Bankai with the biggest weaknesses

Key insights

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

In the world of bleachingA Bankai is a Soul Reaper's ultimate trump card, which he only uses when absolutely necessary. Although these special abilities tend to be absurdly powerful and often manage to eliminate their opponents, since they are all unique in how they work, some have some major weaknesses and drawbacks that limit their general usability.

For this reason, some captains have chosen to only use their Bankai once or twice throughout the series, so as not to leave them unprotected in the middle of battle. However, when considering the most glaring weaknesses that can significantly limit the user's abilities in combat, these Bankai surpass the biggest gaps in their reliability.

8 Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (Byakuya Kuchiki)

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

• First appearance: Episode 58

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

It turns out that Byakuya's enemy can be attacked at any time and from any direction, but Byakuya, meanwhile, remains protected as he is able to stand in a small safe circle in the center of the Bankai. If a fighter manages to get so close to Byakuya that he too stays within the circle, this can become a real problem for the captain, as it renders the ability virtually useless.

7 Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju (Kyoraku Shusui)

The area of ​​effect of this Bankai can make it risky to use with nearby comrades

• First appearance: TYBW episode 35

Kyoraku's Bankai consists of four different actions, each of which involves dismantling his opponent's strength and willpower piece by piece and also cutting him into pieces in the process. Kyoraku has only unleashed his Bankai once in the entire series because, as Ukitake states, while it works wonders on a single target, it also puts Kyoraku's allies in danger.

Kyoraku's Bankai has an area of ​​effect, meaning that if an ally rushes into the same battle while using it, it could turn ugly very quickly and could easily result in the death of another. After Kyoraku uses the Bankai against Lille Barro, he is also shown to be severely injured due to the enormous strain it puts on his body, which is another drawback of this flashy technique.

6 Ryumon Hozukimaru (Ikkaku Madarame)

A Bankai with a slow start limits its overall usability

• First appearance: Episode 118

The moment Ikkaku unleashes his Bankai against the Arrancar is often cited by fans as one of the most epic and exciting Bankai activation scenes in the entire series. Despite not even being a captain, Ikkaku managed to acquire a truly impressive Bankai, transforming his Zanpakuto into two giant cleavers, more than large enough to tear even the toughest opponents to shreds.

However, as he admits right from the start, Ryumon Hozukimaru is a “slow starter” as his Zanpakuto's spirit only begins to awaken as the fight progresses. As explained later in the series at Fake Karakura Town, Ikaku's Bankai also becomes weaker every time it breaks. Therefore, while it is still very powerful and certainly an intimidating sight, the time it takes for this Bankai to reach its full effect is time 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 destructive and powerful in all of Soul Society. When Yamamoto unleashes the power of his Zanpakuto, he goes through four different phases of attack focused on burning his enemies to death and wiping them out, but with this power comes a rather high 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 the entire Soul Society. Even when Yamamoto first revealed his Bankai, the air within Soul Society became heavy almost immediately, seemingly only getting worse the longer the sword was active.

4 Suzumushi Tsuishiki Enma Korogi (Kaname Tosen)

Tosen's Bankai is instantly reversed 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 get to see him use his Bankai once, and that's against another captain. However, in this battle with Kenpachi, how Tosen's Bankai works is fully explained: it is capable of completely shutting down the opponent's senses, allowing Tosen to strike them from different angles without them feeling, seeing, or hearing anything.

Fortunately, Zaraki was able to find the Bankai's greatest weakness as he grabbed Tosen's blade, completely disabling his power and leaving him completely unprotected. Since Kenpachi is a fighter who loves getting up close and personal with his opponents, he was able to figure this out fairly quickly, so Tosen's Bankai is probably more suited to ranged opponents, although this limits its versatility.

3 Kokujo Tengen Myo (Komamura Sajin)

Komamura takes all damage dealt to his Bankai

• First appearance: Episode 51

This is specifically about Komamura's Bankai before he received the improved version later in the story. Kokujo Tengen Myo is essentially a giant version of Komamura in every way, meaning that he follows his every physical move and attack exactly as he executes it. However, since the two are inextricably linked, this also means that any damage suffered by Kokujo Tengen Myo will also be inflicted on Komamura.

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

2 Nozarashi (Zaraki Kenpachi)

Zaraki's Bankai rips apart his body to gain a massive burst of power

• First appearance: Chapter 669

Kenpachi's immensely powerful Bankai is pretty much the last resort, dealing as much damage to the user as it does to his opponents. When he releases Nozarashi, Zaraki takes on an oni-like appearance with bright red skin and black markings on his skin. He also gains a stunning boost in power and is far more ruthless than before, although Kenpachi will also lose all reason in this form.

This means he essentially becomes a one-man killing machine, attacking friend and foe alike when his mindless gaze is trained on them. Additionally, the Bankai possesses so much power that it tears Kenpachi's body apart when used, leaving him paralyzed after use. There is always the possibility that Kenpachi will kill himself or others when using Bankai, which is why other captains strongly advise limiting 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

Rukia's Bankai, which she first uses against Sternritter as Nodt in the “Thousand Year Blood War” story arc, causes her to freeze everything in her vicinity, including herself. While Rukia's opponents caught in the attack will immediately collapse, Rukia will survive. although moving her body too quickly could cause severe damage to her body and even lead to her own death if she moves too rashly.

It is also implied that Rukia does not have all that much experience using her Bankai, and while it is not a weakness in itself, it can still be risky when combined with a Bankai that requires so much care to use correctly without that injuries will occur. Luckily, Byakuya is there during the As-Nodt fight to remind Rukia that winding down the Bankai slowly is crucial to safe use.