Summary
The main protagonist ofBleach, Ichigo Kurosaki, underwent many powerful transformations throughout the long-running anime and manga series. Due to his unique lineage as a combination of human, hollow, quincy, and shinigami blood, Ichigo possessed immense potential for growth that allowed himto continually evolve his abilitiesin order to face increasingly formidable foes.
Whether losing and then regaining his powers or suddenly discovering new skills, Ichigo experienced numerous physical and spiritual changes that dramatically increased his strength over the course of the battles and story arcs he participates in.
Ichigo’s Base Shinigami Form
Ichigo’s Rise as a Substitute Shinigami
Ichigo always had a small amount of reiatsu due to his lineage, which allowed him to see spirits. After his fateful encounter with Rukia, she transferred some of her reiatsu into himthrough her zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki, dramatically increasing his power and setting him on the path of a substitute Shinigami. With his newfound powers, he took on the duty of purging Karakura Town of hollows.
The initial manifestation of Ichigo’s zanpakuto appeared as an exceptionally large blade, much larger than the average Shikai. Armed with this powerful zanpakuto, he easily cut down a hollow, threatening his sisters. Later, he fought and defeated both Madarame Ikkaku and Renji Abarai. His greatest accomplishment wasdefeating Captain Kenpachi Zarakiwithout his eyepatch limiter, though he was still no match for stronger captains like Aizen and Byakuya.
Ichigo’s First Bankai
Ichigo Achieves Bankai in Record Time
Ichigo was able to achieve Bankai in an unprecedentedly short time through intense training under Yoruichi and Urahara. In only 2.5 days, Ichigo battled againsthis Zanpakuto spirit, Zangetsu, to unlock his true power. This enabled him to far surpass the hundreds of years it normally takes to attain Bankai. His Bankai, known as Tensa Zangetsu, allowed him to condense his immense spiritual power and Shikai into a lean black blade. It also changed his appearance, replacing his Shinigami robes with a black and red shihakusho.
During his battle with Byakuya Kuchiki, he was able to shatter the Captain’s Senkei technique and disperse the hundred million petals of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi with seemingly little effort, a feat thought impossible before unlocking his Bankai. However, even with the immense power boost from Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo was still unable to defeat Byakuya’s advanced Senkei technique.
Our pride', you said? So that pride you’re saying is so precious, is that connected to killing Rukia? Is it? Then I should stomp on it as you said. ‘Cause that’s why I obtained this Bankai!
Ichigo’s Hollow Form
Ichigo’s Inner Hollow Emerges Against His Will
When facing near defeatagainst Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki unwillingly triggered his Hollow form to emerge and take over his body. This was signified by a bone-white hollow mask forming over his face against his control. In this state, Ichigo’s normal consciousness was suppressed while his inner Hollow had full command.
Who am I? I have no name! – Hollow Ichigo
The Hollow possessed immense power that far surpassed even Bankai Ichigo’s level. It was able to effortlessly overwhelm and slash through Byakuya’s massive Senbonzakura Kageyoshi attack with a single swing of its blade. The Hollow even went as far as to viciously slash Byakuya across his chest while laughing maniacally. However, Ichigo was eventually able to regain control before fatally harming his opponent. Despite Ichigo insisting that the Hollow powered the victory and thus it didn’t truly count, Byakuya still acknowledged defeat, showcasing how even a skillful captain like himself was no match for the unrestrained power of Ichigo’s Hollow form.
Ichigo’s Vasto Lorde Form
Ichigo Taps Into Ultimate Hollow Power
Ichigo was outmatched in his battle withthe Espada Ulquiorra Ciferand faced near death after having a hole bored through his chest. However, this fatal wound triggered the emergence ofIchigo’s dormant Vasto Lorde form. With white bone-like armor replacing his shinigami robes and a horned mask obscuring his face, Vasto Lorde Ichigo was more akin to the series’ most terrifying hollows in appearance and power.
In this state, Vasto Lorde Ichigo effortlessly decimated Ulquiorra. He moved at an immensely heightened speed that Ulquiorra couldn’t perceive and crushedthe Espada’s strongest attack, Lanza del Relampago, with his bare hands. Vasto Lorde Ichigo then finished the fight by blasting Ulquiorra with an unstoppably powerful Cero that shattered the roof of Las Noches.
I see. So you show no mercy. Just like a true Hollow. I care not. Defeated by you as I stand, my existence holds no further meaning. Do it. – Ulquiorra
Ichigo’s Final Getsuga Tenshou
Ichigo Perfects Mugetsu to Battle Aizen
During his finalbattle with Sosuke Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki achieved one of his most powerful forms in an attempt to defeat the villain once and for all. After an intensive three months of training in the Dangai realm, Ichigo had perfected his Bankai and merged further with Zangetsu than ever before. This allowed him to unlock his Final Getsuga Tenshou transformation. In this form, Ichigo’s spiritual power skyrocketed, and his appearance changed drastically. His hair grew long and turned pitch black. Wrapped in bandages from the waist up, a flowing black reiatsu surrounded his body, displaying the immense power he now wielded.
The Final Getsuga Tenshou granted Ichigo access to his most devastating attack, the Mugetsu. Able to coat his Zanpakuto blade in a dense black reiatsu, the Mugetsu emitted a blast potent enough to damage even the absurdly strong Aizen in his Hogyoku-empowered form. With a single swing, Ichigo overwhelmed Aizen and painted the sky black from the force of the blast. Though Aizen survived due to the Hogyoku, he was weakened enough forKisuke Urahara to finally seal him away. However, unleashing the full might of the Mugetsu came at a cost for Ichigo. The immense strain left him completely powerless afterward.
Ichigo’s Fullbring Form
Ichigo Regains Strength Through Fullbring
After suffering a great loss of power in his battle against Aizen, Ichigo Kurosaki found himself in his weakest state. Determined to regain his strength, Ichigo embarked on a new training regimen to find alternative sources of power. He learned from Kugo Ginjo about Fullbring, a unique ability thatstemmed from Ichigo’s mothersurviving a Hollow attack during her pregnancy. Ginjo helped Ichigo hone his latent Fullbring powers through rigorous training. When activated, Ichigo’s Fullbring transformed his body, wrapping him in bony armor and manifesting a short-bladed sword. This new form allowed him to fire mini-blasts of reiatsu similar in appearance to his signature attack, Getsuga Tensho.
By using the power within our souls, we can take an object that we hold closest to us and manifest it into a weapon of our choosing. We call this ability Fullbring.
While Ichigo was pleased to have regained some form of power through Fullbring, it proved to be one of Ichigo’s weakest transformations. Unfortunately for Ichigo, Ginjo eventually betrayed him and stole away his Fullbring abilities, leaving him without any strength once more. Luckily,Rukia was then able to inject Ichigowith Shinigami powers once again, allowing him to regain his original Shinigami form.
Ichigo’s True Shikai
Ichigo Learns His Zanpakutos' True Nature
With the loss of his signature Bankai form at the hands of Quincy Haschwalth, Ichigo traveledto the Royal Realm, where he received training from the renowned swordmaster Oetsu Nimaiya. It was here that Ichigo learned to properly commune with his Zanpakuto spirit, Zangetsu, and understand the intrinsic relationship between his Quincy and Hollow abilities. Nimaiya then forged Ichigo two new Zanpakutos, leaving him with a pair of black blades.
I’ll Fight For Myself. Thank You, Zangetsu. You Are Me.
One sword was short and solid in design, while the other was relatively long and hollow inside. With these dual zanpakutos, Ichigo accessed his true Shikai state for the first time. In this form, he gained access to new techniques. One technique was the Getsuga Juujishou, which allowed Ichigo to release energy blasts from both Zangetsus simultaneously. Armed with his true Shikai, Ichigo found himself much stronger and more prepared for the imminentbattles against the Sternritterand Yhwach himself in the Thousand-Year Blood War.
Ichigo’s True Bankai
Ichigo Unlocks His Ultimate Form
Ichigo’s True Bankai was revealed during his final battleagainst the villain Yhwach. By merging his two Zanpakuto blades, Ichigo unlocked a new level of power far greater than any previous Bankai form. He placed the two blades side by side, causing a huge surge of energy that transformed both him and the swords. The blades merged into a single weapon, with the smaller sword filling the hollowed-out space within the larger one. The outer section of the combined blade turned white, and a chain connected the opposite sides. Ichigo underwent a physical transformation, with a horn protruding from his left temple, one eye glowing yellow, and two black stripes running down his face.
According to Yhwach, Ichigo’s True Bankai is considered the most powerful of all the forms seen in theBleachseries. Unfortunately,Yhwach used his “Almighty” abilityto alter the future and break Ichigo’s Bankai because of the immense threat it posed. Thanks to Orihime and Tsukishima’s efforts, they eventually managed to restore it.
Ichigo’s Final Zanpakuto
Ichigo Fights On With His Original Shikai
Ichigo Kurosaki’s final form against Yhwach came as a surprise to fans. During the battle, Aizen and Renji supported Ichigo, but it was Uryu who played a crucial role by using an arrowhead of Still Silver to halt Yhwach’s powers. This gave Ichigo an opening to rush at Yhwach with his broken Tensa Zangetsu. However, his Bankai then disintegrated, revealing his original Shikai, which first emerged when Rukia stabbed him. Fans were unsure what this final Zanpakuto meant for Ichigo’s powers, but it was his strongest transformation against Yhwach.
In the manga chapter “Echoing Jaws of Hell,” set twelve years after Yhwach’s defeat, Ichigo was seen fighting Szayelaporro Granz at the gates of Hell. He wielded his iconic original Shikai rather than his dual Zangetsus. This suggests that his true Zangetsu was always the original Shikai. While it’s unknown if he can still use Bankai, Ichigo seemed powerful enough without it. Fans hopethe Thousand-Year Blood War arcanime adaptation will offer more explanation for what happened to Zangetsu in Ichigo’s final battle against Yhwach.
