- 6 weeks ago
Bankai! Join us as we count down our picks for the greatest battles in the Soul Society and beyond! From epic showdowns like Ichigo vs Ulquiorra to unforgettable clashes like Kenpachi vs Unohana, these fights showcase the incredible power, emotion and animation that made Bleach a legendary anime. Which soul-shattering battle was your favorite? Release your Zanpakuto and let us know in the comments!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest fights from the anime Bleach.
00:2230. Kenpachi vs. Unohana
00:25Yeah, okay, this probably should be higher, but we couldn't wait to talk about it, all right?
00:35Kenpachi Tsuraki, the strongest captain of today, has to fight Retsu Unohana, the strongest captain in history.
00:43The sheer hype alone would make it worth a nod, but it actually lives up to its own potential in unexpected ways.
00:49In some ways, it's like the gristliest therapy session ever, as Unohana helps Kenpachi overcome his own subconscious desire to limit his own strength to enjoy fighting longer by nearly killing him over and over.
01:02Unohana may meet her end here, but between the debut of her blood-sucked Bankai and the fantastic character development for both combatants, it's a satisfying fight, for us at least.
01:27Poor Keni.
01:28It's amazing, Zalaki Kenpachi.
01:33It's the end of the day.
01:4029. Isshin and Masagi vs. White
01:44Some couples have adorable meet-cutes.
01:46Ichigo's parents meet while fighting a mysterious Black Hollow together.
01:51Isshin's bout with White is exciting enough, given the Shinigami-like monster's speed and power.
01:56Even if some hidden interference by Aizen and company doesn't let Isshin perform as well as he could, it's still an excellent battle.
02:14When Masagi arrives, she's initially unable to keep up with White's speed, so she decides to just take an attack head-on like a boss, just to get a headshot off on it.
02:24While it's not especially involved or complex, this battle is incredibly important to the story and the protagonist, since it's effectively where Ichigo and his combination of Shinigami, Quincy, and Hollow Powers was born.
02:4928. Shinji vs. Grimjiao
02:52Things are looking touch-and-go for Rukia and Ichigo, with Grimjiao ready to kill them.
02:58That is, until ex-Shinigami captain Shinji Hirako arrives exuding an unexpected amount of aura.
03:05Sporting a spivvy suit and a jazzy accompaniment, he challenges Grimjiao to a fight.
03:20Although pretty evenly matched at first, once Shinji dons his hollow mask, it's all over for the Espada.
03:26Grimjiao can barely keep up with Shinji's speed, and the visor even uses Sero, one of the Espada's signature moves, against him.
03:43While the hot-headed Hollow Man is able to mitigate some damage with a clever move, Ukiura's interruption is what really saves Grimjiao's neck.
03:52It's a quick duel, but the excellent music, and Shinji's unmitigated swagger, help make it memorable.
03:5927. Rukia vs. Aroniero
04:02While Rukia may not get many fights, this one is easily the most impactful.
04:19Confronted with Aroniero, an Espada who consumed the hollow that possessed her former lieutenant Kyan Shiba,
04:25this fight is Rukia's best, literally coming back to haunt her.
04:29Along with facing an opponent who knows all her moves and all her emotional baggage,
04:34Rukia has to use all her wits and a move Kyan never knew about to overcome both Aroniero and her own trauma.
04:41And even then, just barely.
04:48It's emotional, strategic, and incorporates some fantastic horror elements.
04:53Number 26. Ichibei vs. Juhabach
04:56To face an opponent as overpowered as the Quincy King, you need a power just as, or even more broken.
05:03Head of the Royal Guard, Ichibei Hiosube, has just such power.
05:13His bout with Juhabach sees him slap around the god-like Quincy with phantasmal limbs,
05:19but that's just the beginning.
05:21His paintbrush Zanpakuto lets him strip the name from things and rename them,
05:26draining Juhabach's strength and even renaming him to become a mere ant.
05:31Unfortunately for Ichibei, Juhabach's power is even more absurd.
05:47The Almighty lets Juhabach see everything, including the future,
05:51and renders him immune to any power that he sees.
05:54With its stunning visuals and the mind-bending abilities at play,
05:58this is certainly an impressive, though not quite almighty, fight.
06:02Number 25. Komamura vs. Bambietta
06:05Captain Komamura has one of the more tragic stories in Bleach,
06:10and this is his heartbreaking swan song.
06:13The bestial captain confronts Bambietta, the Quincy who once stole his Bankai.
06:18Although Bambietta's explosive abilities strip away his armor,
06:22Komamura is revealed to look human now.
06:30Using his regained Kaiju-sized Bankai, which is also stripped of its armor,
06:35Komamura attacks the sadistic Quincy relentlessly.
06:38Her attacks prove ineffective against him,
06:41as the technique that turned him human also makes him literally heartless,
06:45basically making him temporarily immortal.
07:01Bambietta may be defeated,
07:03but the cost of Komamura pursuing his vengeance
07:05turns him into the very thing people always mistook him for,
07:09a beast.
07:10Number 24. Siphon, Omaida, and Hachi vs. Baraghan
07:15Ex-King of the Hollows and second Espada Baraghan
07:19has one of the most inescapably powerful abilities,
07:22aging.
07:23Anything touched by his black breath will decay.
07:30Captain Siphon and her lieutenant Omaida
07:32are overmatched right from the start.
07:35Even Siphon's Bankai, which is essentially a pocket nuclear missile,
07:40isn't enough, since Baraghan can just dissolve it.
07:43However, the unassuming visored Hachi proves invaluable when he joins the fight.
07:49First, he provides a confined barrier,
07:51making the most of Siphon's explosive Bankai,
07:54actually injuring Baraghan.
07:56Then, he manages to insert his own decaying arm inside Baraghan,
08:05making the Espada die from his own ability.
08:08Time ran out for the King of Aging,
08:10but our appreciation for this fight is eternal.
08:14Number 23. Kenpachi vs. Gremi
08:16Most of Kenpachi's Araki's fights
08:19are head-on brawls against powerful opponents,
08:21but Quincy Sternritter, Gremi, goes against type.
08:25Anything Gremi can imagine becomes reality.
08:28This absolutely overpowered ability
08:30sees him alter the landscape,
08:32open a volley of machine gun fire,
08:34lop a meteor,
08:35and even throw Kenpachi into the vacuum of space.
08:48However, each and every time,
08:51Kenpachi somehow overcomes these attacks.
08:53Kenpachi not only stokes Gremi's fighting spirit,
08:57he also makes the kid believe it's impossible to beat him.
09:00It gets to the point where he tries to imagine
09:02being stronger than Kenpachi,
09:04and he can't do it.
09:06While other Kenpachi fights might bring more hype,
09:08this one delivers one of his greatest flexes.
09:11Number 22. Yamamoto vs. Royd Lloyd
09:20When we're introduced to the Captain Commander Yamamoto,
09:23fans immediately wondered what kind of power he'd pack
09:26if he got serious.
09:28And in this fight against Yuhabak,
09:30we finally get to see it.
09:31Despite appearing like burnt charcoal,
09:47Yamamoto's bankai sucks the moisture
09:49out of the entirety of soul society.
09:52It vaporizes whatever it touches.
09:54It can wreathe him in flames hotter than the sun
09:57and summon an undead army of everyone ever killed by it.
10:10And sure, the Yuhabak Yamamoto was fighting
10:14turning out to be an imposter,
10:15and Yamamoto getting killed by the real deal
10:18certainly put a damper on things.
10:20But everything before that is pure molten heat.
10:24Number 21. Kenpachi vs. Kiriko
10:26Calling this a fight is a bit generous,
10:29but we gotta make allowances for Kenpachi.
10:37During Soul Society's comeback to deal with execution
10:40and their fall bringers,
10:42the fighters all pair off
10:43and are separated into individual battlefields.
10:47However, Kenpachi has biased remorse
10:49as he tries to switch at the last moment.
10:52Kiriko is offended,
10:54and the seemingly refined gentleman
10:55proceeds to hulk out, literally.
10:58He's green and everything.
11:00However, despite Kiriko's claim
11:02of being the strongest now,
11:04Kenpachi immediately proves him wrong
11:06by cutting him in two.
11:12Kenpachi may find it boring,
11:14but his utter dominance
11:15is thoroughly entertaining for us.
11:19Kenpachi is one of the most enigmatic
11:25and fascinating characters in the show,
11:27and it isn't until his final arc in the show
11:30that we get to see how strong he truly is.
11:36While his superior, Aizen,
11:38is busy fighting several other Shinigami captains,
11:42Kenpachi fights Ishigo.
11:43Kenpachi proves difficult for Ishigo to handle,
11:46as he can extend his sword to an incredible degree
11:49and at blinding speed.
11:58The rapid speed of the exchanges
12:00and the fact that whole buildings are sliced through
12:03lends a great spectacle to the fight.
12:06While the fight doesn't have a true resolution,
12:09at least Ken didn't troll Ishigo
12:11as badly as he did during their first go-around.
12:23What happens when you get two supernaturally
12:25over-prepared mad scientists
12:27to fight each other?
12:29This, this is what happens.
12:3112th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi
12:42arrives just in time
12:44to save Uryu and Renji
12:45from the 8th espada
12:47Sayal Oporo Grant.
12:49The two combatants aren't really combat types,
12:52instead using a variety of
12:54absurd booby traps
12:55using their unique powers and abilities
12:58to survive and counter lethal blows.
13:00This all culminates in Mayuri
13:02delivering a poison to the espada,
13:05which enhances Sayal Oporo's sense of time.
13:16The hollow scientist then experiences
13:18centuries of agony
13:20as Mayuri slowly stabs him.
13:22Now that is brutal.
13:24Well, let's go.
13:25Now, let's go.
13:26Now, let's go.
13:27Now, let's go.
13:28Now, let's go.
13:29Now, let's go.
13:30Let's go.
13:31Let's go.
13:3918.
13:39Hisagi vs. Findore
13:41When Aizen and the espada
13:43attack Karakura Town
13:45several lieutenants
13:47battle the Arankar subordinates.
13:49Easily the best of these
13:51is the bout between Shuhei Hisagi
13:53and Fyndor Callius.
14:03While it may not have the hype
14:04or plot importance of some other fights,
14:07this battle has some fantastic choreography,
14:09excellent animation,
14:11and some great music throughout.
14:13Fyndor is an entertainingly arrogant villain,
14:22while Hisagi goes from being a guy
14:24who just looks cool
14:26to one who can back up his badass look
14:28with badass action.
14:30All in all,
14:31it's exactly
14:32the kind of bleach fight we love.
14:34Yaroichi vs. Soifon
14:46During the initial Soul Society arc,
14:49the former captain of the second division
14:51of the Shinigami
14:52comes face to face
14:54with the current one.
14:56Yaroichi fights her former subordinate,
14:58Soifon,
14:59in a lightning-fast battle.
15:04Unlike most Shinigami,
15:09the pair of them focus more
15:11on hand-to-hand combat.
15:12Of course,
15:13Soifon's special ability
15:15to kill in two hits
15:16keeps the tension high.
15:18Also, Soifon's bitterness
15:20over Yaroichi leaving
15:21is driven home
15:23by a flashback during the fight,
15:25in which we see
15:26their history together.
15:34This all boils over
15:37when Yaroichi outclasses Soifon
15:39with a technique
15:40the latter developed
15:41specifically to surpass her.
15:44The combo of emotions,
15:46unusual fighting tactics,
15:47and the fact
15:48that it's a rare bleach fight
15:50between two women
15:51makes this a standout.
15:53And once it's been done,
15:54it's been a tough time.
16:00Returning to the battle
16:02in Fate-Karakura Town,
16:0310th Division Captain
16:04Toshiro Hitsugaya
16:05is matched up
16:07against the third espada
16:08Tier Haribel.
16:10Throughout the fight,
16:10each combatant appears
16:12to have the upper hand,
16:13with Haribel seeming
16:14to cut Hitsugaya in half
16:16only for it to be
16:17an ice clone.
16:18Then, Hitsugaya seems to be able to counter Harubel's water abilities, since he can
16:27freeze them with his ice powers, only for her to break through them.
16:35At last, Hitsugaya manages to imprison her in ice.
16:39Granted, she's freed later, but while it lasts, it's a great fight between two of
16:43the more notable characters on both sides.
16:55Blindness comes in many forms, and this fight proves it.
16:59Traitorous Shinigami captain Kaname Tozen is confronted by his former friend Saijin Komamura
17:05and his old lieutenant, Hisagi.
17:15Having embraced hollow abilities, Tozen is able to dominate much of the battle.
17:20After stabbing Hisagi and seemingly taking him out of the fight, Tozen achieves an even more
17:25monstrous transformation that allows him to see.
17:28Ironically, it also gives him a hell of a blind spot, as Hisagi is able to surprise his old
17:34captain and mortally wound him.
17:42The fact that Tozen has betrayed not only his friends, but also the person he used to be,
17:47lends the fight a sense of tragedy which others don't often have.
18:00During a rebellion of Zanpakuto's spirits in Seoul society, Captain Byakuya appears to
18:05betray his comrades.
18:07However, it turns out he was just pretending in order to prevent the release of his notorious
18:13ancestor, Koga Kushiki.
18:21The Battle of the Kushikis has a lot of fun elements, such as the prevalence of Kido moves.
18:27Ultimately, it's the contrast between the two combatants that proves Koga's undoing.
18:32While he's shunned relying on his Anpacto's power, Byakuya fights together with his sword
18:37spirit to win.
18:44It may not be canon, but this is still a banger of a fight.
18:5313.
18:54Kenpachi vs Tozen and Komamura Not many people can take on two Shinigami
18:59captains and survive, and Kenpachi Zaraki is one of them.
19:04The bloodthirsty, battle-hungry captain is always a wildcard, and this fight with Tozen
19:09and Komamura is great to watch.
19:20First Kenpachi manages to hold off Komamura's abilities, which give him the strength of a
19:25giant.
19:26Then, he gets caught in Tozen's Bankai, which cuts off all his senses except touch.
19:32Even with that handicap, he still manages to nearly kill the future traitor.
19:39Sadly, just as Komamura steps in and is ready to use his Bankai, the fight gets interrupted.
19:48Still, while it lasts, it's a great fight that showcases some awesome abilities and solidifies
19:54Kenpachi as a total badass.
19:57Speaking of which…
20:0112.
20:03Kenpachi vs Noitora A lot of bleach fights involve special powers or
20:09complicated choreography.
20:11This is simplicity itself.
20:13The most savage Aspara, Noitora Gilga, gets into a no-holds-barred brawl with Kenpachi.
20:33The two eyepatch-sporting monsters take turns wailing on each other, with each unleashing
20:38their true strength and appearing to gain the upper hand.
20:42However, throughout it all, Kenpachi is having the absolute time of his life fighting a strong
20:47opponent.
20:56Eventually though, a little change in stance proves the deciding factor, and Kenpachi manages
21:01to cut Noitora down.
21:03Like Kenpachi himself, this fight is pure ferocious hype, and we're here for it all day, every
21:09day.
21:1911.
21:20Ichigo vs Yushima Yes, yes, it's another filler fight,
21:24but it's pretty damn amazing.
21:26After Soul Society is invaded by mod-soul copies of the Shinigami, Ichigo confronts their leader,
21:33Oko Yushima, or at least his own mod-soul copy.
21:44It's a whole thing.
21:45Regardless, Ichigo's fight with Yushima has some amazing back-and-forth throughout, and
21:50while his friends do join in, the real highlight is his alone.
21:54That one Getsuga Tenshoui does, incredible.
22:07The animation throughout is a step above even some of the real story moments, and it certainly
22:12helps elevate this battle, though not quite enough to make it into the top 10.
22:2010.
22:21Ichigo vs Renji While trying to rescue Rukia from execution
22:32in Soul Society, our protagonist finds his path blocked by Renji, one of the strongest
22:38foes he's fought up until this point.
22:49The action is intense, with Ichigo struggling to overcome Renji's superior strength, as well
22:55as his own wavering resolve.
22:57Frustrated at being unable to save Rukia himself, Renji takes out all of his anger on Ichigo.
23:03But when Ichigo gains his new determination, Renji surprisingly expresses his hope that he'll
23:09be able to save Rukia.
23:10Let me help you!
23:129.
23:13Ishida vs Mayuri
23:16Next up, we have another classic Soul Society fight between Ichigo's Quincy frenemy Ishida,
23:32and this bizarre Shinigami captain.
23:34Being a mad scientist, Mayuri's cruel tactics and various hidden body modifications make
23:40a nice contrast to the honorable, straightforward Ishida.
23:50In addition to being the first fight to showcase a Shinigami's Bankai, the battle also packs a
23:55strong emotional punch due to Mayuri's experimentation and murdering of Ishida's fellow Quincy, including
24:02his grandfather.
24:048.
24:05Stark vs Shun Tzu
24:10Although Coyote Stark fights several opponents during the long battle between the Aspara and
24:27Soul Society's captains, his most consistent foe is Shun Tzui Kyoraku.
24:32The combatants are actually pretty well matched, since they both tend to be lazy, despite how
24:37powerful they are.
24:48Stark's gunslinger powers are unlike anything else, and Shun Tzui's own abilities centered
24:53around a children's game offer unique rules that keep Stark and the audience guessing.
25:03As one of the primary antagonists, Sousuke Aizen manages to be intimidating as hell.
25:19A traitorous Shinigami captain, he's gifted with strength that dwarfs even that of his
25:24former comrades, as well as possessing near-perfect hypnosis abilities.
25:29While things appear hopeless at first, the combined efforts of both current and former captains
25:34finally manage to injure Aizen.
25:41However, this all proves to be an illusion, as they've actually been fooled into attacking
25:48one of their comrades instead, leaving them wide open for Aizen to cut them all down.
25:536.
25:54Ichigo vs. Kenpachi
26:00Ichigo's luck takes a turn for the worst when he runs into Soul Society's most notoriously
26:19violent captain.
26:20Like the first Shinigami captain he faces, Kenpachi tests Ichigo more than any opponent
26:25before him.
26:31It's an uphill battle for the most part, and after communing with his zanpakuto, Ichigo
26:36only manages to fight his way to a draw.
26:39Kenpachi's bloodthirsty joy over fighting is infectious, and we can't help but love the
26:44palpable danger and great character development this fight provides.
26:545.
26:55Ichigo vs. Grimmjow
27:03Speaking of hot-headed opponents, our next entry is this final fight with the sixth espada,
27:08Grimmjow.
27:09The pair clash several times throughout the Arankar arc, but their final fight blows the
27:14others out the water.
27:25Grimmjow appears to be the only thing preventing Ichigo from rescuing his friend Orihime, and
27:30the espada himself is ecstatic to finally get a good fight out of the hero.
27:35The action is fast-paced and excellently choreographed, making for one of the most intense bouts in
27:41the series.
27:424.
27:43Ichigo vs. Grimmjow
27:57This battle sees Ichigo pitted against a former substitute Shinigami, Kugou Ginshou, whose
28:07machinations nearly robbed Ichigo of his powers entirely.
28:10Due to their similar life paths, and the fact that Ginshou steals some of Ichigo's abilities,
28:24he comes off as a dark mirror for Ichigo himself, making him a memorable opponent.
28:29Being the final fight of the original run of the series, the animation team certainly made
28:34sure Bleach would end on a high note.
28:363.
28:37Ichigo vs. Byakuya
28:43The climactic battle of the Soul Society arc features Ichigo facing off against Rukia's
28:54brother Byakuya, whose stoic and confident personality contrasts nicely with Ichigo's
29:00hot-headed determination.
29:10Both fighters seem to have the upper hand at several points, and the back and forth between
29:14their respective powers, as well as the numerous iconic moments, including Ichigo's first use
29:19of his Bankai, make this one of the most memorable and exciting fight scenes in the whole series.
29:342.
29:35Ichigo vs. Aizen
29:44After thoroughly wrecking everyone he comes across, Big Bad Aizen finally meets his match.
29:49Ichigo returns from training outside of time to battle the seemingly godlike villain with
29:55shocking ease.
29:56The anticipation for this fight was huge, as the entire series had been building up to
30:01it for years.
30:09While for some it didn't quite live up to the hype, given that it's relatively short and
30:13the power scaling is a little narratively convenient, it's still immensely satisfying to see the
30:18oh-so-smug Aizen defeated at last.
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30:40If our last entry was a battle of gods, then this one is between demons.
30:54Like Grimjiao, Ichigo has a running rivalry with the emotionless fourth espada, Ukiura,
31:00which is also a battle of the enemy.
31:19Ukiura proves to be among the most challenging of Ichigo's opponents and almost puts him
31:23out of commission for good when he shoots a serou right through his chest.
31:28This however leads to Ichigo taking on a new powerful hollow form, one which engages in
31:33a brutal large-scale battle with Ukiura that we won't be forgetting anytime soon.
31:45Is there an epic bleach fight we forgot?
31:48Unleash your bunk-eye in those comments below!
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