Every Zanpakuto in Bleach possesses a Shikai release, but they can also achieve Bankai, which is a second evolution that draws out the Zanpakuto’s full power. Typically, only the strongest Soul Reapers can unlock and master Bankai. The average Shikai is generally considered to be weaker than Bankai, but certain Shikai are so strong that they might as well be considered Bankai.
These Shikai have the power to take down Captain-level opponents. One Shikai can theoretically burn the entire Seireitei to the ground, while another can trick a God-tier being. Certain Shikai are indeed overpowered, but there are also several Shikai that are practically useless since they cannot even beat an Arrancar. One Shikai in particular is so useless in battle that it can actually help an opponent.
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10
Practically Useless: Kubikiri Orochi
Of all the Bleach characters who should have died, Hiyori is one of the most glaring examples because she got cut in half while trying to attack Aizen with her weak Shikai. Kubikiri Orochi becomes a large cleaver with a serrated saw-like blade once its Shikai is released, and it does not appear to have any sort of special ability. If it did, Hiyori would have used it against Tier Harribel or Aizen.
Kubikiri Orochi might have been able to clash with Harribel’s Resurreccion, but that likely had more to do with Hiyori’s enhanced Visored strength than the strength of her Shikai. It can definitely saw its way through weaker Hollows and Soul Reapers, but it does not look like it would be effective against anyone Lieutenant-level or higher. In essence, Kubikiri Orochi is a much weaker version of Renji’s Zabimaru.
9
As Strong As Bankai: Nozarashi
Now that Kenpachi Zaraki has finally regained his full power, there’s no doubt that he’s one of the strongest Soul Reapers of all time. His Zanpakuto was able to cut through most things in its sealed form, but it’s become far more powerful now that Kenpachi has learned its name. Nozarashi becomes a massive war cleaver when its Shikai is used, to the point that Kenpachi has to use two hands sometimes.
Nozarashi does not have a special ability. It’s simply a really sharp blade, but its cutting power is what makes this Shikai’s power on par with a Bankai’s. Nozarashi can cut through a huge meteor with a single slice, and it has the power to cut through space itself. Nozarashi can therefore destroy a living Bankai like Captain Komamura’s KokujoTengen Myo’o or Captain Kurotsuchi’s Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo with a single attack.
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8
Practically Useless: Haguro Tonbo
Lisa becomes a Soul Reaper Captain after the Quincy Blood War, making her one of Bleach‘s strongest female characters. Given her rank, Lisa has obtained Bankai, and although it has not been revealed, it is likely far more useful than her Shikai. Haguro Tonbo’s Shikai kept up with Harribel’s Resurrection, but it probably would not have been as effective if Lisa was not a Visored.
Haguro Tonbo’s Shikai manifests as a massive pole arm with a monk spade on one end and a heavy ball on the other. Its size is impractical, but at least Lisa can wield it with decent speed. Haguro Tonbo’s Shikai can unleash a barrage of piercing attacks, and the heavy ball can be used for smashing attacks. The only problem is that all these attacks are extremely easy to dodge, and it’s very easy to destroy Haguro Tonbo’s body.
7
As Strong As Bankai: Senbonzakura
Byakuya Kuchiki has one of the highest win rates in Bleach because of his Kido mastery, speed, and swordsmanship. It also helps that he wields Senbonzakura. Originally, when Senbonzakura’s Shikai was activated, its blade would separate into a thousand tiny, slender, blades that resemble cherry blossom petals in the light. These tiny blades are designed to shred Byakuya’s opponent from a distance.
Byakuya became more attuned to Senbonzakura’s Shikai while training at the Soul King’s Palace, and as a result, the Shikai’s power has significantly increased to Bankai level. In fact, As Nodt, who once wielded Senbonzakura’s Bankai, assumed that the empowered Shikai was a Bankai. This Shikai now produces thousands of blades that can tear through almost any defense, and it can cut down multiple Sternritter with a single strike. It was even able to critically injure Gerard Valkyrie, one of Yhwach’s elite royal guards.
6
Practically Useless: Gegetsuburi
Marechiyo is the Lieutenant of Squad 2 and the second-strongest member of the Stealth Force, which specializes in covert operations. Based on his position, it would be fair to assume that he would have a decent Zanpakuto, but that is not the case. His Gegetsuburi would not typically be associated with an assassin because it is large, combursome, and fairly slow.
Gegetsuburi’s Shikai takes the form of an over-sized spiked ball attached to a long chain. It can be used to attack someone from a distance, but other than that, it has no special ability. One would assume that Gegetsuburi’s spikes can deal significant damage, but it cannot even deal a significant injury to a Fraccion. The spiked ball can be used for defense, but Ichigo destroyed it with a single punch, so it is not very useful in that regard either.
5
As Strong As Bankai: Kyoka Suigetsu
Most Bleach fans would agree that out of all the Bankai that deserved more screen time, Kyoka Suigetsu ranks near the top because Aizen has never revealed it. Given how powerful Kyoka Suigetsu’s Shikai is, it is fair to assume that its Bankai would be broken. The Shikai is so strong, that it managed to work on Yhwach even after he awakened The Almighty and absorbed the Soul King.
Kyoka Suigetsu’s Shikai release tends to go unnoticed because the blade looks identical to its sealed form. It has the power to place others under a form of complete hypnosis by controlling all five of their senses. If someone gets placed under this hypnosis once, they will continue to be tricked by it each time the Shikai is used. Not only can Kyoka Suigetsu create illusory copies of Aizen to act as decoys, it can force multiple Captains to attack their own subordinates while Aizen takes them out with surprise attacks.
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4
Practically Useless: Hozukimaru
Ikkaku’s Hozukimaru can be considered one of Bleach‘s strongest melee-type Zanpakuto, but most of that strength can be attributed to its Bankai. It summons three massive blades which gradually become more powerful as the fight progresses. Its Bankai can easily defeat a Fraccion-level Arrancar, but its Shikai is so weak that it can barely scratch a Fraccion. This was made clear when it had virtually no effect on Edrad Liones and Choe Neng Poww.
Hozukimaru transforms into a segmented staff when its Shikai is released. One segment has a blade at the end, while the other end has a tassel. The middle section is just a piece of wood. Other than temporarily surprising opponents when the segments detach, Hozukimaru’s Shikai does not offer anything special during combat, as its effectiveness is entirely dependent on the strength of Ikkaku’s opponent.
3
As Strong As Bankai: Ichimonji
Ichimonji was the first Zanpakuto to achieve Bankai, but its Shikai is arguably just as powerful. In fact, it is the main reason why Ichibe Hyosube is considered one of the few Bleach characters who could have defeated Aizen. Ichimonji’s brush transforms into a short glaive when its Shikai is released, but more importantly, the blade produces black ink. If this ink covers a Captain, Espada, or Sternritter, that individual will lose their name and powers.
Once Ichimonji’s Shikai is released, Ichibe automatically acquires the powers of every being who possessed the color black, regardless if they are alive or dead. This means Ichimonji can essentially give its user every power in history. If that was not enough, Ichimonji’s Shikai can summon a large mausoleum that drains all the black from an opponent until their bones disappear. This Shikai is so strong that it prevents the target’s soul from reincarnating.
2
Practically Useless: Akeiro Hisagomaru
Squad 4 is the Soul Society’s medical and supply division, and although most of its members are non-combatants, they all have a Zanpakuto like any other Soul Reaper. Hanataro becomes the co-3rd Seat of Squad 4, and there is no doubt he wields the most useless Shikai for combat. That said, Akeiro Hisagomaru’s Shikai is a perfect fit for Squad 4’s medical unit.
Akeiro Hisagomaru’s Shikai manifests as a scalpel, which means it is not durable enough for heavy use. It is designed to be sharp and precise, but unlike most Zanpakuto, it cannot even leave a scratch on an enemy. Akeiro Hisagomaru’s Shikai cannot inflict any type of damage, instead, it heals the wounds of whoever it touches. Ironically, this means it would actually help a wounded enemy who was attacking Hanataro.
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1
As Strong As Bankai: Ryujin Jakka
Captain Commander Yamamoto led the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for over 1,000 years because he was considered the strongest Soul Reaper, and it helped that he wielded Ryujin Jakka, the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakuto. This Zanpakuto is the reason Yamamoto is one of the strongest fire users in Shonen anime. Ryujin Jakka’s Shikai was so powerful that Aizen created an Arrancar specifically to seal its flames.
When its Shikai is activated, Ryujin Jakka’s blade becomes engulfed in flames that are hot enough to incinerate anything they come into contact with. A single swing of this Shikai can envelop an entire landscape in an intense firestorm, and a direct hit can instantly reduce a Captain-level fighter like Driscoll Berci to ash. Only some of the strongest Soul Reapers can resist the flames of Ryujin Jakka’s Shikai, and even then, they need to avoid direct contact.
- Release Date
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2004 – 2012-00-00
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC, BS TV Tokyo
- Showrunner
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Tite Kubo
- Directors
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Mitsutaka Noshitani, Junya Koshida, Hodaka Kuramoto, Yasuto Nishikata, Hiroaki Nishimura, Kazunori Mizuno, Akira Shimizu, Rokou Ogiwara, Kazunobu Shimizu, Akane Inoue, Hikaru Murata, Tomoko Hiramuki, Kazuo Nogami, Taiji Kawanishi, Shigeki Hatakeyama, Eiko Nishi, Takushi Kimura, Koji Aritomi, Ogura Shirakawa, Kiyomu Fukuda, Yukio Okazaki, Mitsue Yamazaki, Yasuhiro Matsumura, Eitarou Ano
- Writers
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Masahiro Okubo, Masashi Sogo, Kenta Shimoyama, Genki Yoshimura, Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, Rika Nakase, Michiko Yokote, Natsuko Takahashi, Kento Shimoyama
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Masakazu Morita
Ichigo Kurosaki (voice)
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Fumiko Orikasa
Rukia Kuchiki
