Bleachis a renowned anime and manga series created by Tite Kubo, known for its action-packed story and complex characters. The protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki, is one of the mostpowerful anime charactersever created with diverse and evolving powers, resulting in various unique forms.
RELATED:Best Anime Like Bleach
The forms symbolize different aspects of Ichigo’s heritage and power, offering different abilities and power levels. From his initial base form as a human with spiritual awareness through stages of becoming a Shinigami and unlocking True Bankai, each form represents a milestone in Ichigo’s growth. This list ranks Ichigo’s forms in terms of power and impact on the narrative.
Ichigo Kurosaki’s Base Form in Bleach refers to his standard human form. Ichigo is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and remains formidable despite lacking the supernatural enhancements of his Shinigami, Hollow, or Fullbring states.
His spiritual pressure is unusually high, even in this form, making him resilient and capable of seeing and interacting with spiritual beings. His strong determination and willpower are key traits that don’t rely on his transformations. However, compared to his other forms, his physical strength, speed, and combat abilities are limited in his human form.
Shikai or Shinigami is the first evolved form of a Zanpakuto. Ichigo’s Shikai, Zangetsu, is unique as it remains in a constant Shikai state due to his immense spiritual energy. Unlike other soul reapers who can seal their Zanpakuto into a normal katana, Ichigo’s Zangetsu always appears as a large, cleaver-like blade.
In this form, Ichigo can use his signature move, Getsuga Tenshou, where he swings Zangetsu to release energy waves. Shikai represents a significant increase in power compared to the sealed Zanpakuto, providing Ichigo with enhanced combat capabilities.
Bankai is the second and final upgraded form of a Zanpakuto, the weapon Shinigami wields. Achieving Bankai provides a power boost of 5-10 times the strength of the initial Shikai form, greatly enhancing a Shinigami’s abilities.
RELATED:Bleach: Every Canon Story Arc, Ranked
Bankai often changes the weapon’s appearance and grants new abilities. Ichigo’s Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, condenses his power instead of expanding it, drastically increasing his speed and combat efficiency. Attaining a Bankai requires decades of training, but Ichigo battled against Zangetsu for two and a half days to achieve Bankai.
7Hollow Mask
Bankai with Hollow Mask is a powerful form that represents Ichigo’s Bankai and inner Hollow powers. The Hollow mask boosts his already-enhanced Bankai capabilities, significantly increasing his strength, speed, and durability.
The hollow mask first appears after Ichigo is badly wounded fighting Byakuya Kuchiki. The hollow side appears to have its own personality, wanting to protect Ichigo. Over time, Ichgio learns to use and conjure the hollow mask at will. Despite the increase in power, maintaining this form requires immense control, as the Hollow side constantly threatens to overwhelm Ichigo.
6Full Hollow
Ichigo Kurosaki’s Full Hollow form during his training with the Visoreds represents his struggle with his Hollow. This transformation occurs when his inner Hollow takes control, turning Ichigo into a monstrous, berserk entity. In this state, he’s enveloped in a white, skeletal mask, and his body develops a Hollow hole.
His strength, speed, and durability are significantly amplified, but at the cost of his sanity and control. The Visoreds' training aims to help Ichigo subjugate this Hollow influence, allowing him to harness its power without losing control.
5Fullbring
Fullbring is a unique power manifested by humans affected by Hollow spiritual energy before birth. Ichigo gains Fullbring abilities after losing his Shinigami powers. His Fullbring, named Substitute Badge, morphs his Substitute Soul Reaper Badge into a form similar to his old Shinigami attire, significantly enhancing his physical capabilities and agility.
The fullbring form allows Ichigo to project energy similarly to his former Getsuga Tenshou. Fullbring was a temporary stepping stone for Ichigo, bridging the loss of his original powers and regaining his true Shinigami abilities.
4Final Getsuga Tenshou
Final Getsuga Tenshou, also known as The Final Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer, is Ichigo’s ultimate technique, allowing him to use a highly potent attack called Mugetsu. Activating this form involves Ichigo merging with his Zanpakuto, Tensa Zangetsu, becoming a manifestation of his own power.
RELATED:Best Anime Villains Of All Time
His appearance drastically changes in this form, with his hair growing long and black and his body covered in bandages. However, the cost of using this form is extremely high. After its use, Ichigo loses all his Shinigami powers, returning him to a normal human.
3Vasto Lorde
Vasto Lorde Ichigo is a form that Ichigo involuntarily transforms into during his battle against thepowerful Espada, Ulquiorra. Following a fatal attack, Ichigo’s Hollow instincts take over, reviving and morphing him into a form resembling a Vasto Lorde, the highest class of Hollow.
This form is incredibly powerful, boasting increased speed, strength, regeneration, and a deadly Cero. His appearance is monstrous, with a white bone-like mask covering his face. Despite the immense power, this form is dangerous due to Ichigo’s loss of control, turning him into a wild, destructive force.
2True Shikai
Ichigo’s True Shikai form is unveiled after he discovers his true heritage and hidden source of power. Realizing that his Shinigami and Hollow powers are two sides of the same coin, represented by two entities named Zangetsu, Ichigo gains a True Shikai.
This form features dual blades, a large cleaver-like sword that symbolizes his Hollow powers, and a smaller, dagger-like sword representing his Quincy powers. This form is not just an enhancement of his power but also a testament to his acceptance of his multifaceted identity.
1True Bankai
True Bankai, or Horn of Salvation is one of Ichigo’s most powerful forms attained during his finalfight against Yhwachin the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. This form represents a perfect fusion of his Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, and Fullbring powers, granting him immense strength and speed.
Ichigo’s appearance changes dramatically, with one horn protruding from his head, half of his face covered by a Hollow mask, and his outfit resembling his Fullbring Shikai attire. He also gains the ability to fire a tremendously powerful, arrow-shaped Getsuga Tenshou.
