Ichigo’s Most Important Fights In Bleach, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Battles have been integral in Ichigo’s development, especially fights with Ginjo, Grimmjow, and Byakuya.
• These battles taught Ichigo about his resolve, protecting friends, and unleashing his hidden powers.
• Through his battles, Ichigo grows as a character, facing personal struggles and making sacrifices for the greater good.

Throughout the story of Bleach, Ichigo has gone up against countless opponents, many of whom have pushed the plucky protagonist to his limit due to their strength and powerful abilities. While Ichigo managed to make it out of each of these encounters in one piece, albeit barely in some instances, there were a select few that went a long way in developing him as a character.

Whether it was acquiring a new technique he would carry into future battles, or simply teaching him about the extent of his underlying powers, or even his lineage, Ichigo as a character is largely molded by his fights. However, while it could be said that no battle is a waste considering they can all benefit the victor in one way or another, for Ichigo specifically, these fights are often considered to be the most important to his development.

8 Ichigo vs Ginjo

A Battle Where Ichigo Comes To Regain His Inner Resolve And Confidence

In the Fullbring arc, Ichigo’s world slowly becomes distorted due to the mysterious new villain, Tsukushima, who succeeds in turning all of his friends against him one by one. For a while, it seems as though the only person Ichigo can trust is his newfound ally, Ginjo, but it eventually is revealed that Ginjo was secretly biding his time to eventually steal Ichigo’s powers for himself.

As a result, the beginning of the encounter sees Ichigo crying on a rooftop, that is until his Soul Reaper comrades make a grand return to restore his powers. What ensues is an epic bout between Ichigo and Ginjo where the former regains his confidence, picks himself up, and finds a new path forward with his Soul Reaper powers back in place.

7 Ichigo vs Grimmjow

Ichigo Realizes Why He Fights, Not For Satisfaction, But To Protect His Friends

The third and final fight with Grimmjow proves to be a real test for Ichigo. When the two first met, Grimmjow beat Ichigo to a bloody pulp, embracing him and proving he was nowhere near strong enough to even hope of protecting his friends against the oncoming enemy forces arriving from Hueco Mundo.

During their climactic final battle, Ichigo struggles to overcome Grimmjow and continues to rely on his Hollow Mask, despite knowing it could very well take him over if he’s not careful. Half of the fight feels as though Ichigo is fighting for the sake of it, just to take down the man who considers him a ‘rival’. All this changes though when Orihime screams out his name, reminding Ichigo that the reason he fights is for the protection of his friends, not for his own personal gratification.

6 Ichigo vs Kenpachi

Ichigo’s First Real Exposure To Zangetsu Came During His Bloody Bout With Kenpachi

Ichigo’s duel with Zaraki Kenpachi in the Soul Society arc is the first time he ever makes contact with Zangestu who, at the time, is believed to be the spirit of his Zanpakuto. Before this point in the fight though, Kenpachi essentially toys with Ichigo, offering him free hits on his body, and causing Ichigo to run away from Zaraki’s immense spiritual pressure.

After Zangetsu gets involved though, Ichigo is able to open the valves of his Spiritual Pressure just a little bit, unleashing a tremendous surge of power that succeeds in knocking Kenpachi to the floor. The first half of this fight might just be the most scared Ichigo has ever looked in the series, but by the end, he holds his Zanpakuto proudly, acknowledging his newfound strength and the spirit that lies within his blade.

5 Ichigo vs Grand Fisher

Grand Fisher Teaches Ichigo That Blind Hatred Won’t Be Enough To Avenge His Mother

In most other shonen anime, Ichigo’s fight against the horrific Grand Fisher, the Hollow who killed his mother, would have seen the protagonist avenging their long-lost loved one, but that doesn’t happen here. Instead, Ichigo suffers a miserable defeat, despite being filled with enough hatred to take on an entire army of Hollows.

The truth is, that this fight occurred early on in Ichigo’s experience as a Soul Reaper, causing him to act recklessly as he becomes blinded by rage. It’s truly emotional seeing Ichigo give everything he has to try and take down the monster, only to face defeat, but this battle ultimately makes him realize he would need to hone his skills far more if he wants to ever take down stronger Hollows.

4 Ichigo vs Byakuya

Ichigo Proves His Capabilities As A Skilled Warrior In His Duel With Byakuya

Though Ichigo had taken on numerous Soul Reaper captains and lieutenants in his mission to save Rukia, the one who always stood at the top of the mountain was Byakuya. This was undoubtedly one of Ichigo’s biggest tests, and as a result, it’s the fight where fans got to see the introduction of several new abilities that would become mainstays within his arsenal going forward.

Ichigo unleashes his Bankai quite early on in the fight and even manages to impress Byakuya with his combination of speed and strength. After this proves to not be enough though, Ichigo gets his first real experience of his inner Hollow taking over, which he tries to wrestle with as the battle rages on. By the end, Ichigo not only becomes a far more formidable warrior thanks to his new abilities and strength but also makes him aware of the mask and how he can deal with its influence going forward.

3 Ichigo vs Ulquiorra

Ulquiorra’s Tremendous Power Brings Out Ichigo’s Greatest Fears

Up until his fight with Ulquiorra, Ichigo had been steadily gaining more strength as he faced opponents who also climbed the power scale, so when he faced Ulquiorra, it seemed as though he might be able to score another win. What actually happens though is Ichigo not only gets thrown around like a ragdoll but even loses his own life, resulting in his Hollow powers taking control of his body and turning him into the immensely powerful Vasto Lorde.

Ichigo learns a lot from this fight, not least the fact that he can’t afford to underestimate his opponents. At the very beginning of the battle, Ichigo almost mocks Ulquiorra, claiming that his attacks were becoming slower due to him being more human-like, but once his opponent unleashes his hidden form, things go from bad to worse for Ichigo. This is also the point where Ichigo begins to realize the real dangers of relying on his Hollow Mask too much, causing him to largely abandon it after this fight.

2 Ichigo vs Yhwach (First Fight)

Yhwach Awakens Ichigo To His Quincy Powers And Lineage

Ichigo’s first duel with Yhwach is a pretty disastrous one for the series’ protagonist, but to say that he leaves the battle empty-handed would be untrue. Despite being largely outmatched by the Quincy king, this is the first time Ichigo is ever made aware of his Quincy lineage, and in turn, the real identity of his mother.

This is essentially the fight that kicks off Ichigo’s long personal journey throughout the Thousand Year Blood War arc, where he attempts to learn and accept who he truly is. In a way, it’s the wake-up call Ichigo desperately needed in order to develop both as a shinigami and simply as a human being.

1 Ichigo vs Aizen

A Final Test Of Strength That Proved Ichigo Is Willing To Sacrifice His Powers For The Greater Good

By the time Ichigo finally faces Aizen one-on-one, the former captain has become a literal god who seemed impossible to kill after merging with the Hogyoku. This climactic battle would be Ichigo’s biggest show of strength to date, as he summons the Final Getsuga to become just as, if not more powerful, than Aizen, demonstrating just how much underlying strength and spiritual pressure he truly possesses.

However, this new form came with a catch; it would cost Ichigo his shinigami powers, detaching him from the Soul Society for good. Though he decides to make the sacrifice for the greater good, what follows is an entire arc centered around Ichigo struggling to come to terms with his current position as he realizes that being a Soul Reaper isn’t just a side gig, it’s what he truly wants to be so that he can hold the power to protect those he loves.