The Thousand-Year Blood War arc of Bleach showcases an array of powerful Bankai, the ultimate forms of a Soul Reaper’s Zanpakuto. These transformations are not only displays of immense power but also of incredible speed. Some Bankai are designed for close-quarters combat, utilizing blindingly fast attacks, while others employ rapid projectiles or instantaneous effects. Here’s a ranking of the ten fastest Bankai featured in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc:
1. Kamishini no Yari
Gin Ichimaru’s Bankai, Kamishini no Yari, is known for its incredible speed and deadly efficiency. Gin claims that his Bankai can extend at 500 times the speed of sound. This staggering speed allows Gin to slice through entire buildings in an instant. It’s an ability that can end a fight before an opponent even realizes they’ve been struck. Gin demonstrated its speed early in the series, solidifying its place as one of the fastest Bankai.
2. Hakka no Togame
Rukia Kuchiki’s Bankai, Hakka no Togame, manifests as an absolute-zero ice ability. Upon activation, it instantly freezes everything within close proximity. This includes her opponent, who is encased in ice and crumbles away shortly after. The speed at which the freezing occurs makes it incredibly difficult to evade. Hakka no Togame’s instantaneous freezing effect is a testament to its speed.
3. Jakuho Raikoben
Soi Fon’s Bankai, Jakuho Raikoben, is a massive missile launcher that embodies speed in a different way. While not a melee speed, the firing velocity and destructive capability of the missile make it incredibly fast and difficult to react to. The sheer force and speed of the projectile make it a devastating attack.
4. Unnamed Bankai
Kenpachi Zaraki’s Bankai, which remains unnamed, is a raw display of destructive power coupled with enhanced speed. When unleashed, it grants Kenpachi a significant boost in both strength and speed, allowing him to overwhelm his opponents. The speed increase is so significant that he can easily topple giant opponents, delivering devastating strikes. The speed boost is a clear benefit of this transformation.
5. Tekken Tachikaze
Kensei Muguruma’s Bankai, Tekken Tachikaze, focuses on explosive power delivered at high speeds. The Bankai manifests as knuckle blades and segmented bands on Kensei’s arms. Each punch Kensei throws produces explosive force upon impact. It’s a close-range melee Bankai that unleashes a flurry of rapid, explosive attacks, allowing him to pummel opponents into submission very quickly.
6. Tensa Zangetsu
Ichigo Kurosaki’s Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, is not primarily known for flashy speed displays, it’s a compact form that enhances his combat speed significantly. By compressing the power of his Bankai, Ichigo can perform high-speed combat, creating afterimages to confuse his opponents. While his speed isn’t the flashiest, it’s more than sufficient to overwhelm most foes. Tensa Zangetsu provides a significant speed boost, enabling Ichigo to engage in rapid melee combat.
7. Sōō Zabimaru
Renji Abarai’s Bankai, Sōō Zabimaru, is a melee-oriented Bankai that, in its true form, has a surprising amount of speed. The fully realized Bankai features a gorilla arm, which allows Renji to deliver incredibly fast and powerful close-range attacks. The speed is not in the activation of the bankai, but in the fast and forceful attacks that Renji can make with it.
8. Kinshara Butōdan
Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi’s Bankai, Kinshara Butōdan, is based on illusions and sound. Its speed is demonstrated by how quickly the illusions manifest, affecting an opponent’s perception almost instantaneously. While it doesn’t directly enhance physical speed, its quick illusions can disorient opponents just as effectively as a speed-based attack. The illusions are triggered almost instantaneously, making it hard to react.
9. Zanka no Tachi
Yamamoto Genryusai’s Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, is arguably the most destructive Bankai in Bleach. While not primarily a speed-based Bankai, Yamamoto’s own speed and mastery of movement means that his devastating strikes can land in the blink of an eye. The speed with which he can execute attacks is incredibly fast, matching his overall speed as a character.
10. Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju
Shunsui Kyoraku’s Bankai, Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju, is a complex ability that traps opponents in a theatrical play. While not a speed-based bankai in the traditional sense, the Bankai’s power is in how quickly it can enact its various acts, taking the opponent through the play quickly. While speed is not its primary focus, the swiftness of the play makes it a dangerous Bankai.
The Nature of Speed in Bleach
In Bleach, speed is a vital attribute that allows Shinigami to outmaneuver opponents and deliver attacks before they can react. Shunpo, or “Flash Step,” is a technique used by Shinigami to enhance their speed, enabling them to travel quickly from one point to another. Many characters, even those without formal training in Shunpo, have achieved incredible speeds through their own powers or Bankai abilities. The fastest characters in Bleach are often those who can combine raw speed with a mastery of Shunpo, or those who have Bankai that specifically amplify their speed and reaction time.
Other Notable Mentions
Several other characters in Bleach also possess incredible speed, though their Bankai were not ranked in the top 10. Yoruichi Shihoin, known as the “Goddess of Flash,” is one of the fastest characters in the series. Her speed is often coupled with the use of Shunko, a technique that further boosts her agility. Ichibei Hyosube, a member of the Royal Guard, possesses one of the most powerful Bankai with Shirafude Ichimonji. While his speed is not the primary focus, his ability to rewrite the names of anything he touches has shown to affect opponents quickly.
Conclusion
The Bankai in Bleach‘s Thousand-Year Blood War arc showcase a diverse range of abilities, with many of them including incredible speed. From Gin Ichimaru’s sonic-speed spear to Rukia Kuchiki’s instantaneous freezing, these Bankai demonstrate that speed is a critical aspect of power in the series. The ranking of these Bankai highlights the many ways that speed can be used in battle, whether through physical attacks, projectiles, or instantaneous effects.
