Top8 Epic Battles in Bleach That Took Ages to Conclude

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Summary

  • Long battles in Bleach involve intense encounters between key characters, and they span several chapters and episodes.
  • Battles like Ichigo vs. Aizen showcased epic action, combined with significant events and crucial character development.
  • The Thousand-Year Blood War is made up of multiple big battles between numerous Shinigami and Quincy.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the epic saga that is Bleach, one of the shōnen battle genre’s towering giants, standing tall alongside legends like One Piece and Naruto. What sets it apart for me is its staggering scope. With an incredible 686 manga chapters and nearly 250 anime episodes under its belt, this story is vast and intricate, providing ample ground for countless epic battles to unfold. It’s no wonder that fans like myself are captivated by the grandeur of this tale!

In this series, the fights often become remarkably prolonged, particularly during storylines where multiple confrontations occur simultaneously involving various prominent characters. There are numerous thrilling battles in the anime _Bleach_, and the eight battles listed below are the most captivating instances of these extended skirmishes.

8. Ichigo Kurosaki And Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck Vs. Nnoitra Gilga

12 Chapters (6 Episodes)

In the anime series Bleach, Yhwach, one of the most relentless and obstinate villains, often takes center stage. Given his tenacity, it’s no wonder he’s involved in one of the longest battles in the show. This formidable Espada launches an attack on Ichigo Kurosaki immediately after Ichigo had vanquished Grimmjow. His impressive offensive and defensive abilities granted him a substantial edge against our hero.

In the heat of the battle, everything shifts when Nnoitra attacks a small Arrancar girl named Nel. This unexpected action unleashes her true identity as none other than Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, the former Espada #3, a powerful figure with a tangled past with Nnoitora himself! Nelliel, though initially overpowered, puts up a fierce fight against her longtime adversary. However, she ultimately transforms back into her child form, leaving us both in peril. Thankfully, the mighty Kenpachi Zaraki swoops in to save the day!

7. Shunsui Kyoraku Vs. Coyote Starrk

12 Chapters (11 Episodes)

The Arrancar Saga is packed with numerous epic battles of significant duration that take place concurrently. Among these intense confrontations, a standout example is the encounter between Captain Shunsui Kyoraku and Espada #1, Coyote Starrk. A key factor contributing to their battle’s length is its unexpected interruption by Wonderweiss, who wounded Kyoraku and removed him from the action for multiple chapters.

Lucky for him, he was able to regain strength and fight Coyote again, marking the start of their real contest. Starrk is a captivating character with a tragic past, and the unveiling of Kyoraku’s intricate Shikai helped prolong their intense battle. Despite this, their confrontation remains one of the most memorable in the entire series. Remarkably, the First Division Captain utilized his immense power to emerge victorious.

6. Ichigo Kurosaki Vs. Sosuke Aizen

14 Chapters (6 Episodes)

One significant event in the series was the conflict between Soul Society and the treacherous Sosuke Aizen. Given its significance and the numerous participants, it’s no wonder that this war was expansive, with numerous skirmishes among various characters. The climactic battle, however, was the prolonged one between the antagonist and Ichigo Kurosaki. This confrontation begins when Ichigo, along with his father Isshin, Urahara, and Yoruichi, launch an attack on Aizen in a replicated Karakura Town.

During the interim periods of their battles, several significant events unfold. For instance, Ichigo spends a considerable amount of time honing his skills in the Precipice World, and Gin turns against Aizen. However, it all culminates in an extraordinary and extravagant re-encounter on the borders of Karakura Town. Here, Ichigo gets to demonstrate the extent of his growth to Aizen and ultimately thwarts his nefarious schemes using his devastating Final Getsuga Tensho. This battle sequence is undeniably one of the most thrilling action scenes in Bleach.

5. The Gotei 13 And The Visored Vs. Gerard Valkyrie

15 Chapters

Gerard Valkyrie is not just a member of Ywhach’s Shield Squadron, but he also embodies the Core of the Soul King, making him one of the unbelievably powerful figures within this series. It’s worth mentioning that even the combined forces of the Gotei 13 Captains and the Visored were needed to restrain him.

This battle is simply spectacular! It features some of the series’ finest characters displaying their strongest and most impressive moves. Notable standouts include Toshiro Hitsugaya, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Byakuya Kuchiki. Unfortunately, Gerard Valkyrie was defeated by Yhwach personally. However, the Gotei 13 and the Visored fought valiantly in this clash, a fight that luckily will be continued in the forthcoming fourth season of the Thousand-Year Blood War anime.

4. The Gotei 13 Vs. The Sternritter

15 Chapters (4 Episodes)

Indeed, it’s not surprising that battles featuring numerous characters squaring off against each other tend to be quite extended in the series, and the epic confrontation between the Gotei 13 Captains and the Sternritter during the Thousand-Year Blood War arc is undoubtedly no different.

In a fierce battle, six formidable Shinigami fighters squared off against eight equally powerful Quincy warriors, all vying to safeguard Soul Society. The encounter was marked by an exhilarating whirlwind of distinct powers and spectacular moves, with the Sternritters themselves sometimes fighting each other. This is one of those pivotal, high-stakes moments that underscores why this conflict is deservingly called the Thousand-Year Blood War.

3. The Royal Guard Vs. The Schutzstaffel

15 Chapters (4 Episodes)

In the Thousand-Year Blood War storyline, things escalated significantly when Yhwach, accompanied by his elite guards known as the Schutzstaffel, stormed the Palace of the Soul King. Meanwhile, Yhwach himself charged towards where the Soul King was residing, leaving his subordinates to confront the five Royal Guards: Ichibe Hyosube, Kirio Hikifune, Senjumaru Shutara, Tenjiro Kirinji and Oetsu Nimaiya.

It’s worth mentioning that both the Schutzstaffel and the Royal Guards were skilled masters of intricate and powerful techniques. The complexity of these methods, along with a large number of participants, is what made their conflict so prolonged, as evident in both the manga and anime. For instance, Senjumaru’s Bankai, “Loom of the Six-Colored Floating Patterns of Death,” was so extensive that it took nearly an entire chapter or episode to fully deploy against her six adversaries.

2. Ichigo Kurosaki Vs. Ulquiorra Cifer

17 Chapters (9 Episodes)

Among the many intriguing antagonists found in Bleach, Ulquiorra Cifer stands out as particularly complex and unforgettable. His unique bond with Orihime was captivating, and it served to intensify his rivalry with Ichigo Kurosaki. In their initial confrontation, Ulquiorra even went so far as to kill him; yet, they met again at the pinnacle of Las Noches, leading to one of the most breathtaking battles in the entire series.

This intense battle is jam-packed with everything you could ask for: two formidable combatants showing off extraordinary skills and transformations, a deep emotional pull, and flawless action sequences. Interestingly, both its anime and manga versions are notorious for featuring some of the longest fights within their genres. The length is primarily due to the careful build-up of characters like Ulquiorra and Ichigo, and it culminates in the stunning disclosure of Ichigo’s Full Hollow Form.

1. Renji Abarai, Uryu Ishida And Mayuri Kurotsuchi Vs. Szayelaporro Granz

18 Chapters (15 Episodes)

It’s no wonder that Szayelaporro Granz, being a man of science, opted for a more calculated approach when confronting Renji Abarai and Uryu Ishida. He immobilized them using a chamber designed to suppress their Shinigami abilities, sent his subordinates at them, and even deployed his Resurrección, which allows him to create copies of himself. To add to the battle’s protracted nature, Pesche and Dondochakka, with their humorous antics, also played a part in prolonging the fight.

Engaging in this drawn-out skirmish spanning countless manga volumes and anime episodes was no easy task, especially when Szayelaporro, such a formidable adversary, even paused mid-fight to swap his attire! Renji and Uryu were hard-pressed to overcome him on their own, making the timely intervention of the brilliant and eccentric captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi all the more pivotal. This was a perfect pairing indeed, as he too is a mad scientist who utilized his intellect, along with his own concoctions, to deceive Szayelaporro, ultimately poisoning him with a Superhuman Drug. His demise in one of the series’ most merciless and heartless scenes remains etched in memory.

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2025-03-28 06:35