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Warning: Contains spoilers for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.The major conflicts in Bleach revolve around the Soul Reapers, otherworldly beings who protect innocent souls from the Hollows who would try to eat them. While Ichigo Kurosaki acts independently as a Substitute Soul Reaper, most other Soul Reapers belong to the Thirteen Court Guard Companies of the Soul Society. Each company is led by a Soul Reaper captain, and as such, the captains stand out as some of the strongest characters in the series.
The following is a breakdown of every Soul Reaper captain in Bleach and their powers. It should be noted that some characters on this list didn’t have their powers fully explored in the original series, but it might be possible for 2022's Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War to expand on them. Some information also comes from the Can’t Fear Your Own World novels; while those novels aren’t explicitly non-canon, the information presented in them might not be a wholly accurate representation of the characters.
Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto
Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto is the captain of Squad 1, the Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Companies, and the strongest Soul Reaper in all of Soul Society. Yamamoto’s Shikai is Ryujin Jakka, which covers his zanpakuto in powerful flames that surpass other fire-based power in Soul Society. His Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, concentrates his flames into his body and his zanpakuto so that both can destroy anything with a single touch, and it even lets him revive the dead.
Sui-Feng
Sui-Feng, voiced by Houko Kuwashima, who also voices Dragon Ball Fighter Z's Android 21, is the captain of Squad 2 and the Supreme Commander of the Onmitsukido, the elite covert ops organization of the Soul Society. Sui-Feng is a master of martial arts and is one of the few people to utilize Shunko, a technique that combines the physical techniques of Hakuda with the spiritual abilities of Kido. Sui-Feng’s Shikai is Suzumebachi, a gauntlet adorned with a stinger that kills anyone upon piercing them in the same place twice. Her Bankai, Jakuho Raikoben, is a golden missile launcher that launches powerful missiles, something that’s been noted to be at odds with her fighting style of an assassin.
Gin Ichimaru
Gin Ichimaru, voiced by Koji Yusa, who also voices Sonic the Hedgehog's Shadow the Hedgehog, is the former captain of Squad 3 and one of Aizen’s major collaborators. Gin’s Shikai, Shinso, allows him to expand the length of his zanpakuto to incredible degrees, giving it a powerful amount of force in proportion. His Bankai, Kamishini no Yari, has the same power to a much larger degree, but it also contains a deadly poison that dissolves and breaks down cells, which Gin can use against someone by dissolving it into dust for a split second and leaving a sliver of the blade inside them.
Rojuro “Rose” Otoribashi
Rojuro “Rose” Otoribashi was captain of Squad 3 a century before the story until he was caught up in Aizen’s machinations and reclaimed the position after Aizen’s defeat. As a Vizard, Rose can greatly increase his power by donning a Hollow mask and can even use the Hollows’ signature Cero technique. Additionally, Rose’s Shikai, Kinshara, turns his zanpakuto into a golden whip that can create sound-based explosions, and his Bankai, Kinshara Butodan, allows him to create illusions that cause physical harm to anyone who hears them.
Retsu Unohana
Retsu Unohana is the captain of Squad 4, which is in charge of providing medical services to Soul Society. Her true identity, however, is Yachiru Unohana, one of the founders of the Thirteen Court Guard Companies, the first Kenpachi, and the deadliest serial killer in the history of Soul Society. As the first Kenpachi, Unohana is among the strongest of all Soul Reapers, with her even able to defeat Kenpachi Zaraki before his training. Unohana’s Shikai, Minazuki, manifests as a green manta ray that heals anyone inside its stomach. Her Bankai is also called Minazuki, spelled with different kanji, and it makes her zanpakuto produce a large amount of blood. When Unohana uses her Bankai against Kenpachi, the two of them are briefly shown as skeletons, but it’s unclear if her Bankai has an acidic ability or if the manga was being artistic with its visuals.
Sosuke Aizen
Sosuke Aizen is the former captain of Squad 5 and the main antagonist of the first two arcs of the series. Bleach's Sosuke Aizen’s Shikai, Kyoka Suigetsu, allows him to trap anyone who sees the activation of his Shikai in perfect illusions, and by the time of his introduction, that encompassed virtually everyone except Ichigo and his friends. Aizen never used his Bankai in the manga, but he was still powerful enough to hold his own against multiple captain-level opponents at once, and those abilities are further augmented after he fuses with the Hogyoku. Interestingly enough, when Aizen appears in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, it’s noted that despite his powers supposedly being sealed away with his imprisonment, he’d somehow become even stronger than he was in the final battle against Ichigo.
Shinji Hirako
Shinji Hirako was captain of Squad 5 a century before the story until he was caught up in Aizen’s machinations and reclaimed the position after Aizen’s defeat. Just like other Vizards in Tite Kubo's Bleach, Shinji can amplify his powers by donning a Hollow mask and can even use the Hollows’ Cero technique. Shinji’s Shikai, Sakanade, releases a gas that inverts the senses of anyone who inhales it, and his Bankai, Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari, forces everyone except himself to see their allies as enemies and vice-versa. Shinji’s Bankai was only shown in the Can’t Fear Your Own World novels.
Byakuya Kuchiki
Byakuya Kuchiki is the captain of Squad 6, a master of the superspeed technique Shunpo, and Rukia’s older brother. Byakuya’s Shikai, Senbonzakura, splits his zanpakuto into a thousand fragments that resemble cherry blossoms and cut anything they touch, and his Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, allows Byakuya to create even more fragments. After training at the Royal Palace, Byakuya becomes able to use his Shikai more efficiently, able to create solid constructs out of the blade fragments.
Sajin Komamura
Sajin Komamura is an anthropomorphic wolfman and the captain of Squad 7. Komamura’s Shikai, Tenken, manifests the phantom limbs of a giant samurai that copies his movements. Komamura’s Bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo’o, manifests the entire giant samurai for him to fight with, but it has the unique weakness of making Komamura feel any damage inflicted upon his Bankai, not unlike JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's Stands. After learning the secret Humanization Technique of his clan, Komamura’s Bankai gains access to the Dangai Jōe form, which causes his Bankai become indestructible and more powerful.
Shunsui Kyoraku
Shunsui Kyoraku is the captain of Squad 8 and, following Yamamoto’s death, the Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Companies. Kyoraku’s Shikai, Katen Kyokotsu, is a pair of blades that allows him to fight by making the rules of children’s games manifest in real life, granting boons and penalties to anyone involved with them, including himself. Kyoraku’s Bankai is Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju, and it forces everyone around him to be afflicted with the conditions of various stories about lovers' suicides such as sharing pain and drowning.
Kaname Tosen
Kaname Tosen, is the former captain of Squad 9 and one of Aizen’s major collaborators. Tosen’s Shikai is Suzumushi, which allows him to attack with sound in various ways such as vibrations and high-pitched sonics. His Bankai is Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi, which creates a black dome around him and an enemy that robs the opponent of all senses other than touch. During the Fake Karakura Town arc, it’s revealed that Tosen has undergone Hollowfication, granting him enhanced physical abilities, high-speed regeneration, and access to an Arrancar-style Resurreccion, Suzumushi Hyakushiki: Grillar Grillo. Tosen’s Resurreccion transforms him into a giant insectoid being with all the powers of a Hollow.
Kensei Muguruma
Kensei Muguruma, voiced by Tomokazu Sugita, who voices The Seven Deadly Sins' Escanor, was captain of Squad 9 a century before the story until he was caught up in Aizen’s machinations and reclaimed the position after Aizen’s defeat. Like his fellow Vizards, Kensei can enhance his physical abilities by donning a Hollow mask and can use the Hollows’ signature Cero technique. Kensei’s Shikai is Tachikaze, a knife that allows him to create explosions in anything it slashes. Kensei’s Bankai, Tekken Tachikaze, concentrates the destructive power into knuckle blades that continually damage enemies while they make contact with the blades.
Toshiro Hitsugaya
Toshiro Hitsugaya is the captain of Squad 10 and the youngest captain in Soul Society. Hitsugaya’s Shikai, Hyorinmaru, allows Hitsugaya, voiced by Romi Park, who also voiced Fullmetal Alchemist's Edward Elric, to manipulate ice and is noted as being the most powerful ice-based zanpakuto in Soul Society. Hitsugaya’s Bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru, further increases his ice manipulation abilities and gives him dragon-like ice armor. Originally, it appeared that Hitsugaya would be unable to use his Bankai after a timer represented by melting ice flowers ran out, but the Thousand-Year Blood War arc reveals that all the ice flowers melting actually allows Hitsugaya to access the true power of his Bankai, which brings his powers to their peak and gives him an adult body.
Kenpachi Zaraki
Kenpachi Zaraki is the captain of Squad 11 and the latest to inherit the name of Kenpachi, which is typically reserved for the strongest Soul Reaper aside from Yamamoto. For most of the series, Kenpachi, voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki, who also voiced Gendo in Hideaki Anno's Neon Genesis Evangelion, is noted for being the only Soul Reaper who doesn’t know his zanpakuto’s true name, with him getting by solely on raw power. After training with Unohana, however, Kenpachi is able to access his Shikai, Nozarashi, which turns his zanpakuto into a giant battle axe that greatly increases his power. Later, in the battle against Gerard Valkyrie, Kenpachi is able to use his Bankai after discovering Yachiru Kusajishi’s true nature as his zanpakuto spirit. Kenpachi’s Bankai wasn’t named in the manga, but it dyes his skin red and puts him in a berserker-like state, his power increasing so much that even Kenpachi himself can’t handle it for long before it destroys him.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi
Mayuri Kurotsuchi, voiced by Ryusei Nakao, who also voices Dragon Ball's Frieza, is the captain of Squad 12 and the president of the Soul Society Department of Research and Development. Kurotsuchi’s Shikai is Ashisogi Jizo, a golden trident that paralyzes people in various ways, and his Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo, is a giant golden baby that emits deadly poison within an area of 200 meters. In the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, it’s revealed that Kurotsuchi has modified his Bankai into Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo: Matai Fukuin Shotai, which has the power to birth Konjiki Ashisogi Jizos with different abilities based on the information Kurotsuchi inputs into it. Beyond that, Kurotsuchi typically fights by analyzing his opponent’s abilities and using various drugs and inventions to counter and wound them.
Jushiro Ukitake
Jushiro Ukitake, voiced by Hideo Ishikawa, who voices Naruto's Itachi Uchiha, is the sickly captain of Squad 13 who is secretly possessed by Mimihagi, the right arm of the Soul King. Ukitake’s Shikai is Sogyo no Kotowari, a pair of blades that can absorb and redirect energy attacks. Ukitake’s Bankai was never shown in the original manga before his death, but it's possible that it will appear in either Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War or the upcoming arc of the Bleach manga.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War releases new episodes Mondays on Hulu.