Most random upgrades in Bleach

Key things

• Ichigo's quick mastery of Bankai defies shinigami norms in Bleach.
• Unohan's sudden transformation into a powerful warrior leaves fans confused.
• Yoruichi's unexpected display of stormy power lacks the build-up in Bleach.

Bleach is one of the most beloved glossy anime of all time, despite some writing and pacing issues. The battles in this series are without a doubt the best Bleachwhich allows fans to watch their favorite characters reach new heights of power time and time again.

However, there are times when BleachHis writing fails to justify some of the tweaks that take place during battles. This can be frustrating to watch as fans are forced to accept certain developments in the battle that don't feel as cathartic as they should.

8 Tensa Zangetsu

Somehow, it only takes three days for Ichigo to learn his bankai

• Debut: Release! Black blade, miraculous power (Part 58 Bleach)

The Soul Society arc revealed the concept of Bankai as something Shinigami would master for years. So it's only fitting that a character with a ridiculous armor plot manages to game the system and achieve this power in just three days.

For what it's worth, players will see Ichigo's grueling training to help him reveal this new form, which makes his Bankai form somewhat justifiable. However, a three day time limit is something most people still find hard to believe, no matter how gifted a shinigami Ichigo may be.

7 Retsu Unohana reveals his former title of Kenpachi

This Shinigami seems to be strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Zaraki

• Debut: Battle (Episode 10 Bleach: The Thousand Year Blood War)

There's no denying that the battle between Kenpachi and Unohana is one of the best moments in the series Bleach. The battle reveals many things about their past together, with Retsu revealed to be a former holder of the Kenpachi title.

After barely playing a part in any combat before this moment, Unohana suddenly emerges as one of the strongest shinigami in Bleach and dies not long after. It's an abrupt transition that fans don't have time to digest, as she dies before the true extent of her powers can be revealed.

6 The true form of Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck

He reveals that he is a powerful Arrancar instead of an annoying child

• Debut: Nel's secret (Part 192 Bleach)

At the beginning of the Hueco Mundo arc, Nel appears as an annoying child who cannot pronounce Ichigo's name correctly. However, after seeing her savior being tortured at the hands of Nnoitro Gilga, something awakens inside her.

Both Ichigo and the fans are surprised to see that Nel was a powerful Arrancar who once held the title of 3rd Espada. This revelation comes out of the blue, and it's a shame that she barely gets time to shine before being relegated to a comedic character.

5 Toshiro Hitsugaya completed Daiguren Hyorinmaru

Hitsugaya randomly becomes relevant after the fin for much of the arc

• Debut: The Perfect Crimson (Chapter 670 Bleach)

Hitsugaya's participation in the Millennium Blood War was woefully inadequate, especially after his Bankai was stolen by the Quincy. Fans of the character may be frustrated to see him on the sidelines, but he will finally get his moment to shine after his Daiguren Hyorinmaru matures.

Watching the true extent of Hitsugaya's Bankai makes for one of the most stunning visuals in the series, even if it can seem somewhat random. It doesn't help that Gerard Valkyrie is such a formidable force that even the full force of Hitsugaya's powers aren't enough to knock him out and take some of the steam out of his adult transformation.

4 Soo Zabimaru by Renji Abarai

Renji had to earn the respect of his Zanpakuto and learn the true name of his Bankai

• Debut: He rages at Ringside (Part 18 Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War)

After his Bankai shatters, Renji discovers that his Zanpakuto never respected him enough to reveal the true nature of this Bankai to him. Only after some grueling training in the Royal Palace does he return to battle with a reforged Zanpakut and a new Bankai.

It might be an opportune moment, but fans don't mind as long as Renji finally gets another meaningful victory. The character has lost the vast majority of his fights, and this victory helps restore his credibility as one of the strongest shinigami in Bleach.

3 Shunryu Kokubyo Senki by Yoruichi Shihoin

Yoruichi accidentally reveals a human-cat hybrid with the power of thunder

• Debut: God of Thunder 3 (Chapter 662 Bleach)

Yoruichi is one of the most interesting characters Bleachbut there's no denying that she didn't get too many moments to shine in the Millennium Blood War. As a result, there's no build-up before revealing an amazing-looking transformation that was meant to be more impactful.

This shinigami uses her thunder powers to subdue Askin Nakk Le Vaar, but becomes moody in this form and unable to muster a sustained offense. This might be a great moment for Yoruichi, but it might seem random to fans who haven't seen her deserve this moment. Bleach.

2 Thank you Lord Ichigo

Getting a hole in his chest somehow makes Ichigo stronger

• Debut: Ichigo is dying! Orihime, cry of grief! (Episode 271 Bleach)

Ichigo can be a frustrating protagonist at times. His personality is a bit too one-dimensional at times, but what fans hate the most is the character's tendency to randomly turn on without any justification. One such moment comes after he is killed by Ulquiorra.

Most characters would die after punching a hole in their chest, but Ichigo is made of a different sauce. Somehow the hollow part of his body triggers an admittedly cold transformation that out of the blue defeats Ulquiorra definitively and never reveals itself again.

1 Getsuga Tensho Finals

Ichigo's training in Dangai is accidental and helps him become stronger than ever

• Debut: A hard fight The conclusion! Release, the last Getsuga Tensho! (Episode 309 Bleach)

Aizen is one of the biggest villains in shonen history and the way his fight with Ichigo is poorly handled is one of the biggest cheats in Bleach which permanently damaged the series' reputation. Realizing that Ichigo needed to up his game to deal with this enemy, his father decided to use the Dangai's compromising nature to his advantage and help Ichigo train as much as he could in a short amount of time.

The end result is one of the most disappointing and haphazard tweaks out there Bleach history. Aizen could do no wrong up until then, but underestimating Ichigo turned out to be his biggest mistake. He was humiliated by a substitute Shinigami who revealed Getsuga Tensho's final form by transforming into a living version of his iconic attack and blasting Aizen with Mugetsu to defeat this opponent in one fell swoop.

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  Release date

  October 5, 2004

  Studio

  Pierrot

  Creator

  Tite Kubo

• Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War

  Release date

  Studio

  Creator