Biggest Heroes In Bleach's The Thousand-Year Blood War

Key Takeaways

Ichigo’s final efforts in stopping Yhwach make up for his previous mistakes, showing true heroism.
Orihime’s role as a healer proves invaluable, showcasing her abilities and heroism in the arc.
Mayuri Korutsuchi emerges as the true MVP, saving lives, taking out key fighters, and showing teamwork.

After delving deep into the captivating world of Bleach, I must say that the final arc showcased some truly remarkable moments from our beloved characters. Among them all, one character stood out to me as the most valiant and indispensable: Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

In the fictional universe of Bleach, a long-lasting battle known as The Thousand-Year Blood War took place. During this struggle, the Soul Reaper Captains and Lieutenants faced their toughest adversary – the Sternritter. This powerful army of Quincies nearly annihilated the entirety of the Soul Society during their initial assault, even managing to seize several Bankai powers in the process.

Without a doubt, the Quincy nearly succeeded in eliminating the Soul Reapers; but fortunately for them, Ichigo and their companions effectively countered the Quincy attack. Crucial figures made significant contributions to this resistance effort.

These characters from “Bleach” truly deserve the accolades they receive, as they demonstrated remarkable bravery throughout the climactic chapter of the tale. Without their valiant efforts, it’s hard to imagine how the centuries-long struggle between Soul Reapers and Quincy might have unfolded differently.

Before jumping in, there will be major spoilers for the final arc of the series , including the ending as is shown in the manga.

8. Ichigo Kurosaki

Ichigo’s Final Efforts In Stopping Yhwach Make Up For Some Of His Other Blunders This Arc

First Appearance: Episode 1

Without a doubt, Ichigo’s performance during the story’s climactic chapters isn’t his strongest, and he does make some significant blunders. Yet, it’s important to note that he repeatedly thwarts Yhwach when others couldn’t, and manages to eliminate several Bambis who were causing havoc among the Soul Reapers mere moments prior.

What’s crucial is that Ichigo’s training with Squad 0 and his understanding of his genuine Zanpakuto allowed him to vanquish Yhwach when it mattered most. Despite requiring aid from Uryu in the closing stages, it was only Ichigo who possessed the courage and strength necessary to slay Yhwach, thus ending the war definitively. For this reason, he can rightfully be regarded as a hero.

7. Orihime Inoue

Orihime’s Role As Healer Makes Her An Invaluable Member Of The Soul Reaper’s Forces

First Appearance: Episode 2

As a gamer immersed in the Bleach universe, it’s mind-blowing to realize that the Orihime who now fights alongside Ichigo in the Thousand-Year Blood War is the same character I knew from earlier arcs. Gone are the days of self-doubt and questioning her worth to the team; instead, she has transformed into a vital team member, taking on the role of a healer. Throughout this epic arc, she’s shown her true mettle by saving countless lives.

A standout instance demonstrating Orihime’s prowess occurs when Ichigo’s chest is severely injured by one of Uryu’s arrows in the anime. Despite this, Orihime swiftly heals him, a feat that few others could have accomplished given the time constraints to reach the Soul Palace. Furthermore, she quickly mends Ichigo’s wounds before his confrontation with Yhwach within the Soul Palace, and also shields Ganju from being squashed by Gerard. Through her mastery of her abilities, Orihime has evolved into more than just a valuable team member; she is an unsung hero in the entire arc, whose importance may be underestimated.

6. Ryuken Ishida

Ryuken May Be Absent For Most Of The Arc, But He Joins The Fight At The Most Crucial Moment

First Appearance: Episode 44

Ryuken can be described as a late-arriving hero who makes significant moves at the climax instead of playing a major role throughout the storyline. Except for some initial discussions about Quincy history with Uryu, Ryuken is largely missing from the entire war scenario, neither joining forces with the Quincy nor seeming to side against the Soul Reapers.

Towards the end, Ryuken somehow transmits a silver arrowhead containing the blood clot that caused his wife’s death to Uryu. By leveraging the unique power of the arrow, Uryu temporarily halted Yhwach’s Almighty, giving Ichigo the opportunity for the decisive strike. It remains unclear whether this event will be modified or reworked in the anime, but there are hints suggesting that Ryuken may still have a significant impact in the upcoming episodes, as suggested by certain foreshadowing scenes alluding to the creation of the arrow.

5. Shunsui Kyoraku

Leader Of The Soul Reaper Army Who Took Down A Truly Dangerous Opponent

First Appearance: Episode 24

During the Quincy’s first incursions into Soul Society, Kyoraku plays a commendable part in holding them back. However, it’s when the Soul Reapers step through the gateway and engage the enemy head-on that Kyoraku truly proves his worth. Overcoming his sluggishness, he rises to become a leader for the remaining forces, instilling hope and bravery within them as they prepare for the battles ahead.

It was also Kyoarku who successfully defeated Lille Barro, a foe whose actions as a Soul Reaper had left a trail of destruction. If Kyoraku hadn’t activated his Bankai to subdue Lille, it’s likely that Lille would have continued his rampage, picking off Soul Reapers with his sniper rifle, potentially dismantling the entire army piece by piece.

4. Zaraki Kenpachi

Kenpachi Stopped The War From Being Ended Prematurely By A Meteor

First Appearance: Episode 20

In the conflict against the Quincies, Kenpachi makes infrequent appearances, yet when he does, he consistently demonstrates his immense power by destroying powerful adversaries with ease. The most notable instance is his duel with Gremmy, a Sternritter who can bring anything he imagines into existence. Most characters would have been defeated by being hit twice by concrete fists or trapped in a spatial pocket, but Kenpachi’s unquenchable desire for combat enables him to persevere through every one of Gremmy’s challenging trials.

Indeed, Kenpachi demonstrated an impressive feat in the manga, managing to cleave a meteor in half. This act left even Gremmy’s allies trembling with fear. It’s plausible that this one strike could have brought an immediate end to the conflict, and it’s hard to imagine many, if any, characters possessing the strength equivalent to Kenpachi’s, capable of preventing the meteor from hitting the surface prior to impact.

3. Kisuke Urahara

Urahara’s Work Behind The Scenes Saved The Soul Reapers On More Than A Few Occasions

First Appearance: Episode 6

During battles against the Quincy, Soul Reapers strive to counterattack on the ground, but Kisuke is consistently working covertly to aid them. It’s accurate to say that Kisuke frequently saves the day in crucial moments throughout the arc. In the early stages of the second invasion, Kisuke skillfully resurrects several captains by reinstating their Bankai, which he had previously turned into Hollowfied forms, providing them with a last opportunity to fight back.

In addition to what’s suggested, it can be understood that Kisuke played a crucial role in assembling Riruka and Yukio for the creation of the box used by Ichigo and his group to return to Yhwach within the Soul Palace. Moreover, he was responsible for constructing the entrance to the Soul Palace, which was utilized by him and numerous others in the final invasion. Furthermore, Kisuke took on a member of the Schutzstaffel. It’s fortunate that the Soul Reapers chose to set aside their grudges towards Kisuke during this instance, as without his contributions, they would have been in a precarious position from the outset.

2. Jushiro Ukitake

Ukitake Gives Up His Own Life To Ensure The Three Worlds Didn’t Collide

First Appearance: Episode 9

From the early stages of the series, it was well-known that Ukitake, captain of Squad 13, suffered from an ailment. It wasn’t until the final arc’s flashback in Bleach that viewers discovered this affliction was linked to his bond with Mimihagi, the very hand of the Soul King himself.

When Yhwach compels Ichigo to split the Soul King in half, chaos ensues across the three realms, with the imminent threat of them merging looming large. Ukitake utilizes his connection with Mimihagi to momentarily fortify the Soul King’s hand, thereby delaying Yhwach and enabling his allies to terminate the conflict. Sacrificing his own life, he kept the balance and averted the certain doom of the Bleach universe.

1. Mayuri Kurotsuchi

From Saving Numerous Of His Allies’ Lives To Destroying An Entire Army Of Zombies, Mayuri Was The True MVP Of The Final Arc

First Appearance: Episode 24

In the anime series “Bleach,” Mayuri’s character development unfolds in an intriguing manner as it’s not so much him who transforms, but rather, our perspective on him shifts significantly. Initially, during the Soul Society arc, Mayuri’s harsh treatment of his subordinates and Nemu left many viewers with a negative impression of him.

Moving ahead to the Thousand-Year Blood War, Mayuri’s twisted intellect allowed him to eliminate several crucial opponents while rescuing many allies. He not only managed to command Giselle’s undead army, but he was also instrumental in bringing back Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Kenpachi, and numerous other Soul Reapers who would have perished or turned into zombies without his intervention. Moreover, he played a significant role by taking down one of the four Schutzstaffel, assisted by Nemu, demonstrating his team spirit during the climactic battle. His contributions also extended to restraining Aizen’s power and helping build the gateway for the Soul Palace.

2024-12-09 09:05

Biggest Heroes In Bleach’s The Thousand-Year Blood War