Bankai With Biggest Weaknesses

Key things

• Byakuya's Bankai can leave him exposed thanks to a hidden safe area that enemies can exploit.
• Kyoraku's Bankai risks damage to allies due to its area of ​​effect and limits its use.
• Kenpachi's Bankai tears his body apart due to the immense power, risking harm to himself and others.

In the world BleachBankai is the Soul Reaper's ultimate trump card, which they will only use when absolutely necessary. Although these special abilities tend to be absurdly powerful and often manage to take out their opponents because they are all unique in how they work, some have some major weaknesses and drawbacks that limit their overall usefulness.

Because of this, some captains choose to only use their Bankai once or twice during a series to avoid being exposed in the middle of a fight. When you look at the most glaring weaknesses that can seriously limit the user's abilities in battle, these Bankai have the biggest holes in their reliability.

8 Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (Byakuya Kuchiki)

Byakuya's safe area can be exposed to his enemy in Bankai

• First appearance: Episode 58

Arguably the most popular Bankai in the series, Zenbonsakura Kageyoshi sees Byakuya surround his opponent in a swarm of razor-sharp petals before slashing them with an infinite number of blades. Given how many times Byakuya has used this technique, the risk level isn't as high as some of the others, but it still has one pretty big flaw that Tsukishima reveals during the Fullbring Arc: the safe area.

Byakuya's enemy is shown to be able to be attacked from any direction at any time, but Byakuya remains protected in the meantime as he is able to stand in a small safe circle in the middle of the Bankai. If the fighter manages to get close to Byakuya so they stay in the circle as well, this can become a real problem for the captain as it essentially renders the ability useless.

7 Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju (Kyoraku Shusui)

The area of ​​effect with this Bankai can be risky to use with buddies nearby

• First appearance: TYBW Episode 35

Kyoraku's Bankai consists of four different acts, each of which involves taking apart his opponent's strength and will bit by bit while slicing them to pieces as much as possible. Kyoraku has only unleashed his Bankai once in the entire series because while it works wonders on a single target as stated by Ukitake, it also threatens Kyoraku's allies.

Kyoraku's Bankai has an area of ​​effect, meaning that if an ally were to jump into the same battle while he's using it, things could go awry very quickly and could easily lead to someone's death. After Kyoraku uses Bankai against Lille Barro, he is also shown to be badly injured by the amount of strain it puts on his body, another downside to this flashy technique.

6 Ryumon Hozukimaru (Ikkaku Madarame)

A bankai with a slow start-up limits its overall usefulness

• First appearance: Episode 118

The moment when Ikkaku unleashes his Bankai against the Arrancar is often cited by fans as one of the most epic and thrilling Bankai activation scenes in the entire show. Despite not even being a captain, Ikkaku was able to achieve a truly impressive Bankai that transforms his Zanpakuto into two massive cleavers that are more than large enough to tear apart even the toughest opponents.

But as he admits upfront, Ryumon Hozukimaru is a “slow starter” because the spirit of his Zanpakut begins to awaken only during the fight. As explained later in the series during Fake Karakura Town, Ikaku's Bankai also weakens each time it is broken. Therefore, while still a very powerful and certainly intimidating sight, the time required for this Bankai to fully manifest is one that most Soul Reapers cannot afford in an intense battle.

5 Zanka No Tachi (Genryusai Yamamoto)

Yamamoto's devastating Bankai can only be used for a limited time

• First Appearance: TYBW Episode 6

Zanka no Tachi, the Bankai of none other than Chief Captain Yamamoto, is by far one of the most devastating and powerful in all of Soul Society. When Yamamoto unleashes the power of his Zanpakut, he goes through four different phases of attack, all of which involve burning his enemies to a crisp and destroying their existence, but with that kind of power comes a pretty hefty price.

As Yamamoto makes clear during his battle with Yhwach, using Zanka no Tachi for too long will destroy not only his enemy, but himself and even all of Soul Society. Even when Yamamoto first revealed his Bankai, the air in Soul Society became heavy almost immediately, seemingly getting worse the longer the sword is active.

4 Suzumushi Tsuishiki Enma Korogi (Kaname Tosen)

Tosen's Bankai is instantly canceled if the opponent gets too close to his sword

• First appearance: Episode 51

Since Tosen was only a captain for a short time in the series, fans will only see him use his Bankai once, against another captain. However, as part of this skirmish with Kenpachi, it is fully explained how Tosen's Bankai works, which is able to completely shut down the opponent's senses, allowing Tosen to slash at them from multiple angles without them feeling, seeing, or hearing anything.

Fortunately, Zaraki was able to find the Bankai's one major weakness as he grabbed Tosen's blade, completely disabling his power and leaving him fully exposed. Being a fighter who loves to get up close and personal with his enemies, Kenpachi was able to figure this out pretty quickly, so Tosen's Bankai is probably better suited for ranged opponents, limiting his versatility.

3 Kokujo Tengen Myo (Komamura Sajin)

Komamura receives all damage dealt by his Bankai

• First appearance: Episode 51

This specifically focuses on the Komamura Bankai before receiving an enhanced version later in the story. Kokujo Tengen Myo is basically a giant version of Komamura in every sense, meaning it will follow his every physical move and attack exactly as he makes them. However, this also means that since the two are inherently linked, any damage Kokujo Tengen Myo receives will also be dealt to Komamura.

It also doesn't help that this Bankai, while fast for its size, is still on the slower side compared to many others and can be easily exploited if the opponent has abilities that make them too agile for the eye to see. Komamura improves this Bankai again in the Thousand Year Blood War arc, but it's always had bugs that still make it a bit risky to use.

2 Nozarashi (Zaraki Kenpachi)

Zaraki's Bankai rips his body apart for a massive energy boost

• First appearance: Chapter 669

Kenpachi's immensely powerful Bankai is pretty much a last resort, likely to deal as much damage to the user as it does to his opponents. When he releases Nozarashi, Zaraki takes on an oni appearance with glowing red skin and black markings covering his skin. He also gains overwhelming strength and is much more ruthless than before, although Kenpachi also loses all sense of reason in this form.

This means that he essentially becomes a one-man killing machine that will attack friend and foe alike if his mindless gaze is upon them. Additionally, the Bankai has so much power that it also tears Kenpachi's body apart when used, leaving him paralyzed after use. There is always a chance that Kenpachi could kill himself or others when using Bankai, which is why the other captains strongly advise to limit its use as much as possible.

1 Hakka No Togame (Rukia Kuchiki)

One wrong move with this icy Bankai could result in Rukia losing a limb or even her life

• First Appearance: TYBW Episode 19

First used against Sternritter As Nodt during the Thousand Year Blood War arc, Rukia's Bankai sees her freeze everything nearby, including herself. While Rukia's opponents who are caught in the attack disintegrate instantly, Rukia survives, though moving her body too fast will cause severe damage to her body and may even lead to her own death if she rushes too much.

It also implies that Rukia doesn't have much experience using her Bankai, and while not a weakness on its own, it can still be risky when paired with a Bankai that requires so much care to use properly without getting hurt. . Luckily, Byakuya is there during the As Nodt battle to remind Rukia that slow Bankai unwinding is very important for safe use.