The last aired Thousand-Year Blood War arc of the Bleach anime series has set up a lot of excitement in the anime community. With the return of Yhwach, the Quincy king, the Shinigami face the threat of extinction. Moreover, as the Quincy are capable of stealing the bankai of the Shinigami, the situation cannot be more dire.
As the Shinigami struggle against the invasion of the Quincy, fans of the Bleach anime series have bore witness to exciting and jaw-dropping episodes of the Thousand-Year Blood War. With a lot of episodes of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc portraying epic plots and battles, fans wonder which episodes of the arc were the best portrayed.
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10 The Battle (Season 1 Episode 10)
Episode 10 of season one of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc captured the hearts of fans for one sole reason: the epic conclusion of the battle between Retsu Unohana and Kenpachi Zaraki. In the episode, the kind healer, Unohana, finally lets loose by unleashing her bankai, Minazuki.
With Unohana’s bankai in play, Zaraki had to up his game to stand a chance against her. After unlocking his full potential, Zaraki impales Unohana, killing her. Moreover, he also discovers the spirit of his Zanpakuto as it calls out to him. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Ichigo encounters the creator of the Zanpakuto, Oetsu Nimaiya.
9 Wrath As A Lightning (Season 1 Episode 5)
The first part of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc saw many jaw-dropping moments. One of those moments was when Byakuya Kuchiki faced Äs Nödt and felt fear. Informed that he was feeling fear for the first time in a long while, Byakuya fought a losing battle.
As one of the most powerful captains of the Gotei 13, many wondered how the Shinigami would fare against the Quincy if Byakuya was already on the losing end. After feeling fear, Byakuya had his bankai stolen and had to face the full brunt of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
8 The Fundamental Virulence (Season 2 Episode 3)
In the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, one of the fundamental things that gives the Quincy an advantage is that they can steal the bankai of the Shinigami. Fortunately for the protectors of Soul Society, the episode 'The Fundamental Virulence' changes the narrative.
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In the episode, Kisuke Urahara provides a drug that allows the Shinigami to recover their stolen bankai from the Sternritter. While this might not be able to completely change the tide of the war, it provides a great advantage for the Shinigami. More so, those who had their bankai stolen have re-mastered the fundamentals to better use it.
7 Born In The Dark (Season 1 Episode 7)
After the Quincy invades Soul Society for the first time, many Shinigami are dead or at death’s door. As Yhwach and his second-in-command, Jugram Haschwalth, stride across the battlefield, Ichigo appears and asks Yhwach if he is the one responsible for the destruction and death that plague Soul Society.
Affirming Yhwach to be the evil mastermind, Ichigo attacks him. However, he quickly discovers that he is outmatched, and he is only saved by Blut Vene, a part of his latent Quincy powers. As Yhwach departs the battlefield, he leaves a bloodied and star-struck Ichigo as he (Yhwach) tells him to wait as his son born in the dark.
6 The Blade Is Me (Season 1 Episode 13)
The first part of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc ends with Ichigo forging two new Zanpakutos. After getting help from Nimaiya, Ichigo realizes he has never had the full help of his Zanpakuto. At first, he fails to show promise in handling a Zanpakuto, and Nimaiya makes him go through a rigorous re-learning process.
After getting the acknowledgment of the Asauchi, spirits of the Zanpakuto, Nimaiya promises to help Ichigo reforge his Zanpakuto personally. After the reforging of his Zanpakuto, Ichigo comes to terms with his inner hollow being the spirit of his Zanpakuto. Now ready to face the invading Sternritter, Ichigo is more determined than ever.
5 I Am The Edge (Season 2 Episode 7)
As Bleach comes back with the second part of the Thousand-Year Blood War, the episode ‘I Am the Edge’ portrays Kenpachi Zaraki against Sternritter V (also known as Gremmy). With his power, The Visionary, Gremmy is able to turn whatever he imagines into reality. Whether it be making his body as hard as steel or making clones of himself, Gremmy simply imagines it, and it becomes true.
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Against this new and formidable ability, Zaraki proclaims that whatever Gremmy can imagine, he can cut. As the duo cross swords, fans get to see an epic moment in which Zaraki cuts a meteor as he unleashes his Shikai, Nozarashi.
4 The Fire (Season 1 Episode 6)
The moment when Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto activates his bankai for the first time in a thousand years is undoubtedly one of the best episodes of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. The episode begins with Yamamoto taking an unconscious Zaraki from Yhwach’s grasp before proclaiming that it has been a thousand years since the duo met, and now he has come to take Yhwach’s life.
As the duo battles, fans are sure to get excited by Yamamoto’s Shikai. However, when he reveals his bankai, Zanka no Tachi, even fans feel the heat. Despite Yamamoto’s bankai being revealed, the suspense-inducing moment of the episode is when Yhwach slashes Yamamoto diagonally with his Reishi Broadsword.
3 The Master (Season 2 Episode 12)
The second-to-last episode of the Thousand Year Blood War arc of the Beach series is highly rated by many fans, and for good reason. The episode portrays the battle between the Royal Guard and the Wandenreich. Moreover, Ichibe Hyosube’s battle against Yhwach is particularly eye-catching, as the leader of the Royal Guards shows his immense power.
While Ichibe engages Yhwach, the battle between the Schutzstaffel, select members of Yhwach’s Stenritter, and Oetsu Nimaiya, the creator of the Zanpakuto, comes to an end. After the epic battle between Nimaiya and Askin Nakk Le Vaar, fans wonder just how powerful the other members of the Royal Guard are.
2 Too Early To Win Too Late To Know (Season 2 Episode 11)
Episode 11 of season two of the Bleach Thousand-Year Blood War arc could be called the start of the epic events. This episode began with a brilliant flashback where the personal meeting of the "Young" Kaiser Yhwach and Ichibe was highlighted.
Moreover, as Yhwach launched an assault on the Royal Palace alongside his Schutzstaffel (elite guards), Squad Zero, the supposed strongest group of Shinigami, promptly responded in an epic way. With the new characters and abilities that were portrayed, this episode cemented itself as one of the best portrayals of the arc.
1 Black (Season 2 Episode 13)
The ending of season two of the Thousand Year Blood War arc left many in awe. With plot twist after plot twist, few could predict how the finale would end. Moreover, after Ywach used his Auswählen to revive his fallen Sternritter, the scales of battle tipped in a way that no one could predict.
As the royal guards are so powerful, they can destabilize the three worlds by simply unleashing their true power. Therefore, a blood oath seal is in place. To unlock the blood oath seal, three members must take their lives, and the last remaining one would be able to unleash his or her full power.