Strongest Characters Who Are No Longer Alive In Bleach

Bleach is a series full to the brim with some of the strongest characters in battle shonen history. The protagonist of this series and the main villains that have served as a thorn in Soul Society’s side time and time again are obvious mentions here, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a discussion about the strongest characters in Bleach.

It’s a testament to the power levels in Bleach that most of the toughest fighters in the series have died at the hands of other mightier foes. Most Bleach fans were shocked by their deaths, unable to fathom that someone so ridiculously powerful could be taken down at all.

8 Gremmy Thoumeaux

Could Imagine Anything Into Existence, Which Is Ridiculously Powerful

• Death:I AM THE EDGE (Episode 20 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War)

The Sternritter’s powers can be rather obtuse at times, but nothing comes close to the sheer dominance of Gremmy Thoumeaux’s powers. This Quincy could turn figments of his imagination into reality, which could’ve helped him become one of the strongest characters in Bleach.

Instead, he’s served up to Kenpachi on a silver platter, who uses the debut of his Shikai to humiliate Gremmy. In a fit of rage, this Quincy imagines that he’s just as powerful as this new enemy, only for his body to implode after it fails to house Zaraki’s might.

7 Jushiro Ukitake

Died Before He Could Show His True Powers As A Commander

• Death:The Dark Curtain (Chapter 621 of Bleach)

Ukitake is one of the biggest what-ifs in the series, dying before he could even reveal his Bankai. It’s a shame since the debut of this character made it clear that he was just as strong as Shunsui, if not more.

Unfortunately, he was chosen to replace the Soul King and died not long after when Yhwach intervened and absorbed the powers of the Soul King. This included the force keeping Ukitake alive, leading to him dying a disappointing death as Yhwach’s powers reached greater heights.

6 Retsu Unohana

The Former Holder Of The Kenpachi Title Is A Beast In Combat

• Death:The Battle (Episode 10 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War)

Most people assumed that Unohana was a shinigami who specialized in medicine and healing. All of these notions are shattered when she decides to unlock Zaraki’s hidden potential in one of the series’ most brutal fights.

In one fell swoop, Unohana reveals that she used to be the previous holder of the Kenpachi title, reveals a Bankai that lets her weaponize blood, and traps Zaraki in a cycle of death and revival until he finally unlocks his latent powers before sacrificing herself to give Soul Society one of its strongest warriors.

5 Jugram Haschwalth

Could Use The Power Of The Almighty When Yhwach Was Asleep

• Death:The End Two World (Chapter 681 of Bleach)

At first glance, Jugram Haschwalth doesn’t seem like the strongest Quincy in Yhwach’s army. However, it’s only when the Soul King sleeps that this member of the Sternritter reveals why he’s held in high regard by his king.

When his master is asleep, the power of the Almighty is transferred to Jugram temporarily. Given how powerful Yhwach is, it’s easy to see why anyone should fear this powerful Quincy when he uses these powers. Unfortunately, he was betrayed by his master and killed with Auswahlen, putting a premature end to one of the most promising fighters in the series.

4 Gerard Valkyrie

Being Able To Manifest Miracles Made Him Nigh Invincible

• Death:The End 2 (Chapter 680 of Bleach)

The power of Miracles allows Gerard Valkyrie to enjoy a sense of immortality that is pushed to the limit during his fight with several powerful Shinigami. The fact that he managed to persist with a destroyed body even after facing the full force of Hitsugaya and Kenpachi’s perfected Bankais is a testament to this Sternritter’s incredible strength.

His death is eventually a disappointing one, with Yhwach absorbing his powers with Auswahlen to become stronger at the cost of his life. Given the sheer number of attacks he absorbed, most fans agree that his death could’ve been more cathartic if a shinigami managed to take him out instead.

3 Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto

The Captain-Commander Of The Gotei 13 Is One Of The Strongest Shinigami Of All Time

• Death:The Fire (Episode 6 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War)

Most people are well aware of the power Yamamoto wields, establishing him as a shinigami fit to serve as the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. After Yhwach’s assault on Soul Society, this character steps into the fray and shows off the true extent of his powers.

However, despite his mighty Bankai making everyone quake in their boots, Yhwach uses a dishonorable trick to fool Yamamoto, captures his Bankai, and unleashes a bisecting slash that brutally ends the Captain-Commander’s life. It’s a shocking moment that makes for a strong start to the Thousand-Year Blood War.

2 Yhwach

The Strongest Quincy In Bleach By A Country Mile

• Death:The Blade (Chapter 684 of Bleach)

The Quincy King is one of the strongest characters in shonen history, with his powers expanding after he absorbed the Soul King’s might. It seemed like beating this foe would’ve been impossible, and it would’ve required a masterstroke of writing to justify the killing blow on this antagonist.

Instead, many people felt that Bleach royally fumbled at the end, with Yhwach’s death coming in an anti-climactic manner that fails to do justice to his insurmountable strength. Fans can only hope that the anime adaptation changes the final fight to make this final strike more satisfying than ever.

1 The Soul King

Technically The Strongest Entity In Bleach Despite Not Participating In A Single Battle

• Death:KILL THE KING (Episode 28 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War)

The Soul King is by far the strongest entity in Bleach, even if his might doesn’t translate in battle. Instead, this divine being is responsible for maintaining the cosmic balance that separates the three worlds of Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the human world.

This fact alone makes his spiritual power incomparable to the other characters in Bleach. Unfortunately, Yhwach managed to kill the Soul King by manipulating Ichigo and absorbing his powers to become a nefarious being whose power reached even greater heights.

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  Release Date

  October 5, 2004

  Studio

  Pierrot

  Creator

  Tite Kubo

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  Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

  Release Date

  October 11, 2022

  Studio

  Pierrot

  Creator

  Tite Kubo