captain of Squad 11 and took his place, earning the title of "Kenpachi," given to the strongest Captain in the Soul Society.

2 Shunsui Kyōraku - Captain of Squad 1

First Appearance: Chapter 81

Shunsui Kyōraku is the captain of Bleach's 1st Division and the Head Captain of Soul Society as of The Thousand-Year Blood War. Like Ukitake, he's one of the oldest and most experienced active Soul Reaper Captains. His two-blade Zanpakuto, Katen Kyokotsu, has the ability to force the rules of children's games to be followed by his opponent. Kyōraku's Bankai ability generates an aura of despair, causing depression for both friend and foe, so he only uses it as a last resort. It causes the enemy to share wounds with him, and culminates in the opponent being beheaded.

1 Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto - Founder

First Appearance: Chapter 81

Yamamoto was the founder of the 13 Court Guard Squads, created to fight the Quincy during the first great war 1,000 years ago. Yamamoto, as the Head Captain of Bleach's Soul Reapers for all that time, is the oldest and most powerful Soul Reaper. Yamamoto's Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, is arguably the most powerful in Bleach, with multiple levels of Bankai available. A fire-type Zanpakuto, the heat of his final Bankai at full power could burn up the entire Soul Society if his battle dragged on. This level of destructive power makes Yamamoto undoubtedly the strongest Captain in Bleach.

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