As far as Bleach characters go, Kenpachi Zaraki is one of the most intriguing and popular ones. The guy who actually seemed like a brainless lump of raw strength actually became a character with much depth and one of the best stories in the whole series. He is the current Captain of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13 and a character who likes a challenge more than anything else. The stronger the opponent, the more he enjoys the battle. He was also unique in many ways and his not knowing the name of his Zanpakuto was one such trait. But, that all changed during the Quincy War against the Sternritter when Kenpachi found out the name of his Zanpakuto and also managed to activate his Bankai.
The revelation of Kenpachi’s Bankai was a major moment for Bleach and since that moment, as well as the Bankai, were so special, we have decided to write an article explaining its powers and abilities to you, as well as when and how it debuted.
What is Kenpachi’s unnamed Bankai?
Statistically, the Captain of the 11th Division should be the weakest of the Captains, but in practice, he is actually one of the strongest. Kenpachi Zaraki is a very powerful Shinigami, a fact he has repeatedly proven in the story. His appearances in the anime alone, including the movies, show how powerful he is; he defeated the Quinto Espada alone and severely injured the Cero Espada alongside Byakuya.
He can also take on other Captains who fight him with their Bankai while he holds back himself. Where his strength comes from is unknown, but since he was already a strong fighter when he was in Rukongai, there may be some connection with his past. Since Captain Unohana held the title of Kenpachi, she was the strongest Shinigami of her generation.
But even as a child, Zaraki Kenpachi was stronger than her. Since Zaraki holds the title of Kenpachi, he is the strongest Shinigami of his generation. And that although he has no Kido and no Reiatsu instincts.
As for his Zanpakuto, it was thought, for a long time, that Kenpachi will never find out its name and thereby access its full powers. But, during the Quincy War, Kenpachi managed to find out the name of its Zanpakuto – Nozarashi – and used it to help the Shinigami defeat the invaders. We’re going to give you more details on that later, but let us now see, in short, why Kenpachi’s Zanpakuto is so special.
Kenpachi’s Shikai takes the form of a butcher knife with a sheath connected to a green tassel, Nozarashi’s cutting ability is so great that she can disintegrate a giant meteorite created by Gremmy. Kenpachi’s Bankai turns him into a demon and his blade is partially broken, the power and cutting power are overwhelming, and can split a giant like Gerard Valkyrie in half.
How did Kenpachi activate his Bankai?
During the battle between the Vandenreich and Soul Society, Kenpachi encountered Lloyd Royd posing as Juha Bach. Kenpachi appeared in front of him with three dead Sternritter on his back and explained how weak they were. He is later seen being defeated by Lloyd as Juha Bach. After that, he only reappears after the battle when he has to fight Yachiru Unohana to learn the art of killing.
During this fight, Kenpachi is often killed by Unohana and revived by her healing abilities, as Unohana knows that Kenpachi is stronger than her and she wants to help him regain his old strength. You learn that Unohana has fought against Kenpachi before when he was a child and that she lost. However, Kenpachi wanted to have even more fun fighting and thus sealed a large part of his true power.
This gradually returned when Kenpachi took heavy damage and was healed. By the end of the fight, Kenpachi has regained his former strength and kills Unohana. After Unohana’s death, a mysterious voice begins to speak to Kenpachi, telling him that she has been watching over Kenpachi all along, and then wants to tell him her name.
After Yachiru was attacked by Gremmy Thoumeaux, Kenpachi arrives and begins a fight against the Sternritter. Both fight on an equal footing, but thanks to his special ability “The Visionary”, Gremmy seems to be one size too big for the Captain. As the battle enters its final phase, Guremi threatens to use a meteorite to destroy the Seireitei. That’s when Kenpachi uses his shikai “Nozarashi” for the first time. With his new power, Kenpachi finally succeeds in destroying the meteorite.
Gremmy then attempts to launch Kenpachi into space. The Captain struggles to stay alive in the vacuum, but he manages. Gremmy then triggers an explosion, but Kenpachi survives this too with burns. When Gremmy finally imagines wanting to be stronger than Kenpachi, he dies due to the fact that such a large mass of muscle is too much for the boy’s body.
After his victory, Kenpachi becomes aware of his serious internal injuries. He begins to wonder where Yachiru has gone and shortly thereafter finds her Lieutenant badge and Shihakusho lying on the ground. Kenpachi orders the soldiers of the 11th Company, who rush over to congratulate him on his victory, to search for Yachiru immediately. However, they are stopped by Candice Catnipp, Meninas McAllon, Giselle Gewelle, and Liltotto Lamperd, who have come to take out the weakened Captain.
The Sternritter begin decimating the lower-level shinigami, causing Kenpachi to attack them with the last of his strength. Eventually, however, he is thrown to the ground by Giselle and Meninas with their combined strength and initially appears to be unable to fight. Later, Kenpachi is taken to Urahara Kisuke’s laboratory, where his injuries are treated by Jūshirō Ukitake.
When Ukitake says he won’t be able to move for a while, Kenpachi emerges from the medical room asking who he means, which amazes Ukitake. Kenpachi then questions Urahara about Yachiru’s whereabouts and, after learning that his Department is currently still searching, attempts to exit the building despite Urahara telling him to stay. As Urahara wants to halt him using a kidō barrier, Kenpachi moves toward him in a rage, but is confronted by Nanao Ise, who points out that he has an obligation to fulfill here.
After a brief pause, Kenpachi concedes that Urahara is correct, withdraws, and asks for an orb to fill with his reiatsu. Later, when Kenpachi questions whether charging the orbs will make them fly, Urahara responds that it will make entrances to the palace of the Soul King. Urahara acknowledges that there might be no going back, to which Kenpachi responds that his only goal is to murder the Wandenreich members. Kenpachi is surprised to hear Urahara announce that the Soul King was killed as Seiretei starts to come apart.
Kenpachi then watches as Ukitake uses the power of Mimihagi to replace the Soul King. He later appears in the newly transformed kingdom alongside Nemu and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, greatly surprising and angering the latter. The three then meet the Sternritter Pernida Parnkgjas. Kenpachi tries to kill him immediately and slashes through his head, which ends up wounding Kenpachi’s arm.
Pernida then, to his amazement, suddenly begins to grow. When Kenpachi notices that his arm is still crooked, he immediately severed it to prevent further damage to his body. While Nemu tries to heal his wounds, Kenpachi thinks of a way to attack Pernida without getting too close to him. However, he then promptly moves towards Pernida and cuts part of his body, which, however, only bends his legs. To save his life, Mayuri reacts immediately and stabs him in the chest with Ashisogi Jizō from behind using Fear Factor 4, causing Kenpachi to collapse.
When Mayuri realizes that Kenpachi can still move his eyes, he calls him a monster. After the end of the fight against Pernida, from which Mayuri emerged victorious despite serious injuries, Ikkaku and Yumichika appeared. They take the wounded Captain of the 12th Division to a medical device he has brought with him, in whose chamber he can recover. Mayuri says that since a second chamber is ‘accidentally’ available, he doesn’t mind if the two use it to heal their Captain.
Sometime later, he wakes up from his unconsciousness and blasts open the medical chamber from the inside to immediately go to the scene of the fight against Gerard Valkyrie together with Toshiro Hitsugaya, who has also been restored. Once there, he quickly draws the gargantuan opponent’s full attention and instructs the other Shinigami and Visored engaged in the battle to stay out of it. After a fierce exchange of blows, with Kenpachi even using his Shikai, he is still unable to gain the upper hand against the colossal Quincy.
Only when he finds himself seriously cornered by this does Yachiru, who has been missing since meeting Gremmy Thoumeaux, appear to him, who says it is time he mastered the power called ‘Bankai’. As a result, Kenpachi finally obtains that Bankai and decisively harasses the exorbitant archangel.
In what chapter does Kenpachi use his Bankai for the first time?
If you remember Kenpachi’s story, it was thought that he was unable to use Bankai at all because, for a long time, he did not know the name of his Zanpakuto and he himself thought that he would never learn it. Now, once he actually discovered his Zanpakuto’s name, Nozarashi, it was just a moment of time when such a powerful Shinigami as Kenpachi would activate his Bankai. And it happened. In Chapter 669 of Bleach, which was titled “刃 II”. The 刃 Kanji actually means sword or blade in Japanese. This was the first time we’ve seen Kenpachi’s peculiar Bankai in action and it was a wholly exciting and brilliant experience.
FAQs
When did Kenpachi first use Bankai? ›
Kenpachi's bankai makes its only appearance in the fight against Gerard Valkyrie, when little Yachiru magically manifests out of nowhere and tells him to use it.
Which chapter does Kenpachi use bankai? ›In Chapter 669 of Bleach, which was titled “刃 II”. The 刃 Kanji actually means sword or blade in Japanese. This was the first time we've seen Kenpachi's peculiar Bankai in action and it was a wholly exciting and brilliant experience.
What episode of Bleach does Kenpachi use his Bankai? ›Kenpachi appears! is the two hundred and forty-fourth episode of the Bleach anime.
Does Kenpachi ever use bankai? ›Using his Shikai, he can devastate a meteor, poised to destroy the Seireitei. His Bankai is so powerful that: it was only released when he was even more insane than usual, having visualized his Zanpakuto's spirit as Yachiru, his assistant captain.
Who is the first Kenpachi Bankai? ›Unohana laid the foundations of what would be known as the 11th Division and became its first captain, as well as the first Kenpachi.
How did Kenpachi unlock Bankai? ›So far, it has been shown that the “proper” way of achieving Bankai is for the user to fight and defeat their Zanpakuto Spirit in battle and basically beat the spirit into submission. In Kenpachi's case, Yachiru allowed him to go Bankai on his own.
What is the 8th Kenpachi Bankai name? ›Sōya Azashiro (痣城 双也, Azashiro Sōya), otherwise known as Kenpachi Azashiro (痣城 剣八, Azashiro Kenpachi), was once a captain of the 11th Division in the Gotei 13. He was the 8th Kenpachi, having won the title from his predecessor, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.
Why was the 7th Kenpachi Bankai banned? ›so the banned bankai that we know of in the series are shinjis and the 7th kenpachis because they would cause damage to pretty much every one around them when used.
Which chapter is Bankai introduced? ›The Black Blade, the Miraculous Power is the fifty-eighth episode of the Bleach anime. Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki activate their Bankai.
Which Bankai is the strongest? ›That said, it's clear that even the omnipotent Yhwach is terrified of Ichigo, indirectly making Tensa Zangetsu the most powerful Bankai in Bleach.
Who is the strongest Kenpachi? ›
The seventh generation Kenpachi. He is well liked both within and outside his own squad, and he is so trusted and powerful that his mere presence is enough to raise morale. He has held the title of Kenpachi, the strongest Soul Reaper, for several hundred years.
Who killed Kenpachi? ›Sometime later, Zaraki killed Kenpachi Kiganjō, the captain of the 11th Division, in a single blow in front of over two hundred members of the Division. As per the 3rd Captain Qualification Trial, Zaraki became the new captain of that division.
Can Bankai Kenpachi beat Ichigo? ›Kenpachi Zaraki is a physically stronger fighter than Ichigo in the Bleach series, particularly in terms of strength. When he activates his Bankai, his attacking power goes through the roof. He even used his teeth to rip off Gerard Valkyrie's arm, despite the latter's gigantic form.
What does Bankai mean in English? ›Bankai is a word from the Japanese manga and anime series Bleach. The word Bankai means final release in English. When a Shinigami has reached full mastery of their Zanpakuto, they are said to have achieved bankai.
Is True Bankai Ichigo stronger than Kenpachi? ›Stronger than him: Captain Kenpachi Zaraki Of Squad 11
Kenpachi Zaraki indeed lost to Ichigo during their first fight, but that was practically a fluke, judging by Kenpachi's later developments. Now, it's not so clear that Ichigo could defeat Kenpachi again, especially since Kenpachi now has a shikai and even a bankai.
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki (刳屋敷剣八, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi) was once a captain of the 11th Division in the Gotei 13. He was the 7th Kenpachi, until he was killed by his successor, Sōya Azashiro.
Who is the 2nd Kenpachi? ›Kenpachi Shūjo (醜女 剣八, Shūjo Kenpachi) was the second captain of the 11th Division in the Gotei 13. Her lieutenant at that time is unknown.
Who uses Bankai first? ›Ichigo uses Bankai for the first time in Chapter 162 of the Bleach manga, during his rematch against Byakuya Kuchiki in Soul Society. The events were depicted in Episode 58 of the anime, titled “Release! The Black Blade, the Miraculous Power”.
Who can beat Bankai Kenpachi? ›1) Renji Abarai
Renji is known for his raw power and endurance in the Bleach series. He also uses long-range attacks with his Zanpakuto, also known as Zabimaru. Renji gains additional strength with his Shikai and Bankai forms. He would definitely give Kenpachi a very tough time.
In Episode 6 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, the aftermath of Kenpachi Zaraki's challenge to the leader of the Wandenreich, Yhwach, is unveiled. Within the fiery avalanche of Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's overwhelming power, the 11th Division Captain is bested, badly beaten and unconscious.
Is Kenpachi a demon? ›
Even Kaname Tousen acknowledged Kenpachi to be a demon. Focus - Once Kenpachi sets his mind on a goal nothing can dissuade him. He is one of the few Soul Reapers who will openly refuse an order if it conflicts with his own wishes for battle.
What clan is Kenpachi? ›Kenpachi (剣八, Sword-Eight) is the title that is only given to the strongest Shinigami. It is an ironclad rule that there can be only one Kenpachi per generation, meaning that the predecessor must die for the killer to succeed the title. To inherit this title, the candidate must kill the current Kenpachi in battle.
Does Aizen ever use his Bankai? ›Bleach's Captain Aizen was never seen using a bankai. However, with his shikai, he could convince everyone that he had one. Bleach was one of the "big three" of its era, and will return in October 2022 with the anime's "Thousand-Year Blood War" story arc.
Who killed the 8th Kenpachi? ›A brief summary of the Achievements of Sōya Azashiro
He got his Bankai when he was still a child and from that moment he never deactivated his bankai. Thanks to his Bankai he was able to annihilate Kenpachi Kuruyashiki (7th kenpachi) in a second.
However, the Bankai of Shinji Hirako is banned in the entirety of the Soul Society due to the immense danger it poses to any caught within its indiscriminate sphere.
What comes after Bankai? ›User(s) Shukai (主解, Mastered Release), originally termed Perfect Bankai (絶好卍解, Zekkō Bankai; Literally meaning "Ideal Final Release"), is a Beyond Bankai technique.
What Bankai is banned in Bleach? ›As it turns out, Shinji's Bankai has been banned from being used. Much like the Seventh Kenpachi, the 5th Division captain has been barred from using his Bankai because it isn't safe to use around comrades. Unlike his Shikai, Shinji's Bankai is said to be uncontrollable in terms of who is affected by the technique.
Who is the youngest Bankai? ›Among the Soul Reapers, Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is probably the youngest to have a bankai.
Who learned Bankai in 3 days? ›With Ichigo reminding her that he does not have this much time, Yoruichi acknowledges this and clarifies that she is referring to normal training before revealing that she is taking a completely different approach for Ichigo that, despite the great risk it carries, will allow him to learn Bankai in three days.
What is Ichigo's real Bankai? ›After sifting through his newly discovered heritage, Ichigo was left with a two-sworded Zanpakuto release. When the hero finally unleashed his new Bankai against the villain Yhwach, the two blades merged into a black-and-white khyber knife blade which promptly got wrecked.
What are the 2 forms of Bankai? ›
Bankai (卍解, Final Release) is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakutō. Prior to Ichibē Hyōsube giving this form its name, it was known as a Shinuchi (真打, True Strike), and when a Shinigami achieved it, they would possess an "Evolved Zanpakutō" (進化した斬魄刀, Shinkashita Zanpakutō).
Who has the most beautiful Bankai in bleach? ›1) Kinshara Butodan. Rose always had a dramatic flair in Bleach. His love for music translates directly to his Bankai's special ability. He finally showcased it in the Thousand Year Blood War against Mask De Masculine.
Who is the strongest ice Zanpakutō? ›In Bankai he is known as Daiguren Hyōrinmaru (大紅蓮 氷輪丸, Grand Crimson Lotus Ice Ring). He is the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō throughout the Reikai.
Can Aizen beat Kenpachi? ›With his extraordinary speed and cutting power, advanced kido, and the illusion power of Kyoka Suigetsu, Aizen would slice Kenpachi in half before Kenpachi could land a single attack. Aizen is simply too flexible and creative an opponent for Kenpachi to take on, even without his shikai.
Can Itachi beat Kenpachi? ›Itachi Uchiha is a master of the Mangekyo Sharingan, and he can use the Tsukiyomi technique to trap anyone, even Kenpachi, in a world of illusionary torture to shatter their mind. Once the effect finally wears off, Kenpachi will be in no shape to fight.
What rank is Kenpachi? ›Kenpachi Zaraki (更木 剣八, Zaraki Kenpachi) is a fictional character of support in the anime and manga series Bleach created by Tite Kubo. He is the captain of the 11th Division within the Gotei 13. His lieutenant is Ikkaku Madarame.
Who is the last Kenpachi? ›The eleventh generation Kenpachi and current captain of Squad 11. He usually wears a special eyepatch that suppresses his power so that he can enjoy fighting for a long time.
Which captain died in Bleach? ›10 Genryusai Yamamoto
Genryusai Yamamoto is one of the best characters in Bleach, with his power being truly phenomenal. Only an all-powerful force would be able to take this captain-commander down for good. This was precisely the case, with Yhwach being the man who ended this person's life despite his massive power.
4 Strength: Unlocking Shikai
So, Kenpachi declared "Drink, Nozarashi," and showed off his enormous and thematic shikai. It was a battle cleaver with a tassel at the end, and Kenpachi used this incredible power to destroy an incoming asteroid that Gremmy had created, shocking the Sternritter.
Captain Aizen is found dead by his vice captain Hinamori. Filled with anger and sadness Hinamori accuses captain Ichimaru of killling Aizen and attacks him.
Can Urahara beat Kenpachi? ›
Urahara would likely overwhelm Kenpachi with several powerful Kidō attacks. This is the same person who can seal Aizen, so he shouldn't have a problem with a weaker captain. Urahara would have to end this fight before Kenpachi activates his Shikai or Bankai.
What does baka mean? ›Baka is a Japanese word that means “crazy,” “foolish,” or downright “stupid.” It can also be used as a noun for “a fool” or “a crazy or stupid person.” Anime and manga fans in the West have adopted the use of baka as a (usually joking) insult.
Why is Bleach called Bleach? ›The first title he came up with was Black, but as he explained in an interview, he felt that it was too simple a title, as was the inversion, "White." So, Kubo changed "White" to Bleach, referring to how he "bleached" the black clothes of the Reapers to give his new shonen manga an unexpected name.
Is Bankai rare? ›Bankai-Inferno is an Eye Bloodline with a rarity of 1/250. Bankai-Inferno's moveset revolves around the use of Inferno Style, location swapping, illusions and manipulating blood to cast attacks, making it ideal for PvP.
How old is Kenpachi? ›Captain Kenpachi Zaraki is over 250 years old.
Can Kenpachi Bankai be stolen? ›While a medallion can steal any Bankai, in order to properly control it, the one who stole it must be sufficiently powerful. Yhwach believed himself to be the only individual capable of controlling Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Bankai. For this reason, he ordered Royd Lloyd not to steal it.
Is Ichigo son of Yhwach? ›Bleach TYBW arc not only reveals Ichigo's lineage as a half-Quincy, but Yhwach also calls him his “son born in the dark.” Though Ichigo is the son of Masaki and Isshin Kurosaki, he can also be considered Yhwach's son.
What episode is Bankai first used? ›The Black Blade, the Miraculous Power is the fifty-eighth episode of the Bleach anime. Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki activate their Bankai.
What episode is the first Bankai bleach? ›Bleach - Season 6 Episode 9: Ikkaku's Bankai! The Power That Breaks Everything - Metacritic.
Will Kenpachi use Bankai in Thousand Year Blood War? ›3) Kenpachi Zaraki (unnamed)
The Thousand Year Blood War has been a major showcase of Kenpachi's strength. Not only did he finally learn the name of his Zanpakuto, he also unlocked his Shikai and Bankai.
What is Ichigo's first Bankai called? ›
For his match against Byakuya, Ichigo learns his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu (天鎖斬月, literally “Heaven Chain Slaying Moon”), which highly increases his speed.
Who killed Aizen? ›Captain Aizen is found dead by his vice captain Hinamori. Filled with anger and sadness Hinamori accuses captain Ichimaru of killling Aizen and attacks him.
How many Bankai does Ichigo have? ›10 Exciting New Bankai Revealed In the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc.
Did Aizen learn Bankai? ›Bleach's Captain Aizen was never seen using a bankai. However, with his shikai, he could convince everyone that he had one. Bleach was one of the "big three" of its era, and will return in October 2022 with the anime's "Thousand-Year Blood War" story arc.
Who mastered Bankai? ›Those who achieve Bankai always have remarkable roles in the history of Soul Society. Ichigo Kurosaki and Kisuke Urahara are the only known individuals that have mastered Bankai through a far shorter, yet much more dangerous method.
Who killed Kenpachi Zaraki? ›However, he fights off Tōsen with the sense of touch, as he can feel when the blade makes contact with his body. However, Zaraki, becoming frustrated with this style of fighting, lets Tōsen impale him with his sword.