The Bleach anime quickly made swords the centerpiece of its combat system.
These sharp blades, called Zanpakuto, can be deadly in their sealed form and become even more powerful when their true power is unleashed. Shikai is the first step in the release, followed by Bankai, and everyone expects the latter to be the ultimate asset. Bankai like Senbonzakura Kageyoshi and Ryujin Jakka are wonders on the battlefield, but others are disappointing.
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Bleach fans wouldn't say that a Bankai is weak compared to its Shikai or sealed Zanpakuto, but even so, not all of them are top-tier. Some are relatively modest in power or too easy for the enemy to counter or destroy. Other Bankai have the potential to become more powerful in the future, but for now, they are young and underdeveloped. These Bankai are among the least impressive versions in the series.
Updated on February 24, 2025 by Ajay Aravind: Only one episode remains for the Bleach anime adaptation, "The Thousand-Year Blood War," with a release expected around mid-2025. Fans of the anime have finally been able to witness several Bankai for the first time, and there's still a lot to discover before the story concludes. As expected, some simply haven't captured the audience's attention. This is why we've updated this article with five more of the weakest Bankai in Bleach.
15. Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi can easily be neutralized
User: Kaname Tosen
Kaname Tosen was one of the three traitors who deserted the Gotei 13 at the end of the Soul Society arc. However, before that, he faced Captain Zaraki Kenpachi in a real battle. Tosen's Suzumushi Shikai is unique among the Zanpakuto because it has two distinct release commands. While both of these effects are powerful, they cannot be compared to the impressive stature and power of his Bankai.
Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi creates a massive black dome above Tosen and his opponent, neutralizing all senses except touch. Since Tosen is blind, he can easily navigate in the dark, making it difficult for Kenpachi to retaliate at first. That said, Kenpachi's reckless charging at his opponent allowed him to take a brutal hit to locate Tosen. Kenpachi shouldn't be the exception here, but the fact that the Bankai can be neutralized by simply touching the handle makes it one of the weakest.
14. Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari has a severe limitation
User: Hirakgb o Shinji
Shinji Hirako is undoubtedly one of the most powerful fighters in the Soul Society of the Bleach universe, having become a captain over a century ago. His decades of exile in the Human World haven't made him any weaker. Shinji's Sakanade uses smell, and any opponent who smells the pink mist emanating from his Shikai instantly falls under the spell of an optical illusion. Aizen easily bypassed it, but few others have managed to do so.
Shinji's Bankai didn’t exist in the Bleach manga before its canonical introduction in the Thousand-Year Blood War anime. Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari is an extremely dangerous Bankai that produces pink mist, but with a different function. It forces allies and enemies to swap their perceptions, making the targets fight to the death under Shinji’s gaze. However, this only applies in the absence of allies in the area; in other words, Sakashima Yokoshima Happofusagari is weak due to its very limited applications.
13. Daiguren Hyorinmaru only truly reveals itself at the end
User: Toshiro Hitsugaya
Fans of Toshiro Hitsugaya would be furious to see his Bankai rank among the weakest in Bleach, but even they must admit that the incomplete Daiguren Hyorinmaru is riddled with flaws. Hitsugaya may be able to fly and freeze his enemies, not to mention regenerate his Bankai with water, but the Shinigami Captain continues to face opponents strong enough to make Daiguren Hyorinmaru seem weak.
In theory, Daiguren Hyorinmaru has the potential to surpass all other Zanpakuto in the Soul Society, and a glimpse of its full power is revealed at the end of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. After the collapse of his violet ice flowers, Hitsugaya can reach the complete form of his Bankai. This Daiguren Hyorinmaru is far superior to its predecessor. However, since Hitsugaya can only use it for short periods, he must rely on the incomplete and weaker version of his Bankai.
12. Koko Gonryo Rikyu became even weaker after being stolen
User: Chojiro Sasakibe
Vice-Captain of the 1st Division and one of Yamamoto Genryusai's closest collaborators, Chojiro Sasakibe was initially portrayed as weak in Bleach. In the Soul Society narrative arc, Ichigo defeated him without even relying on Zangetsu. That said, manga artist Tite Kubo seems to have reinterpreted this character choice during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Sasakibe was now reputed for his Bankai with devastating power.
Known as Koko Gonryo Rikyu, it was supposed to be strong enough to injure Yamamoto himself, although he likely wasn't fighting at full power. Additionally, the strength of Shinigamis depends on the power of their Bankai, and Sasakibe’s near-instantaneous death demonstrated that he was far from being as strong as a Captain. And while Yamamoto mocked Driscoll’s use of Koko Gonryo Rikyu, calling it a weak copy of Sasakibe’s original, Driscoll’s effortless survival also underscores the general impotence of this Bankai.
11. Fushi no Kojo will not be a threat for a long time
User: Shuhei Hisagi
The only Bankai on this list from a different animanga than Bleach, Fushi no Kujo was first revealed in Can't Fear Your Own World. Since Tite Kubo played a significant role in building the story of the light novel and personally acknowledged Hisagi's Bankai in his comments, it can be considered canon. However, it remains one of the weakest Bankai in Bleach. Fushi no Kujo is an extension of Hisagi’s "Reaper" trope, allowing his Bankai to influence the preservation of life.
This means Hisagi can heal himself and his opponent from any injury, with the cost paid by their combined spiritual pressure. However, this also means Hisagi cannot deliver the final blow himself, as the Bankai could use up the last remaining Reiatsu and kill him. Finally, Fushi no Kujo is currently too embryonic to be considered a serious threat.
10. Jakuho Raikoben is the wrong weapon for stealth
User: Soi Fon
There is no doubt that Captain Soi Fon is a formidable fighter in Bleach, particularly because of her fighting style, which differs from that of her peers. While they rely on swordsmanship and explosive power to defeat their enemies, Soi Fon is a trained ninja and martial arts expert who relies on ambush, speed, and agility to defeat any opponent. This makes her the perfect wielder of her deadly Shikai, Suzumebachi, and a worthy leader of the Gotei 13's secret operations.
However, Soi Fon's oversized Bankai is not the right tool to finish off her enemies. Jakuho Raikoben is a brute-force cannon that contrasts with Soi Fon’s focus on stealth and agility. In the hands of someone else, like Kenpachi or Komamura, this Bankai would be an effective weapon, but Soi Fon doesn’t appreciate it and even says so when fighting Baraggan. That said, Jakuho Raikoben perfectly reflects the explosive personality of its wielder.
9. Kinshara Butodan has never been used successfully
User: Rojuro Otoribashi
The Visoreds in Bleach possess both Shinigami and Hollow powers, making them incredibly powerful in combat. They can use their Zanpakuto and a Hollow mask to significantly enhance their strength, but Rojuro Otoribashi did not fully exploit this potential in the Bleach anime. When he regained his position as captain of Squad 3, he traded his Hollow mask for his Bankai, Kinshara Butodan. Unfortunately, it wasn't the enhancement he needed.
Rojuro used his musical Bankai against the Sternritter S, Mask de Masculine, without success. Rojuro took too long to land the finishing blow, giving Mask time to mute and neutralize his Bankai. Mask's counterattack left the Shinigami Captain agonizing on the battlefield. Rojuro's speed and Kinshara Butodan failed to protect him from Mask's Star Flash at a distance, further proving the Bankai's weakness in battle.
8. Tekken Tachikaze was useless on two occasions
User: Kensei Muguruma
Rojuro Otoribashi wasn’t the only Visored to fail in his fight against Mask de Masculine. Just like the captain of Squad 3, Kensei Muguruma regained his rank after Aizen's defeat. A Shinigami for over a century, the commander of Squad 9 possessed incredible strength and a multitude of wind-based abilities. Much to the fans' dismay, even Kensei, a fan favorite, missed his strike against Mask.
Kensei was considered a tough, cool Visored warrior, and his Bankai, focused on powerful punches, seemed cool at first. However, Tekken Tachikaze wasn’t enough to contain Mask and couldn’t protect him from the counterattack. Earlier in the story, during the fake Karakura Town arc, the Shinigami's Bankai failed to defeat Wonderweiss Margela, a villain who was later defeated by Yamamoto Genryusai with his bare hands.
7. Ryumon Hozukimaru became a shadow of itself
User: Ikkaku Madarame
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki once confidently stated that very few people could achieve Bankai, implying that only Captains possessed the necessary qualities to unlock this type of Zanpakuto. All of this changed after Ichigo Kurosaki's invasion of the Soul Society, which significantly improved the Gotei 13. As the third member of Squad 11, it was unthinkable that Ikkaku could possess a Bankai. Known as Ryumon Hozukimaru, Ikkaku’s Bankai was simply incredible when it first appeared.
However, Ryumon Hozukimaru didn’t impress fans as much as Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu. Ikkaku used his oversized Bankai to narrowly defeat Edrad Leones in a stunning demonstration, but Ryumon Hozukimaru was destroyed during the battle. Despite its reconstruction under Ayon's guidance, Mayuri believes Ikkaku’s Bankai will never regain its former raw power. That said, the Zero Squad could theoretically be able to repair Ryumon Hozukimaru.
6. Hakka no Togame could become a power with enough time
User: Rukia Kuchiki
The Thousand-Year Blood War arc was full of twists and surprises, from Yamamoto's death to Kenpachi obtaining his own Shikai. Rukia also experienced a resurgence in vitality when facing Sternritter F, Äs Nödt, first with her Shikai and then with her brand-new Bankai. However, Rukia needed the guidance and support of her brother Byakuya to properly use Hakka no Togame, and the Bankai didn’t last long.
Fortunately, Rukia’s Hakka no Togame was a beautiful sight, and a major character like her deserved such a boost after all she had been through. Despite its potential, this Bankai still has a long way to go before becoming a perfected tool in Rukia's arsenal. For now, Hakka no Togame serves more as a flashy plot device to conclude Äs Nödt's arc, though Bleach fans are still thrilled for Rukia.
5. The True Power of Kamishini no Yari is Wasted on Its Long Duration
User: Gin Ichimaru
Sosuke Aizen and Kaname Tosen weren’t the only ones to betray the Soul Society. Former captain Gin Ichimaru also betrayed the Gotei 13, forcing Ichigo and his friends to face hostile Bankais during the great battle for the fake Karakura Town. The prime example was Gin’s Bankai, Kamishini no Yari, a melee-type version of his Shikai. It extended his blade over a great distance with incredible speed.
This made it a dangerous Bankai, as Gin could finish his opponent by pointing his short blade at them and extending it over 13 kilometers. However, as Bleach fans saw during the duel between Gin and Ichigo, it wasn’t difficult to avoid the power of this Bankai if the opponent was fast and skilled enough. Aside from its secret poison ability, the power of Kamishini no Yari is too basic; its incredible length is wasted because, in reality, no enemy would be that far away.
4. Hihio Zabimaru Was a Weak Manifestation of Its True Form
User: Renji Abarai
Renji Abarai wielded two different Bankais throughout his Shinigami career, with the second being one of the most powerful in Bleach. As the perfected form of Renji’s Bankai, So'o Zabimaru easily defeated Mask de Masculine, proving that Vice-Captain Renji was stronger than the two Visored captains combined. In contrast, Renji’s first Bankai was rather docile and only won a few battles.
During the Soul Society arc, Renji defied the odds by obtaining his own Bankai, initially called Hihio Zabimaru. This Bankai failed miserably against Byakuya’s Senbonzakura Kageyoshi and was never even used against Sosuke Aizen on Sokyoku Hill. Renji did defeat an Espada Fraccion with Hihio Zabimaru, but this didn’t amount to much, as his Bankai didn’t have much impact on Szayelaporro Granz.
3. Engetsu's Bankai Cannot Be Used When It’s Most Needed
User: Isshin Kurosaki
Ichigo’s father, Isshin, was once Captain Isshin Shiba of Squad 10, and he possessed both a Shikai and a Bankai to match. Isshin revealed his true powers when he killed Grand Fisher to avenge his deceased wife, although he only needed to use his sealed Zanpakuto. Isshin then revealed his fire-type Shikai during a fight against Sosuke Aizen in the fake Karakura Town.
The problem was that Isshin couldn’t use his anonymous Bankai, a fact that both Aizen and he were aware of. Isshin’s mysterious Bankai is demanding to use and can’t be wielded safely when the user is injured, which is why Aizen weakened Isshin during his fight against White. This limitation is tragically ironic because Shinigami need their Bankai even more when they are injured and bleeding. To this day, Bleach has not revealed Isshin’s Bankai.
2. Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo Was Foiled Several Times
User: Mayuri Kurotsuchi
Like Renji, Bleach’s captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi used two different Bankais throughout the story. The difference was that Mayuri modified his Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo to better fight the Sternritters, particularly Pernida Parnkgjas. In contrast, Mayuri’s first Bankai was consistently less effective, despite its many features and weapons. It was also the first Bankai ever seen by Bleach fans, but Uryu Ishida ultimately defeated it with a single strike.
Mayuri used this Bankai again during a delicate scientific duel against Szayelaporro Grantz, and in the end, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo failed to yield significant results. At best, it was an effective tool that allowed Mayuri to trap Szayelaporro and inject him with a mind-accelerating drug. It was ultimately the drug that defeated the Ninth Espada, not Mayuri’s Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo.
1. Kokujo Tengen Myo’o Is Huge But Otherwise Unimpressive
User: Sajin Komamura
Captain Sajin Komamura of Squad 7 had the heart of a leader in Bleach, but his firepower often fell short of his grandiose words and unwavering determination. Komamura often failed to win his most important battles; and when he did win, he either needed help or the victory didn’t mean much. These results don’t flatter Komamura’s Zanpakuto, regardless of its stage of release.
Komamura's imposing Bankai, Kokujo Tengen Myo'o, is a war avatar of brute force capable of delivering devastating blows. However, its large size makes it relatively easy to avoid, and Komamura remains vulnerable while using it. This Bankai managed to defeat a Fraccion after a brief battle in the False Karakura Town arc, but it was effortlessly destroyed by Aizen. It was only by using the Humanization Technique that Komamura was able to enhance Kokujo Tengen Myo'o. However, the Dangai Joue version of his Bankai collapsed after defeating just one Sternritter.
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