Soul Reapers Who Never Used Bankai In Bleach

Key Takeaways

• Multiple crucial Bleach characters never revealed their Bankai, sparking fan speculation about their abilities.
• Yumichika, Ukitake, Omaeda, Rangiku, Isshin, Love, Yoruichi, and Aizen all kept their Bankai hidden in the series.
• Consumed by fan theories, Aizen’s potential Bankai remains the most anticipated, rumored to be as powerful as controlling time and space.

While most notable Soul Reapers in Bleach have at least one battle to show off their ultimate technique, the Bankai, for one reason or another, not everyone had a chance to scream out the epic line during their time in the series. Bankai can be incredibly difficult to acquire, though, as shown in the story’s final arc, it seemed as if the majority of Soul Reapers, captains and lieutenants alike, possessed one they were willing to unleash to fight back against the Quincy army.

As for those characters who didn’t end up getting a chance to use Bankai, it has only sparked fan speculation as to what their Bankai ability could be, and also, why they decided to hold it back. As a result, these are the Soul Reapers in Bleach whose Bankai remain a mystery to this very day.

8 Yumichika Ayasegawa

Yumichika’s Bankai Would Presumably Be Based Around His Ignorant Personality

• First Appearance: Episode 24

Unlike fellow Squad 11 member Ikkaku, who unleashes his Bankai fairly early on in the series, Yumichika never gets the chance to demonstrate the most powerful technique of his Zanpakuto, Rur’iro Kujaku. However, he does use his Shikai on a number of occasions, allowing his blade to absorb another person’s Spiritual Pressure, which is already powerful enough, so one can only wonder what sort of devastating effects his Bankai would have.

Some theorize that, since Yumichika is an incredibly arrogant character who often looks down on his opponents, his Bankai could potentially rid the enemy of their will to continue fighting, making them a slave to his will. Then again, it’s probably the case that Yumichika simply didn’t learn his Bankai in time for the final battle against the Quincy, since it seems likely he would have used it at some point to help fend off the new enemy forces if he did.

7 Jushiro Ukitake

Ukitake Doesn’t Show His Bankai In The Series, But There Are Hints It May Appear In Future Arcs

• First Appearance: Episode 40

Unfortunately, Ukitake doesn’t partake in too many battles across the story of Bleach, and by the time the final war arrives, he makes the ultimate sacrifice to give up his life force in order to take over for the Soul King. There essentially wasn’t any time for him to use his Bankai, but since he’s a captain, he undoubtedly has one. Since it’s always been established that Ukitake has a severe lung disease that has plagued him since he was young, it could be that using a Bankai would simply put too much strain on his body.

With that being said, though, the one-shot Hell arc chapter Kubo released a few years back does imply that this captain will show up again in the future, since his sword can be seen stretching out from the gates of Hell to pull Szayelaporo back in. Whether this was a hint at his Bankai or simply Kubo adding in a bit of fanservice, only time will tell.

6 Marechiyo Omaeda

It Could Be The Case That A Character As Clumsy As Omaeda Would Struggle To Control A Bankai

• First Appearance: Episode 30

Some may say the reason Omaeda never receives a Bankai is because he’s simply too goofy of a character, largely being played off as comic relief any time he makes an appearance. However, it’s worth remembering that this guy still managed to climb the ranks to become a lieutenant and also has a pretty powerful Shikai, which sees his blade turn into a giant spiked ball, so it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility.

However, though Omaeda’s Bankai is never explicitly shown, it’s highly likely it would be something centered around heavy weaponry if his Shikai ability is anything to go by. Perhaps a giant spiked mace or even a cannon of some sort, similar to his captain Soi Fon, would suit Omaeda’s fighting style and could also have made him a much more useful asset during the final war.

5 Rangiku Matsumoto

There Have Been Several Theories As To Why Hitsugaya’s Lieutenant Never Uses Her Bankai

• First Appearance: Episode 30

Out of all the lieutenants, Rangiku is one of the few who shows up a lot throughout the story. While fans therefore get to learn a lot about her, including her complex relationship with Gin and her captain Hitsugaya, one mystery that still remains is her Bankai. Admittedly, it could be that since Aizen extracted part of Rangiku’s soul, then maybe this prevents her from activating her Bankai as other Soul Reapers can.

It could also be the case that Rangiku’s blade, Haineko, is simply just too lazy and disinterested to even gift its Bankai to Rangiku, which is heavily implied in the Zanpakuto Rebellion filler arc. Rangiku also gets badly wounded in the majority of her fights, so maybe using a Bankai would have dealt a little too much damage to her body. That is if she even has one to begin with, which honestly seems unlikely.

4 Isshin Kurosaki

Isshin’s Bankai Is Said To Inflict Major Damage On The User, But How Powerful Could It Really Be?

• First Appearance: Episode 1

During the flashback that showcased Isshin’s backstory with Ichigo’s mother, Isshin’s Bankai is explicitly mentioned by Aizen, who states that it’s so absurdly powerful that using it in an injured state would inflict too much damage on Isshin’s body. This straight-up confirmed that Ichigo’s father does own a Bankai, though because he only makes very brief appearances throughout the story and usually takes heavy hits in each of his battles, he’s never had a chance to use it.

Since Isshin uses a fire-based Zanpakuto, though, it seems probable his Bankai would revolve around unleashing intensely hot flames that could potentially incinerate anything nearby, kind of like the reverse of Rukia’s ice-based Bankai. On the other hand, it could be the fire equivalent of Hitsugaya’s Bankai where, instead of calling on an ice dragon, Isshin uses the power of a flame Phoenix or another type of mythical creature to reign down fireballs onto his enemies.

3 Love Aikawa

A Former Captain Who Doesn’t Get Quite Enough Screen Time To Earn A Flashy Bankai Scene

• First Appearance: Episode 123

It may be hard to believe, but Love, who is a member of the Vizoreds when Ichigo first meets him, was once a captain before he was cast out by Yamamoto. The reason this might come as a surprise is that Love gets barely any prominent moments throughout the entire series, despite the fact he almost definitely has a Bankai up his sleeve. This seems even more likely considering his fellow Vizored, Shinji, has now revealed his own Bankai in the anime of the final arc.

During the Battle of Fake Karakura Town arc, Love does unleash his Shikai, which greatly expands the size of his Zanpakuto, covering it in spikes to obliterate anyone it makes contact with. One can only imagine his Bankai would make it even bigger and more durable, potentially allowing the spikes baked into the sword to fire out to deal a little extra damage.

2 Yoruichi Shihouin

Yoruichi Definitely Had A Bankai Before Abandoning Her Zanpakuto

• First Appearance: Episode 15

While the majority of Soul Reapers who refuse to use their Bankai never really explain why, the reason Yoruichi doesn’t is simply because she abandoned her Zanpakuto, presumably when she fled the Soul Society for good. For a Soul Reaper to use Bankai, they need to form a strong bond with their blade and be able to harness its power to a point where they can unleash its final technique.

Considering Yoruichi was once a captain, it’s virtually guaranteed that she possessed a Bankai, but what it could be is anyone’s guess. It would probably feed into her lightning-fast hit-and-run fighting style, potentially being able to turn Yoruichi invisible or create illusions of her as she moves around.

1 Sosuke Aizen

Aizen Saying The Word “Bankai” Would Be A Dream Come True For Every Bleach Fan

• First Appearance: Episode 23

Without a doubt the most theorized Bankai in the entire series, Sosuke Aizen never once reveals or even mentions his Bankai, despite using his Shikai frequently throughout the show. Considering Aizen’s immense Spiritual Pressure and his keen intellect and mastery over his Zanpakuto, it’s highly likely that he does possess a Bankai, but many suspect that it’s simply too powerful for even the user to handle without putting their own lives in danger.

Since his Shikai is able to hypnotize his enemies so that they see whatever Aizen wants them to see, his Bankai would presumably be this but taken to a whole different level. It could therefore see Aizen control time and space entirely or even re-write parts of the story, as if he were author Tite Kubo himself. There have long been murmurs that fans may get to see Aizen’s Bankai in action towards the end of the TYBW anime, and if Aizen were to utter the word, it would break the internet in seconds.