Bankai With The Biggest Weaknesses

Key Takeaways

• Byakuya’s Bankai can leave him exposed due to a hidden safe area for enemies to exploit.
• Kyoraku’s Bankai risks harming allies due to its area of effect, limiting its usage.
• Kenpachi’s Bankai tears his body apart for immense power, risking harm to himself and others.

In the world of Bleach, a Bankai is a Soul Reaper’s ultimate trump card which they will only ever use when absolutely necessary. Though these special abilities tend to be absurdly powerful and often succeed in taking out their opponents, since they are all unique in how they work, some possess some major weaknesses and drawbacks that limit their overall usability.

Because of this, some captains have chosen to only use their Bankai once or twice throughout the series so as not to leave them exposed in the middle of a fight. When looking at the most glaring weaknesses though that can severely limit the user’s ability in battle, these Bankai take the cake for having the biggest holes in their reliability.

8 Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (Byakuya Kuchiki)

Byakuya’s Safe Area Can Be Exposed By His Enemy While In Bankai

• First Appearance: Episode 58

Zenbonsakura Kageyoshi, arguably the most popular Bankai in the series, sees Byakuya surrounding his opponent in a swarm of razor-sharp petals before striking them down with an infinite number of blades. Considering the number of times Byakuya has used this technique, the risk level isn’t quite as high as some others, but it does still have one pretty big flaw which Tsukishima reveals during the Fullbring Arc: the safe area.

It turns out Byakuya’s enemy can be attacked from any direction and at any moment, but Byakuya, meanwhile, remains protected since he is able to stand in a small safe circle at the center of the Bankai. If a fighter manages to get close to Byakuya so that they too stay within the circle, it can become a real problem for the captain since it essentially renders the ability useless.

7 Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju (Kyoraku Shusui)

The Area Of Effect With This Bankai Can Make It Risky To Use With Comrades Around

• First Appearance: TYBW Episode 35

Kyoraku’s Bankai is comprised of four different acts, each of which involves dissecting his opponent’s strength and willpower bit by bit, while also slicing them to pieces as it goes. Kyoraku has only ever unleashed his Bankai once throughout the series, since while it works wonders on a single target, as Ukitake states, it also puts Kyoraku’s allies at risk.

Kyoraku’s Bankai has an area of effect, meaning if an ally were to jump into the same battle while he’s using it, things could get ugly very quickly, and could easily lead to someone’s death. After Kyoraku uses the Bankai against Lille Barro, he’s also shown to be gravely wounded from the amount of strain it puts on his body, which is yet another drawback to this flashy technique.

6 Ryumon Hozukimaru (Ikkaku Madarame)

A Bankai With A Slow Start-Up Limits Its Overall Usability

• First Appearance: Episode 118

The moment Ikkaku unleashes his Bankai against the Arrancar is often cited by fans as one of the most epic and thrilling Bankai activation scenes in the entire show. Despite not even being a captain, Ikkaku managed to attain a truly impressive Bankai which turns his Zanpakuto into two huge cleavers which are more than big enough to tear apart even the most durable of opponents.

As he admits up front though, Ryumon Hozukimaru is a “Slow starter” as the spirit of his Zanpakuto will only begin to wake up as the fight goes on. As is explained later in the series during Fake Karakura Town, Ikaku’s Bankai also gets weaker every time it breaks. Therefore, while it’s still very strong and an intimidating sight for sure, the amount of time it takes to get this Bankai into full effect is time that most Soul Reapers can’t afford when in an intense fight.

5 Zanka No Tachi (Genryusai Yamamoto)

Yamamoto’s Devastating Bankai Can Only Be Used For A Limited Amount Of Time

• First Appearance: TYBW Episode 6

Zanka no Tachi, the Bankai of none other than head captain Yamamoto, is by far one of the most destructive and powerful in all of the Soul Society. When Yamamoto unleashes his Zanpakuto’s power, he cycles through four different phases of the attack which all involve burning his enemies to a crisp and annihilating them from existence, but with such power does come a pretty hefty price.

As Yamamoto makes clear during his battle with Yhwach, using Zanka no Tachi for too long will destroy not only his enemy, but also himself, and even the entire Soul Society. Even when Yamamoto first revealed his Bankai, the air within the Soul Society became heavy almost immediately, which seemingly only gets worse the longer the sword is active.

4 Suzumushi Tsuishiki Enma Korogi (Kaname Tosen)

Tosen’s Bankai Is Instantly Undone If The Opponent Gets Too Close To His Sword

• First Appearance: Episode 51

Since Tosen was only a captain for a brief period of time in the series, fans only get to see him use his Bankai once, against a fellow captain no less. Within that skirmish with Kenpachi though, it’s fully explained how Tosen’s Bankai works, being able to completely shut off the opponent’s senses, allowing Tosen to slash at them from multiple angles without them feeling, seeing, or hearing a thing.

Luckily, Zaraki was able to find the Bankai’s one major weakness when he grabbed Tosen’s blade, disabling his power altogether and leaving him fully exposed. Since Kenpachi is a fighter who loves getting up close and personal with his foes, he was able to figure this out pretty quickly, so Tosen’s Bankai is probably more suited to ranged opponents, which does limit its versatility.

3 Kokujo Tengen Myo (Komamura Sajin)

Komamura Will Receive All The Damage Inflicted Onto His Bankai

• First Appearance: Episode 51

This is specifically focusing on Komamura’s Bankai before he received the upgraded version later in the story. Kokujo Tengen Myo is essentially a giant version of Komamura in every sense, meaning it will follow each of his physical motions and attacks exactly as he makes them. However, it also means that, since the two are inherently linked, any damage Kokujo Tengen Myo receives will also be inflicted onto Komamura.

It also doesn’t help that this Bankai, while fast for its size, is still on the slower side compared to many others, and can be easily exploited if the opponent possesses abilities that make them too agile for the eye to see. Again, Komamura does enhance this Bankai in the Thousand Year Blood War arc, but it’s always had faults that still make it a little risky to use.

2 Nozarashi (Zaraki Kenpachi)

Zaraki’s Bankai Tears His Body Apart For The Sake Of Acquiring An Immense Power Surge

• First Appearance: Chapter 669

Kenpachi’s immensely powerful Bankai is very much a last resort which arguably does just as much damage to the user as it inflicts on his opponents. When unleashing Nozarashi, Zaraki takes on an oni-like appearance with glowing red skin and black markings covering his skin. He also receives a staggering power boost, and is far more ruthless than before, though Kenpachi will also lose all sense of reasoning in this form.

This means he essentially becomes a one-man killing machine who will strike out at friend and foe alike if his mindless gaze locks onto them. Additionally, the Bankai possesses so much power it also tears Kenpachi’s body apart while using it, leaving him paralyzed after using it. There’s always the chance Kenpachi could get himself, or others killed when using Bankai, which is why limiting its use as much as possible is heavily advised by other captains.

1 Hakka No Togame (Rukia Kuchiki)

One Wrong Move With This Icy Bankai Could Lead To Rukia Losing A Limb, Or Even Her Life

• First Appearance: TYBW Episode 19

Rukia’s Bankai, which she first uses against Sternritter As Nodt during the Thousand Year Blood War arc, sees her freeze everything within proximity, including herself. While Rukia’s opponents who are caught in the attack will immediately crumble away, Rukia will survive, though moving her body too quickly will cause severe harm to her body, and could even lead to her own death if she’s too hasty.

It’s also implied Rukia doesn’t possess too much experience with using her Bankai, and while not a weakness in and of itself, it can still be risky when paired with a Bankai that requires such a great amount of care to use correctly without getting hurt. Thankfully, Byakuya is there during the As Nodt battle to remind Rukia that unwinding the Bankai slowly is crucially important for using it safely.