
â | I have already told you. You and I, our levels are as distant as the earth from the heavens. Must I spell it out for you? I have discarded my left arm, discarded my left leg, and yet even so, I have not nearly lowered myself to your level. | â |
~ Byakuya to Zommari |

â | If you wield your blade without regard for your own life, you will find yourself unable to protect anything. | â |
~ Byakuya to Rukia |
Summary
Byakuya Kuchiki is the 28th head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the four great noble clans in Soul Society. He is also the captain of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13. Cold and aloof, he is initially completely dedicated to the laws of Soul Society, but becomes more compassionate after his adopted sister, Rukia Kuchiki, is saved from execution by Ichigo Kurosaki.
Powers and Stats
Tier: 6-B, higher with Bankai, far higher with Senkei, even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken | At least High 6-A, higher with Bankai, far higher with Senkei, even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken | At least High 6-A, higher with Bankai, far higher with Senkei, even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken | High 6-A, higher with Bankai, far higher with Senkei, even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken
Key: Soul Society Arc | Arrancar Arc | Post-Timeskip | Post-Royal Guard Training
Name: Kuchiki Byakuya
Origin: Bleach
Gender: Male
Age: At least 150 years old
Classification: Shinigami, Captain of the 6th Division, 28th Head of the Kuchiki Family
Powers and Abilities:
- Soul Physiology and Shinigami Physiology (Soul: High-Tier/Shinigami: High-Tier)
- Master Swordsmanship and Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Byakuya is an exceptionally skilled and talented Shinigami due to his noble blood. He has trained under Yoruichi Shihoin and attended the Shinigami academy, where he learned and mastered Zanjutsu and Hakuda. He can even fight against Shūhei Hisagi with just his martial arts[1])
- Genius Intelligence
- Afterimage Creation (With Utsusemi, Byakuya can create a duplicate of himself that looks exactly like him and bleeds when cut from an article of clothing from his body[2])
- Lightning Manipulation (Byakurai allows Byakuya to fire a beam of lightning from his fingers[3])
- Energy Projection (Byakuya can fire a bullet of spiritual energy with ShÅ[4])
- Fire Manipulation (Byakuya is able to fire a powerful wave of blue fire from his hand with Sokatsui[5])
- Light Manipulation, Paralysis Inducement and Sealing (With BakudÅ 61 - Byakuya can point at someone and completely paralyze and restrain them with rods of light[6]. Byakuya is particularly skilled in the use of this spell[7])
- Forcefield Creation (DankÅ« allows Byakuya to create a barrier to completely stop all HadÅ up to HadÅ 89 and non KidÅ attacks that are similar in nature to KidÅ[8]. Byakuya can additionally create cube barriers to protect other people[9])
- Limited Power Nullification (Senka is an advanced Shunpo technique where Byakuya flashes behind an opponent and strikes at their Saketsu chain, and Hakusui soul sleep in one strike, effectively removing their powers and ability to use their Reiryoku and thus takes their powers[10])
- Supernatural Willpower (In his first battle with As Nodt, Byakuya was capable of fighting with a hole in his chest, having his rib cage torn open and exposed, losing a hand, and being bombarded by his own Bankai before being defeated[11]. He was also capable of resisting the death inducement of As Nödtâs Fear through will alone[12])
- Weapon Control and Weapon Creation (Senbonzakura splits Byakuyaâs sword into 1000 petals that catch light in such a way as to appear like the petals of cherry blossoms[13]. Byakuya can manipulate these âpetalsâ for a variety of defensive[14] and offensive measures[15]. Byakuya eventually becomes skilled enough to create entire constructs out of the petals to fight with[16])
- Limited Barrier Creation and Speed Amplification (Byakuyaâs Bankai is activated by dropping his entire sword into the ground, then creating multiple rows of blades that split apart into small âpetalsâ of blades like the Shikai[6]. Senbonzakura Kageyoshi increases the number of blades to 100 million[17]. Byakuyaâs Bankai is essentially an enhanced version of his Shikai, which means he can use the same offensive and defensive maneuvers from Shikai, but on a more powerful level. This includes swarming an opponent with several blades at once[6]. Byakuya can choose to control the blades telekinetically or through the use of his hands, which doubles their speed[3]. Byakuya can gather groups of blades together in order to block[3] attacks[18])
- Summoning, Statistics Amplification and Danmaku (Senkei is the true form of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi[19]. It is a technique that consolidates the millions of petals into a âfuneral columnâ of 1000 swords that acts as a battle field for Byakuya and his opponents[19]. Senkei greatly amplifies the power and lethality of the petals[3]. Byakuya is capable of summoning any sword from the column to his hand at any time to catch an opponent by surprise[3]. Byakuya can use several of these swords to pin his opponent to the ground[6]. The main ability of Senkei, Ikka Senjika fires all of the blades at an opponent at once[20])
- Limited Transformation (Shūkei Hakuteiken consolidates all of the petals from Senbonzakura Kageyoshi into a white blade that Byakuya uses for a final attack[21])
- Mind Manipulation, Enhanced Fear Manipulation (3 layer) and Empathic Manipulation (He resisted the initial effects of The Fear with sheer willpower alone[12] and The Love with his Oken clothes[22][23])
- High Temperatures and Corrosion Inducement (Byakuya was capable of enduring[24] TenjirÅâs waters, which are hot enough to erode and rupture people without protection[25])
- Absolute Zero (Able to withstand Absolute Zero temperatures and touch Rukia in her Bankai Form[26])
Attack Potency: Country level (Capable of clashing evenly with Shikai Ichigo multiple times and possesses very high Attack and Spiritual Pressure stats[27][28][29][Note 1]), higher with Bankai (Tore through Shikai Ichigo's defenses with Senbonzakura Kageyoshi and one-shot Bankai Renji[30][31][32]), Country level+ with Senkei (Senkei doubles Byakuya's lethal power by condensing the petals into swords[33]), even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken (Byakuya's final move that condenses all of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi into a single blade and pair of wings, he was able to momentarily clash with Ichigo's condensed Black Getsuga Tenshou and slash Ichigo before losing the battle[34][35][36][Note 2]) | At least Multi-Continent level (Byakuya cuts down Resurreccion Zommari[37], with the databooks affirming that his arrogant statements of superiority to Zommari were simply facts[38], arising from the difference in their powers from birth[39], and he burnt Resurreccion Yammy[40][Note 3]), higher with Bankai (Harmed Resurreccion Yammy[41][42], and he killed Maximal Resurreccion Yammy with Zaraki[43]), far higher with Senkei (Doubles Byakuya's power[Note 4]), even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken (This is Byakuya's ultimate technique) | At least Multi-Continent level (Stronger than before, Byakuya cuts through the spikes and casual Blut Vene of As Nodt, and halts Mask[44][Note 5]), higher with Bankai (Stronger than before, killed Tsukishima, albeit he was off-guard[45]), far higher with Senkei (Doubles Byakuya's power[Note 6]), even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken (This is Byakuya's ultimate technique) | Multi-Continent level (Unohana, who knows Byakuya is being trained by Squad 0, implies he can cross swords with Post-Unohana training Zaraki[46], Byakuya got so strong As Nodt mistook his Shikai for a Bankai[47], shreds through Vollstandig As Nodt's eyes[48], and considering As Nodt was cautious enough to use Blut against a weaker Byakuya, it stands to reason he'd be using Blut against a stronger Byakuya. Byakuya halts Vollstandig NaNaNa, Vollstandig Robert, and Vollstandig Bazz-B[49], he holds his own against Robert, NaNaNa, and Candice[50], and he's so strong that despite holding back, he is worried he will kill Hisagi[51][Note 7]), higher with Bankai (Shreds through Sklaverei enhanced Vollstandig Robert[52]), Multi-Continent level+ with Senkei (Doubles his power[Note 8]), even higher with Shūkei: Hakuteiken
Speed: High Hypersonic (Can react against and block an attack from Post-Bankai Training Bankai Ichigo even though he canât keep up with him. Is one of the most proficient practitioners of Shunpo in the Gotei 13 and should therefore be at least this fast), High Hypersonic+ attack speed when controlling his Bankai (Doubles his Bankai attack speed. Was fast enough to almost catch Post-Bankai Training Bankai Ichigo) | At least Massively Hypersonic (Kept up with Zommari who was stated to be the fastest Espada [was also reiterated in a Databook]), Massively Hypersonic+ attack speed when controlling his Bankai (When used with the palm of your hand, Senbonzakura doubles in speed) | At least Massively Hypersonic (Comparable to his Pre-Timeskip self), Massively Hypersonic+ attack speed when controlling his Bankai (When use the palm of your hand, Senbonzakura doubles your speed) | At least Massively Hypersonic (Fought on par with resurrected Gerard), Massively Hypersonic+ attack speed when controlling his Bankai
Lifting Strength: Class M (Clashed with Ichigo multiple times) | Class M (Stronger than before), Class G with Senbonzakura (Stronger than Rage form Yammy) | At least Class M (Even stronger than before), Class G with Senbonzakura | At least Class M (Far stronger than before), Class T with Senbonzakura (Stopped Gerard's attack)
Striking Strength: Country level (Comparable to his Attack Potency, as he physically matched Shikai Ichigo), Country level+ with Senkei (Comparable to his Attack Potency, as he physically matched Bankai Ichigo) | At least Multi-Continent level (Should be comparable to his Attack Potency, as he should be physically comparable to his low-to-mid level Kido), far higher with Senkei (Doubles his strength) | At least Multi-Continent level (Stronger than before), far higher with Senkei (Doubles his strength) | Multi-Continent level (Comparable to his Attack Potency, as he can clash with the likes of Candice physically), Multi-Continent level+ with Senkei (Doubles his strength)
Durability: Country level (An injured Byakuya was able to body block an attack from Gin, albeit Gin's attack did pierce him, he is capable of briefly blocking Renji's Bankai[53][54], and was able to evenly clash with Shikai Ichigo, thus should be comparable to his Attack Potency[Note 9]), Country level+ with Bankai (Capable of no-selling a Getsuga Tenshou from Shikai Ichigo, blocking strikes from Bankai Ichigo, and despite being heavily damaged by Ichigo's Partial Hollowfication, he was able to take three Black Getsuga Tenshous and remain standing[55][56][57][Note 10]) | At least Multi-Continent level (Should be comparable to his Attack Potency, as he'd be capable of withstanding the force of his own strikes,[Note 11] higher with Bankai (Byakuya can condense loads of petals into the shape of a shield to better block attacks, and he is capable of withstanding the force of his own strikes using Senkei[Note 12]) | At least Multi-Continent level (Stronger than before, blocked a strike from Tsukishima prior to Tsukishima using Book of the End of get stronger[58][Note 13]), higher with Bankai (Blocked a strike from a Book of the End enhanced Tsukishima[59][Note 14]) | Multi-Continent level (Defended against attacks from a desperate Vollstandig Candice[Note 15]), higher with Bankai
Stamina: Superhuman (Able to battle competitively for an extended period of time and keep going while sustaining heavy wounds. Vastly weaker characters can fight for days without rest and with wounds that would be fatal to even the hardiest of normal humans. Capable of fighting at his near peak for extended periods of time even with all the muscles and tendons in both left limbs being destroyed. Able to casually withstand Absolute Zero temperatures. Remained very calm after his fight with As Nodt, having his stomach ripped out and being viciously attacked by his Bankai)
Range: Extended Melee Range normally; Hundreds of Meters with Senbonzakura and Kido spells
Standard Equipment: His ZanpakutÅ, Senbonzakura, Oken Clothing
Intelligence: Genius (Byakuya has had decades of experience as a captain of the Gotei 13, being renowned as one of the most skilled swordsmen, Shunpo practitioners, and Kido users in all of Soul Society. He is a rival to Yoruichi Shihouin, the Flash Goddess, when it comes to Shunpo skill[60] as he created some of his techniques by combining Shunpo with Zanjutsu such as his Senka. He is also known for being quite skilled in caligraphy[29] and having been promoted to captain of Squad 6 at around the same time as Gin Ichimaru[61], with both being the same age[62]. He maintains a very calm and stoic demenor when it comes to nearly anything, having control over his emotions and remaining quite rational at all times. He is also stated to be smarter[29] than Toshiro Hitsugaya and Gin, both of which are well-known for their intellect, and was also declared by Shunsui Kyoraku to be able to replace him as the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13[63]. He has a very strong ability of analyzing and countering abilities as well as identifying his opponent's strengths and weaknesses. This is shown in his battle against Zommari Rureaux when he slashed his limbs to prevent them from attacking himself[64] and had used his mastery of Kido to stop Rukia from harming herself after tricking him into thinking he was completely disarmed[65], as well as move her body with the weakest Hado to break the ice on her[65]. He is also perceptive, noting that Ichigo's Bankai was causing him problems as they fought since his speed decreased[66], and noted that Zommari's techniques were similar to Kido, using Danku as a response to them to counter them as it can null all Kido 89 and under[37])
Weaknesses: He usually keeps an 85 cm diameter surrounding him where the blades of his Shikai and Bankai wonât travel, so as to protect himself from being injured by them (This isnât a necessity, though, as he can bring them into that area if he wants), Can be somewhat arrogant at times.
Notable Attacks/Techniques:
Shunpo: A Shinigami movement technique which allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow. As speed is the main factor of the technique, the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from point A to point B in the least amount of steps, thus giving off a similarity to teleportation.
- Senka: A Shunpo technique described as a Shunpo with a physical twist. Byakuya uses Shunpo to approach his opponent's back and attacks their Saketsu and Hakusui. Thus sealing off the opponent's Spiritual Powers.
- Utsusemi: Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the ShihÅ: Just before he's struck by an attack, Byakuya quickly leaves his haori behind as a decoy while moving quickly enough to create an afterimage. This tricks the target into believing that they struck him, leaving them open to attack.
Hakuda: The shinigami art of hand-to-hand combat. Byakuya is quite proficient in Hakuda as he is capable of holding off an opponent like the Lieutenant Hisagi using Shikai and Byakuya's ZanpakutÅ with just Hakuda.
Shikai: The initial release to a Shinigami's ZanpakutÅ. It is activated by a command while declaring the name of the ZanpakutÅ Spirit. It changes the shape of the ZanpakutÅ and/or granting special abilities.
- Senbonzakura: Byakuya's ZanpakutÅ. It normally takes the form of an ornate katana, but once he triggers it's activation with the command "Scatter", it splits into a thousand tiny blades. These blades are too small to be seen normally, but reflect light in such a way that they appear to be shaped like cherry blossoms. He can direct them by swinging the hilt of his sword. These blades cannot enter within 85cm of Byakuya unless he himself allows the blades to enter the area, creating a "woundless area" that can be entered to take him by surprise. Byakuya later trained with the Royal Guard to gain a greater understanding of Senbonzakura, giving him even greater control and the ability to produce constructs on a large scale to a point that a previous wielder of Senbonzakura mistook the Shikai for the Bankai.
Bankai: The ultimate and final release to a ZanpakutÅ. The difference in power between Shikai and Bankai is generally around 5-10 times more powerful. Even though Bankai is the final stage of a ZanpakutÅ, it does not mean the Shinigami's growth ends there. A Bankai, especially one recently obtained, can evolve even further as its Shinigami gets stronger.
- Senbonzakura Kageyoshi: Byakuya's Bankai is a much grander version of his Shikai. Upon activation, he drops Senbonzakura into the ground, passing into it like water until a thousand giant blades rise from it that split into a hundred million blades. Byakuya controls these blades mentally, but can double their efficiency and speed by using his hands. He can use these blades to attack his opponent as well as form makeshift barriers for defense. The sheer quantity lets him do both simultaneously, making it difficult to reach him.
- Senkei: Byakuya compresses Senbonzakura into four rows of thousands of glowing swords that encircle himself and his opponent to limit their freedom of movement. It is Senbonzakura's true form and it has abandoned defense for the sake of pure offense to kill the enemy. A thousand blades are formed by the petals of Senbonzakura and the blades have their strength explosively increased through the petals hardening into the shape of a sword. The increases is double of it's previous state and Byakuya is not limited to one sword at a time either. Byakuya is reluctant to use this ability and will only do so for those he has sworn to kill himself.
- Ikka Senjinka: Byakuya attacks a single target with all of his Senkei swords at once.
- GÅkei: All the petals surrounding the enemy in a sphere, thus preventing escape, and converge onto the target. An attack from every direction at once.
- Shūkei: Hakuteiken: The final ability of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. All the petals of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi concentrate into one blade to maximize it's power into one point.
KidÅ: Spells casted by Shinigami with strong enough Reiryoku and Reiryoku control. KidÅ is divided into mainly three categories: HadÅ for attacks, BakudÅ for battle support and KaidÅ for healing. The spells are ranking from 1-99 with 1 being the weaker and easier spells to cast and 99 being the most powerful and difficult to cast. Skilled users can cast KidÅ without the need of an incantation; however, casting without incantation does reduce the KidÅ's effectiveness less than a third of it's full potential. Byakuya is an exceptional user in the art.
- Unnamed Barrier: Byakuya covers his target in a barrier to protect them from attacks.
- HadÅ #1: ShÅ: From the point of the finger, the caster fires a spiritual bullet towards the target to cause a motion of impact, damage is explicitly not done to the target.
- HadÅ #4: Byakurai: High density Reiryoku is gathered on the caster's finger tip and lightning is fired towards the pointed target. The higher the Reiryoku of the caster the greater the puncturing capabilities.
- HadÅ #33: SÅkatsui: An explosive blue flame is fired from the caster's hand. A simple HadÅ; however, the power of the caster is reflected in the explosion.
- BakudÅ #61: RikujÅkÅrÅ: Upon pointing at their target, the caster generates 6 prongs of Reiatsu that close in on the target to immobilize them in place. It restricts all movements, even untouched parts of the target.
- BakudÅ #81: DankÅ«: Upon activation, the caster generates a barrier that is capable of the complete nullification of any HadÅ of the level 89 or lower. However, this barrier is not solely limited to HadÅ as it can nullify the effects of abilities that are similar to HadÅ.
Notable Matchups
Victories:
Losses:
Inconclusive:
References
- â Bleach: Chapter 595
- â Bleach: Chapter 299
- â 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bleach: Chapter 165
- â Bleach: Chapter 301
- â Bleach: Chapter 145
- â 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Bleach: Chapter 142
- â Bleach: Chapter 266
- â Bleach: Chapter 302
- â Bleach: Chapter 382
- â Bleach: Chapter 140
- â Bleach: Chapter 502
- â 12.0 12.1 Bleach: Chapter 501
- â Bleach: Chapter 141
- â Bleach: Chapter 464
- â Bleach: Chapter 496
- â Bleach: Chapter 586
- â Bleach: Chapter 301
- â Bleach: Chapter 161
- â 19.0 19.1 Bleach: Chapter 164
- â Bleach: Chapter 671
- â Bleach: Chapter 166
- â Bleach: Chapter 595
- â Kubo's Club: 321
- â Bleach: Chapter 545
- â Bleach: Chapter 519
- â Bleach: Chapter 570
- â Bleach Chapter 153
- â Bleach Chapter 160
- â 29.0 29.1 29.2 Bleach Official Bootleg: Bleach Color+
- â Bleach Official Character Book Souls
- â Bleach Chapter 161
- â Bleach Chapter 142
- â Bleach Official Character Book Souls
- â Bleach Official Character Book Souls
- â Bleach Chapter 166
- â Bleach Chapter 167
- â 37.0 37.1 Bleach Chapter 302
- â Bleach Official Character Book 2 Masked
- â Bleach Official Character Book 3 Unmasked
- â Bleach Chapter 379
- â Bleach Chapter 382
- â Bleach Chapter 383
- â Bleach Chapter 422
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 4
- â Bleach Chapter 472
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 10
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 19
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 19
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 21
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 23
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 23
- â Bleach TYBW Episode 23
- â Bleach Official Character Book Souls
- â Bleach Chapter 141
- â Bleach Chapter 161
- â Bleach Chapter 163
- â Bleach Chapter 166
- â Bleach Chapter 464
- â Bleach Chapter 472
- â Bleach: Chapter 99
- â Bleach: Chapter 145
- â Bleach: Turn Back The Pendulum 4
- â Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World: Chapter 17
- â Bleach: Chapter 300
- â 65.0 65.1 Bleach: Chapter 301
- â Bleach: Chapter 164
Notes/Explanations
Discussions
Discussion threads involving Byakuya Kuchiki |