The Shinigami or Soul Reapers in Bleach are among the most powerful characters in the world of Tite Kubo’s franchise. Soul Reapers inhabit Soul Society and are responsible for the tranquil transitions of dead souls to Soul Society, as well as eliminating Hollows from the World of the Living. They are members of the Gotei 13 and have (in most cases) trained at the Shinigami Academy to become Soul Reapers. They are, along with the Arrancar and the Quincy, the most important group in the series.
The number of Shinigami is enormous and while all of them are useful in one way or another, we are going to talk about the strongest ones. This list is going to contain the 20 strongest Soul Reapers (Shinigami) in Bleach, ranked based on their strengths and abilities. The list is going to start from 20th and continue down to 1st place.
20. Tōshirō Hitsugaya
Division: 10th Division
Zanpakutō: Hyōrinmaru
Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru
Perhaps Hitsugaya’s most amazing trait is his intellect and natural talent. He is the most gifted prodigy Soul Society has had since Gin Ichimaru, entering the Shinigami Academy on his first try despite his young age, graduating from the academy in a single year with the highest scores in his classes, and later becoming the youngest Shinigami to ever reach the rank of captain.
He has been called many things because of this. Renji and Iba have called him a child genius and Ichimaru has called him a “heavenly white angel who blesses Soul Society once every 100 years”. In terms of intelligence, Hitsugaya is equally impressive. He was the first to suspect Ichimaru’s betrayal, and saw that there was more to Rukia Kuchiki’s execution than he was saying.
Shunsui Kyōraku, one of the strongest Shinigami in history, claims that because he is a genius, within 100 years, Hitsugaya could surpass him. Hitsugaya’s spiritual power has the same effect as his Zanpakutō’s, as he is an ice elemental representative. His spiritual pressure is said to be very great and “cold”. Even before he became a Shinigami, his spiritual pressure was immense and uncontrollable, just like Ichigo’s, and caused the people around him to freeze, namely his grandmother, who lived with him at that time.
This cold spiritual power of his reflects his attitude. He is also the youngest Shinigami to have ever achieved Bankai from him. He even had visions of Hyōrinmaru’s spirit before reaching him or entering the Shinigami Academy. He is thus able to hide her presence; on several occasions he manages to surprise Hinamori and Matsumoto with his sudden appearances, leading them to complain about him. His Reiatsu is white.
Okay, hear us out on this one. Tōshirō is so low on this list not because he’s weak, but because he still has a lot of potential. Kyōraku himself confirmed that Tōshirō would surpass all of the one day, but that day still hasn’t come and Tōshirō showed a lot of problems in controlling his powers at the time, so we put him in this place because we know that in time, he will be in the top five for sure.
19. Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi
Division: 3rd Division
Zanpakutō: Kinshara
Bankai: Kinshara Butōdan
As with the other Visored, it’s not easy to get a precise idea of Rose’s level, although he is probably one of the most powerful characters in the series, being a former Captain of the Gotei 13 who has gained additional powers as a result of the Hollowfication. Her fighting style is quite unique and is based on the use of different aspects of music as a form of attack, enhanced by the use of her Hollow Mask and her Zanpakutō abilities.
In addition, in his years as a Shinigami, we could see that he not only mastered Shunpo (something that, on the other hand, most captains and lieutenants control), but he was also capable of performing Kidō spells in the anime version and in the most recent video games, which makes him the only Visored to date who has used the Demonic Arts, with the obvious exception of Hachi.
Ōtoribashi is one of the most elegant fighters among the Shinigami and he has truly amazing powers, as witnessed by his Bankai. Sure, we haven’t seen that much of him fighting (hence the ranking), but we know that he is powerful enough – especially with his Visored powers – to earn a spot on this list.
18. Kensei Muguruma
Division: 9th Division
Zanpakutō: Tachikaze
Bankai: Tekken Tachikaze
As Kensei is a Captain of the Gotei 13, he is possessed of a high spiritual level and like any other high-level Shinigami, Kensei dominates the Shunpo, which allows him to move at high speeds barely visible to the human eye. Kensei has shown himself to be an expert in the art of Zanjutsu, being able to cut a Hollow to pieces in a matter of seconds.
A raw powerhouse Captain, Muguruma is someone that certainly deserved a spot on this list and we rightfully placed him here. He is also a very wise Captain and with that, he definitely stands out among the lot. As a mentor figure and a Vizored, Muguruma is definitely more capable than your average Shinigami.
17. Shūsuke Amagai
Division: 3rd Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Raika
Bankai: Raika Gōen Kaku
Despite being the most recent Captain of the Gotei 13 at the time, Shūsuke Amagai is worthy of such a position, as he demonstrated during the anime season that owes his name to him. Considered one of the most powerful warriors in Soul Society, Amagai was able to fight on equal terms with Ichigo Kurosaki, proof of his great spiritual energy, so great that it could nullify the devouring qualities of the Bakkōtō, being the only one character who has been able to do it.
But Amagai is not only a division captain because of his powers, but also because of his intelligence and his skills as a leader, who managed in a few days to restore the morale of his subordinates and teach them to trust themselves and cooperate, both among themselves and with other divisions.
And while this non-canon character might be a controversial pick for some, there’s no denying that Amagai was very powerful. Sure, his story might not have been overly consistent because he was a disposable filler character, but from an objective standpoint, Amagai had a lot to offer and was an immensely powerful Shinigami.
16. Sajin Komamura
Division: 7th Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Tenken
Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō’ō
Komamura, like all shinigami, has the power to purify Hollows if he injures them with a deep cut in the mask with his Zanpakutō and to transport the bonuses to Soul Society through the Soul Funeral. In combat, he displays an aggressive and belligerent personality, in which he mercilessly attacks his enemy without fear.
Komamura has immense spiritual power which emanates with a red Reiatsu. Komamura is also able to move at high speeds using shunpō his expertise in the use of shunpō seems to be average for a Shinigami Captain, he was able of managing to save Momo just before the explosions caused by Bambietta managed to reach the Shinigami lieutenant. He has not been seen using kidō arts, although it is not ruled out that he can use them.
Sanjin Komamura is a true beast in every way imaginable. He is physically imposing and is a great, as well as resilient fighter with a lot of heart and pride. His Tenken is one of the strongest Zanpakutō among the lot, and his special ability revealed during the Quincy War certainly made him deserving of a spot on this list.
15. Ginrei Kuchiki
Division: 5th Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Not revealed
Bankai: Not revealed
As a Former Captain, he was able to use this Shinigami skill at a high level. As a Former Captain, he must have had a high mastery of Kidō, as well as being able to use a low-level Bakudō with extreme ease. Ginrei is a highly intelligent man, able to quickly determine the fundamentals behind the opponent’s ability and figure out their weak points.
As the former Captain of the Gotei 13, Ginrei was one of the highest spiritual level people in Soul Society. The name of Ginrei’s Zanpakutō is unknown, his appearance is similar to Byakuya’s Senbonzakura, with a rectangular guard and white hilt. His Shikai and Bankai powers are unknown, but it is assumed that he must have them if he reached the level of Captain.
We assume that Byakuya’s former Captain grandfather must have been an immensely powerful Shingami. He was respected by Yamamoto and although we never found out the exact level of his powers and abilities, we assume that he must have been strong enough to earn a spot on this list, regardless of the little information we have on him.
14. Mayuri Kurotsuchi
Division: 12th Division
Zanpakutō: Ashisogi Jizō
Bankai: Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō
Mayuri like all shinigami has the power to purify Hollows and like all Captains, he has great spiritual power. Mayuri is also a Shunpo user however Mayuri notes that using Shunpo is very tiring for him. Although Mayuri may not be such an assiduous user of Zanjutsu arts, Mayuri has shown himself to be skilled enough to hold his own in a fight.
Mayuri combines his knowledge of Zanjutsu with the skills of his Shikai, Bankai, and the implementation of strategies designed to gain an advantage over his opponents. But perhaps the best proof of Mayuri’s abilities in the Zanjutsu is present during the match between him and a Zombified Tōshirō, during the course of this match Mayuri was able to block several of the Zombified Captain’s attacks as well as being able to keep up with the pace of the fight.
Mayuri is… well, Mayuri. If you’re a Bleach fan you’ll know why Mayuri ended up on this list. He is not a raw powerhouse character but uses his cunning and his intelligence to tactically surpass enemies that are nominally much stronger than him. He also probably has the most diverse set of abilities you’ll see in one Bleach character.
13. Isshin Kurosaki
Division: 10th Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Engetsu
Bankai: Not revealed
Isshin is a former Shinigami Captain In addition to being a former head of the Shiba Clan and as such Isshin is the possessor of enormous Spiritual power which could be detected (but not recognized) from miles away by both Hirako and Ichigo, although at this not very good at this. Further proof of his immense Spiritual power is shown when Isshin used his Reiatsu in order to fix the Kōryū on the Dangai, something that normal Shinigami can only do if they are in a group.
Based on his conversation with Kisuke Urahara, it is believed that Isshin has not yet regained his full powers, but even then he was able to split a building-sized Imperfect Arrancar in two in a matter of tenths of a second and fight on the spot. against Aizen and push him to the brink of himself before he joined the Hōgyoku, when the latter was able to easily defeat other captains and the Visored without much effort in a short amount of time.
Isshin Kurosaki was tough to place, but knowing Ichigo’s powers, we assume that Isshin was extremely strong. This was confirmed by Urahara and Yoruichi, as well as during the fight with Aizen, where Isshin was capable of holding his own against the treacherous former Captain. This is why we put Isshin on this list.
12. Sōsuke Aizen
Division: 5th Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Kyōka Suigetsu
Bankai: Not revealed
Aizen is one of the most powerful characters in the Bleach universe. He is far stronger than the Captains of the 13 Divisions, themselves powerful fighters. He had no trouble defeating a coalition of four Captains and four Vizards single-handedly, showing that he is an exceptional fighter. It must be said that the monstrous strength of Aizen is accompanied by his Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, which has a capacity for hypnosis.
All of this gives him a tactical advantage on the battlefield. In addition to these exceptional combat abilities, Aizen is a genius, whether perfecting his combat techniques or innovating new technologies. He is also a shrewd strategist, planning several moves ahead of his opponents, even if it means sacrificing his soldiers or even faking his own death.
Being born with great potential, Aizen has developed an inordinate arrogance that gives him a manipulative and defiant face, which pushes his enemies over the edge. Finally, Aizen also knows how to surround himself with the best soldiers. Gin Ichimaru, his second in command, is a bloodthirsty fighter (like Zaraki) and a once-a-decade genius (like Hitsugaya). Kaname Tōsen is the only fighter immune to his hypnosis power. And finally, he gathered the elite Hollows under his command into an army of Arrancars (which are Hollows with Shinigami powers) among which are the Espadas, themselves of the level of a Captain of the 13 Divisions.
Aizen might be higher up on this list, but the fact that we’ve never seen him fight properly speaks for itself. Aizen’s powers stem from his extremely powerful Shikai and the fact that he is able to confuse his opponents with it, but with such power, he was still harmed by Ichigo, Urahara, Isshin, Gin, Yoruichi, Shinji, and some other characters. Until we see Aizen fight properly, we have to place him here.
11. Yoruichi Shihōin
Division: 2nd Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Not revealed
Bankai: Not revealed
Yoruichi’s first ability, and perhaps the one that makes her most unique, within all of Bleach, is her ability to transform into a black cat. So far, no other character has been shown to be able to transform into another being of their own free will, and why Yoruichi is capable of doing such a thing has yet to be explained.
Thanks to this power, Yoruichi has been able to live for a long time isolated from the rest of the world and calm knowing that she is undetectable. In his cat form, Yoruichi has also been shown to be able to channel spiritual power and move at great speeds, though obviously not to the levels he displays in his human form.
We don’t know how far Yoruichi’s powers can go, but it is very possible that she is one of the most powerful characters in the entire series, as she has been able to demonstrate clear superiority against a Gotei 13 captain without even using a weapon. Zanpakutō.
Having not yet seen Yoruichi fighting with her own Zanpakutō, it is impossible for us to place her easily within the scale of power, but what is clear is that her level is above the average for a common captain, despite to have been a hundred years without fighting.
However, after escaping with Ichigo from the Tower of Repentance where Rukia was, (after confronting Byakuya) he hinted that both she and Ukitake were below the level of the 6th Division captain. As the former leader of the Special Forces and Enforcer Corps, Yoruichi is adept at concealing her presence and silent assassination.
Yoruichi had a very hedonistic and laid-back attitude towards her duties as a Shinigami but was nevertheless one of the most powerful ones in the history of the series. She is a master in various forms of combat and the fact that we’ve never seen her use her Zanpakutō, while still putting her on this list, speaks enough about her powers and abilities.
10. Ōetsu Nimaiya
Division: Division 0
Zanpakutō: Sayafushi
Bankai: Not revealed
As a member of the Royal Guard, Nimaiya is one of the most powerful characters in the entire Bleach universe, possessing a large amount of Reiatsu. Ōetsu’s power is evident when he was able to easily defeat three of Yhwach’s Schutzstaffel. Ōetsu is a master in the use of the Zanjutsu arts, possessing incredible reflexes, as well as being extremely agile, being able to dodge quick melee attacks and launch a counter-attack with his Zanpakutō in a matter of seconds, but his Reflexes aren’t just limited to countering melee attacks, as Ōetsu is also capable of deflecting long-distance attacks as demonstrated when he was able to effortlessly deflect Lille Barro’s Heilig Pfeil.
And while he might seem like a joke, Nimaiya is actually quite powerful and is the biggest authority on the Zanpakutō and its traits in the whole Soul Society. He is a skilled and powerful fighter, but we couldn’t really put him higher up on this list because, sadly, we never saw his full potential in battle; but knowing what we know, we think that this is a fair placement.
9. Shinji Hirako
Division: 5th Division
Zanpakutō: Sakanade
Bankai: Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari
Being a Captain of the Gotei 13, Hirako has high Spiritual Pressure, in addition to being a Visored. Hirako has shown himself to be someone who is insightful and analytical, being one of the few people that he was able to see through some of Aizen’s lies. Hirako has shown to be very skilled at using Zanjutsu, being able to hold off Mashiro with just her sealed Zanpakutō while Mashiro was under the effects of Hollowfication, also Hirako was able to overpower and push Grimmjow back with just using his Hollow mask, and his sealed Zanpakutō.
Shinji combines both the best of the Shinigami and the Hollows and is thus a formidable opponent that absolutely deserves this spot. He has an amazing Bankai and is known for being one of the most formidable fighters in Soul Society, which makes him stand out and which actually earned him a spot so high on our list.
8. Kisuke Urahara
Division: 12th Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Benihime
Bankai: Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame
Kisuke Urahara is one of the most powerful characters in Bleach and one of the most complete, since he has efficiently developed the various disciplines of the Shinigami, in addition to having been able to defeat Aizen if he had not been fused with the Hōgyoku. During his time in the Special Forces, he learned to defend himself through hand-to-hand combat and to move very quickly, thanks to the use of Shunpō (instantaneous steps).
But the main point in favor that Urahara can have on the battlefield is his scientific mind and his evident intelligence. Similar to Szayelaporro Granz, he is able to analyze and process the attacks made by his opponents, making it totally impossible to surprise him a second time with the same technique. This could be seen during his fight with the Arrancar, when he received a Wonderweiss Bullet, but from then on Yammy’s shots had no effect.
And while we had some issues ranking the Shinigami from places nine to seven, we put Urahara in place eight because of his immensely powerful Bankai and his wide array of skills, as well as his knowledge. What he lacks is the seriousness of Byakuya Kuchiki, which is the main reason why the latter ended up in seventh place, although the differences are minimal.
7. Byakuya Kuchiki
Division: 6th Division
Zanpakutō: Senbonzakura
Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi
Being one of the 13 Captains of the Gotei 13, Byakuya is far superior in level to Vice Captains such as Renji Abarai, making him a very powerful character. Being the head of a particularly powerful noble family, Byakuya is an equally strong Shinigami, with very high Spiritual Power and formidable techniques, the result of relentless training.
Being already of a high level during the majority of the story, it is during the Millennial Blood War Arc that he will perfect his techniques and finally gain enormous power. His mastery of Kidō, his strong Spiritual Power, and his Zanpakutō, Senbonzakura, make him one of the most formidable Captains of the 13 Divisions.
Byakuya enjoys fighting and among all of the characters on this list, he is the one with the biggest growth, which is a consequence of the fact that he is one of the youngest Captains of the Gotei 13 (Hitsugaya is still growing into his full potential). He is skilled in both Zanjutsu and Kidō, he is exceptionally fast and is a master tactician, which makes him such a formidable fighter.
6. Ichibē Hyōsube
Division: Division 0
Zanpakutō: Ichimonji
Bankai: Shirafude Ichimonji
As a member of the Royal Guard, Ichibē possesses powers and abilities that surpass an ordinary captain of the Gotei 13, both in Hakuda, Hohō, Kidō, and Zanjutsu. Furthermore, Ichibē has been shown to be the strongest among the five members of the Royal Guard not only because of his abilities, but also by being able to “manipulate names”, the metaphysical manifestations of all things.
If his body is destroyed, Ichibē can rebuild him from scratch by taking a portion of the power of anyone who says his name to start the process. To accomplish this, he can telepathically speak to anyone around him and ask them to call him by his name, much like Ichigo did when he arrived at the Spirit King’s Palace.
Ichibē is an expert when it comes to using Shunpo, he was able to position himself at Yhwach’s side in a matter of seconds right after Yhwach flew away after taking a direct hit from Ichibē’s Senri Tsūten Shō. Furthermore, Ichibē was also able to dodge almost all of Yhwach’s Heilig Pfeil fired from his Sankt Bogen. Ichibē has shown himself to be a master of the Kidō arts, being able to use intermediate and advanced level Bakudō and Hadō spells without the need to recite an incantation.
Ichibē is a master of Zanjutsu, being able to face and keep Yhwach at bay during almost the entire confrontation, his mastery in Zanjutsu allowed Ichibē to be able to fight Yhwach with only his Zanpakutō in a sealed state, and later with the release of his Shikai.
And while we haven’t seen much of Ichibē over the years, his fight against Yhwach proves just how powerful he is and the fact that he can revive himself with absolute ease is proof enough of his amazing powers. Now, when compared to the other Captains you’ll read about in the following paragraphs, he probably isn’t as good of a fighter as them, which is why we ranked him below them.
5. Retsu Unohana
Division: 4th Division (formerly; also 11th Division)
Zanpakutō: Minazuki (肉雫唼)
Bankai: Minazuki (皆尽)
Although her abilities are never highlighted, as “first Kenpachi”, a title issued only to the most powerful shinigami, she is supposed to be a skilled fighter. The name Yachiru derives from the fact that she knew all the sword techniques of the shinigami and that she was able to handle any weapon. Added to this is her skill in the healing arts, which makes her the most skilled doctor in the whole Soul Society.
She actually perfected herself in the healing art to satisfy her true and bloodthirsty nature, as opposed to and at the same time identical to that of Zaraki, i.e., to be able to cure herself continuously in order to continue fighting and savoring the battle for as long as possible.
Her Zanpakutō is called Minazuki (肉雫唼). Instead of bringing it to her waist, Unohana uses a lanyard to carry it on his shoulder, or he lets Isane Kotetsu carry it. In sealed form she looks like a normal katana and, specifically, she resembles a nodachi. When she is released, she takes the form of a giant flying manta ray, capable of carrying numerous people on her back (about a dozen, judging by her size). The power of this Shikai is to swallow the wounded allies inside her body and perhaps heal them with her gastric juices.
In reality, Zanpakuto may still have other powers. Her Bankai, Minazuki (皆尽) is revealed during the fight against Kenpachi Zaraki. Although its use is still unclear, it seems that the blade is covered with a thick dark liquid similar to blood, which literally oozes from the sword itself and which literally dissolves everything it hits as if the victim were immersed in acid.
Unohana might have been perceived as a weak character before her duel with Zaraki, but after that, her place among the most powerful Shinigami was cemented with ease. Unohana is one of Soul Society’s best healers and is a beast when it comes to fighting. There is absolutely no doubt that she deserves such a high place on this list.
4. Kenpachi Zaraki
Division: 11th Division
Zanpakutō: Nozarashi
Bankai: Not named
Kenpachi is introduced as one of the most fearsome Captains, being the most combat-loving among his peers. He has the title of Kenpachi which designates the best fighter of his generation and he honors his title by being able to dominate Kaname Tōsen and Sajin Komamura, both Captains as well. Due to his excessive strength, Kenpachi imposes handicaps on himself such as fighting with his sword using only one hand or even sealing a large part of his Spiritual Power in his eye patch, which has become iconic.
Prior to the time skip, he even wore bells on several strands of his hair so his opponent could hear him move. On top of that, Kenpachi instinctively holds back in his fights ever since his first fight to the death against Unohana when he was still just a child. It is only by facing opponents powerful enough to kill him that he removes these psychological seals and unfolds his full strength.
After his ultimate fight against Unohana, which changed him by removing all those psychological seals, Kenpachi became an even more formidable fighter, having become so physically powerful that even Gerard Valkyrie, another example of raw power, will be unable to fight him. The awakening of his Zanpakutō in the Quincy War will make him a first-rate fighter, further legitimizing his place in the Special Military Forces, the 5 Shinigami most feared by the Wandenreich.
Kenpachi has almost unlimited potential and was it not for his wild nature, he would probably be next to Yamamoto, in front of Ukitake and Kyōraku. But, Kenpachi is unpredictable and doesn’t have the tactical skills of the latter two, which is why he is below them. Still, he has immense power and is undoubtedly one of the strongest fighters that Soul Society has ever seen.
3. Jūshirō Ukitake
Division: 13th Division (formerly)
Zanpakutō: Sōgyo no Kotowari
Bankai: Not revealed
Ukitake stands out among the Captains of the Gotei 13 because of his immense Reiatsu, which was not weakened even through his illness. Ukitake, like all shinigami, has the power to purify the Hollows if he injures them with a deep cut in the mask and to transport the bonuses to Soul Society through the Soul Funeral.
As one of the oldest captains, Ukitake possesses tremendous spiritual power and it is said that he and his best friend Shunsui are possessors of Reiatsu unmatched within Soul Society. Ukitake showed great mastery when using Shumpo as seen when he was able to try to distance himself when he was chased by Yamamamoto during the events of the Soul Society Saga.
And while we’ve never seen the full potential of Ukitake’s powers and abilities, the fact that he stands next to Kyōraku is very important here; Yamamoto valued Ukitake as much as he valued Kyōraku and there is no doubt that Ukitake deserved that fully. He was a very versatile fighter with a lot of skills, which is why we put him so high on this list.
2. Shunsui Kyōraku
Division: 1st Division (current; formerly 8th Division)
Zanpakutō: Katen Kyōkotsu
Bankai: Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū
Kyōraku is one of the oldest and most powerful shinigami; he has held his position for 210 years, or even longer, whereas most have only held it for 100 years. He is one of the few captains that Yamamoto recognizes as gifted. Kyōraku has a very good command of Shunpō and Zanpakutō. His Shunpō allows him to move Nanao away from his combat area and then back to it almost instantly, earning him the Captain-Commander’s praise.
He masters the handling of the Zanpakutō very well. Kyōraku is one of the most powerful captains and because of this he has a good command of sword fighting, which he proves by slicing Sado with one blow.
He was also able to fight the Primera Espada with his saber in his shikai form while the other captains were all using their bankai. He claims that he only uses his Wakizashi in situations where it gets difficult with his katana. He is ambidextrous and can therefore exchange his hand blade. He strikes with a little more force with the left hand but still uses the right for more balance.
Kyōraku is, as Yamamoto’s successor, undoubtedly extremely powerful. We know that he wasn’t chosen for his leadership skills – as he is lazy and doesn’t like to engage in fights – so the Central 46 had to acknowledge his power in comparison to the other Shinigami. Kyōraku has demonstrated his power both against the Espada and the Sternritter, so there is no denying that this placement is wholly deserved.
1. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Division: 1st Division
Zanpakutō: Ryūjin Jakka
Bankai: Zanka no Tachi
Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai’s extensive experience, incomparable on any scale to the rest of the Bleach characters, make him one of the most powerful characters in the series, if not the most. Sōsuke Aizen himself has recognized the superiority of Yamamoto, a Shinigami capable of facing two high-level captains at the same time and putting them on the ropes without even suffering a scratch, or of facing bare-knuckle an enemy like Wonderweiss, who had previously defeated Kensei Muguruma, despite the fact that he had released his Bankai.
The immense spiritual power that Yamamoto possesses is capable of taking her breath away and almost drowning a Lieutenant, just by looking into her eyes. The moment he deploys her energy, it can be felt at great distances as a fiery aura, charged with menace and aggressiveness, whose very presence makes experienced Shinigami such as Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake shudder.
As he could not be otherwise, Yamamoto excels in the four disciplines that Aizen distinguishes as the basic ones in the training of any Shinigami. The General Commander of the Gotei 13 is a master of the Shunpo, with which he can move at incredible speeds, as he demonstrated in the Soul Society Saga by surpassing Kyōraku and Ukitake, arriving even before them at the place where they were going to fight, and afford to sit and wait for them.
There is absolutely no doubt that Yamamoto takes the top of this list. Everyone in the series recognized that there has never been a more powerful Shinigami than Yamamoto and the fact that even in his old age, he was able to do what he did is absolutely amazing. Yamamoto had the strongest Reiatsu in the series, he was the most skilled swordsman and his Zanpakutō was undoubtedly the strongest known in the series.
