Top 5 Zanpakutō in Bleach

There are many Zanpakutō in Bleach, so many that it feels like a momentous task to come up with a top 5.  However, we feel we owe it to our readers to provide our reasons for why we consider the following swords the best in Bleach.  Of course, this list is subjective, and you may feel differently. That’s ok! But read along for our rationale of why we consider the following 5 Zanpakutō to be the best.

To make it interesting, we will judge using four main criteria.  While power will definitely be one of them, it won’t be the only one. Other criteria include usefulness in various situations, the psychological edge over opponents it creates, and the appearance of the ability (how “cool” it looks).

Special Mention

While not one of the 5, we feel Ichigo Kurosaki’s Zanpakutō Zangetsu deserves an honorable mention. First, while it was never revealed what form its Bankai takes, it was considered so powerful by Yhwach that it was disabled immediately before it could be used.  Second, because it produces energy blasts that can be directed and controlled, it is useful in many situations. Finally, it is one of a few Zanpakutō that remain in a state neither fully-sealed nor fully-unsealed, leaving it with two blades, making it immediately recognizable to opponents and unique.   However, Zangetsu does not make the list because we do not know the full extent of its abilities, and we feel its abilities, while indeed powerful, are overshadowed by the others in this list.

#5

Kisuke Urahara’s Zanpakutō takes #5 on this list.  In its sealed state, Benihime takes the form of a cane rather than a normal Katana.  It is one of the few Zanpakutō with a spirit of the opposite gender as its wielder. Like Ichigo Kurosaki’s blade, its Shikai can fire energy blasts.  However, its Bankai form has a completely different ability, allowing Kisuke to restructure anything he touches with Benihime. While the exact limits of this restructuring are unknown, it is able to restore vision to wounded eyes and manipulate things in Kisuke’s path to remove obstacles.  Its abilities may be limited primarily by Kisuke’s own imagination. Fulfilling all 4 criteria, it makes the list, albeit barely.

#4

Gin Ichimaru’s Zanpakutō comes in next to take the #4 slot on the list.  While simple in form and appearance, Shinsō has the ability to extend up to 100 times its length when released, and much further in its Bankai form (up to kilometers).  However, the length is only a small part of what makes this ability so useful. Shinsō can extend and contract faster than a bullet, allowing Gin to impale his targets with ease and push people out of the way of falling objects.  Its cutting ability is also greatly amplified, making slashing attacks deadly as the Area-of-Effect of the swath is incredible - once literally slashing a town in half while Gin stood some distance away. Furthermore, the sword can turn to ash for a split second when contracting or extending, leaving a piece of itself inside the momentarily impaled and future victim.  From then on, whenever Gin chooses, he can kill his target at will, simply by raising his hand and uttering a few words. The target will then dissolve from the inside out. While perhaps having a bit less utility then #4, the sheer coolness factor of Shinsō’s abilities and the challenge of using them to their fullest potential means we put it a spot above Benihime.

#3

Byakuya Kuchiki’s Zanpakutō is a normal Katana that, when released, separates into a thousand small fragments that move around, directed by Byakuya’s will through the motions of the hilt remaining in his hand.  Each fragment carries the power of a full sword and reflects light in such a way as to resemble a cherry blossom. While perhaps not as powerful as the previous Zanpakutō, Senbonzakura is balanced as much for defense as offense. Any opponent attempting to get close is liable to be cut by the fragments, and only Byakuya himself is immune, as he stays in a “Hurtless Area” where the sword fragments are not allowed to enter.  Its Bankai is even more powerful, instead of a thousand fragments, it has a thousand full swords that he can control. With both abilities, Byakuya can form constructs that can take many shapes using the fragments or swords, which greatly amplifies the abilities’ usefulness. What really takes the cake, however, and gives Senbonzakura the middle-spot on this list is the following. Not only can the Zanpakutō’s power be further increased by combining the fragments back into a single sword with an insane amount of power, but it can also grant Byakuya wings with which he can fly!

#2

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ryūjin Jakka, the Zanpakutō of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, takes the next slot in the list.  In its sealed state, it has the appearance of an unassuming staff, though even in this form most Shinigami are still afraid of it because of its immense power.  Unsealed, it looks like a normal Katana, albeit with flames surrounding it. Genryūsai can burn almost anything to ash just by waving his sword at it, and in this form it is powerful enough to fight the Shikai of two other captains simultaneously.  A very useful feature of the weapon is that when it is resealed, any ability already used against an opponent does not end. Its Bankai form stores the flames inside the blade, causing anything it touches to be reduced to ash, and also removes any water from the surroundings, rendering any ice-type Zanpakutō nearby useless.  Furthermore, Genryūsai can use raise an undead army from the ashes or corpse of anyone he has killed, making him more and more powerful as a battle progresses. The only weakness of this sword is that it is so powerful that it could obliterate soul society if used for a an extended period of time, but because it’s so powerful, it would never be needed to.  With unmatched power, coolness (hotness?), and ability to have its enemies fight for it, Ryūjin Jakka deserves a spot high in this list.

## 1

Finally, the one we’ve all been waiting for  - what we consider the #1 Zanpakutō in Bleach.  This honor we give to Ichibē Hyōsube’s Zanpakutō Ichimonji.  In its sealed state, it appears as a functional calligraphy brush.  In this form, it can be used to draw characters that have the power of their meaning.  When used as a weapon, the brush cuts the name of what it touches, reducing its power accordingly.  When released, it transforms into a short glaive that releases ink as its swung. Whatever this ink touches loses its name and consequently, all its powers.  However, its true power comes from its ability to control black - anything with black on or inside it is vulnerable. This power seems to have no range limit.  Ichibē can use this power to draw black from his surroundings, and, by drinking it, take away all the darkness from an opponent, leaving nothing of his opponent left.  As the first Zanpakutō to achieve Bankai (before the name “Bankai” even existed), Ichimonji has the distinction of being the only Bankai activated with a different word - “Shin’uchi”  In this form, it becomes a long white thread. Anything touched by its Ink can have it named changed, giving it the powers or abilities (or lack of abilities) of the new name. This makes Ichimonji the most powerful, useful, and unique Zanpakutō in existence, as there is practically nothing it can’t do, especially considering that Ichibē himself can determine the true name of everything in existence, and has centuries of experience to draw upon.

Summary

Regardless of whether you agree with our ranking or not, one thing we can all agree on is that Zanpakutō are awesome!  We carry many Bleach Swords besides these, including some that may have made your list.

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Image Credit: Bleach.wikia.com

source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/top-5-zanpakuto-bleach

The Ninja vs The Samurai

The Target

Mitsuharu of the Fūma ninja clan crouched under the window, listening with keen ears for any sounds inside.  His coloured cloak, so obvious in the day, now hid him better than black ever could. Hearing nothing but the quiet muffled sounds of people going about their nightly business, he quickly glanced left and right down the alley, then stood up and entered through the window.  This deep into the castle, no one expected intruders, so the windows and doors were usually left unlocked.

The room was simple, as expected of a Samurai.  The few items therein were of high quality. Mitsuharu quickly glanced around the rest of the room, his keen eyes missing nothing.  His target was Hōjō Narinaga, a mid-ranking Samurai moving quickly up the ranks. The Hōjō family, and Narinaga in particular, had thwarted too many carefully laid plans, and for those successes he had received awards, honors, and most dangerously, more power.  Thus, the Hatori clan had decreed that he be assassinated, and Mitsuharu had been chosen for the task.

Seeing nothing in the room indicating that Narinaga would soon return, he turned to leave.  As he raised his foot to step through, he sensed that something wasn’t right. Glancing behind him, he noticed the door, which had been closed before, was now open.  Turning around in a flash, he saw that inside the doorframe stood Narinaga, his target, hand already on the hilt of a Wakizashi…

The Samurai

The Samurai were a noble class in feudal Japan who occupied the upper tier of society just under their lords.  Originally little more than hired mercenaries to protect rich landowners, they became an important part of society with the rise of of the Minamoto clan who seized control of Japan in 1192 and set up a military government.  They would remain an integral part of society for almost seven centuries.

The Samurai were skilled warriors and, contrary to popular belief, were adept at using various weapons including bows and spears.  However, their primary symbol, and mark of their status, were their paired swords - originally a Tachi and Tanto, later evolving into a Katana and Wakizashi.  These swords were worn with their kimono, and marked their identity as Samurai. While the Katana was the longer and thus, primary weapon, only the Wakizashi was allowed to be worn indoors.

The Samurai are well known for their code of honor, which celebrates killing an opponent honorably, often face-to-face, and discourages underhanded attacks or ambushes.  As Samurai were the top tier of society and most of the threats to society came from domestic sources they could expect their opponents - mainly other Samurai - to adhere to the same style of combat.

The Ninja

The Ninja, on the other hand, were commoners.  Generally coming from the lowest tiers of society, Ninjas were basically assassins or spies for hire, willing to do or accomplish any task - for a price.  As they did not enjoy any of society’s protections, they were willing to use whatever means necessary to get the job done, even if those means were considered dishonorable.

While they may have existed as early as the 12th century, the formation of the Ninjas as we know them today occured in the 15th century.  They were most prominent in the Igla provence, and from the clans in that area we derive most of our knowledge of them. Because of the Ninjas’ commoner status, not as much interest was taken in recording them literarily as was taken in recording the Samurai.

However, even with the lack of contemporary sources, or perhaps because of it, legends abound about them.  While many are fanciful, such as stories of them having the ability to levitate or move things around with their minds, others are more likely.  Traditions say they carried a straight sword, unlike the Samurai’s, which was curved. While the Samurai would traditionally dress in a kimono, a bright, loose-fitting garment that leaves the head exposed, the Ninja, according to legend, would wear dark, tight-fitting clothing that covered the head, revealing only the eyes. 

The Escape

...Cursing himself for not hearing the footsteps approaching the door (how had the man snuck up to him?), Mitsuharu  quickly judged the distance between himself and Narinaga.  The room was small, a mere 12 by 15 shaku (approx 4x5 meters), and once Narinaga drew his Wakizashi, there would be even less room to manoeuvre.  Quickly drawing one of his two Tantos, Mitsuharu prepared to throw it. 

Knowing that a trained Samurai with a Wakizashi beats a commoner-wielding Tanto in any fair fight, Mitsuharu knew that he would lose if he didn’t do something quickly to make the fight unfair.  Thus, he hesitated for only a split second before throwing the Tanto and leaping backward through the window into the alley. As he did so, he heard the rasp of steel and saw a corresponding gleam of candlelight on metal as Narinaga drew his sword.

The alley was vacant, so Mitsuharu quickly sprinted to the nearby corner where he had previously noted were some boxes allowing a quick escape onto the roof. He quickly climbed them, and just as he stepped onto the roof, he saw Narinaga rushing out of the alley into the main street.  Mitsuharu flattened himself against the roof, while loosening the straight sword he carried in case he was forced to use it. He was careful to cover the exposed steel to ensure no moonlight would give away his position. Silently cursing for the second time that hour, he vowed he would return one day and finish the job.  After making sure Naringa hadn’t noticed his whereabouts and was heading off, probably to report what had happened to the guards, Mitsuharu quickly dropped down into the alley on the other side, and soon once again melded into the shadows.

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source https://www.bladespro.co.uk/blogs/news/ninja-vs-samurai